Author Topic: Why Bass Guitar??? (Read 848 times)

mike1762 · « **on:** July 04, 2008, 04:07:54 AM »

I was curious as to what drew everyone to the bass guitar rather than some other instrument. In my case, I was a drummer in a previous life. I was trying to put a band together but I could never find a bass player. So...I bought a Kay P-Bass knock-off and a HUGE Peavy 4x15 rig and started rattling the walls. The first song I learned was The Rover (Led Zep).

3rd_ray · « **Reply #1 on:** July 04, 2008, 06:09:47 AM »

James Jamerson
John Paul Jones
Chris Squire
Geddy Lee
John Entwistle
Paul McCartney
Stanley Clarke
And many many more...

I guess you could say it was the sound.

I think the first songs I ever learned were on Black Sabbath's Paranoid. So I should include Geezer Butler on my list.

Mike

richbass939 · « **Reply #2 on:** July 04, 2008, 07:13:43 AM »

From the very first time I heard a live band (age 11 or 12 probably) I've been attracted to the bass. I love the way it rattles your whole body not just your ears. After high school I borrowed a friend's guitar to play along with records. It seemed that I was trying to play bass lines on it so I bought a bass. The first songs I learned were from Woyaya Osibisa. 35 years later ........
Rich
P.S. Then add in players like Mike listed and it has made the whole experience much more rich.

olieoliver · « **Reply #3 on:** July 04, 2008, 07:33:13 AM »

This one time at band camp.....

OO

Actually some guys I knew needed a bass player and my parents had a Kingston JAzz copy. I was 11 and very easy to teach.

57basstra · « **Reply #4 on:** July 04, 2008, 08:16:48 AM »

Trombone player at 5-12 grades + (high school bass trombone player) + (bass clef) - bass guitar player

keavin · « **Reply #5 on:** July 04, 2008, 08:58:38 AM »

Larry Graham!!!..........(Funk Music)

dannobasso · « **Reply #6 on:** July 04, 2008, 09:35:56 AM »

My friends were putting a band together, I was the lead singer, we needed a bassist so I said I'll buy one and learn. Worked all summer bought a Gibson Ripper. The madness began 30 years ago and continues...........

glocke · « **Reply #7 on:** July 04, 2008, 09:52:13 AM »

The thing that first turned me on to bass was JPJ's playing on the first zeppelin album, than I got turned onto some blues bass via some John Mayall albums. Later on I heard Phil Lesh's playing on europe 72. His style and the sound of alembic sealed the deal for me. To this day I have yet to hear anything cooler to my ears than the bass on europe 72

2400wattman · « **Reply #8 on:** July 04, 2008, 09:52:35 AM »

The chicks man!! I did'nt realise they were all looking for the singer and guitarist though, DOH!
Actually my cousins band needed a bass player and my brother and I fought over who would play. We shared duties in the end, but I think he let me play some to be nice. He's got a better ear than me.

lowlife · « **Reply #9 on:** July 04, 2008, 10:00:45 AM »

Larry Graham
Bootsy Collins
James Jamerson
Rocco Prestia

The on-time/off-time, in-time/outta-time.
I'm gonna funk till I die!
It's what booty music is all about

Ellery (Lowlife)

crobbins · « **Reply #10 on:** July 04, 2008, 11:13:10 AM »

I play bass in a reggae band here in SoCal. In reggae music the bass drives the band, and defines the groove. It is so much fun. Although Burning Spear says that Jah is the riddum guitar..

bracheen · « **Reply #11 on:** July 07, 2008, 06:41:47 AM »

Jack Bruce is responsible for me first picking up a bass. Don't be mad at him though because he doesn't know it. I first heard Cream in 1969 and never heard anything like Jack's playing especially on their live tracks.

cashbass · « **Reply #12 on:** July 07, 2008, 07:02:04 AM »

I knew I should be playing the bass because I realized after many years that every song that I ever hummed I was humming the bass line! While all my friends were vocally screeching the lead guitar solo I was hummin' out the low end...

flaxattack · « **Reply #13 on:** July 07, 2008, 09:57:54 AM »

i took a music aptitude test in public school when i was 9. i passed. i was tall for my age. they picked upright bass for me. simple enough huh?
i moved and picked it up again at 13. got my first electric bass when i was 16. my friend was a die hard beatles fan and taught me a bunch a beatle tunes.
i discovered jazz in high school and it opened up a whole new world for me in terms of learning how to listen to music. my music teacher suggested i take a look at becoming a professional musician which my parents were kind enough to shoot down in about 5 seconds. my biggest regret was giving in.
when i was 19 i was turned on to the dead and other bands. i noticed a similarity to jazz and liked the fact the phil and jack never seemed to play the same things over and over. i ended up jamming with some friends for a couple of years. dropped it for about 10yrs and then got invited to play again. i found the passion i had been missing.

terryc · « **Reply #14 on:** July 08, 2008, 07:01:56 AM »

Played guitar but got hooked on Stan Clarke in 1975 after seeing him on TV here in the UK.
It was that Alembic sound..the clarity and punchy hi fi tone.
It's a mans instrument, good to play, along with the drums it drives the song, even solo it sounds so good especially the harmonics(Portrait of Tracy)
And who else other than Jaco and Stan along with Mark King at a later date turn the bass into a solo instrument.
It has even soloed alongside a tap dancer(late Greg Hines on 'If This Bass Could Only Talk')
I love playing my Alembic, I love the power of the tone..that is what hooked me