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Why did you start playing bass?

#244
Steve Harris.

I was a huge Maiden fan back in the 80s, and Live After Death was rarely out of the video player. Who looked the coolest? Steve of course, sprinting all over the stage, then foot up on the monitor "machine gunning" the crowd with his bass.

So I bought a bass. Although surprisingly I don't know that much Maiden because I'd kind of lost interest in them by the time I was good enough to play anything by them...
 
#245
Good story actually - sophmore year of high school (4 years ago now) I was just starting to be friends with a guy in my class who played guitar and was talking about starting a band/jamming with another guitarist friend of his, but wanted a bassist. My mother inherited my grandfather's bass so I asked if I could use it and she said yes. I hung out with him more and learned more and you know how it goes.

Just goes to show ya - bassists get more gigs ;)
 
#246
I was actually an aspiring keyboard player. Some friends of mine had a southern rock cover band with a crappy bass player. He didn't show up for practice one day so I filled in. I didn't really know anything, they just showed me what the root notes were and I plucked em, trying to stay in time. The sad thing was, I was better than the other guy. They kicked him out and I was in.
 
#247
Two reasons:

1. I started on drums but wanted to play something with notes. Played a few instruments in the school band and guitar and bass. Stuck with guitar and bass because they were the most drumlike of the musical instruments, plus I was terrible at keyboards. Ultimately stuck with bass because:

2. There were a lot more guitarists than there were bass players, and I figured I'd always get a gig. I was right. They weren't all great gigs, but I stayed in a band all of the time.

3 (OK, three reasons). The same reason everyone did...for the chicks!
 
#248
Modo74 said:
Steve Harris.

I was a huge Maiden fan back in the 80s, and Live After Death was rarely out of the video player. Who looked the coolest? Steve of course, sprinting all over the stage, then foot up on the monitor "machine gunning" the crowd with his bass.

So I bought a bass. Although surprisingly I don't know that much Maiden because I'd kind of lost interest in them by the time I was good enough to play anything by them...
Click to expand...


me too....I started with the Killers album...YES ALBUM....:D
the song Killer and wrathchild
 
#250
My ear started to naturally gravitate towards the bass parts. This happened first as a little kid when hearing a real pipe organ, then later with music on FM radio, although I didn't know it was the bass guitar that was making those wonderful low sounds. One day in 7th grade I accompanied a friend to a music store so he could by a method book for his trumpet lessons. I had always been intrigued and in awe of all the beautiful electric guitars hanging all along the wall. I noticed something interesting, then said to my friend, "Hey Doug, why do some of those electric guitars only have 4 strings?" He turned and looked at me as if I had been living in a cave. "Don't you know?? There's regular guitars and there's bass guitars!"

I was stunned. Bass guitars? BASS guitars?? Yes! Of course! THAT's what must be making those beautiful low sounds I'm hearing on the radio! That was the beginning... :bassist:
 
#252
I was twelve and had played bari saxaphone for a couple of years. I loved playing the sax (still do) but being a young punk felt the need to rock out. I asked my parents for a guitar for christmas. They agreed and on christmas morning I was the proud owner of a tele (that I later destroyed in a refin gone awry but that's another story..). Shortly thereafter I started a band with a good friend of mine who had also recieved a guitar for christmas. The guy we got to play bass for us had a cheap bass that his dad (who was a bass player) got for him. It was in the shop getting setup on our first practice as a band so his dad let him bring his 70's jazz (think geddy with rosewood). He was really careful with it and did not want to set it down while he went to the restroom so he asked me to hold it. I did. I started to noodle around on it and fell in love. I quit the band the next day and told my parents in a matter of fact tone that I was meant to be a bass player. I asked my parents to take me to the music store. They grumbled but did. I used all of my money to buy the cheapest bass in the place (terrible mako). Later in life they told me that they wanted to laugh when I told them that but thought that it would be a good lesson to learn about spending money on a whim. To their supprize I was meant to be a bass player. They supported me in it till the day they died. Great Parents!
 
#253
Hi

I was always surrounded and exposed to all different kinds of music. My 3 older sisters bought all kinds of records from The Beatles to CSNY to Zappa. My Mom plays piano by ear and my one Sis is a great acoustic guitarist and singer. Id listen to her and sing along harmonies and play my kazoo!! LOL.

As I grew older, I started to gravitate to drums. My Mom always threatened to get me a set but I think she knew better(didnt want all the noise). In my teens, I met a couple of brothers that played guitar. I thought it was real cool to hear them play rhythms and leads from all the popular bands from that time. Later that summer, I attended my first concert. It was Santana. I was drawn to their bassist, David Margen. He looked so cool playing his red Fender jazz and did a great solo. I saved up my cash from the summer and bought my first bass. Thought it would be the best way to jam with my friends.

Rob
 
#254
I've played guitar for 15+ years now and have gotten pretty good at it over the years. I play mostly acoustic but pick up the electric from time to time. My church had 2 guitarists already but no bassist, since it was a small church. The pastor's son, who was one of the guitarists, asked me to play the bass since he knew I played and since he wasn't about to lose his guitarist spot. I obliged, even though I had no clue about technique. I just knew that the 4 strings were tuned the same as the bottom 4 strings on a guitar. I started out playing with a pick but slowly picked up other techniques and have become quite a player. I've fallen in love with the instrument and the role of a bassist. I'm to the point now where people don't know whether or not I'm a better guitarist or bassist. I've been playing bass for about 8 years now and I'd be nuts to let someone take my spot on the praise and worship team. It's my gig now.
 
#255
Pink Floyd first got me in to bass, especially the Pulse Live DVD. Guy Pratt was superb. Now I've moved on to Flea and I don't think I'm gonna go past him for a long time. Yes I admire Jaco, Wooten, Miller and all those other guys, but Flea just clicks for me.
 
#259
Funnily enough I use to listen to tracks by iron maiden like Wrathchild (which has a really cool bass intro) and i always use to think "i love the sound of the guitar" (not knowing it was a bass) I also loved the bass intro to N.I.B again having no idea that it was a BASS solo and not a guitar solo, got a bass and never looked back! love every minute of it.
 
#260
I was 13 and my friends started a band. We were all delegated instruments by the guitarist and I was delegated bass. I didn't complain because he owned all of the instruments. I learned for a while on a purple burst Dean 88 bass and bought a USA Dean Hollywood Z in the following year. We had t-shirts and marketing stuff all planned out at 13 before we even had any songs written.
 

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