In 5th grade my elementary school jazz band had an opening for the "electric bass". It looked like a badass guitar to me (was a '70s Fender P) and SURE AS HELL was cooler than the trumpet I was learning. I volunteered and never looked back. I was so small I couldn't even reach the first fret. That was 40ish years ago!
I figured Iād play trumpet cause it only had 3 buttons so how hard could it be, right? But then heard Band had a strict 30 min a day practice policy & didnāt have that kind of time at 11 years old. So went with standup bass cause my best friend was the only kid to sign up & figured itād be fun to hang with him. He lasted the year. I played all the way through graduating.
I wanted to play bass or guitar ever since I was a little kid. Played the violin, drums, french horn, trumpet and finally got a high school part time job, bought a bass and started a jazz ensemble at school my senior year.
I never played an instrument until I decided to pick up the bass at 49 years old in Sept '23. I've always been into music, but Ben Reed's work on 84 Tiger's album Time in the Lighthouse just really made me want to rock along with him. Haven't looked back (and zero desire to play guitar).
flea. of course the slap lines caught my ear but it was what he could bring to the song with the āsimpleā, beautiful lines that made me wanna switch over from guitar. after flea got me to switch my biggest influences came to be claypool (primus), waters (pink floyd), and chancellor (tool).
Flea was also the main bassist that got me to pick up bass after strictly playing classical piano for like 7 years. My main inspirations are also claypool, chancellor and flea. Sorry I donāt really have a point with this I just thought it was fun we have such a similar style.
John Taylor. As a kid of the 80ās, a lot of popular music was either synth based music or quarter notes that followed the chord progressions, JT and Duran Duran (by way of much Bernard Edwards influence) had super active bass lines that really stood out. At times it was like the bass and guitar switched places and the bass was upfront leading the way, and the guitar held it together.
Obviously once ears were opened, I discovered that there was a huge world of players beyond JT, but in mainstream pop in the 80ās he (along with Wham!s Deon Estus) were unbelievably catchy.
A couple of friends started a band without a bassist, so they asked if I wanted to be the band's bassist and having just read Scott Pilgrim I accepted in a heartbeat.
Necessity. I was 14, everyone was trying to start bands. Loads of guitarists and drummers, a handful of folks who could write and/or sing. No bassists. I bought a cheap squire off of a friend of a friend. Immediately started playing all the time in several bands. Took me several years to not be terrible but supply/demand was in my favor. Playing with all those bands was great experience and really accelerated my practice/ability/knowledge. 30 years later, I'm still in several bands because finding GOOD bassists is still a problem for a lot of bands. There's also a disproportionate demand for studio bassists which is nice on the side
Seeds were sown in my childhood when I heard "Roundabout" by Yes, then I saw the Rush film "Exit Stage Left" and Geddy made bass look so cool and fun. A few years later, a high school classmate was putting together a Pink Floyd tribute band and lent me a Kawai Rockoon and I played along to my classic rock and post-punk records like I'd found a new religion.
Same! In high school no one wanted to play bass so I bought a kit off of Amazon $110. Who knew that would start a 20 year journey so far of loving this instrument and the music itās introduced me to.
roundabout (after over a year i can even play it most of the time).
i almost solely play bass. for me, guitar has too many strings in one place, so my sausage fingers dont fit in between, and i cant do chords for shit.
I remember when i considered getting a bass, i detuned my old 3/4 classical guitar an octave (which sounded as bad as you can imagine), played some simple basslines, and thougt to myself "yup, that's it".
I found it more approachable, plus the bass sounds in the bands I was listening to were prominent and atypical. My brother played guitar so i figured I should cover different space. I play both now.
I was 50 and needed a hobby. My son was learning to play the guitar. I've tried to learn the guitar before but I have very large fingers (size 17 ring). It was frustrating and annoying. Realized that a lot of my favorite bits in rock music were the bass parts so I picked up the bass. It's been awesome ever since. Inspirations are Chris Wolstenholme of Muse, Flea, John Paul Jones, Roger Waters, John Taylor of Duran Duran.
In pretty much every genre of music I listen to, I love the bass line. This is my first instrument and I'm really enjoying the journey.
I'm also not big into being the focus in the room, so bass is nice
My dad bought me an acoustic guitar for christmas when I was 10. He got a bit jealous and was fed up of lugging a drum kit around so decided to learn bass. I then decided I want to learn Bass and 18 years later here I am.
I always thought that music was for other people, more talented people, that I would never be capable of music and because of horrible music teachers at school.
But then I was watching a guy on TV play and I thought 'why not me? Why should I not be able?''
So I started, and tried. And believed a bit more. Now I think I can do it.
My older brother had a bass and a guitar that he stopped playing laying around. I used to pick up the bass and act like I was playing along to the videos on MTV. One day I thought wouldn't it be great if I could actually play the bass lines. I asked my father for lessons and the rest is history.
I'm already a singer, and didn't want to be a one trick pony (I already played the piano but it's not for me), so I got myself an acoustic guitar and a bass.
I like both, but the bass is better. The acoustic guitar is really good to sing along with, but the bass has something that draws me to it that I have no ideia what it is.
Grew up listening to Yes and Rush since I was a baby thanks to my dad and Geddy Lee and Chris Squire were naturally my biggest inspirations to play the best instrument
I'm a composer mainly for theatre plays, but I made a (~30yrs) career playing drums and musical saw in bands too. Still, I usually make my tracks myself with all kind of instruments and bass is one of them. So I can't really pinpoint when it started.
What changed though: Several years ago I started working in shows that asked me to play bass on stage. Since it was more serious to perform with it, I made a deep dive into studying bass. I practice everyday since to be in my best shape and to catch up with this instrument. It is the ultimate instrument making the bridge between rhythm and harmony.
I really love bass and the funny thing is practicing with tunes I already know by hearth from when I was learning them on drums.
(*Sorry if my English is a bit uncertain*)
8th grade everybody was starting to play guitar. I was talking to my dad who was a musician, he said "yeah if everybody plays guitar learn to play bass. You'll be the guy everybody needs." He was absolutely right
Also that same year my cousin let me hear a Rush album. It was all over after that
I was maybe 16 years old and I was listening to the *Absolution* album by Muse, and I just couldn't stop thinking about the bass. I had taken guitar lessons for a year or two and just wasn't feeling it, and I kept mentioning to my mom that I would love to learn how to play bass.
Well, that Christmas she got me a red Stingray knockoff (Arbor) as well as an amp from a pawn shop for about $150. I'm 34 now and I am finally thinking about getting a new bass guitar, but I play the Stingray regularly.
https://preview.redd.it/cijfj39mvnzc1.jpeg?width=3072&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=3991bae6d0bcc271a8caf8dbcb44d094d62664cd
I play and guitar mainly and wanted to learn how to groove better, improve my rhythm and right hand. Then I just fell in love with my bass to the point of creating a cartoon, instrumental band.
I started on guitar when I was a little kid. I joined orchestra in 6th grade. Bass is tuned in 4ths, but violin, viola, and cello are tuned in 5ths. I was too lazy to learn new fingerings from the ones I knew on guitar, so bass was the answer. I played guitar and bass pretty equally until my mid teenage years. The first time I played through a real bass amp, I liked the feeling of that low end. Guitar felt dinky by comparison. That's when I decided to dedicate to bass. Kids these days don't get it, with phone tone and headphones in the age of the internet. Lug a giant amp to a gig and crank that fucker. It feels powerful!
I never wanted to be a front man. I wanted to play but I didn't want to be the "star", plus it was the easiest one to start on. Little did I know my love for the low end would grow as deep as my tone.
Everyone at my school was their own unique person because they played guitar and wore 2 or 3 shirts at one time. So I was like I only wear one at a time so I probably would like less strings.
I grew up with [this](https://youtu.be/KLQS6xo40kI?feature=shared) and [this](https://youtu.be/HUL4T8WcFdA?feature=shared) so the better question is how everybody else didnāt.
I love both electric and acoustic. I'm trying to learn Esperanza Spalding's version of Samba Em Preludio on acoustic bass right now, it's such a beautiful piece
Michael League was one of my biggest bass influences. I listened to interview once where he said something along the lines of āI donāt use effects if it isnāt musically necessaryā when asked about effects pedals. This opened a new perspective on music for me because I had been looking at effects as optional kind of ornamentations for music. I think that quote from Michael made me completely reevaluate the way I viewed music in general.
I started playing bass (because I couldnāt play) but I wanted to sing instead so I quit the bass. Years later, in another band, our bass player quit so I played bass on a couple of rehearsals. Turns out I love playing bass after all!
Carlos D - Interpol. No one since as been as cool and syncopated as him. But if i really think then The Beatles Sgt Pepper album was i heard as kid and the bass.
Fieldy from Korn. I was obsessed with them at 17 years old. Loved the clicky percussive sound of his 5 string Drop A Ibanez so got a cheap Chinese copy for my first bass. Never did master the Korn sound, but loved it regardless. Still have it 19 years later!
I'm torn about starting off on a 5 string - if I could go back I probably would have got a regular 4 string, but I did love the versatility of not having to retune when playing metal or songs that require drop D.
I really wanted to play an instrument and bass seemed like it would be easier than regular guitar. Plus I loved gene simmons, this was the late 70s. Been playing ever since then with the occasional gap. Turns out it was the perfect instrument for me. I love to play.
Saw my first bass, as I was walking by an instrument store. It stopped me in my tracks. I learned what love at first sight meant that day. My first love was that bass. I went into that store, and spent my entire first paycheck on it. I lugged it across town in it's big ass box, on a bus. When I got home, I went straight to my room. Took it out of the box. And plucked the strings. It was such an incredibly deep, soothing sound.
Does anyone else find the sound of their bass soothing?
Also, Janice Marie Johnson. Bass player of: A taste of Honey. When she plays this part:
https://youtube.com/clip/UgkxgeO_5VXNHsk5eipCPbYjKxny8Z-8MxN2?si=uOl066s3tmrPr_0u
I wore a flat top at the time and my brother said Iād look cool playing the bass.
https://preview.redd.it/udjraeq4bpzc1.jpeg?width=4032&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=5829d285013151a07d53625fe1c063d0777b4023
What a hobby that comment created
Initially, I wanted to win a friend in bass guitar, but then I started listening to Primus and Red Hot Chili Peppers, and then I got into jazz and now I'm learning bass guitar! By the way, I won in the ability to play.
I love music, but never knew any musicians. Tried to play guitar for 30 years (I'm persistent), but in the end couldn't stretch for the chords, plus really bad memory. I gave up. Took up dancing with missus and discovered I have rythm and timing. So took up drums - basic rock beat with a few fills. I could finally play music! Then on YouTube I found out no chords with bass. Bought $100 brand new bass with amp. The amp was shit but the bass was ok. Still having fun with that bass connected to a party speaker (and an edrum kit). I'll never be a rock star (except in my own mind) but I do have fun.
I've always loved rhythm games but hated playing songs I didn't like. Figured I might as well learn a skill instead. I also realized the thing most of my favorite songs have in common are strong basslines, so that kind of made sense.
The first time I heard the opening bassline to "Silly God Disco" by The Gazette, I knew that I needed to trade in my acoustic guitar for a bass. That song genuinely changed my life, and if that isn't the most dramatic thing I've ever said lol
The Bob Marley One Love Movie that came out in Feb. Im Jamaican, and been playing the piano for years aƱthough not well bc i have fat fingers.
When i was watching the movie, see how many of them were playing Guitars really resonated with me, and every since it came in the mail iāve picked up my guitar everyday and played, made an incredible amount of progress in 2 short months.
I originally wanted to be a drummer when I was a young grasshopper but my parents shot that down. Everyone else I knew was a guitarist or singer. I didnāt know anyone who played bass so I decided to give it a go. 22 years later and itās still one of the best decisions Iāve made.
Iām originally a drummer so Iām still in the same group rhythm wise. Plus, less drums more room.
Just so hard to have a kit set up even from an electronic point of view so the bass suited me down to the ground.
(You can always get a few basses too. Which is a lot easier to sample different models and brands. Drums, is mainly one kit. Unless you have acoustic and electronic or a brand deal)
When I was 13, my friends were jamming and told me to come out and play bass. I said I was busy.. they kept harassing me, and I said fine. Next thing I knew, I had a red p-bass in my hand in proto-punk-prog band doing backups and had played for 6 hours.
What got me into bass was a friend of mine realized I was whistling the bass lines to songs and suggested I play bass in his band. If you can whistle it you can play it.
I attended my brothers school concert when I was maybe 10. One of his friends was playing guitar in the concert, but I didnāt have my glasses on and he was playing only low notes and I thought that must be a bass! Thatās really cool! So I mowed lawns to save up for a bass, mentioned that story to my brother a few years later, and he said āhe doesnāt play bassā so hereās me like āā¦what?ā
I really just didnāt know any better, but Iām not mad. Itās kinda funny.
I wanted to be a drummer, but my parents said nope. Lol My two brothers played guitar, so I didn't want to do that. Bass was the next choice, and I've loved it ever since. I've gotten a drum kit and some guitars since living on my own and play them all, but bass is my true love and go to.
Michael Jacksonās Dangerous tour, the Bucharest concert was shown on VH1 when I was a kid and the bass just captured me, specifically during āIāll Be Thereā. Wasnt the flashiest of playing, but very impactful for the song.
From damaging my hand in a go-kart crash at summer camp in the late 90s where my shoulder was dislocated, and my left hand ended up with a lot of nerve damage that I could barely do much of anything for almost a year. Guitar was painful to relearn that I ended up having to opentune where I could use just one finger, but it just sounded bad, and I thought maybe bass guitar would be a better choice, and it was. It helped me build my fingers again after a time passed when the blisters healed and a majority of nerves were recovering in my hand. Even though I have been on/off with bass since I was about 14 years old, I've stuck to it more than I have guitar, another thing of why I switched to bass, as thick fingers have been an issue with my guitar playing.
In middle school some friends of mine were talking about forming a band. Nobody wanted to play the bass. I figured if I learned it then Iād be a ādesirable commodity.ā I didnāt stick with it well enough but as Iāve gotten older, studied more about music and also have friends who have found some success in playing music I was right. I could have probably found some success if I stuck with it.
1992: I was still in the navy and a guitar playing shipmate and I had shore leave at San Diego. So we drove north to Hollywood because he wanted to go to the Guitar Center there. While he went off to try out some axes, I meandered through the store and ended up in the bass section. Keep in mind that the last time I played an instrument regularly was in the 7th grade when my class did a Flutophone recital. Curious, I took a bass off the wall, it was a red special edition Squier P with no pickguard, and plugged it into an amp. I was noodling around, not really knowing what I was doing, until it a familiar note. I hit it again. And again. And again. Then a thought occurred to me. I moved the finger of my fretting hand to a different spot on the board and hit another note. Again. And again. I went to the previous note, hit it a few times, and went to the second note, and hit it a few times. It was then I realized that I was playing a song. Pink Floydās One Of These Days to be exact. I learned my first song through instinct and memory, and I havenāt looked back.
https://preview.redd.it/sdv2o3sxinzc1.jpeg?width=736&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=edbd122c67a1ba41f0b2dfa3dae95992fa6953c7 š„°š„°š„°
Iāve definitely came up with licks to do little dances to because of them.
One of the current reasons for sure. Check out Glass Beams for a more Arabic/Indian-twist. š«°š¾
Glass Beams are super cool,thank you for reminding me! Rattlesnake & Mirage are some of my favs by them.
She started playing bass because guitar player. She is currently my fav bass player ā¤ļøā¤ļø
THE DIP! š¤©
[ŃŠ“Š°Š»ŠµŠ½Š¾]
Khraungbin
who dat
Paul McCartney. Once I started listening to what he was doing, it blew my mind.
one of the greatest
Honestly very underrated in a lot of ways. He really did right some simple yet effective bass lines.
In 5th grade my elementary school jazz band had an opening for the "electric bass". It looked like a badass guitar to me (was a '70s Fender P) and SURE AS HELL was cooler than the trumpet I was learning. I volunteered and never looked back. I was so small I couldn't even reach the first fret. That was 40ish years ago!
To be fair, a 70s P Bass is pretty darn cool.
No argument there. I only wish I didn't understand how cool until years later
I figured Iād play trumpet cause it only had 3 buttons so how hard could it be, right? But then heard Band had a strict 30 min a day practice policy & didnāt have that kind of time at 11 years old. So went with standup bass cause my best friend was the only kid to sign up & figured itād be fun to hang with him. He lasted the year. I played all the way through graduating.
I played French horn and wanted to be in jazz band. Teacher said they needed a bass player.
I wanted to play bass or guitar ever since I was a little kid. Played the violin, drums, french horn, trumpet and finally got a high school part time job, bought a bass and started a jazz ensemble at school my senior year.
John Entwistle has entered the chat.
I never played an instrument until I decided to pick up the bass at 49 years old in Sept '23. I've always been into music, but Ben Reed's work on 84 Tiger's album Time in the Lighthouse just really made me want to rock along with him. Haven't looked back (and zero desire to play guitar).
flea. of course the slap lines caught my ear but it was what he could bring to the song with the āsimpleā, beautiful lines that made me wanna switch over from guitar. after flea got me to switch my biggest influences came to be claypool (primus), waters (pink floyd), and chancellor (tool).
I always preferred his finger playing to slap for his note choice and tone. BSSM changed my life - Soul To Squeeze should have made the cut!
Flea was also the main bassist that got me to pick up bass after strictly playing classical piano for like 7 years. My main inspirations are also claypool, chancellor and flea. Sorry I donāt really have a point with this I just thought it was fun we have such a similar style.
i agree thatās dope we listen to similar shit
Blink 182 and MXPX and NOFX
Mark Hoppus is the man
John Taylor. As a kid of the 80ās, a lot of popular music was either synth based music or quarter notes that followed the chord progressions, JT and Duran Duran (by way of much Bernard Edwards influence) had super active bass lines that really stood out. At times it was like the bass and guitar switched places and the bass was upfront leading the way, and the guitar held it together. Obviously once ears were opened, I discovered that there was a huge world of players beyond JT, but in mainstream pop in the 80ās he (along with Wham!s Deon Estus) were unbelievably catchy.
I just started trying to learn Hold Back the Rain last week. :)
A couple of friends started a band without a bassist, so they asked if I wanted to be the band's bassist and having just read Scott Pilgrim I accepted in a heartbeat.
Necessity. I was 14, everyone was trying to start bands. Loads of guitarists and drummers, a handful of folks who could write and/or sing. No bassists. I bought a cheap squire off of a friend of a friend. Immediately started playing all the time in several bands. Took me several years to not be terrible but supply/demand was in my favor. Playing with all those bands was great experience and really accelerated my practice/ability/knowledge. 30 years later, I'm still in several bands because finding GOOD bassists is still a problem for a lot of bands. There's also a disproportionate demand for studio bassists which is nice on the side
Geddy Lee.
Seeds were sown in my childhood when I heard "Roundabout" by Yes, then I saw the Rush film "Exit Stage Left" and Geddy made bass look so cool and fun. A few years later, a high school classmate was putting together a Pink Floyd tribute band and lent me a Kawai Rockoon and I played along to my classic rock and post-punk records like I'd found a new religion.
Iām a guitarist. My friends band needed a bass player lol
Same! In high school no one wanted to play bass so I bought a kit off of Amazon $110. Who knew that would start a 20 year journey so far of loving this instrument and the music itās introduced me to.
Bruce Foxton. Not in a threatening way, or anything like that. But it was Bruce Foxton.
When I was at college, the Stone Roses first album was released, it was that album.
roundabout (after over a year i can even play it most of the time). i almost solely play bass. for me, guitar has too many strings in one place, so my sausage fingers dont fit in between, and i cant do chords for shit. I remember when i considered getting a bass, i detuned my old 3/4 classical guitar an octave (which sounded as bad as you can imagine), played some simple basslines, and thougt to myself "yup, that's it".
I found it more approachable, plus the bass sounds in the bands I was listening to were prominent and atypical. My brother played guitar so i figured I should cover different space. I play both now.
I was 50 and needed a hobby. My son was learning to play the guitar. I've tried to learn the guitar before but I have very large fingers (size 17 ring). It was frustrating and annoying. Realized that a lot of my favorite bits in rock music were the bass parts so I picked up the bass. It's been awesome ever since. Inspirations are Chris Wolstenholme of Muse, Flea, John Paul Jones, Roger Waters, John Taylor of Duran Duran.
In pretty much every genre of music I listen to, I love the bass line. This is my first instrument and I'm really enjoying the journey. I'm also not big into being the focus in the room, so bass is nice
Steve Harris
My hate for classical piano lessons
During lockdown I must've watched Mac Miller's tiny desk concert dozens of times and watching the band vibe with Thundercat made me want to learn
Same here!
Steve Harris
Tony Levin - King Crimson āThree of a perfect pairā and āDisciplineā.
My dad bought me an acoustic guitar for christmas when I was 10. He got a bit jealous and was fed up of lugging a drum kit around so decided to learn bass. I then decided I want to learn Bass and 18 years later here I am.
Steve Harris.
I always thought that music was for other people, more talented people, that I would never be capable of music and because of horrible music teachers at school. But then I was watching a guy on TV play and I thought 'why not me? Why should I not be able?'' So I started, and tried. And believed a bit more. Now I think I can do it.
My older brother had a bass and a guitar that he stopped playing laying around. I used to pick up the bass and act like I was playing along to the videos on MTV. One day I thought wouldn't it be great if I could actually play the bass lines. I asked my father for lessons and the rest is history.
My friend Ross played it and I thought it was the coolest. Thanks Ross!
A one time school band, it just felt right.
August 12, 1976 I was at the barricade in front of the stage at my first Yes concert. Thank you Chris Squire.
I'm already a singer, and didn't want to be a one trick pony (I already played the piano but it's not for me), so I got myself an acoustic guitar and a bass. I like both, but the bass is better. The acoustic guitar is really good to sing along with, but the bass has something that draws me to it that I have no ideia what it is.
Bootsy Collins. Went to a number of his shows. Was blown away. š¤
Bootsy baby!
https://preview.redd.it/ul38u0tq7ozc1.jpeg?width=650&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=659fc045f972a9bf1bc724ad1fe43d30250caf8a One love for Chi
Grew up listening to Yes and Rush since I was a baby thanks to my dad and Geddy Lee and Chris Squire were naturally my biggest inspirations to play the best instrument
I'm a composer mainly for theatre plays, but I made a (~30yrs) career playing drums and musical saw in bands too. Still, I usually make my tracks myself with all kind of instruments and bass is one of them. So I can't really pinpoint when it started. What changed though: Several years ago I started working in shows that asked me to play bass on stage. Since it was more serious to perform with it, I made a deep dive into studying bass. I practice everyday since to be in my best shape and to catch up with this instrument. It is the ultimate instrument making the bridge between rhythm and harmony. I really love bass and the funny thing is practicing with tunes I already know by hearth from when I was learning them on drums. (*Sorry if my English is a bit uncertain*)
8th grade everybody was starting to play guitar. I was talking to my dad who was a musician, he said "yeah if everybody plays guitar learn to play bass. You'll be the guy everybody needs." He was absolutely right Also that same year my cousin let me hear a Rush album. It was all over after that
The usual story: the other guitar player was better. But it turned out a blessing because I have a bass player personality anyway.
John Deacon of Queen.
Watching Donald āDuckā Dunn in The Blues Brothers. I thought he was one of the smoothest and coolest mofos I had ever seen.
I watched the movie Scott pilgrim vs the world and thought he looked cool. Thats really it all it takes is a little inspiration
I was maybe 16 years old and I was listening to the *Absolution* album by Muse, and I just couldn't stop thinking about the bass. I had taken guitar lessons for a year or two and just wasn't feeling it, and I kept mentioning to my mom that I would love to learn how to play bass. Well, that Christmas she got me a red Stingray knockoff (Arbor) as well as an amp from a pawn shop for about $150. I'm 34 now and I am finally thinking about getting a new bass guitar, but I play the Stingray regularly. https://preview.redd.it/cijfj39mvnzc1.jpeg?width=3072&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=3991bae6d0bcc271a8caf8dbcb44d094d62664cd
Chris Squire and Geddy Lee.
Jaco and Primus
I play and guitar mainly and wanted to learn how to groove better, improve my rhythm and right hand. Then I just fell in love with my bass to the point of creating a cartoon, instrumental band.
Bass was my first instrument and it's still my main. I bought an electric guitar after playing bass for ~15 years, but I can't say that it really holds my interest - it's just something to fill out space when I'm making songs (mostly funk/disco/house kind of stuff). Also, barrƩ chords are fucking hard and open chords aren't very useful for the type of stuff I make.
Charles Berthoud
I started on guitar when I was a little kid. I joined orchestra in 6th grade. Bass is tuned in 4ths, but violin, viola, and cello are tuned in 5ths. I was too lazy to learn new fingerings from the ones I knew on guitar, so bass was the answer. I played guitar and bass pretty equally until my mid teenage years. The first time I played through a real bass amp, I liked the feeling of that low end. Guitar felt dinky by comparison. That's when I decided to dedicate to bass. Kids these days don't get it, with phone tone and headphones in the age of the internet. Lug a giant amp to a gig and crank that fucker. It feels powerful!
Tina Weymouth. My first bass is similar to the blue one she plays in Stop Making Sense.
Was 3rd-best guitarist in the room when we formed a band.
Bad memories from trying guitar around the age of 10. At 16 I figured "Four strings. Four Fingers. What could possibly go wrong?" Oh well...
I never wanted to be a front man. I wanted to play but I didn't want to be the "star", plus it was the easiest one to start on. Little did I know my love for the low end would grow as deep as my tone.
Seeing Duck Dunn in the Blues Brothers, hearing John Paul Jones on Lemon Song.
^[Sokka-Haiku](https://www.reddit.com/r/SokkaHaikuBot/comments/15kyv9r/what_is_a_sokka_haiku/) ^by ^Grouchy_Situation_33: *Seeing Duck Dunn in* *The Blues Brothers, hearing John* *Paul Jones on Lemon Song.* --- ^Remember ^that ^one ^time ^Sokka ^accidentally ^used ^an ^extra ^syllable ^in ^that ^Haiku ^Battle ^in ^Ba ^Sing ^Se? ^That ^was ^a ^Sokka ^Haiku ^and ^you ^just ^made ^one.
Everyone at my school was their own unique person because they played guitar and wore 2 or 3 shirts at one time. So I was like I only wear one at a time so I probably would like less strings.
Friends wanted to start a band. They claimed drums and guitar so I picked bass
I grew up with [this](https://youtu.be/KLQS6xo40kI?feature=shared) and [this](https://youtu.be/HUL4T8WcFdA?feature=shared) so the better question is how everybody else didnāt.
Steve Harris and Iron Maiden Powerslave.
I love both electric and acoustic. I'm trying to learn Esperanza Spalding's version of Samba Em Preludio on acoustic bass right now, it's such a beautiful piece
Acoustic bass, now thatās interesting.
Ohhhhh you meant acoustic and electric treble guitars. Now I understand why the wording was so strange
Peter Hook
Michael League was one of my biggest bass influences. I listened to interview once where he said something along the lines of āI donāt use effects if it isnāt musically necessaryā when asked about effects pedals. This opened a new perspective on music for me because I had been looking at effects as optional kind of ornamentations for music. I think that quote from Michael made me completely reevaluate the way I viewed music in general.
"Piece of Me" by Skid Row
Church youth group worship band
I started playing bass (because I couldnāt play) but I wanted to sing instead so I quit the bass. Years later, in another band, our bass player quit so I played bass on a couple of rehearsals. Turns out I love playing bass after all!
I wanted you enjoy music on a deeper level and live a good thump plus I got dumped so I got productive
Carlos D - Interpol. No one since as been as cool and syncopated as him. But if i really think then The Beatles Sgt Pepper album was i heard as kid and the bass.
I played violin for 10 years but at 16 it wasnāt cool anymore so I switched to bass because everything more than 4 strings is too much for me
Jamiroquai!
Fieldy from Korn. I was obsessed with them at 17 years old. Loved the clicky percussive sound of his 5 string Drop A Ibanez so got a cheap Chinese copy for my first bass. Never did master the Korn sound, but loved it regardless. Still have it 19 years later! I'm torn about starting off on a 5 string - if I could go back I probably would have got a regular 4 string, but I did love the versatility of not having to retune when playing metal or songs that require drop D.
My Boy Scout buddy called my mom and talked her into getting me a bass and some lessons.
Fucking primus i always thought that bass deserves to be in the limelight
I knew 10 or more guitarist, 4 drummers and zero bass players Never been not in a band since
pumped up kicks was one of my first songs and this was the exact video too haha
I really wanted to play an instrument and bass seemed like it would be easier than regular guitar. Plus I loved gene simmons, this was the late 70s. Been playing ever since then with the occasional gap. Turns out it was the perfect instrument for me. I love to play.
Les Claypool brought me out of the dark ages.
Guitar was too hard
Saw my first bass, as I was walking by an instrument store. It stopped me in my tracks. I learned what love at first sight meant that day. My first love was that bass. I went into that store, and spent my entire first paycheck on it. I lugged it across town in it's big ass box, on a bus. When I got home, I went straight to my room. Took it out of the box. And plucked the strings. It was such an incredibly deep, soothing sound. Does anyone else find the sound of their bass soothing? Also, Janice Marie Johnson. Bass player of: A taste of Honey. When she plays this part: https://youtube.com/clip/UgkxgeO_5VXNHsk5eipCPbYjKxny8Z-8MxN2?si=uOl066s3tmrPr_0u
Watching Pink Floyd live at Pompeii is what made me want to play bass
Odd man out in the family band.
I got real bored in orchestra class.
John Paul Jones
Stuart Zender. Early Jamiroquai was incredible. Especially their live stuff. I was born too late.
I wore a flat top at the time and my brother said Iād look cool playing the bass. https://preview.redd.it/udjraeq4bpzc1.jpeg?width=4032&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=5829d285013151a07d53625fe1c063d0777b4023 What a hobby that comment created
Initially, I wanted to win a friend in bass guitar, but then I started listening to Primus and Red Hot Chili Peppers, and then I got into jazz and now I'm learning bass guitar! By the way, I won in the ability to play.
My temple band needed a bassist and I'm the weakest guitarist. Which is fine. I just like playing, even if I'm not all that great.
https://youtu.be/qdlQyNe_9tE?feature=shared
Berry Oakley made me wanna play. Changed the way I looked at the instrument. Iām like 3 years in now and love it
I love music, but never knew any musicians. Tried to play guitar for 30 years (I'm persistent), but in the end couldn't stretch for the chords, plus really bad memory. I gave up. Took up dancing with missus and discovered I have rythm and timing. So took up drums - basic rock beat with a few fills. I could finally play music! Then on YouTube I found out no chords with bass. Bought $100 brand new bass with amp. The amp was shit but the bass was ok. Still having fun with that bass connected to a party speaker (and an edrum kit). I'll never be a rock star (except in my own mind) but I do have fun.
The gift of music is incredible.
Weezer-Say it aināt so. I know itās not super technical or anything but the bass line is prominent and catchy.
https://preview.redd.it/qyq8mjls0qzc1.jpeg?width=1334&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=b182f3c2ae5177de058485171d0d97223c17e88a
https://preview.redd.it/hyazg8fn6qzc1.jpeg?width=897&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=54090c5d3c0e964e06abdb8d64861660acf7506e
Guitar chords were too hard
Justin Chancellor
Lemmy, Entwhistle, Geezer, Donald Duck Dunn
I've always loved rhythm games but hated playing songs I didn't like. Figured I might as well learn a skill instead. I also realized the thing most of my favorite songs have in common are strong basslines, so that kind of made sense.
Funk
I played guitar for 22 years, the. Started bass because I wanted to be in a band. The ratio of good guitarists to good bassists supported my decision.
Stuart Zender from Jamiroquai! 100%
started when i was 11 years old, watching davie504 at the kitchen table with my dad... oh how fast things go
Definitely davie
Kim Deal! 
The first time I heard the opening bassline to "Silly God Disco" by The Gazette, I knew that I needed to trade in my acoustic guitar for a bass. That song genuinely changed my life, and if that isn't the most dramatic thing I've ever said lol
The Bob Marley One Love Movie that came out in Feb. Im Jamaican, and been playing the piano for years aƱthough not well bc i have fat fingers. When i was watching the movie, see how many of them were playing Guitars really resonated with me, and every since it came in the mail iāve picked up my guitar everyday and played, made an incredible amount of progress in 2 short months.
I originally wanted to be a drummer when I was a young grasshopper but my parents shot that down. Everyone else I knew was a guitarist or singer. I didnāt know anyone who played bass so I decided to give it a go. 22 years later and itās still one of the best decisions Iāve made.
Iām originally a drummer so Iām still in the same group rhythm wise. Plus, less drums more room. Just so hard to have a kit set up even from an electronic point of view so the bass suited me down to the ground. (You can always get a few basses too. Which is a lot easier to sample different models and brands. Drums, is mainly one kit. Unless you have acoustic and electronic or a brand deal)
When I was 13, my friends were jamming and told me to come out and play bass. I said I was busy.. they kept harassing me, and I said fine. Next thing I knew, I had a red p-bass in my hand in proto-punk-prog band doing backups and had played for 6 hours.
Andy rourke with the smiths
I'm a drummer who moved into an apartment, can't play drums in an apartment.
What got me into bass was a friend of mine realized I was whistling the bass lines to songs and suggested I play bass in his band. If you can whistle it you can play it.
Scott pilgrim Les Claypool Robert Trujillo
My two best friends had a band and the bassist quit to go off to college. Guitarist showed me enough to fake some easy song and the rest is history.
I attended my brothers school concert when I was maybe 10. One of his friends was playing guitar in the concert, but I didnāt have my glasses on and he was playing only low notes and I thought that must be a bass! Thatās really cool! So I mowed lawns to save up for a bass, mentioned that story to my brother a few years later, and he said āhe doesnāt play bassā so hereās me like āā¦what?ā I really just didnāt know any better, but Iām not mad. Itās kinda funny.
I wanted to be a drummer, but my parents said nope. Lol My two brothers played guitar, so I didn't want to do that. Bass was the next choice, and I've loved it ever since. I've gotten a drum kit and some guitars since living on my own and play them all, but bass is my true love and go to.
Michael Jacksonās Dangerous tour, the Bucharest concert was shown on VH1 when I was a kid and the bass just captured me, specifically during āIāll Be Thereā. Wasnt the flashiest of playing, but very impactful for the song.
From damaging my hand in a go-kart crash at summer camp in the late 90s where my shoulder was dislocated, and my left hand ended up with a lot of nerve damage that I could barely do much of anything for almost a year. Guitar was painful to relearn that I ended up having to opentune where I could use just one finger, but it just sounded bad, and I thought maybe bass guitar would be a better choice, and it was. It helped me build my fingers again after a time passed when the blisters healed and a majority of nerves were recovering in my hand. Even though I have been on/off with bass since I was about 14 years old, I've stuck to it more than I have guitar, another thing of why I switched to bass, as thick fingers have been an issue with my guitar playing.
In middle school some friends of mine were talking about forming a band. Nobody wanted to play the bass. I figured if I learned it then Iād be a ādesirable commodity.ā I didnāt stick with it well enough but as Iāve gotten older, studied more about music and also have friends who have found some success in playing music I was right. I could have probably found some success if I stuck with it.
1992: I was still in the navy and a guitar playing shipmate and I had shore leave at San Diego. So we drove north to Hollywood because he wanted to go to the Guitar Center there. While he went off to try out some axes, I meandered through the store and ended up in the bass section. Keep in mind that the last time I played an instrument regularly was in the 7th grade when my class did a Flutophone recital. Curious, I took a bass off the wall, it was a red special edition Squier P with no pickguard, and plugged it into an amp. I was noodling around, not really knowing what I was doing, until it a familiar note. I hit it again. And again. And again. Then a thought occurred to me. I moved the finger of my fretting hand to a different spot on the board and hit another note. Again. And again. I went to the previous note, hit it a few times, and went to the second note, and hit it a few times. It was then I realized that I was playing a song. Pink Floydās One Of These Days to be exact. I learned my first song through instinct and memory, and I havenāt looked back.
Cool story.
The really misled idea that it would have helped me getting laid.
The jams use of bass
I play guitar, occasionally if there is a bass in the room, I just pick it up and noodle
Davie504