• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

Why do you play bass?

#25
All joking aside, I originally wanted an electric guitar like every other 11 year old boy. Or so I assume. Our church had a plethora of guitar players, and no bass players, so my parents signed me up for bass lessons with our worship leader and killed three birds with one stone - got me to shut up about wanting to "shred" and "wail" on my "axe," filled the bass player vacancy at our church, and continued my music education without worrying about the demise of my positive moral values.

That bass vacancy at our church was pretty much the story for a dozen local bands - every wanker wanted to play lead guitar, nobody wanted to play bass. There was job security, and I got to feel special for being a decent bass player that played the Wisconsin bar scene in 8th grade. I eventually started playing guitar and drums too, because they're both fun, but bass is pretty much a combination of the two, so it's my go-to instrument.

Also, a 4x10 cabinet makes a nice place for hangarounds to sit. They came to watch the guitar players, but they stayed for the bass.
 
#28
When I was just a tiny kid, I had a dream about playing a tuba solo. It is a bass instrument. I have been a guitar/bass player for 54 years. I used to put flatwounds on my first electric guitar and turn it all bass. I like what bass does. It gets people to dance. I wish I'd dedicated myself to it more when I was young instead of guitar, but it is never too late. Sometimes, you just "are" a bass player inside. I play guitar for the same reason a lot of people end up on bass; I can't ever seem to find a guitar player.
 
#32
Back when I was in high school there were some really fine guitarists around, but pretty much all of the bass players were dumbasses. I decided that if I became the best bass player around, I could be in demand and take my pick of who I'd play with.

40 years later nothing has changed much. :D
 
#33
Because when I was a kid 7 years old my Dad and his friend would jam Hank Williams songs in our living room. I had never felt or heard anything like the guitar my Dads friends was playing (both my Mom and Dad played guitar) so it was just such a feeling that came over me I knew I wanted to play that guitar. At 9 I started learning upright bass in school followed by 10 years of private lessons blah, blah, blah been banging on these four strings for a life time I am 53! I was born to be a bass player therefore I am!
 
#34
There was a new band my friends created...already had 3 guitarists, a keyboard player, and a drummer. Needless to say, they didn't need a 4th guitarist, still not quite sure why though?

This was the best thing musically to happen to me
 
#36
I feel the groove when I play bass. Even though I can't play the advanced stuff yet, I'm getting better at the basics and loving every minute of it.:bassist:
> EDIT I should add Practicing bass has replaced my gaming 100%. I used to play games 1 - 2 hours every day. Now I practice. Timing is starting to click... now to maintain accuracy at high and low tempos...

The effect the bass in the music I love has always hit me as much as the lead / percussion - and now that I play the connection has grown. The more I play the better I 'get' music... not understanding it totally, but building a feel for structure, timing and sonic space. Super fun journey on the most badass of axes. When I pick up a 6 string 'tenor' guitar... it feels like a toy. (picked up an les paul (epi) that's supposedly heavy. It felt feather light (8lbs I'll guess) and tiny, with awkward tiny fret spacing due to the shorter scale):hmm:

Bass, when just below the painful or distorted thresholds*
sounds powerful and groovy - especially with percussion:D Guitar and other instruments rarely sound as good to me, especially if they don't have the support of bass.
I look back and see many of my favourite groups from before I played/studied music - Led Zep, Rory Gallagher, Thin Lizzy, Tool, Queen, and most others had good grooves and tone in the bottom / mids. I'd say 60% of my enjoyment came from the drums & bass. Occasionally up to 100%.

SHORT ANSWER
I was asked to play to back up a drummer.... Best decision I've ever made, saying yes.:cool:

(*Don't worry, I wear ear protection when I'm up against drums)
 
#39
Mainly because I heard Cliff Burton play, and it blew my mind. I loved the idea of having an instrument that could, in essence, be in the background OR be in the forefront, so easily. Also, as I mature on the bass, I realize that I'm much better playing with my fingers, and fingerstyle isn't very expedient on a regular guitar.

And finally, just because every band needs a bassist, so I figure why not be a GOOD bassist?
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back