“Should I Play Bass Guitar?” Answer These 4 Questions
As a teenager I remember when my friend started playing the bass guitar. I was at his house one day and noticed it sitting in the corner: it was a cherry red Squier Jazz Bass. I picked it up and had no clue what I was doing as I plucked around on it.
Oh, and I played it upside down- my friend is left handed, and so was his bass.
Even though my knowledge of the bass was extremely limited, I knew this was something I wanted to get in on. Soon after, I started playing myself and I never looked back.
I don’t know your situation- maybe you’re a drummer looking to expand your instrumental palette, or maybe you’re not a musician at all (yet!). Whatever the case, let’s answer four questions before investing your time and money in learning the bass.
“Should I Play Bass Guitar?”
- Are You Content With Being Out Of The Spotlight?
- What Are Your Musical Goals?
- Are You Willing To Take Baby Steps To Learn The Bass?
- Are You Prepared To Experience The AWESOMENESS Of Playing The Bass?
1. Are You Content With Being Out Of The Spotlight?
There’s a joke that goes something like this: “you’re not a true fan of a band until you can name the bass player.”
We as bass players often fly under the radar. We may not get to play shredding solos, and sometimes we may get bored from playing whole notes or a repetitive bass line, but we have one of the most important functions in the band– keeping time and laying the foundation.
I don’t mind hanging in the back with the drummer- I actually prefer it this way. You might discover that your personality type meshes with this role as well- something to consider!
2. What Are Your Musical Goals?
Are you a guitarist looking to learn the basics in case you ever need to fill in on bass? Or are you wanting to go all in and play music for a living? There’s no right or wrong answer- the life of a bass player can vary depending on the path you take!
3. Are You Willing To Take Baby Steps To Learn The Bass?
It’s easy to get excited when we see someone like Billy Sheehan perform and say “I want to do THAT!” The downfall of many newbies is that they want to go from 0 to 100, skipping all the “boring” music theory and go straight to learning slap style. This is a definite way to get burnt out from frustration.
It makes sense… trying to understand trigonometry would be impossible if you skipped basic math concepts like addition and division.
Being a bass player is a constant journey that requires discipline, so be patient and enjoy the adventure! Starting small will pay off in the long run.
4. Are You Prepared To Experience The AWESOMENESS Of Playing The Bass?
The groove. The air from your amp pushing against your back. The subs shaking the stage beneath you. Playing bass guitar is just flat out fun!
The instrument itself is only about 60+ years old, yet one of the fastest evolving as players continue to push the limits of technique, design, and the role the bassist plays in the band. Basically, the possibilities are endless.
