All my friends played guitar and I wanted to be different so I chose the bass after seeing the Ramones and how Dee Dee led the band
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Why do you play bass ??
- Thread starter loie1987
- Start date
Bass makes the booty bounce. Hence I call it the booty bouncing bass.
But in all honesty, it just felt right. I started out on guitar - and happened to try bass one day. The (then) "exaggerated" features of the bass felt right with my hands. Personal preference, ergonomically friendly, and bouncing booties
But in all honesty, it just felt right. I started out on guitar - and happened to try bass one day. The (then) "exaggerated" features of the bass felt right with my hands. Personal preference, ergonomically friendly, and bouncing booties
I started playing guitar in the 5th grade. I didn't practice often, thus leading me to hit a plateau.
Though frustration of not getting better (not that I practiced enough to) I put the guitar down for about 7 years.
I picked up an Acoustic when I was about 16 and did that for a while, but I just felt in my mind that I needed something new. Guitar didn't make me happy, probably due to my feelings about it when I was young and not getting better!
So I bought a bass and 6 months later joined a band. I really hit the ground running trying to keep up with our guitarist, but I learned an incredible amount in the 3 years I spent with that band.
I bought the bass after going through a breakup because I needed something to keep me occupied and make me feel productive. I've experienced a great amount of enjoyment in music and in learning to practice and stick to my guns.
Though frustration of not getting better (not that I practiced enough to) I put the guitar down for about 7 years.
I picked up an Acoustic when I was about 16 and did that for a while, but I just felt in my mind that I needed something new. Guitar didn't make me happy, probably due to my feelings about it when I was young and not getting better!
So I bought a bass and 6 months later joined a band. I really hit the ground running trying to keep up with our guitarist, but I learned an incredible amount in the 3 years I spent with that band.
I bought the bass after going through a breakup because I needed something to keep me occupied and make me feel productive. I've experienced a great amount of enjoyment in music and in learning to practice and stick to my guns.
My cousin plays guitar and my brother plays drum so I figured I'd get a bass so we could jam....not the case. They're actually pretty good at their respective instruments, whereas I am not, so jamming never took off anywhere when I'd try to play. So I play for my own enrichment and hope one day, I'll become mediocre enough to play in a cover band at bars like once or twice a week for fun lol 
To help write, play and share songs that give people goosebumps the way the music I listen to does to me. To inspire. Plus I LOVE playing bass and I love chasing tone 
to be honest. .... I went into grade 8 as a classical violin guy. .... my life was focused on me becoming a solo violinist.
high school had no use for me on violin in music program so my big brother strongly recommended I play bass in band. never looked back
high school had no use for me on violin in music program so my big brother strongly recommended I play bass in band. never looked back
Why do you play bass ?? Because I can't play tuna. Ba dump bump.
but seriously...in my town, growing up, guitar players and drummers were everywhere. Bass players were few, so, I chose bass. I played in several bands at the same time and was always in demand, even at the high school orchestra.More than that, I was always drawn to the sound;big, powerful and, along with the drummer, was the one that made all the booty shake.
but seriously...in my town, growing up, guitar players and drummers were everywhere. Bass players were few, so, I chose bass. I played in several bands at the same time and was always in demand, even at the high school orchestra.More than that, I was always drawn to the sound;big, powerful and, along with the drummer, was the one that made all the booty shake.
No band wanted me as a guitar player. I don't blame them.
I switched to bass, and then three bands wanted me.
I switched to bass, and then three bands wanted me.
My older brother wanted to be Kirk, so I had to be James.
He wanted to be Glen, so I had to be KK.
Then one day my friend's big brother had a bass that was all taped up EVH style.
So then I said, "hey, can I be Michael Anthony and you can be EVH ?"
And *poof* I was a bass player.
He wanted to be Glen, so I had to be KK.
Then one day my friend's big brother had a bass that was all taped up EVH style.
So then I said, "hey, can I be Michael Anthony and you can be EVH ?"
And *poof* I was a bass player.
I play bass for a number of reasons. My father played bass a bit in the early 60's, my favorite Beatle is Paul McCartney, and I like to rattle people's chairs. Those are the things that got me started.
I learned to play guitar and bass at about the same time, but mostly played guitar in bands. Became a very good lead player, started to play some keyboards as well, and eventually just played whatever was needed in any given situation. I always felt the instruments were tools, and the music was the most important thing, etc, blah blah etc.
Then about 6 years ago I shattered my right hand and wrist at a karate demonstration with a break that went bad, and developed arthritis in my wrist that made me give up guitar. Bass I could still play by anchoring my thumb, but strumming was gone. I had surgery earlier this year and can play guitar again, but really at this point and given I'm mid 50's now I really just want to play fretless when I get the time to sit in my music room and play any of my instruments. Besides, a good bass player and a decent guitar player can sound great - a crappy bass player and an amazing guitar player sounds like crap most of the time. I'm happy to be the bass player as it at least provides a good bottom for whomever pops over to the house and wants to play one of the instruments lying around. There are lots lol
Then about 6 years ago I shattered my right hand and wrist at a karate demonstration with a break that went bad, and developed arthritis in my wrist that made me give up guitar. Bass I could still play by anchoring my thumb, but strumming was gone. I had surgery earlier this year and can play guitar again, but really at this point and given I'm mid 50's now I really just want to play fretless when I get the time to sit in my music room and play any of my instruments. Besides, a good bass player and a decent guitar player can sound great - a crappy bass player and an amazing guitar player sounds like crap most of the time. I'm happy to be the bass player as it at least provides a good bottom for whomever pops over to the house and wants to play one of the instruments lying around. There are lots lol
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In my sophomore year in HS we moved and I went to a new school. Day one my goal was to meet musicians and find a band I could play guitar in. At lunch I asked around and met some guys who had a band and tried to start up conversation.
Just then a new song came on the jukebox "get together" by the Youngbloods. The lead guitarist said he was going to stop by a music store and order the sheet music. I said, no need, I'll write out the changes. He asked if I'd knew the song, no but I can hear the changes.
I wrote out the chords, color tones and all. He compared to the sheet music and found that what I wrote was correct, but the sheet music was not. A few days later he found me at lunch and asked if I could play bass, their bass player graduated and went away to college. Sure (I'd never picked up a bassin my life) I can play bass but I don't have one or an amp. No worries, we'll get you going with the old guys stuff.
I borrowed his old Mustang bass and B15 and practiced up. I played a few dances with them over the next 6-8 months. Unfortunately my new guitar player friend was killed driving drunk one night after a party.
My new skill of playing bass has come in handy over my 50 years of gigging. I still mostly play guitar but I've done a bunch of gigs on bass
Just then a new song came on the jukebox "get together" by the Youngbloods. The lead guitarist said he was going to stop by a music store and order the sheet music. I said, no need, I'll write out the changes. He asked if I'd knew the song, no but I can hear the changes.
I wrote out the chords, color tones and all. He compared to the sheet music and found that what I wrote was correct, but the sheet music was not. A few days later he found me at lunch and asked if I could play bass, their bass player graduated and went away to college. Sure (I'd never picked up a bassin my life) I can play bass but I don't have one or an amp. No worries, we'll get you going with the old guys stuff.
I borrowed his old Mustang bass and B15 and practiced up. I played a few dances with them over the next 6-8 months. Unfortunately my new guitar player friend was killed driving drunk one night after a party.
My new skill of playing bass has come in handy over my 50 years of gigging. I still mostly play guitar but I've done a bunch of gigs on bass
played keys from 1963-1973 ... then started on guitar ... there was enough guitards in high school at that time , so I switched to bass ... it was a lot of fun playing a variety of instruments & singing in bands over the decades .. !! I'm still trying to improve my guitar playing ... at 56 .. !!
It's the unrealized hero of any song. Kind of like the Batman of music - saving the musical world from utter chaos, but without all the attention-seeking hoopla so unfortunately common among guitarists and singers. "A silent guardian, a watchful protector, a dark knight."
for me it was a natural progression trumpet, skin flute, Bass,
Yeah, I like that role too; it fits my personality. An important musical part in the band, usually the organized person that tries to hold things together too, and without the need to show off or be the front man. A lot of people, even including band mates at times, don't realize the contribution the bass makes until you take it away, but I'm fine with that.
I was a cello player as a little kid, but that big monster of a DB always called my name, so I started doubling when I was about 13, and switched entirely by 17, when I got a DB ($200 from a family friend) big amp (some kind of 115 peavey combo from the 80's) and a T-40 (heavy, heavy, heavy) all in one summer. Bye Bye, cello.
Tried to play my kid's cello last month; my intonation is a suckysuckysuckitysuck and I've forgotten every fingering. She said "Daddy, just look at the tapes!" and also made fun of my lh position. It was embarrassing.
Tried to play my kid's cello last month; my intonation is a suckysuckysuckitysuck and I've forgotten every fingering. She said "Daddy, just look at the tapes!" and also made fun of my lh position. It was embarrassing.
