Why did you start playing bass?

[WhenTheDrumsStops]

Never payed any atention to the bass (nor music in general) till I heared the song 'Hot water' from Level 42 for the first time, that was the life changing moment the bass came into my life. With my paper route money I bought my first bass a year after that.

 

[4 Fat Strings]

I always hummed along to bass lines as a little kid. I loved how bass was the instrument you physically FEEL as well as hear. Finally went out and bought a bass and amp when I was 22 (1984). Taught myself how to play by listening to U2's first 3 records because their bass lines were simple, deep, and prominent in the mix. Joined a band after about 3 months. Played for about 4 or 5 years before I quit (life got in the way). Fast forward 29 years... I finally picked up the bass again at age 55 and have been jamming with some old guys for the past year, and wonder why I ever stopped.

 

[Mike Sorr]

In my case, I wanted to entertain. But, I found I was less skilled in anything else.

I actually got away with it...for a while...

I didn't know I wanted to be a musician until I was in my early teens and my friends started taking up instruments and getting themselves into bands. Suddenly even the geekiest dorks and nerds became cool when they let their hair grow, got a black motorcycle jacket, and had a guitar strapped on them. I went to see a friend's band play at some roller skating rink in North Jersey and they opened up with Iron Maiden's "Ides of March" and I knew I wanted to play the bass from the first notes, especially when they kicked it in to "Wrathchild". The guitar players were cool, the drummer was cool, the singer was cool...but the bass player was to coolest and I had to be that guy. So after discovering who Iron Maiden was, I pestered my dad for a bass and an amp, bought a copy of their first two albums, and wore the grooves off them until I could play every song, note for note. So, when I mention that Steve Harris is the reason I play bass, it's true but not completely accurate. The bass player I first heard playing Steve's lines is the reason I play bass. So, Steve Harris was an influence before I ever knew who he was. That's saying something.

 

[gazzatriumph]

Because I couldnt play a six string a failed guitarist. Only joking started when I was 13 the thick strings attracted me and the sound, I'm mid 50's now and still love the bass, never wanted to play anything else..

 

[FenderB]

I suck at playing the drums so I thought maybe the bass might be my calling, it's not. I don't plan on adding anymore instrument to the list. LOL.

 

[Runnerman]

A couple of times actually...

First time was with a band that I was playing guitar in that needed a bass player. They asked me to play and I agreed. The first bass I played was a rental Japanese copy of a P-bass. I also rented an amp, I think it was a lower end Fender of some sort. I was about 24 at the time. When that band broke up which was rather quickly, I went back to guitar.

Second time was following a stint with drumming. I wanted to write and record my own music. I had the guitars and drums and just needed a bass. I bought a cheap import Peavey. When some people in my circle heard I had a bass and could somewhat play it, I was asked to play in another band. I was probably 45 or so at that time. It became my main instrument over the next couple of years. I still sub on drums and guitar from time to time but I consider myself a bass player. My current band has been together for 7 or 8 years ...I can't remember. I'm 58 now.

 

[skyline_01]

I had started band back in 6th grade (1987'ish) playing trombone but a number of my friends were starting to take up the "cool" instruments like guitar, bass and drums. Also shortly after that my cousin got a Series 10 bass, an ultra-cheap Rock Town amp and a Mel Bay beginning bass book for his birthday. He was fairly interested in it at first but became too busy to keep up with it and didn't play much after that. I spent a lot of time at his house, and when I was there I would play through the exercises in the book and also try to play along with popular songs on the radio.

Fast forward: I've been playing semi-professionally on the side for as long as I can remember and played just about every genre imaginable. I gigged through the last part of high school and all through college (where I continued to also play trombone as a music ed major) and have been a perm member or sub with a number of good bands. I'm currently with a mostly-original band with three albums to date, I have one endorsement under my belt from a really great company (hopefully with others to come lol), and I occasionally take up sub gigs with other groups on the side. I don't have any intention of slowing down anytime soon, and I still feel that my cousin gets about 95% of the credit for it.

 

[Pet Sounds]

I started playing guitar in 1969. I had a couple of false starts on bass before getting serious about it in about 1993.
McCartney was my bass hero from way back.

 

[gidbass]

In my case, I wanted to entertain. But, I found I was less skilled in anything else.

I actually got away with it...for a while...

Everyone else played guitar or drums, no one played bass, and i thought less strings would make it easier to learn...

Good Luck!!

 

[Ronzo]

Played guitar exclusively from 1962 to 1974. Heard Anthony Jackson’s bass line on For The Love Of Money, and from that point forward, I’ve played both guitar and bass.

 

[Element Zero]

Because low notes go boom boom happy face booty shake.

 

[Yellow Bang66]

Someone said there'd be strippers and limos...

Yeah, CHICKS! My Older brother took me to my 1st concert, (Iron maiden & ted nugent).I think, and I was hooked!They were some hotties in the crowd, cooing/writhing at the bands. I thought NEED to be in a band! My buddy had already been playing guitar for 2 years. He was really, really good & had the jump on me. He convinced me to play bass. And the die was set. I played some guitar at the time, so bass wasn't hard to pick up. My parents were happy I showed interest in music, and bought a Sears bass for me. My buddy & I eventually formed a Pretty Good Rock band, of course "to get chicks"! It didn't last for long, though. because musical differences, egos,& ironically, our girlfriends tore the band apart. (think: 4 Yokos!). I think we all are still playing a littlebit, but that time was priceless. Our motivation was probably wrong/weak back then, But now my motives are a bit purer & I love making music & performing . But, That's why I started playing bass. I wish it was for a more nobler reason

 

[Ronzo]

Our motivation was probably wrong/weak back then, But now my motives are a bit purer & I love making music & performing . That's why I started playing bass. I wish it was for a more nobler reason

Somehow, I keep hearing Animal Mother’s (Stephen Baldwin’s) line from Full Metal Jacket: “If I’m gonna get my b—-s blown off for a word, my word’s gonna be p———g.”

 

[Uzibass]

Bass is the most essential thing in music. Playing bass is like plugging into something elemental.

 

[lomo]

I was always drawn to the bass in the music I loved.....at 40 I was watching my 5 year old daughter learn piano and asked myself what I was waiting for....I had always dreamed of playing music......that was 16 years ago......easily one of the best decisions I have made in my life so far.

 

[TDPRI Bones]

Because I'm funky like a train.

 

[fishdreams]

Because I had a washtub bass (made from a tea shipping crate) that I was thumping along lps with. And then my highschoolmate who had helped me make the tea-bass asked me to join his budding jazz project.

 

[superiorpine]

As long as I am vertical and able to take nourishment, I will be a bass player. Just how did that happen?

At junior high sock hops, the bass from the record player on a wooden stage engaged me emotionally, it made me dance when otherwise I just couldn't. I didn't understand it then. I just knew there was some kind of magic in the sound from the stage.

At the same time, I started playing acoustic guitar so I could play at church instead of just sit there. We didn't have a bass player, only acoustic guitars. And it was way better than just sitting there!

Fast forward to freshman year in high school, an old buddy and guitar player I knew from a previous military installation moved into my neighborhood again. (We were both military brats).

We decided to start a band. Shock, right? I asked the wizzard if I should play rhythm or....... He looked at my hands and said "You have long fingers, why don't you play bass?" I figured why not. We found used Gibson EBO with the black bakelite pickup, paid my $125 cash, and he taught me some patterns. Wish I still had it.

I bought a Fender bassman head and a Kustom tuck and roll cabinet, and immediately reconnected with my junior high sock hop sense of shock and awe. This was so much better than acoustic guitar. I was hooked, and aside from taking a couple of decades off to raise kids, have never looked back and never thought twice.

As long as I am vertical and able to take nourishment, I will be a bass player........

 

[giacomobass]

You just can't do that with a guitar.

Tell that to Sunn O))).

 

[smogg]

Q: Why did you start playing bass?
A: Because I can't dance.