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Why do YOU play bass?
- Thread starter DEbassist
- Start date
My dad played guitar and bass semi-professionally back in the 1950s and '60s...including Arif Mardin's orchestra back in Turkey. He was crazy about American soul music.
I grew up in the late-70s/early-80s in a home where Stax, Motown, and Atlantic records were on heavy rotation. I grew up listening to Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye, Al Green, Sam & Dave, etc.
I guess I had no choice in the matter
I grew up in the late-70s/early-80s in a home where Stax, Motown, and Atlantic records were on heavy rotation. I grew up listening to Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye, Al Green, Sam & Dave, etc.
I guess I had no choice in the matter
I was a drummer for 15 years and started playing bass for fun. After about 3 months we had started to form a new band and we realized that the group that was interested in getting together had 2 drummers and no bass player. They asked me to take on the role and couldn't resist the challenge. Been a bass player ever since. Today I was at GC and was checking out electronic drum sets. Getting the itch to play some drums.
I love the interrelationship of the drum and bass and migrating to it was the perfect musical jump for me.
I love the interrelationship of the drum and bass and migrating to it was the perfect musical jump for me.
'cause I bring da Funk!
Seriously, for whatever reason I have always been drawn to the bass, bass players and bands where the bass player is a prominent factor in the music...
I just wanted to play bass. At first, I tried guitar for a short, short spell and really didn't like it.....
Seriously, for whatever reason I have always been drawn to the bass, bass players and bands where the bass player is a prominent factor in the music...
I just wanted to play bass. At first, I tried guitar for a short, short spell and really didn't like it.....
I've told this story before, but here's the short version.
I was going through adolescence. I wanted to be cool. I wanted to play in a band. Bass only has 4 string, it has to be easy, right? So, I asked some adult, whose name I can't remember, but who knew something about music, what he thought of me learning bass. I remember his quote verbatim:
"I think its a great idea. A good bass player can always find work. The world is full of bad guitarists and violinists."
So I talked my dad into buying me a killer bass. Started learning by ear, and by using Mel Bay's guitar chord book. Which was an accidental genius move, because it taught chord theory (I, IV, V, ii vi, etc.) and scales & arpeggios. Once you know those things, and can understand the chord progression by listening to it, you can learn a new song very fast. In high school, I had a rep for being able to hear something once and play it. So all the bands wanted me.
As I listened to records (that's how old I am,) I kept running into these killer bass lines that were very hard to learn. Turned out they were all the same guy--Joe Osborn. So I became a student.
First band I was in was all original material, so I learned to create bass lines. And since I had studies Osborn, I could do some stuff that other bass players couldn't. And that has served me well the rest of my life.
I was going through adolescence. I wanted to be cool. I wanted to play in a band. Bass only has 4 string, it has to be easy, right? So, I asked some adult, whose name I can't remember, but who knew something about music, what he thought of me learning bass. I remember his quote verbatim:
"I think its a great idea. A good bass player can always find work. The world is full of bad guitarists and violinists."
So I talked my dad into buying me a killer bass. Started learning by ear, and by using Mel Bay's guitar chord book. Which was an accidental genius move, because it taught chord theory (I, IV, V, ii vi, etc.) and scales & arpeggios. Once you know those things, and can understand the chord progression by listening to it, you can learn a new song very fast. In high school, I had a rep for being able to hear something once and play it. So all the bands wanted me.
As I listened to records (that's how old I am,) I kept running into these killer bass lines that were very hard to learn. Turned out they were all the same guy--Joe Osborn. So I became a student.
First band I was in was all original material, so I learned to create bass lines. And since I had studies Osborn, I could do some stuff that other bass players couldn't. And that has served me well the rest of my life.
well, I started at two point for two different reasons. When I was in 8th grade (98-99), my brother's band was getting a decent local following. The two of us were never really close, so I figured I would get a guitar and take lessons from him to "bond." Well, since little brothers are annoying (that's me) he convinced me to play bass instead. At this point I had no idea what a bass really was or its role in music. When I got one (Ibanez p-bass) I didn't really know what to do with it and my bro didn't want to teach me lessons. So the plan failed and I only tinkered with it here and there for a few years.
Skip ahead to 2001,
I didn't want to continue a foreign language but I needed something for my regents diploma. My guidance counselor asked me if I do music or art and I told him that I owned an electric bass. Well, he signed me up for orchestra playing the big bad bass. I was hooked up with a hot Hawaiian babe for lessons. She introduced me to Francois Rabbath and Jaco Pastorius. 7 years, a music degree and countless gigs later, here I am.
The funny thing is, if it wasn't for my brother I'd have never played a bass yet he has never seen me perform.
That's the short of it.
Skip ahead to 2001,
I didn't want to continue a foreign language but I needed something for my regents diploma. My guidance counselor asked me if I do music or art and I told him that I owned an electric bass. Well, he signed me up for orchestra playing the big bad bass. I was hooked up with a hot Hawaiian babe for lessons. She introduced me to Francois Rabbath and Jaco Pastorius. 7 years, a music degree and countless gigs later, here I am.
The funny thing is, if it wasn't for my brother I'd have never played a bass yet he has never seen me perform.
That's the short of it.
When I started and up until last summer, there was a bassist shortage. 
Last summer when my band broke up, I quickly learned that there was such a severe shortage of drummers that it has been a very uphill challenge for me to find any decent bands that needed a bassist like me. Heh, it was like getting laid off during a severe recession. Oddly enough, I think I've seen more gigs for guitarists these days. Part of me though about it, but I get much more satisfaction playing bass.
So...why don't I go to the dark side? I find it very fulfilling with the challenges of the bassist to be a significant part of the rhythm while also having a significant stake in the melody of the songs. ...ok that and after playing a 35" scale 6 string bass, my guitars feel like play toys.
Last summer when my band broke up, I quickly learned that there was such a severe shortage of drummers that it has been a very uphill challenge for me to find any decent bands that needed a bassist like me. Heh, it was like getting laid off during a severe recession. Oddly enough, I think I've seen more gigs for guitarists these days. Part of me though about it, but I get much more satisfaction playing bass.So...why don't I go to the dark side? I find it very fulfilling with the challenges of the bassist to be a significant part of the rhythm while also having a significant stake in the melody of the songs. ...ok that and after playing a 35" scale 6 string bass, my guitars feel like play toys.
Because when I play acoustic fingerstyle guitar it sounds like I know what I'm doing and people usually enjoy it. When I play electric guitar it sounds like bad surf music. Therefore I really enjoy playing bass.
+1000
My older brother listened to Rush, and even though I was a guitarist and keyboardist for quite some years, it was tough not be mesmerized by that rhythm section. So, I was secretly always a fan of the instrument, but I think more hooked on the melodic aspect of the guitar- and also hooked on the fact that playing guitar got me more attention.
The only basses I ever had laying around were for recording, like someone else had said. I more or less played them as guitars-with a pick- which really isn't giving the instrument a fair shake on all it has to offer. But as I got "out" of the music scene and started to play and write just for music's sake (not for a band or for attention), I really began to appreciate the bass and all it had to offer.
It's a completely different role and perspective than the other instruments in the band- and unlike other instruments I've played, where practice seemed like drudgery and work- sometimes when I jamming along with Rush tunes on my computer or with Guitar Pro, hours will go by and I will not have even noticed.
Doesn't feel all that much like work
When I started to really listen to music, I found I had an ear for bass lines in the songs. What sealed my fate was listening to a proto-metal band from the early seventies called Bloodrock. They had one major hit, D.O.A., in 1970. Their bassist, Ed Grundy, had this awesome growly sound and aggressive style that absolutely spoke to me. After hearing him, I wanted to play bass and nothing else.
Several reasons:
1) I was getting sick of the self-indulgent, shred-happy atmosphere invading rock guitar.
2) I was certain I could never keep up in said atmosphere (yes, because I suck at guitar, happy?)
3) I love the feel of the bass - playing fingerstyle, heavy strings - lovely. Much more solid feel than skinny, cutting guitar strings. Maybe I should go extra-heavy on my guitar strings like Dick Dale . . .
4) The bass line to "Feel Good Inc." by Gorillaz. Excellent, groovy, elegant bass line.
5) Groove is the end goal of music from my perspective. If it doesn't groove, who cares? Bass, for me, is the groove stick.
1) I was getting sick of the self-indulgent, shred-happy atmosphere invading rock guitar.
2) I was certain I could never keep up in said atmosphere (yes, because I suck at guitar, happy?)
3) I love the feel of the bass - playing fingerstyle, heavy strings - lovely. Much more solid feel than skinny, cutting guitar strings. Maybe I should go extra-heavy on my guitar strings like Dick Dale . . .
4) The bass line to "Feel Good Inc." by Gorillaz. Excellent, groovy, elegant bass line.
5) Groove is the end goal of music from my perspective. If it doesn't groove, who cares? Bass, for me, is the groove stick.
easy - my friends wanted to start a band.....one played great "Neil Pert" drums and the other was a guitar and piano virtuoso.....so there was only one instrument left.....I have loved it ever since....
Besides...I have always loved bass lines in songs!!!!
Besides...I have always loved bass lines in songs!!!!
I like to work. 
Seriously, when I meet kids who want to play in bands, I tell them that playing bass or drums well is a much faster track to being in demand than guitar or vocals. That's been my experience at any rate.
Seriously, when I meet kids who want to play in bands, I tell them that playing bass or drums well is a much faster track to being in demand than guitar or vocals. That's been my experience at any rate.
I like to work.
LOL, then how'z come only D list Omaha bands will e-mail me back?
1. roger glover- deep purple.
2. i can easily hear the bass in music.(dont know why)
3. guitar strings to close together and too small.
2. i can easily hear the bass in music.(dont know why)
3. guitar strings to close together and too small.
