Why do you play bass ??

[KickingBass]

I originally had learning guitar on my bucket list but figured that learning how to play bass in some classes my church was having would be better since the bass only had 4 strings. I very quickly developed a liking for the sound and made my first bass probably that night. I got a cardboard box and ripped a strip off the lid. I then got a sharpie and drew on strings, inlays and fret lines. I basically learned my basics on that and made sounds with my mouth or just listened to the teacher play while I followed along. So glad I chose bass though, it really is a great instrument, so great I only want to play guitar for fun now while the bass will be my primary instrument. true story.

 

[divetone]

My neighbor lent me a small bass amp so I could plug a cheap Japanese guitar into that I bought at a garage sale. Weeks later a friend asked me if I knew anyone with a bass amp. He was starting a band, had a bass someone left in the apartment he had just moved into, but nothing to play it through. I said I don't own it but ill bring it by. Next thing you know I was the bass player. I had never shown an interest in bass and had no guitar skills to speak of. I haven't touched a guitar in decades, I blew that little amp on our first house party gig. My neighbor, one of the finest human beings I've ever known, forgave me and totally supported my efforts moving forward.

 

[Wallygator]

I was 14, at my first concert watching the bass player attacking the strings and feeling it rumbling my core. I said "that's what I want to play"!

 

[lameaim]

Was encouraged to play guitar by a friend for a couple of years. Finally decided to give it a go about four years ago and practiced regularly, though I was never great a chords and kept trying to play bass lines on the damned thing. So I took that as a hint, got my first bass, and I've been making things rattle and vibrate ever since. Ties into my childhood drumming dreams (oh if I only had the space for a set back then) and really does fit my personality more. Now if I could play with people more often...

 

[kegtujosh]

Before I learned to play bass, low ends always amuses me. It's that part of music my ear follows.

 

[bevan lurrito]

Because I am fat, I guess.

 

[BazzTard]

Paul McCartney and John Paul Jones

oh and John Entwistle

 

[ninjaaron]

You're what we could call a tenor then. I suppose someone who plays bass would rather sing bass than tenor but truth be told tenors make more money!

Well, I also play the tin whistle, and I can tell you I have no desire to sing sopranista! I don't quite have the range of a real tenor. I can sometimes screech an 440 if I'm super warmed up, not yet fatigued, etc. I can hit G# on most good days. G is the highest note I'll try to hit in front of other people. I might be able to be a true-blue A110 to A440 tenor if I practiced every day, but I don't have much opportunity to sing for people, so that doesn't really happen.

 

[gleneg61]

Coz it's just so damn cool!!!

 

[taylor16]

It's Stuart Zender's fault.

 

[Mediocrity Man]

That's hard to explain. I just love those big fat warm tones.

 

[homie]

After 17 years of noodling around on a guitar, bought a bass that was on sale at GC and was like should of did this a long time ago, much more fun to play bass and figure stuff out.

 

[Clef_de_fa]

I remember that I didn't have something that could reproduce bass frequencies, the I listened to my music in my parents sound system I thought it was interesting that there is an hidden melody and it is way simpler ... then my mother started to play guitar and I wanted to play music too but didn't want to play guitar too so I choose bass because it was a lot easier and it is still an easier/simpler instrument to play than guitar.

But I feel less and less compeled to play any music anymore

 

[ofajen]

... there was enough guitards in high school at that time , so I switched to bass ...

Just curious, is "guitards" a typo or is that a word I hadn't seen before? Either way, I like it.

Otto

 

[ninjaaron]

That's no typo.

 

[bucephylus]

So many great posts. You cats are great. Thanks. Really enjoyed reading through the thread.

What was the question? Oh yeah, "Why do you play bass?"

10. I was born that way; what's your excuse?
9. Didn't think I could do flips off the guitar amp like Ted Nugent at my high school dances.
8. The girls all liked Paul McCartney the best.
7. No one else was willing to play the fool thing.
6. Grew up in Motown, baby!
5. Knew my parents would disown me if I played drums (can't blame them).
4. Did I mention girls? Oh yeah.
3. Worked better than the drafting t-square I started playing along with Down On the Corner on the Willie & the Poor Boys album
2. So my kids don't think I'm square.
1. It's the heartbeat of so many wonderful songs.

 

[Frenchdaddy]

I can't remember, it's so old now. Probably because I found something was missing in the sound of a guitar and because it looked easier. Today, I feel like being a bassist, either on a bass guitar, a double bass, or when singing. I can't live without it. My only regret is that it's too late to learn also the sousaphone.

 

[squidtastic]

1. It's the heartbeat of so many wonderful songs.

Ah, great way to put it!

 

[fatt matt]

Thanks for all the post everybody ! I really enjoy hearing how everybody gets started . Even though some of us are longer in the tooth than others and at different levels of skill and play different types of music we all have that meaningful bond ; our unaltered love of our bottom end instruments . Thank you all for being a fellow bass player !

FM

 

[ferdinandstrat]

Being the de facto bass player in several bands and actually owning a bass.