| Author | Message | ||
| richbass939
Senior Member Username: richbass939 Post Number: 599 Registered: 11-2004 |
I've noticed that a lot of interviews with bass players reveal that they started out playing trumpet as I did. It got me wondering, what was your first instrument and what other instruments have you played/do you currently play? This question is posed to bass AND guitar players, of course. Rich | ||
| crgaston
Intermediate Member Username: crgaston Post Number: 169 Registered: 11-2005 |
Yep, trumpet first. Then guitar, then bass. | ||
| byoung
Advanced Member Username: byoung Post Number: 264 Registered: 12-2004 |
All bass, all the time. | ||
| grynchin
Junior Username: grynchin Post Number: 25 Registered: 1-2006 |
Started on guitar, now on bass and guitar. The other guitarist in the band I'm in (Old Hauntie), started on trumpet, then picked up guitar, then became the drum major for a marching band, then became a drummer, and now he is playing bass too. Oh yeah, he's got a dynamite voice too. Hoorah for trumpet players! | ||
| jet_powers
Advanced Member Username: jet_powers Post Number: 266 Registered: 2-2003 |
I started on piano for a few years, then went to violin for six years, got a guitar then a bass. Now all I play in public is bass and occasionally the radio. JP | ||
| chuckc
Junior Username: chuckc Post Number: 26 Registered: 7-2004 |
Let's see, started on drums at age 6, then piano and guitar in high school. Picked up bass around the college years, back to drums, then bass, then guitar, then keyboards, then drums again, then guitar and keys and now back to performing on bass. I have commitment issues, obviously. | ||
| george_wright
Member Username: george_wright Post Number: 87 Registered: 3-2005 |
Does a recorder count? I used one ($3 from Dale Music in Silver Spring MD) to learn to read music. Then it was on to saxes---that was when all rock-'n-roll bands had saxes. | ||
| lbpesq
Senior Member Username: lbpesq Post Number: 1196 Registered: 7-2004 |
I started in 2nd grade on a baritone ukelele strung backwards so I could play it left-handed even though I'm right-handed. Paul was my favorite Beatle at the time. (When I became older and wiser, my allegiance switched to John). Saxophone in 4th grade in school band. In 7th grade I discovered electric guitar and girls (not necessarily in order of importance) and gave up the sax. (A decision I regret to this day. Sax is the sexiest instrument there is. As a friend once opined, the person who invented the saxophone was naked at the time). By the way, Phil Lesh played trumpet and violin before Jerry corrupted him with the bass! Bill, tgo | ||
| adriaan
Senior Member Username: adriaan Post Number: 843 Registered: 6-2002 |
The person who invented the saxophone, Adolphe Sax, was a Belgian who invented a LOT of brass and reed instruments in the 19th century. I read a lot on 19th century cultlore, but as far as I can see Belgian nudism ca 1850 went unnoticed. | ||
| daveo
Junior Username: daveo Post Number: 49 Registered: 12-2005 |
I started on Recorder when I was 9 or 10 for a couple years, then flute, then a long break. I began guitar when I was 16. | ||
| rami
Senior Member Username: rami Post Number: 543 Registered: 6-2002 |
When I was 6, my folks wanted to expose me to music, so they signed me up for accordion lessons! I actually became pretty good at it but around age 8 I learned the recorder in elementary school. Around the age of 10 while hanging out with my best buddie at the time (today he's a bum) he gave me this old guitar with a broken neck that was barely hanging on by the wood fibers. He was drumming on the body. I took it home and tried to fix it by hammering a 4" nail through the fingerboard into the base of the neck. My parents felt sorry for me and laughed at the same time. They got me a shiney new Yamaha classical guitar which I played for a couple of years before I discovered the Bass. It was love from that point on. In high school, I also played first chair Trumpet. I really loved the trumpet and in later years I really regretted not pursuing it as well. But the Bass was and still is my true love. In the last few years I've been getting into Bach - which I find to be a refreshing departure from the mainstream. More impressive to others as to what can be played on a Bass. | ||
| olieoliver
Advanced Member Username: olieoliver Post Number: 213 Registered: 2-2006 |
I started out on an old electric organ. I don't play it anymore. I started playing bass just before my 12th B-day. A freind of mine that live doen the alley from us had a band and needed a bass player. My parents (both pro-musicians)happened to have an old KIngston Jazz copy. He would show me the songs and it was just natural to me. I played my first gig on my 12th Birthday (now 43) and been going stong ever since. I also play guitar and drums. | ||
| jlpicard
Senior Member Username: jlpicard Post Number: 418 Registered: 7-2002 |
I started on drums as a fourth grader after hearing the Beatles because it was the only instrument taught in school that they also played! Once I hit High school there were a million drummers and no bass players to complete my band so I decided to sell my set and buy a bass! After all, back in Junior high, I used to take my friends acoustic guitar, turn it upside down,(lefty) and play the roots of every chord my friend would play. I thought, "how hard could it be? I can do this! (Ah, the naivety of youth!) Bass has been my life ever since. I also noodled around with guitar for years on and off and then added keyboards to the repetoire because I got sick of playing in a power trio and not hearing all the missing parts. so I set out to develope the technique of tapping with one hand on the bass and playing the keyboard with the other. (nothing to do with Geddy,just neccessity, not a big Rush fan). To further complicate matters, I also sing lead and backup and control a Digitech Vocalist Workstation, all simultainiously. Whew! after many years we finally added a keyboardist so thankfully alI have to do is concentrate on Bass!! Mike | ||
| palembic
Senior Member Username: palembic Post Number: 2365 Registered: 9-2002 |
Started on acoustic guitar ...strumming chords ...campfire singing ...you know. When I was humming a song to my friends they said "why do you always hum bass-lines???" (being a tenor that's weird). Anyway ...a friend of mine who played piano lend me his bass and ...it fitted. I felt very comfortable. So now ...bass and acoustic still is. Though my acoustic guitar deserves more attention ... Paul TBO PS ...I am back from Denmark so I am happy to chime in again ...hello Bro's and sis's ...happy to see you all gathered. | ||
| jacko
Senior Member Username: jacko Post Number: 599 Registered: 10-2002 |
I started out on recorder in primary school then went on to learn clarinet which I ended up playing in my school orchestra. Gave it up when I was about 16 as I was starting to play guitar and thought it was a bit 'uncool'. Looking back of course, I wish I still played it;-( Graeme | ||
| bigredbass
Senior Member Username: bigredbass Post Number: 728 Registered: 9-2002 |
Back-slidden piano player. J o e y | ||
| 88persuader
Intermediate Member Username: 88persuader Post Number: 185 Registered: 5-2004 |
I started out on drums at the age of 3. An uncle of mine just graduated from Berkley School of music in Boston and I was his 1st drum student. Then I played piano. (my mother was a piano teacher)Then I learnt 6 string guitar. (Another uncle use to teach guitar) I played drums professionally on the road fresh out of high school in the mid 70s. In the 80's I got off the road, taught myself bass and played in a General business band (weddings) as the bass player/synth keyboard player for a decade. Now I play bass in a gigging weekend rock band part time and still do studio gigs as a drummer, bass player and keyboard player. I'm going into the studio to play drums for someone on April 22nd and 23rd and I'm using my Roland V-drums rather than my acoustic kit. should be interesting! | ||
| olieoliver
Advanced Member Username: olieoliver Post Number: 215 Registered: 2-2006 |
I can't beleive NOBODY said "X-BOX"! | ||
| mpisanek
Intermediate Member Username: mpisanek Post Number: 159 Registered: 1-2005 |
I started out playing bass, then went to guitar. Put the bass down for about 20 years! Picked up accordion, mandolin, banjo, and keyboards along the way. Now I seem to only play bass, electric and upright (and some guitar now and then!). | ||
| mpisanek
Intermediate Member Username: mpisanek Post Number: 160 Registered: 1-2005 |
I started out playing bass, then went to guitar. Put the bass down for about 20 years! Picked up accordion, mandolin, banjo, and keyboards along the way. Now I seem to only play bass, electric and upright (and some guitar now and then!). | ||
| trekster
Member Username: trekster Post Number: 81 Registered: 7-2004 |
Hmm.. lessee... 6th grade Trombone..by junior year in high school add baritone and tuba/sousaphone. Started Bass Guitar that year.. dabbled in Bassoon for a semeseter in college. Currently? Bass, a little guitar, and starting to learn how to play Celtic Bouzouki. --J | ||
| kmh364
Senior Member Username: kmh364 Post Number: 1838 Registered: 9-2003 |
Guitar first, then bass and guitar. Tried drums, keys and steel guitar, both with comical results, LOL! | ||
| dibolosi
Junior Username: dibolosi Post Number: 35 Registered: 1-2004 |
I started on bass (Rickenbacker 4001), though beforehand I noodled with an old acoustic guitar. Even then I think I only used the bottom four strings on it. Some experiments with keyboards, I can do a beat on the drumkit, have worn a harmonica holder on my neck, recently I purchased a lapsteel guitar, and played a kazoo on our first indie CD. I have never played an X-Box | ||
| 811952
Senior Member Username: 811952 Post Number: 703 Registered: 10-2003 |
Bass has pretty much been central, though at times (lots of dabbling) I've been reasonably competent on: Chapman Stick Bagpipes Saxophone Euphonium Cello Mandolin guitar I wish I still had the Chapman Stick and Bagpipes... John oh, and drums, unless we're talking only about MUSICAL instruments... ;) (Message edited by 811952 on April 11, 2006) | ||
| palembic
Senior Member Username: palembic Post Number: 2368 Registered: 9-2002 |
Brother John ....I think you have yourself a goal for the next year ...decade ...whatever! BACK TO THE BAGPIPES LET'S TICK TOGETHER (goes for Chapman as for drums ...but that's a deep one) Paul TBO | ||
| stoney
Senior Member Username: stoney Post Number: 435 Registered: 7-2002 |
I began playing classical piano at age 4. Played nothing but classical on piano until I was 17. Along the way (13-14) I picked up bass and never put it down. Fell off the piano bench at 17. Got back on at 47 and taught myself more...uuhhhh, contemporary music. Now I've got more keyboard gigs than bass gigs. I'm freelancing for 5 bands. It's a lot of fun but I really miss the down & dirty bass gigs. | ||
| 88persuader
Intermediate Member Username: 88persuader Post Number: 186 Registered: 5-2004 |
Chapman Stick?? I had one for a few months. Thought it was cool but simply couldn't divote time to learn it. I had three songs under my belt playing bass and simple "lead guitar" parts on a few simply cover tunes with my band but I couldn't justify bringing my 6 string guitar amp AND bass rig to gigs to cover three songs. Still if i were a kid and could aford wood sheding time i'd pick it up again in a heartbeat. What an interesting instrument! | ||
| 811952
Senior Member Username: 811952 Post Number: 706 Registered: 10-2003 |
I'd like to have a stick that's bass-only, I think. I really like the attack Tony Levin gets (though I recognize that a lot of it is his compression) and just that *tone* of the smack of string-on-fretwire at the far-end (from the pickup) of the instrument. The higher-register stuff sounds interesting, but I am too much of a neanderthal bass player to do it justice. As for portage of a buttload of gear, my rig seems to be full-range (8 tens and horns) and I guess now I'm curious how it would sound with a good clean (or dirty) guitar-ish signal run through it. Good grief, my spine suggests I should have chosen violin or some other small, unamplified instrument, but my heart says bass.. John | ||
| 88persuader
Intermediate Member Username: 88persuader Post Number: 187 Registered: 5-2004 |
The sell the Chapman BASS Stick! :-) | ||
| edwin
Intermediate Member Username: edwin Post Number: 142 Registered: 5-2002 |
I played oboe throughout jr high and high school. Wish I could still do it, but the regimen necessary for any chops at all is pretty extreme, not to mention those %%$^#&%@ reeds! Edwin | ||
| hollis
Senior Member Username: hollis Post Number: 652 Registered: 11-2003 |
guitar, bass, mandolin, piano (keys), accordian, cello, flute, vocals, drums........ ......if only I could figure out how to pull them all off live at the same time.......sigh....... | ||
| richbass939
Senior Member Username: richbass939 Post Number: 620 Registered: 11-2004 |
Actually, trumpet and a simple bass part at the same time isn't all that hard. It's no harder than singing and playing (well, playing bass, anyway). Rich (Message edited by richbass939 on April 24, 2006) | ||
| jazzyvee
Senior Member Username: jazzyvee Post Number: 404 Registered: 6-2002 |
Voice, recorder, violin, now I split between guitar 90% and bass about 10%. Jazzyvee | ||
| jaysimon
Junior Username: jaysimon Post Number: 16 Registered: 1-2006 |
started on recorder, played some piano, bought a guitar, dabble in bass and drums, as well as harmonica. Basically, I play whatever people will let me play, heh. When I'm at home, its usually guitar. | ||
| jaysimon
Junior Username: jaysimon Post Number: 17 Registered: 1-2006 |
started on recorder, played some piano, bought a guitar, dabble in bass and drums, as well as harmonica. Basically, I play whatever people will let me play, heh. When I'm at home, its usually guitar. | ||
| jazzyvee
Senior Member Username: jazzyvee Post Number: 439 Registered: 6-2002 |
Recorder, violin, guitar. Now I play both guitar and bass depending on the gig. I bought some tabla a couple of years ago for my birthday and still not had lessons yet. I love their sound but need to learn to play them properly. Jazzyvee | ||
| howierd
Member Username: howierd Post Number: 58 Registered: 8-2004 |
Started on Cornet as a child....Did not like it! Switched to guitar. then Bass then keyboards back to Bass and Harmonica. Have played Bass for 42 yrs. Howierd |
