Nope.
I gave up on hurling(the game, not the art of throwing up spectacularly) to concentrate on the band...all the local girls preferred the sportsmen!
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Why did you start playing bass?
- Thread starter HamOnTheCob
- Start date
I gave up on hurling(the game, not the art of throwing up spectacularly) to concentrate on the band...all the local girls preferred the sportsmen!
Ric5
Inactive
- Jan 29, 2008
- 29,772
- 30,452
- Disclosures
- I like 5, 8, 10, and 12 string basses
Why did you start playing bass?
When I was 13 my older brother and his friend were starting a band. They had drums and guitar covered, so the asked me to play bass. My first bass was a Japanese guitar off brand with fat flat wound strings EADG and the high B and E removed.
I later got a real bass and I played with some more skilled musicians through the years
When I was 13 my older brother and his friend were starting a band. They had drums and guitar covered, so the asked me to play bass. My first bass was a Japanese guitar off brand with fat flat wound strings EADG and the high B and E removed.
I later got a real bass and I played with some more skilled musicians through the years
I played clarinet through grade school (concert and marching band). In college I decided I wanted to keep playing music, but wanted it to be a little more up with the times...LOL While still in high school, a friend of mine introduced me to Rush when Moving Pictures was released, so by the time I hit college I had all their albums and really wanted a Rickenbacker (still have not owned one yet). The final part of the decision was when I decided I wanted to join a band. There were guitar players in about every third room in the dorm I stayed in. There were about half as many keyboard players. Nearly all of them were convinced that they could be lead singers too. All the ads were for drummers and bass players. I was already interested in bass and had some experience playing a monophonic instrument, plus I got what I thought was a great deal on a bass and amp. Picked up a used Fender USA Bullet bass (hated it, dull tone and horrible neck dive) and Crate combo bass amp (it was OK). Over the years I've dabbled a bit with keyboard and guitar, but I'm just much happier playing bass.
Seriously though, I was thirteen or so and really getting into listening to music and thought it would be cool to play in a band. I knew several people my age who played guitar, and no one that played bass. Bass, to me, was the cool instrument because no one else played it.
Tbh, it did help that Tia Carrere was playing a P-Bass throughout all of Wayne's World (which was super cool at the time).
Guitar and drums seemed hard. I wasn’t interested in piano so I played tenor sax. Then got into bass, then double bass.
I wanna play tuba next. Been wanting to for years.
I wanna play tuba next. Been wanting to for years.
I heard Don’t Stop Believing and was fascinated by the bass in that song. I started playing in 1982 or 83. Funny thing...I didn’t sit down to learn it until 3 years ago as a deal with my wife so I could by my Geddy bass.
After the Beatles I quit getting calls for saxophone.
Paul McCartney on Beatle records. I was maybe 6 or 7 years old when I discovered bass. I didn't know what it was, but I was drawn to whatever those low tones were. This was around the time Pepper was released. I didn't start playing until I was around 15, though.
It was during my college years. Our “real” bass player moved on, and the keyboard player and I switched off doing bass duties. I discovered I liked playing bass.
I started playing guitar at 11 (1975). I got my first electric guitar (No Name SG )in 78, and wanted to be like Jimmy Page. Then, all the musicians I met in High School played better than me, and had better equipment. So, since I was odd-man-out, I was the bass player. I hated it. Bum bum bumm...BORING!! I was 16. I borrowed basses since I didn't have or even want my own. I played with a pick, then Elvis Costello's "Armed Forces" came out. 1980...I started listening to guys like Bruce Thomas, Graham Maby, Bruce Foxton. Ok, that put me on track, so I bought a cheap no name P Bass and Peavey bass amp w/a 15" cab. The real turn for me was when a friend turned me on to RTFs "Romantic Warrior", And Rush "Moving Pictures". ,I thought, "Holy poopie! I wanna play like THAT!" So, 39 years and countless bands and basses later, I'm still pluggin away.
When I started paying attention instead of passively listening to music in the mid-sixties, I was mostly interested in the bass lines. I wanted to make similar sounds! I didn't stick with piano lessons or the clarinet that one of my aunts gave me, but I stuck with the trombone and baritone horn for a while. Then I literally traded my Bundy trombone for my first bass in 1973 and haven't played anything else. I'd say I was born with a love for it. 
Geddy lee in Rush- his tone and style just inspired me to play! That and my younger brother at that time just got a K-mart guitar.
I started when I was 18, it was the first "big" purchase of $300, a Ibanez SR in orange- turned out to be a turd, so I got a cheap Steinberger Spirit XL. I played for about 6 months then had to sell it to help my dad out with bills- I since was bassless until about 6 months ago, which is about 11 years later, now that I can afford a bass to play.
I practice every day, and play for the church, I am confident as long as my fingers work, There will be a bass in my hands.
I don't have much in the way of chops, but I can play Overture, Far cry, Enemy within, Animate, Vital signs(well almost there) Roll the bones and from other bands, Hysteria, can't stop (kinda), Monster, waiting for silence, along with my own doodles.
The church songs, I learn for a week and then totally forget the day after the service.
I started when I was 18, it was the first "big" purchase of $300, a Ibanez SR in orange- turned out to be a turd, so I got a cheap Steinberger Spirit XL. I played for about 6 months then had to sell it to help my dad out with bills- I since was bassless until about 6 months ago, which is about 11 years later, now that I can afford a bass to play.
I practice every day, and play for the church, I am confident as long as my fingers work, There will be a bass in my hands.
I don't have much in the way of chops, but I can play Overture, Far cry, Enemy within, Animate, Vital signs(well almost there) Roll the bones and from other bands, Hysteria, can't stop (kinda), Monster, waiting for silence, along with my own doodles.
The church songs, I learn for a week and then totally forget the day after the service.
My buddy had a drum set. My other buddy bought a guitar. I got a bass 2 months later. We were 14. Also, Robert DeLeo from STP—he was so smooth in his style.
It was just before the Beatles. It was Elvis, Carl Perkins, Roy Orbison, etc. The bass drove those songs, added power to the sound. When the Beatles hit, girls would scream and chase us. They wanted a focal point and we were happy to oblige.
We would switch around playing different instruments for each set. We would all handle bass, lead guitar, rhythm guitar, and drums. Great experience and a chance to learn.
We would switch around playing different instruments for each set. We would all handle bass, lead guitar, rhythm guitar, and drums. Great experience and a chance to learn.
