Who/What inspired you pick up your first bass?

Firedancer23 · Posted: Sat May 26, 2007 10:37 am Post subject:

Guys like my rythem, lol.
okay seriously. My freind was a guitarist originally and we talked about starting a band, but it never went anywhere. Before i gave up on it all, I could see myself going places, you know? But I thought the destiny train said "screw you" and passed me up. During that time I had forgotten about all that and began to focus on my highschool music. I had just been taken from woodwind and put in the rythem section. In our band, if you can hang with the percussion, you're in. I went through hell with them for a season and a half as we switched instructors. I didn't like the guys leading us, but the line was giving them enough crap so I just held on for the ride. One day my instrustor looks at me totally out of the blue and says "your director wants to talk to you about playing guitar for the highschool." i thought he was just messing with me cause he did that, but at the end of the day my director pulled me outside for a talk. it could have went one of two ways cause the line had seriously been rough on the instructors that day and I thought he was going to ask me how the dent got in the wall in the percussion room...but he asked me to play bass for him. I came home and I told my parents that that was what I wanted to do. I've been playing ever since! Razz

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maryhyphenbeth · Newbie Alert Joined: 05 Jul 2007 Posts: 1

When I was 17 at church sometimes the Praise Team would have a bassist and when he wasn't there, you could tell the difference. Also, I like to choose things that no one else chooses. A 6 string regular guitar seems so cliche and it's something I'm really not interested in. So from about then on I knew if I was to take up a musical instrument, bass guitar it would be.
A couple of months ago my financial situation allowed for me to get serious about guitar, and in the last 10 months I've been learning more and more faster. Another tell-tale sign I've realized in the last few weeks: I have always hummed rythyms to myself, something I thought was more of a drum line, but if the tone goes up and down like a piano...that's not the sound a drum makes. Bass guitar it must be. I love dancing so much, you could say that I am a bass and drums kinda girl too.
Watch this board for my progression...I'm still learning...as long as I stay dedicated, I could be amazing. The combination of the long guitar, some sexy hip shaking and the fact that I'm a girl might push me to the front of my band...but like I said, I don't want to be the leader. I'd rather stand to the side in the dark and have to shine from there.

rexherring · Posted: Wed Aug 22, 2007 7:26 pm Post subject:

I was 20 and drinking beer with a few friends who played guitar and a set of drums. After a few beers, they decided to form a band but didn't have a bass player so they looked at me and said "Your it". Never played one before and three weeks later, we were playing in front of a bar crowd. Very nerve racking to say the least. I did get hooked on it and kept playing for the next 30 plus years.

So, beer was my inspiration, LOL

BigMike615 · Posted: Tue Sep 11, 2007 10:22 pm Post subject:

My stepdad had always played bass, he owns this really nice vintage Ric, I asked him if he could teach me, so then he bought me and ibanez sg-something at a pawn shop. still going strong.

first post! =]

MachinesBreakingDown · Not So Newbie Joined: 12 Oct 2007 Posts: 7

I wish I had a rad story, but honestly...

I was working my first job, and was a keyboard player for a ska band... got into the subject of music with one girl and she mentioned that they were in search of a bass player. I said I'd give it a shot, but that I had no prior experience. All I had known was piano and VERY basic and limited guitar.

So I borrowed a PBass and sat in on a few of their practices... next thing you know, I'm playing bass. Picked up a lot of songs by ear.

At the time the girls in the band really admired Veruca Salt, so I guess I owe it to them.

Meker · Posted: Fri Dec 07, 2007 10:06 pm Post subject: Inspired by GFR in '69

It was in Dec 1969 listening to Mel Schacher of Grand Funk Railroad while recuperating at Patterson Army Hosp in N.J. from being shot twice in Vietnam. After 2 more tours, I got out of the Army in late '72, picked up a brand new, white Fender Precision and never looked back. Wish I still had the Fender tho--worth a lot more than $300- some bucks I paid for it. Thanks, Mel! !

bobojones · Sea Monkey Joined: 26 Mar 2008 Posts: 10

It was my brother's fault. He left a 1970 Telecaster bass lying around while attending college. I picked it up because the trumpet required to much wind to blow. So my main instrument of choice is :
1. Bass guitars
2. Synthesizers (preferalby old analog or digital)
3. Guitar
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amateis1991 · Tadpole Joined: 12 May 2008 Posts: 21

I only got into it because our band teacher was wanting to put one in the band, so I got picked and was hooked ever since.

follmanj · Newbie Alert Joined: 20 May 2008 Posts: 3

My brother became Rose Rossi's bass player, so I started learning in case I ever have to fill in for him, ha.

vinxbass · Tadpole Joined: 15 Jun 2008 Posts: 22

I had a few influences. For starters I would say Larry Graham, I used to listen to Sly and The Family Stone all the time when I was in high school. Then later on, Chris Squire of Yes because of him I bought my first pro bass which was a 1975 Rickenbacker 4001; played it till it fell apart. Jaco, Stanley Clarke just to name a few. Today I incorporate all their styles into my personal playing style. Smile

Mkuk0 · Posted: Fri Jul 04, 2008 12:22 am Post subject:

yay another Chris Squire fan!! I just WISH I could play/write like him *sigh*
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tom16 · Not So Newbie Joined: 18 Sep 2008 Posts: 7

My best friend and I had been thinking of starting up a band for a while and it took us a while to choose who's going to play what, I was flipping between Guitar and Bass for a while until we decided that we didn't know anyone who could play Bass so I was going to do it. My dad also played Bass in various Jazz bands in Melbourne, Australia for a while when he was younger so I guess it's kinda in my blood lol. I also love the great sound of a deep Bass line.

confusedqueen · Lion King Joined: 19 Sep 2004 Posts: 1082 Location: pfft.

hmm ive never posted on this thread for some reason

i like low instruments
i'd been playing cello for a few years, and wanted something a bit fun that i could play in different groups, was already playing in orchestras, string quartets, cello quartet etc...now i can play in concert band and jazz band etc as well.

& no, being a girl hasnt made the slightest bit of difference to how well i can play bass... Laughing

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timmyG · Little Guppy Joined: 08 Oct 2008 Posts: 34

Well, I had been playing trombone for around 5 years at the time, and I was looking to go to an instrument that I could play in a rock band with. At first I was thinking keyboards as I already knew the basics of playing a piano. Except, that's around the first time I seen a Ric bass. The rest has been me playing bass and eagerly awaiting the day when I can finally get myself a Ric.

In other words, I seek my holy grail.

Twisted Willy · Posted: Tue Oct 14, 2008 4:17 pm Post subject: Les Claypool

I am a bassist because of Les claypool - Back in the early 90s I was huked by primus.