Your Evolution as a Bass Player?

[Jay Corwin]

I just turned 30, been playing since my teenage years. My guitarist and I were joking around at practice the other day about how we never really had lessons or proper training. It got me to thinking about how far I've really come as a bass player.

I started out playing three chord punk, but sometime in my mid/late twenties I just became a sponge - listening to stuff like Jamerson, Dunn, Schacher, etc. - got really serious about bass rather than just playing roots and such.

Fast forward - Now I'm in band playing jazz, swing, blues, rockabilly, surf....some stuff I would of shook my head at before ('cause I wouldn't have had a clue). Most of it is just stuff I picked up along the way. Never would have thought this 17 year old kid with blue hair would end up being a serviceable bass player for the mix I'm playing now!

Anyone else have similar experiences and stories?

I thought I would revive this topic since my evolution is about to take yet another turn. All this interest in playing some of this really old music in my current band has lead me to studying, and trying to cop double bass lines on my electric....which peaked my interest in double bass....which lead to me buying one finally last weekend.

I plan on getting lessons and jumping in with both feet first in attempt to become a better musician, and to learn a new instrument that has come to fascinate me. So now approaching 31, I'm almost starting from scratch again - and it's a very cool feeling. Almost gives one that same feeling you had when you learned your first lick or song and couldn't put down your P-bass copy!

 

[MichaelPatrick]

I think music is like many other areas...you don't really appreciate it until you've got some perspective. I started playing bass in HS and played with a couple bands through college, but it wasn't until I was in the real world and had the luxury of a little more time to get into what it meant to be a "bassist" rather than just a rocker that I started to really grow.

I played trombone in the school band when I was a kid and when I look back, I think it started way too early. I was lucky to have a music teacher who really planted the seeds of music early for me (she taught music using stuff like gospel, soul, R&B, etc. which is exactly the stuff I know, love and appreciate now). But for all intensive purposes, the theory was taught way too early. When I was in 4-8th grade, I had no other opportunities than school band rehearsal (45 min every week) to really play and understand how music reacted with everything else.

This does get back to this question that has been in the back of my mind for a while. I see all of these "save the music" commercials, but I'm wondering what is an appropriate time to really start music education. I think if it starts early, thats ok, as long as kids have an outlet to play. While on one hand, I played trombone because that was the only instrument left to play, but on the other hand, we were only playing classical Stars N' Stripes stuff (which I had little to no appreciation for) and I think that stunted my growth a bit.

 

[Sbassman Scratch]

I'm a Creationist.
I didn't evolve as a basist. I was born this way.

 

[madrigal61]

I am 47, and just starting to play bass. I've always wanted to play. even when I playing rhythm guitar in a couple of bands back in my college days.

I love to read about everyone's experiences, as it keeps me on target with my journey into the land of the "low end". With one kid in High School and the other in college, and a full time job (knock on wood... I work for an automotive component supplier), it's easy to get side tracked and overwhelmed.

I wish I had followed my desire about playing bass when I was younger, but everyone knows that hind sight is 20-20. But at least I am doing something about now.

Thanks to everyone in this community, I keep at it.

After all of that... I guess one could say I have a lot of evolution to go through yet..

 

[gweimer]

It goes something like this:

1. 16 yo kid desperately trying to figure out how Jack Bruce, Chris Squire, John Wetton, JPJ, Tim Bogert and others "do all that"

2. 19 yo kid hits the road in a cover/original band. 2 1/2 years of solid roadwork, and I've gotten pretty fast, and have half a clue of what I'm doing

3. Seasoned club circuit player, I think I'm pretty set. Then I get laid up, and lose partial use of left arm.

4. Part-time gigger, I've worked around my limits, and am starting to think about HOW and WHAT I play. Finally getting around to using my knowledge and skills.

5. Washed up and broken down, I'm now no longer able to do a lot of what I used to do, although I at least now understand it. I think about what I play. I'm probably at my best in terms of content.

6. About the time I drop dead, I might just have this bass thing figured out.

 

[Jay Corwin]

This thread popped back into my head along with some other thoughts/frustrations as I evolve as a bassist.

Since I started this thread a long while ago I've:

1. Started playing upright
2. taken some lessons
3. learned how to read bass clef
4. developed a much stronger practice routine

After almost three years of playing upright bass now, and working out of Simandl page by page....I'm currently in an all acoustic old time string band, and still doing the other band with a mix of rockabilly, jazz, swing, etc. I plan on supplementing the Simandl study with some jazz basics next year. My goal is to get involved with some better musicians eventually - hopefully some kind of jazz combo.

I know I'm not gonna be the next Ray Brown or anything. However I've really learned how much a structured practice routine, and beating certain exercises to death can really improve you as a musician. In fact, given my late start on upright bass and lack of real instruction prior - I find it a must for me to progress and stay sharp. I approach bass guitar much differently now because of my upright development.

Sometimes I think I'm becoming a bit snobbish, but I get really frustrated now when I'm playing with the normal "great" rock guitarists in my area. They all seem to be one trick ponies unable to dial it back, or adapt to other styles/genres - even when it something they claim to like or know.

I appreciate playing with a guitarist in my electric band that can actually pull off more than bar chords, blues solos, crappy top 40. He's more of a jazz guitarist hiding out in a rock band because he finds the gigs a lot more fun. Really gives you room to go places with your playing. Feel like I've out grown a lot of the guys I started out playing with by miles at this point.

You're never too old to learn something new if you have the ambition to do so.

 

[The Lurker]

First I started, and then I got worse, and after that it was all downhill.

 

[LothrtheTerribl]

1. Tried to learn how to play like Cliff but discovered I couldn't.
2. Tried to learn how to play like Steve Harris but discovered I couldn't.
3. Tried to play like Geezer Butler but realized my hands aren't strong enough.
4. Discovered Entwistle and DeLeo and realized it was more about tone, feel and phrasing than it is about speed.
5. Took a little of all of the above, added little bits here and there and found my own voice.

 

[makkE]

Started playing bass in a grunge/pop band. Never had lessons, except I knew a power chord and someone showed me minor/major triads.

Played for a few years without giving much thought about technique, tone, I didn't even care what the knobs on my PJ copy did and always maxed them.

I have to admit I was pretty arrogant about my playing, and about what styles are "good" - I never looked at anything besides grunge/hard pop/nu metal.

Then I got fed up with the whole thing and stopped playing for 8 years. Didn't even listen to music anymore.
I slowly started to consume music again when I discovered a lovely species of fungus growing on my meadows. At first it was only ambient, then a bit of electronica/trance.

Then I got asked to join a band and just went for it. Decided to "learn it properly" this time. Spent a lot of time on cleaning up my technique. It's not really good today, but a lot better than what I did in my youth.

Strangely, I now listen and play (if I get the chance) to almost all styles, and I enjoy them. The arrogance of youth is gone. I used to think very low of those old farts (excuse me gentlemen) who played blues and classic rock, and cover bands to me were just unoriginal posers. I feel ashamed about it these days, but that's what I thought back then.

I am more humble now. I try to commit my soul to the music and give as much as I possibly can, opposed to play it mostly for the "look at me, I'm cool" factor like I did in my youth.

 

[nickrs540]

I'll try to keep it short:

Started with classical piano at 8, which laid down all my theory and musical knowledge

Started electric bass 6 years later. Played alot of System of a Down......

Got really into Black/Death metal sophmore year.

Switched high schools. Joined the band and orchestras. Picked up DB.

Kept goin with classical DB and continued with metal on Electric.

Only played straight slam Death metal with electric. Left DB to the side(really stupid of me)

Left my death metal band and picked up DB again.

Joined a (Hard)rock band which I can use all of my metal/classical roots in.

Joined Talkbass and now I can't stop reading every post on here, while learning all the ins and outs of our beloved instrument. Even stuff that wouldn't ever apply to me. Im just a Bassaholic. With out Talkbass I wouldn't of ever made that "next" step into the "mature" Bassist/musician I am getting to be.

Present day: I play in the same Rock bad utilizing all my Rock/Metal/Classical/Jazz roots i've aquired over the years. I still play classical with The DB (hoping to join an orchestra as soon as I can again). I Sub in classic rock/jazz bands frequently and I love every minute of it.

I never thought I would make it to where I am today back in my death metal days. I can whole heartedly thank TB(and all its members )for helping me get to my next step as a bass player and musician as well.

Thanks guys!!

 

[wyattharris]

Started out as a guitarist, wanted more of a challenge, so i switched to bass.

 

[Kevan Campbell]

I learned to play in tune...then in rhythm...then with feel.

One day, I hope to be good enough to be accused of "wanking" at the local GC!

 

[keiththebassist]

I have always been a lover of many many genre's but my evolution as of right now is really getting an understanding for my technique. particularly in playing with a greater dynamic range. I used to just slam away every note right over the neck pickup. Now I am learning to play softer over the neck, over the bridge p-up, softer with speed, louder with less speed etc. It's really helping me realize how much I can change the timbre of each note with my fingers instead of trying to rely on gear to get me the tone I want. IMO the best bass players focus on this approach, the idea that 90% of your tone is coming from your hands and that gear is only meant to amplify that and add some other tonal color not possibly achieved simply with technique. Rock on fella's

 

[NotTylerHendley]

Perhaps my story isn't as cool as most since I've only been playing a little over four years. Nonetheless, I started out learning any Pantera riff I could play with my fingers, now I'm in a progressive metal band and doing session work for a few people. I like to think that the thing that makes my playing impressive is that my guitarists both have 30 years combined experience and I can keep up with them. Not that it's easy

_Flempton
Safe Waters

 

[fishdreams]

Have you noticed how it's very common (as we all so far here atested) for a full-on hard-core metal-head (i like hiphening!) to evolve his way into classic music or jazz or blues or some other "nobler" genre, but you never see the other way around!! What's up with that??

well, I got started on bass in dixieland and Dave Brubeck at 16 years of age. (Playing Take Five with the d string uned up to eb, and fingering ab and db on the a string .

Now at 46, outside hardcore modern jazz and classical music, i only seriously listen to Mastodon, Dillinger's Escape Plan, Meshuggah. And Thin Lizzy for some reason I don't quite understand. I also like PJ Harvey. But there you go.

And if I find the right band to play it in I'm game.

 

[TornadoFX]

Started playing blink 182 songs , now i play Jackson 5 & Creedence Clearwater Revival songs without pick..

 

[Bromosapian]

Have you noticed how it's very common (as we all so far here atested) for a full-on hard-core metal-head (i like hiphening!) to evolve his way into classic music or jazz or blues or some other "nobler" genre, but you never see the other way around!! What's up with that??

seems to be because their taste in metal was bad. Look at any of the hydrahead bands and you wont see this kind of shift,

 

[rilindmc]

i used to only play blink. now here i am playing lots of classic rock

 

[Fassa Albrecht]

I've gone like this in 4 years:

Worship music- rock covers- rock originals- progressive rock- jazz/jazz-funk.

To be honest these seem to bleed into each other a lot- I find myself using jazz licks in prog songs, prog licks in worship songs, and jazz theory in everything I try and play.

 

[BWB]

Basically I started with the Frank Zappa route of a decision made in a garage by 12 year olds ... we had two guitar players, keys, and drums, and to be a real band you needed a bass player; I was the weaker guitar player - BAM, I'm the bass player.

Except I didn't have a bass ... so the rest of the story goes:

Bought used Fender bass for $100 at age 12 from younger brother of a college kid who had left it at home and gave it to him >

Junior high school and high school playing in different crappy rock bands, while taping songs off FM radio and playing them over and over again to learn the bass lines >

College, started playing with guys a little older and a little better than me >

After college, first big time originals project with a lead guitarist that had a master's degree in music from the University of Georgia (in that band 3 years and MAN did I learn a lot) >

Technique getting better and better >

Move to the BIG CITY (Atlanta) - I'm now 26 I'm on stage in front of completely packed club, 500 people in the crowd letting it loose on a Friday night, playing the bass in a 7 piece band and I realize - it took 14 years to get here and this is AWESOME >

Now I'm 42, I've been playing for 30 years, I'm still playing gigs, and ladies and gentlemen, I'm really. ****ing. good. on the 4 stringer >