Why Did You Start Playing Bass?
Although, I'm sure my reasons for choosing to play bass are pretty typical, what does make someone start playing bass?
I did not grow up thinking, "I'm gonna play bass" nor did my parents send me to stand-up bass
or cello lessons. I grew up listening to my older sister's top 40 and Motown/Stax records.
That coupled with seeing the Rolling Stones, Beatles then Hendrix fired me up to learn guitar.
And learn I did while subjecting my mother to countless hours of discordant sounds.
Got into a band. 4 guys ages 12-13 years old with no more than one years total playing experience between us.
I seriously, though naively, thought we were freaking awesome and should be signed immediately.
That group disbanded and I searched for another band to join. It seems every band I checked out had guitar
players that were light years ahead of me in skills or they just needed a bass player. *Light bulb on* Bass, that's the ticket!
I improvised seeing how I had little to no money and only a beat up Sears Silvertone guitar.
I went to the guitar store and asked if I could put bass strings on my Silvertone guitar. After the clerk got off the floor
and finished laughing, he said no. But, he was kind enough to sale me the fattest gauge guitar strings he had.
I showed up to a my next band audition with an instrument that was way ahead of it's time; the (faux)6-string bass.
I had convinced them, after much protest, that it was indeed just as deep sounding as any regular bass and
easier to play(all right, so it was only half true) but I got the gig.
I eventually saved up $47.00 and bought a brand new Bass. In the late '60's Radio Shack sold guitars and basses.
That is what they sold for new $47.00, not $470.00. And yes, they were God-awful pieces of crap but I had no idea.
A few years later I got a Framus F hole bass then went completely legit with a pre-CBS P-bass.
I am currently in a Motown/Stax cover band playing bass using a G&L ASAT.
I still play guitar, acoustic/electric, in a small combo doing pop and jazz standards which is fun also.
Playing bass is just something that I seemed destined to do but nothing I ever planned on doing.
Responses to This Article
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BassPermalink Reply by Phil Nicol on -
Bass is my life even as I approach 50! It was J J burnell and Phil Lynott and then Niels O P that got mr on to basss now, guitar didn't get a look-in!
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Permalink Reply by scott delorean on -
ah yes - with me it was the classic - started off playing guitar in band. I was pretty damn good at the rhythm thing but total CRAP at solos. Then heard James Jamerson, Donald Dunn, Jack Bruce, Chuck Rainey, Paul McCartney and fell in love with the groove and the power to make people dance.
Never got anywhere and am still playing ...
gear? - my original '63 Precision, '64 Hofner, new J Bass etc, markBass, Ampeg etc
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Permalink Reply by Steve Ray on
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I always wanted to play bass, from when I was 13 or so. Unfortunately, I couldn't afford one and got side-tracked by exams, university, girls, jobs and family until I was 40 (I'm 42 now). Then, I saw Motorhead play at Wolverhampton. When I saw Lemmy giving it some at 67 (or whatever he is), I thought 'I can do that!'. So off I went and bought a bass and have been teaching myself since January 2009. Basically, I want to be Geezer Butler......
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BassPermalink Reply by Flat Eric on -
I started playing guitar at around 12 ish and by One O' Clock, I was hungry!!!
Ha Ha, just my older man's sense of humour kicking in there!!!!
Played guitar in the first band but at that age, everyone was trying out what they could and couldn't play,
so I ended up playing bass, as my mate was happier on the guitar.
Later on, we swapped back again, and I played guitar.
Set included stuff from Lizzy, Bad Co, Lovin' Spoonful, Boz Scaggs, Ace, etc and I loved it.
Later on my leanings were drawing me back to The Bass as I have never looked back.
I have always found it a great help, having played the guitar, I can watch a guitarist and follow him.
I do, however, always have to be on the right hand side of the stage, looking out to the audience, as
the other way around, I can't see a thing!!
So, in answer to a post by Matt Russell - Hi Matt - some guitarists can play bass. :)
I am also as intrerested in the instruments as I am in playing and have become a serial collector.
I am currently having treatment for the condition but it clearly isn't working very well!!!! :) :) :)
Off to do an outdoor thing this evening and the weather doesn't look too good, so if it turns nasty
I think I'd rather be playing cards than the bass. Ha!
Oh well!! :)
Cheers. :)
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Permalink Reply by Ron R on
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Easy answer for me in 4 words - JJ Burnel / Alisdair Ward
Why? Style and Sound. JJ is renowned for his bass sounds but listen to Love Song by The Damned for the best bass intro and best bass sound ever!
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