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why did you choose the bass?

#82
groovenut57 said:
For me, it boils down to my personality.

Being a bass player allows me to:

1. Be in a more supportive role, which I prefer, as opposed to being the main character - something I'm not good at.
2. Be important by being the backbone of the band without the pressure of being in the spotlight.
3. Focus more on "making music" (quietly laying back grooving) than just "playing a bunch of notes" (showing off) - a big difference in my mind.

Besides, I'm getting a little too old (52) to be re-learning what I used to do on the guitar after a 20-yr musical hiatus! Playing the bass helps me relax and enjoy the journey without the frustrations that often come from the "pangs of perfectionism".
Click to expand...

Real nice. I feel the same way. I love standing in the back, out of the spotlight. Well said.
 
#84
i think there are few who pick up the bass first. most bass players are origionally guitar player. some of the best bassists out there started on guitar... i.e. les claypool. its a fun instrument that is in demand and if you are good at bass, you are cooler than someone who is good at guitar
 
#85
Most guitarists I met were egotistical arsehats and the strings slaughtered my fingers when I tried to play a few times. Bass is a far more laid back instrument on comparison to the frenzied melée of notes that most 6 stringers will procure given half a chance, and I preferred the sound ;)

(initially thought this was a "why did you choose THE bass" as in why did you choose your current actual instrument when you bought it...ho hum)
 
#87
I love the punch of the low end... started drums in 5, 6th grade (like the percussiveness) then switched to guitar but by my freshman year in high school I started play Bass 50% and guitar 50%. After high school, just turned out that the opportunities were for guitar and did that for years. When I when back to the Bass after 20 year, I realized instantly, that I made the wrong decision in my youth... there is nothing to compare when the bass locks in with drums. It is a religious experience.
 
#91
When I was getting ready to go to Junior High (grades 7-9 at the time), the counselors were meeting with all the students to prepare their schedule for the next year (grade 7). I didn't play any instrument at the time, but I sure didn't like any of the other options for elective classes. I went home that night and told my mother I wanted to learn an instrument. She suggested the upright bass, since my father had played bass and tuba through high school and even in the SeaBees during WWII. So I said, OK. No heavy analysis or deep soul-searching, I just didn't want to have to take an elective class that would make me have to work hard.

During Junior High, I discovered that "Stage Band" (Jazz Band) was far cooler, and the music more interesting to me, than orchestra, so I convinced my parents to buy me an electric. I loved it, and now, 32 years later, I am still playing bass.
 
#92
I've been playing guitar for 25 years, but my best years were the first 10 when I was single. After that I didn't really play as much, and my skills went into decline. About 12 years ago a friend started a band and asked if I'd fill in the bass spot. He and I switched off and I sometimes played guitar and it was a lot of fun. Last year he started putting together a wedding band and asked if I'd be interested - I said yes, but I only wanted to play bass this time. I enjoy the challenge of coming up with interesting parts that aren't overly simple or complicated and compliment the overall arrangement.
 
#93
I chose bass because my Father played electric while he was in college, and my grandfather played many instruments but his favorite was bass/cello, so I decided to keep the family tradition going! Also being that I played Offensive Line/ Tight End through popwarner football till my injury/illness ridden final season at FSU, playing in the support of others just made sense :p
 
#94
Cos someone in our band needed to.

That said, having taken it up, I'm pretty sure none of the others guys would have taken to it with as much passion as I have - not that I'm any good, but I try my very hardest to play the best basslines I can muster. And having played piano, drums and guitar in my youth, no other instrument has got me as excited as the bass guitar.

And it kind of fits with my character - I don't want limelight; I just want to make the song sound great.
 
#95
Guitar hero :rolleyes:...

I was never as good as my friends at guitar hero so when we did multiplayer i'd do bass, and for some reason i just loved the sound (when it was bright ;) ) so ended up buying a cheap bass off ebay, then got pretty good really quick, and decided to bust out a 60 watt amp and eventually a fender MIM precision. im totally hooked, and will be playing for the rest of my life, spreading the juicyness of our profession :bassist:

Things that make bass awesome to play...

- You get to strum like crazy and look like a rock star

- You have something to do which you can always rely on

- You feel proud and fulfilled

- Rockin out!
 
#97
I saw old pictures of my uncles from the 60's with their band. I wanted to play guitar. Once I started, my brother picked it up and surpassed my abilities in the first day.
I realized I was a crappy guitar player, and I basically stuck to rhythms because I had a knack for laying down a wicked groove.
When we started a band in '93 I started playing bass and I frickin fell in LOVE with it.

But I have to say, that about a year before that I sort of sub-consciously decided that bass was for me. I was driving my then-girlfriend home and U2's Mysterious Ways came on the radio. I was moved by that bass line and started thinking, "Man, I'd rather be doing that than playing guitar..."
Ironic part is that I'm not a U2 fan and I don't own any of their albums.

Oh, and a little side note: I mentioned that my brother became a much better guitar player than I in like no time...he recently started playing bass in his friend's band because I became unavailable and finding a [good] bass player is pretty hard. He isn't that good on bass. He plays it like a guitar. He's got no groove. I feel good about that.;););):p:D
 
#99
I fiddled around with guitar when I was very young, all my older cousins played bass at the time and I got to mess around with my cousin's old yamaha, fast forward a few years and I'm buying the same model at a local shop, been lovin it more than guitar.
 

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