thisnameistaken Posted November 29, 2012 Share Posted November 29, 2012 [quote name='Low End Bee' timestamp='1354202438' post='1883528'] Then again. I think of myself as a bass[i] guitarist[/i].....and I use the devil's plectrum. [/quote] I like the pick sound although I rarely use it myself. But now I play double bass more than bass guitar so I guess I can't be a bass guitarist now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Low End Bee Posted November 29, 2012 Share Posted November 29, 2012 [quote name='thisnameistaken' timestamp='1354202824' post='1883535'] I like the pick sound although I rarely use it myself. But now I play double bass more than bass guitar so I guess I can't be a bass guitarist now. [/quote] Man up. Play double bass with a pick. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stingrayPete1977 Posted November 29, 2012 Share Posted November 29, 2012 [quote name='4 Strings' timestamp='1354201115' post='1883495'] Both, really. I was rhythm, singer played bass and we had an incredible lead guitarist in my school band. Singer wanted to sing only, didn't take much encouragement for me to play his (totally dreadful) Avon EB0 bass. Dropped using pick a few years later. Rarely play guitar now, see the guitar as a related but completely different instrument. Never looked back. I love the role of the bass player and playing bass and feel fully a bass citizen. [/quote] It was a borrowed Avon for me too, awful just like the real versions! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr M Posted November 29, 2012 Share Posted November 29, 2012 Guitar and Bass for me. Guitar (on and off) for going on 12 years, bass (seriously) for a little over 12 months, though I've owned a bass for about 5 years. It was playing bass in a band that really converted me - responded to an ad looking for musicians saying that I play both (maybe a little ambitiously!) Jammed with them on both guitar and bass, but found it was the bass I really enjoyed, along with the power-trio set up that led to. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mog Posted November 29, 2012 Share Posted November 29, 2012 Started with Flamenco guitar and was drawn to bass soon afterwards. That in turn drew me to the Cello. I also play keys, harmonica, banjo, mando, bouzouki and lately I've been dabbling with the harp. I play all to a reasonable level and practice most of them as often as possible but IMO bass is my main instrument. Relegation its not. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomBassmonkey Posted November 29, 2012 Share Posted November 29, 2012 Started off a bassist and although I've taught guitar, I'll always mainly be a bassist. I find bass dull as a solo instrument so I enjoy guitar in that context but there's nothing like sitting in the groove in a band situation on bass so it'll always be my main passion. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hobbayne Posted November 29, 2012 Share Posted November 29, 2012 I started off on bass, but learned guitar after a few years. I,m a fairly good rhythm player but sh*te at lead. Still, I prefer to be on the bass anyhoo! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul torch Posted November 29, 2012 Share Posted November 29, 2012 Had a go at learning guitar, got on better with picking out riffs than chords so a mate suggested I try bass. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lfalex v1.1 Posted November 29, 2012 Share Posted November 29, 2012 [quote name='voxpop' timestamp='1354196369' post='1883393'] Bass only for me. I can't and don't want to play guitar. [/quote] This. Guitar was never an option. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Conan Posted November 29, 2012 Share Posted November 29, 2012 I took up bass because I liked bass. I still do! First thing I listen to in a piece of music is the bass part. If it has no bass part, I tend to be less interested (bear in mind that the bass part can be sung or played on another instrument like a keyboard). My fingers are big and I always struggle to play guitar cleanly so I'd rather not bother. I like keyboards and dabble a bit but bass has always been and will always be my main instrument - because I want it to be! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LiamPodmore Posted November 29, 2012 Share Posted November 29, 2012 A blend of both for me. I asked my dad for a guitar and 2 months later he brought me a 'guitar' that he'd got from a clearout where he worked, which happened to be a beaten to sh*t '94 Squier Jazz. I stuck on some new strings and got lessons. So i wanted to play guitar but ended up on bass instead, which 5 years on, is a decision i'm very glad of. Liam Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neil_d Posted November 29, 2012 Share Posted November 29, 2012 Have played guitar for 9 years or so, and occasionally picked up a bass. Until back in spring this year, when I got myself a bass and decided to have a 'proper go at it', mainly because I was taking over bass duties in a band when the bassist was absent (often). Now I think I might prefer bass (playing in the band), and might even suggest dropping the few numbers I pick up a guitar for... So, a guitarist and hopefully becoming a bassist as well (not a guitarist who "plays a bit of bass"). Certainly enjoy playing both, but in a band context the bass can be more fun. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Happy Jack Posted November 29, 2012 Share Posted November 29, 2012 [quote name='Low End Bee' timestamp='1354202999' post='1883543'] Man up. Play double bass with a pick. [/quote] A [i][b]felt [/b][/i]pick ... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
uncle psychosis Posted November 29, 2012 Share Posted November 29, 2012 I was a guitarist before I got a bass, but I bought a bass because I wanted to, not because anyone else asked me to or to join a particular band. Nowadays I think of myself as a bassist who also plays guitar a little bit, but I suppose if I want to get properly pedantic I'm a flautist who dabbles a little in bass and guitar! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MiltyG565 Posted November 29, 2012 Share Posted November 29, 2012 Bass was my first instrument. I knew guitarist were a dime a dozen, and bass was quite overlooked by the masses, so i thought "aye, give people more reasons to avoid you" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Prime_BASS Posted November 29, 2012 Share Posted November 29, 2012 I started on guitar, but then changed to bass of free will. I don't know if that classes me as relegated? if so I'm offended. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tauzero Posted November 29, 2012 Share Posted November 29, 2012 I started on guitar, decided to take up the bass duties in my then band as the other guitarist was probably better than me, then when I moved to Tamworth went looking for a band as either guitarist or bassist. Bassists being rarer, that's where I finished up. I still play guitar, and use guitar to write songs (so I have to start working out bass lines for my own songs after telling the guitarist what to play). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SlapbassSteve Posted November 29, 2012 Share Posted November 29, 2012 [quote name='BigRedX' timestamp='1354197503' post='1883418'] I can't understand why any musician would want to limit themselves to a single instrument. [/quote] Great point. Bass wasn't the first instrument I took up, and it wont be the last, though it's by far my favourite(and biggest earner so far). Diff instruments provide different approaches to music as a whole. In previous lives I was a jazz keyboardist, ukulele player(abar 5 years before all those blinkin' hipsters decided they were trendy again), and then when I decided I wanted to play bass, I had to learn on a short scale guitar because finding a bass cheap enough for a 14 year old in my lonely part of Shropshire was like looking for rocking horse sh*te. When I did finally get hold of one I never looked back, but it's been really handy to have the other stuff on tap. I do still basically just play lead guitar on a bass though Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
4 Strings Posted November 29, 2012 Share Posted November 29, 2012 [quote name='stingrayPete1977' timestamp='1354203336' post='1883549'] It was a borrowed Avon for me too, awful just like the real versions! [/quote] I think overcoming those wretched devices makes you and I among the most dedicated bass players on the planet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neepheid Posted November 29, 2012 Share Posted November 29, 2012 [quote name='BigRedX' timestamp='1354197503' post='1883418'] I can't understand why any musician would want to limit themselves to a single instrument. [/quote] The pursuit of excellence facilitated by specialisation? Laziness compounded with a lack of interest? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xgsjx Posted November 29, 2012 Share Posted November 29, 2012 I started off a keys player, then harmonica, tenor horn, trumpet, guitar, bass, violin, drums, banjo & most recently tin whistle. My fave instrument to play in a band setting is bass. On my own it's probably keys & programming. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wilco Posted November 29, 2012 Share Posted November 29, 2012 Bass all the way for me. As a 12 - 13 year old I was massively influenced by Geddy Lee, Chris Squire, Derek Forbes & Adam Clayton & just wanted to play bass. Saved up my paper round money to buy my first one - a no brand plywood piece of sh*te. I didn't care at the time - I was just so pleased I had a bass. Over the many (many!) years that have passed since then, I have dabbled with electric & acoustic 6 string guitars but they just don't give me the same buzz that listening to & playing a bass does. From as long ago as I can remember, when I listen to music, my brain & ears have always been focused on the low end. The fantastic gear that can be bought these days for a very reasonable money (both new & used) just blows my mind & adds to my bass playing experience. So does all the options of 5, 6 (or more!) stringers, fretless, slap playing, active or passive, double bass etc etc... It's a very interesting topic & question. I think though I would start one with "Why the hell would you [i]want[/i] to play guitar when you could play bass?" !! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doddy Posted November 29, 2012 Share Posted November 29, 2012 Drums have always been a big part of my upbringing,so I've always kind of dabbled in them,but when I decided to play an instrument seriously I went straight to the bass for some reason. I've got a few guitars and have done a few gigs on them,but it's very much secondary for me (well,after playing Electric,Upright, Synth bass-so I guess it's 4th on the list really,maybe lower). To be honest though,the'failed guitarist' stereotype is very often true in many cases,especially with rock players.Frank Zappa says some interesting things about this in his book. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
seashell Posted November 29, 2012 Share Posted November 29, 2012 Bass only for me. Just love how it sounds and looks. In my (very limited) performing experience I have never been 'bunged at the back'. I move around a lot more than our guitartist who is a static sort of chap. No I'm working on gradually stealing the limelight from the singer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigRedX Posted November 29, 2012 Share Posted November 29, 2012 [quote name='neepheid' timestamp='1354208985' post='1883676'] The pursuit of excellence facilitated by specialisation? Laziness compounded with a lack of interest? [/quote] Maybe... However I doubt anyone here is really good enough to seriously use the former as an excuse. The latter is just sad. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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