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Why did you pick up the bass?

T

tpmiller08

Mar 15, 2009
216
0
41
Boston, MA
www.myspace.com
#1
Just curious to why people chose the bass out of everything else. Also, sorry if this post has allready been done :hiding:

Me personally, I played drums for 6 months and guitar for like 2 weeks. They just couldn't hold my interest.

My best friend picked up guitar about 6 years ago, my other friend allready played guitar, and I knew I didn't like playing drums. We decided to make music because everything on the radio......blue chunks! In our youngin' opinoins that is :D

Both my friends quit guitar, one moved on to drums, the other moved onto drugs :scowl:

I stuck with the bass. Its the only instrument I really felt, and feel, that I can express myself with. And......being the bassist is awesome! heh


Look forward to hearing why you all chose bass. If possible, include other instruments you play, and if which one if your favorite and why!


Thanks!

-Troy
 
#3
I started playing bass 7 years ago because every one played guitar and drums were to expensive. After playing bass for about 3 years I bought a guitar and played that for like 4 months and hated it, but not because I couldn't play it but because it bored me. I went back to bass and never looked back. The bass has been the only instrument that I can honestly say that I never get bored of.

As far as the instruments I play, bass, guitar, piano ( a little bit ), I'm learning violin and I think that might be it. In case you didn't guess, bass is my favorite. Why els would I be here.
 
#4
tpmiller08 said:
Just curious to why people chose the bass out of everything else.
Click to expand...

I was 14. My best bud and I decided to "make a band." This was about 1971 or so.

I said 'we need to get guitars.' He (being the alpha male), replied "no, I get a regular guitar, you gotta get a bass guitar."

"What's a bass guitar?"

"It's kinda like a regular guitar, but it's got four strings and it goes lower."

"You mean, you wear it like below your belt?"

"No, I mean it sounds lower."

I was still confused, but I had my orders. And the rest, as they say, is history.
 
#5
I was learning how to play g**tar back in 1990 with the aspirations of being the next great lead guitard. A friend of mine was my instructor and he went to jam with some guys from school to try and start up a band. He called me when he got home and talked me into going back with him the next day to fill the bass player slot. The other guitard in the "band" had an old Kramer bass and a '70s era 1x15 Ampeg combo that he "tried but didn't like", so I used that for my so-called audition. I'd never played a bass before and even though that Kramer weighed a ton and the Ampeg had a faulty ground, I fell in love with the instrument. I actually had to stand on a rug to play because if I stood on the concrete floor of the basement I'd get zapped every time I touched the strings. I had alot of fun back then.

Almost 20 years later my old instructor and I are still playing in bands together. He likes to say things like "see, if you'd stuck with g**tar you could do things like this!" (insert squealing noise). I usually just reply by telling him I only need 4 (or 5) strings to rock. Then I follow up by telling him he is not a bass player because he is not ready. I'll get this reaction ->:eyebrow: and then I'll say, "You do not find the bass, grasshopper. When you are ready, the bass will find you." Yeah, I'm still having fun.:bassist:
 
#6
Played drums, wanted to branch out. I wanted to play notes.


Never had an interest in guitar. Knew a lot of guitar players (most quit, others should). Saw an Ibanez bass in a pawn shop and bought it.
 
#7
Zomb13 said:
I was learning how to play g**tar back in 1990 with the aspirations of being the next great lead guitard. A friend of mine was my instructor and he went to jam with some guys from school to try and start up a band. He called me when he got home and talked me into going back with him the next day to fill the bass player slot. The other guitard in the "band" had an old Kramer bass and a '70s era 1x15 Ampeg combo that he "tried but didn't like", so I used that for my so-called audition. I'd never played a bass before and even though that Kramer weighed a ton and the Ampeg had a faulty ground, I fell in love with the instrument. I actually had to stand on a rug to play because if I stood on the concrete floor of the basement I'd get zapped every time I touched the strings. I had alot of fun back then.

Almost 20 years later my old instructor and I are still playing in bands together. He likes to say things like "see, if you'd stuck with g**tar you could do things like this!" (insert squealing noise). I usually just reply by telling him I only need 4 (or 5) strings to rock. Then I follow up by telling him he is not a bass player because he is not ready. I'll get this reaction ->:eyebrow: and then I'll say, "You do not find the bass, grasshopper. When you are ready, the bass will find you." Yeah, I'm still having fun.:bassist:
Click to expand...

Oh man do I know that feeling! When I first got with my band, I played through an old Marshall guitar head, I had ZERO gear next to my two basses themselves and a little 12 watt practice amp.
At first, I'd get zapped everytime someone touched me. Shortly after I got zapped everytime I touched the strings. It was so subtle at first everyone told me I had carpal tunnel! heh.

After a while, it wasnt so subtle, and I played through a power amp hooked up to a sound board. NO tone what so ever. Then ala, I found my SWR 750x, and I don't even have to worry about electrocution anymore! :smug:
 
#8
I was 13 and I went over to a music teachers house. She had drums, pianos, guitars, trumpets, flutes, sax's, vibes, violins, a cello, a resonator, a mandolin, and a bass. I got to try out all of them. My mom wanted me to do something and sports had really never interested me, computers bored me, and I just wanted to have fun. It came down in the end to the bass guitar and the mandolin. I chose the bass because I felt like it fit me better. And then I bought a bass starter pack and began my quest for world domination. I like where it's taking me. :)
 
#10
Pilgrim said:
They had more than enough violin players in orchestra and needed a bass player. The teacher asked if I'd switch to bass. I said yes.
Click to expand...

Similar story to that: In our house, my brother was playing 'cello and my sister was playing viola. I didn't want to play violin, so that left the bass. I was thrilled two years later when I discovered that because I could play string bass, I could also play electric. :hyper:
 
#11
I wanted to get into music since young, but my parents never bought an instrument for me... till I was 14 and started asking for a bass because everybody played guitar, and bass seemed just cooler, loved the sound and all... it even looks better to me, so... what's pretty much it, lol
 
#13
I had always loved the sound of a bass. I tried g**tar and got bored with it within the first month. Needless to say it got sold. Then I joined the military and was broke for quite a while. That coupled with the fact that I started fighting competitively left me with no time to even think about anything else. Well, now I'm retired from the Air Force(early/medically) and have hung up my gloves as I've met and/or exceeded every goal I set for myself in the ring/cage/mat. I still train Brazilian Jiu Jitsu as it will always be part of my life, but I don't compete. So it left me thinking of how much I love listening to EW&F, Primus, Ska, Funk, etc... I now have a good job and could actually afford to get into a bass. So that's what I did and it's been non stop fun ever since. I really do wish that I would've started 10-15 years ago when I really wanted to, but thankfully bass isn't an age limited thing. :)
 
#15
I wanted to pick up the guitar (age 13), and I had a deal with my parents that as long as I gave it the effort they would go ahead and get me the gear. Just that year I had given up the violin after four years, which happened to coincide with them finally finishing the payments on it, so they were loathe to repeat the experience.

After contemplating just what guitar I wanted to get, I looked around and realized that everyone else is playing guitar (including my best friend at the time). So if I want to join a band, we can't all play the same instrument.

I was on vacation with my family in Orlando, and one night in the hotel room I walked into my parents' room, looked at them, and said, "I made up my mind. I want to play bass instead." I think the only way they could have expected to hear me say anything more completely random was if I walked in holding my hand saying, "my brother just cut off one of my fingers." It took them a few seconds to process this, at which they nodded and went back to the television.

Fast forward two years (finally!), and for my 15th birthday I was the proud new owner of a Jackson C20 Concert bass and Peavey 112 combo amp.

Best decision I ever made.

Funnily enough, though, my best friend and I never did actually end up playing together, let alone get far enough to consider forming a band.
 
#18
I've always wanted to play a guitar... Never got around to buying one, though. And not too long ago, I just decided it was time. But: Everyone and their dog/cat/insertpetnamehere plays guitar, and I like being a little different, plus I find that I'm always going with the bass when listening to music. So I pulled the trigger, got my Yamaha RBX170, and I absolutely love it :D Getting my Musicman Bongo 5 in a months time. Yay !
 

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