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Why did you choose the bass?

#21
One of my best friends started playing guitar in the late 80's and coaxed me into trying out a bass so he could have someone to practice and jam with. Anyways, we go down to a music store and there's this 70's jazz bass Geddy Lee copy and I picked it up and only plucked the open E string and I was sold! It took a few months to convince my parents that I would stick with this music thing and not give up no matter how frustrating or hard it was to learn lol. I had dreams of the open E string sound every night until I finally saved up money to buy the bass... and the rest is history. Still playing to this day!
 
#22
Geri O said:
But bass literally chose me.
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I started playing guitar, and was at least the second best guitarist in my town. I was pretty good, but I was totally a rhythm guitarist. Lead guitar....I didn't get that, but I was by far the best at rhythm. I even sang. This was in jams with my Jr. High and HS friends. Early in HS, it came time to form a band and the guys suggested I give bass a try. I was instantly hooked. I stopped singing at that point, because bass is so much more challenging and engrossing. When I hear music, I hum the bass line. Always.

I am aware that many bassists got their role by virtue of being the worst guitarist in the group. Not so with me. From me, rhythm guitar is very easy. Lead guitar, perhaps, is harder. I would assert that bass is harder than both those. And MUCH more fun. Plus.....bass has a substantially greater impact on the overall sound of the band. I thought of playing drums for a time, and I can pass as a drummer but I'm not really very good. I AM a bassist. It's just how I am put together.
 
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#23
About a year ago one of my friends was like "Hey, why don't you learn to play bass?" and then I went a bought a Rickenbacker and when it got here I didn't know what to do with it so I stuck it under the bed for a few months and now I'm taking professional lessons and practicing every day and having a lot of fun with it.
 
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#24
garritynet said:
About a year ago one of my friends was like "Hey, why don't you learn to play bass?" and then I went a bought a Rickenbacker and when it got here I didn't know what to do with it so I stuck it under the bed for a few months and now I'm taking professional lessons and practicing every day and having a lot of fun with it.
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Dang! A Ric as your first bass????? Good for you!
 
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#25
I went to the store to buy a P or J bass but once I picked up the Rick I knew it was for me. Well I knew a similar one could be bought online for me; great store but their Rick prices aren't competitive and $500 is too much difference. Actually ended up saving $700 getting a nearly unplayed used one. I tried to be self taught but it just wasn't working out so I took a couple of months off to unlearn all the bad habits I had probably taught myself and now I have an instructor I see once a week.
 
#26
Wish I had a cool story to explain why I chose bass, but it's actually pretty random. When I was 12 (in the mid-80s) I was browsing with my dad in a music store, and I saw a Steinberger bass hanging on the wall. I thought it was super cool looking, and my dad could tell I was really impressed by it. I loved sci-fi as a kid, so maybe its futuristic look had an impact on me? I didn't even play an instrument at that point. Anyway, he didn't buy me the Steinberger, but for Christmas that year he bought me a Matsumoku-made Vantage from a pawn shop. I started lessons soon after that, and 30 years later, I'm still at it.
 
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#27
As a young kid, I bounced from violin (mom's choice) to trumpet to drums. Never was allowed to have my own drum set.

As an adult, the drum set was not conducive to apartment living...plus I really started to think about what I really liked about the music that I listened to...it was the bass all along.
 
#28
garritynet said:
About a year ago one of my friends was like "Hey, why don't you learn to play bass?" and then I went a bought a Rickenbacker and when it got here I didn't know what to do with it so I stuck it under the bed for a few months and now I'm taking professional lessons and practicing every day and having a lot of fun with it.
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Wow, that's like learning to drive in a brand new Caddilac instead of Dad's old Chevy.
 
#35
When I was 14 I heard Post Toastee by Tommy Bolin on KISS FM in San Antonio back in 1975 or so. When that little bass solo by Reggie McBride happened I was hooked! But I didn't get my first bass until late 1977.
 
#36
I tend to write songs with guitar or piano. But I mostly play bass because (a) I really like making huge, threatening noises, and (b) everybody and his kid brother thinks they can play guitar, but every rock band needs a bass player.
 
#37
jmverdugo said:
The bass chose me ... Actually my buddies had already taken the guitar and drums spots :)
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This, although my first instrument was trombone.

To make a long story short: my athletic abilities are less-than-zero, so I figured playing guitar might be my only way to meet girls. When the time came, I took up playing bass (see quote above). I had a cousin who played bass, so I was somewhat familiar with the idea.

Forty-plus years later, I'm still a bass player. I've tried my hand at other instruments but always came back to bass because it better fits my personality.
 
#39
I tried to play guitar. My Mother took me to a small German music store and bought me a Framus parlor style guitar. I took classes, which I flunked out of. It was all about learning chords to "Michael Row Your Boat Ashore". The teacher ridiculed me when I couldn't play the chords. Why they did not teach more contemporary songs, I don't know, I hated it. I could not play chords to save my life. I was embarrassed. Everyone had dreadnaughts but me. I was not very good, but I was determined. I don't necessarily have a natural talent. I have to stay on it, work at it.
I was 14 or 15 when one friend said to me, "You are fingering the guitar like a Bass." He had a guitar and I would learn Kiss riffs, only using the top four strings. I did not know what he was talking about, it was natural for me to do that. I could not play anything but one string at a time, or at best, 2 fingered Barre chords on guitar. My left hand/fingers would be pretty flat on the fretboard. I played with my Right thumb and forefinger, or a pick. Still do. I mistakenly thought "Bass must be easier, it only has 4 strings" I then started looking at band photos. Paul McCartney with the Violin Bass looked cool. When I saw a photo of Chris Squire in 1977 with his Ric. I thought he was the coolest looking rock star on the planet. My friend was completely into Yes. I knew I couldn't play that stuff but I loved the sound of the Bass Guitar. The power of it. I am still addicted to Bass.
 

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