I was facinated with instruments at age 3. My first attraction was percussion instruments. The idea of beating on things and making rhythms was irresistable. I remember getting into trouble for ruining some of my mothers cake pans with wooden spoons. Later got into guitar after hearing an uncle play one. At age 11 I discovered and fell in love with the bass That was 39 years ago - and I'm still playing. The sound and power of the instrument was, and is a big attraction for me.

I always thought "I am to clumsy to play guitar/bass". Even if most of my father's family are musicians (3 of my 4 cousins, and the 4th used to play drums, but went into acting instead) and my father came to Spain (and so I was born) to learn to play Spanish Guitar! That should have been a hint... but any thought about playing was quickly killed by the thought "clumsy hands".

Fast forward to last year (almost exactly one year ago), the 21st of September (yes, easy date to remember for a bass player, sadly. The day the Greatest One died).

That day I was having holidays in Ibiza... I never go anywhere for holidays, but I had been invited by a friend of mine (the only girl I've ever loved, to put it a bit dramatically) and was in a crisis, deciding what to do with my life, thinking if I should change my quite secure but stressful job in a big company for a much more unsecure work from home but with more free time (for example, avoiding more than 3 hours commute).

A very good (male) friend of hers is a drummer, and we talked a lot about music, mainly Iron Maiden, Judas Priest. He had a band with her as singer, and two guitarrists who had just started playing in their thirties, and where not too serious. I had recently become 36... so I just decided I wanted to play bass (remember the date. No, I'm not Him reincarnated, sadly). I searched the internet for instruments, read a lot during the whole day (she was working, so I had nothing to do without my native guide!), found an interesting instrument: Variax guitar, second hand, sold by someone near where I live and... decided to buy that guitar. I did ask my musician guru... my pro-bass player cousin, and he mentioned the tone freak guitar god he works for said about the variax "it has some good useable sounds!". So that was decided. Back in mainland, I looked for an amp, but ended getting a POD XT... with bass extensions. That should have been a hint... but... no, I was still too thick.

What better way to learn bass than playing a guitar? Yes... strange idea. So I decided I would learn guitar, and then 1 year later, September the 21st of 2008, bass. But, less than one month into playing guitar, I discovered a NEW CONCEPT: I could learn BOTH of them! So I got a second hand nice bass, looked for a bass teacher, and the rest is history (and my guitar playing almost completely stopped... 9/1 proportion probably).

Now I am playing in a band, not sure if I'll make it with them, as they are way too fast and experienced for me (covers of Deep Purple, Rainbow, Judas, Iron Maiden). They are in their 40s, and the two speed demon guitarrists have been playing guitar for ever (Malsteem's Rising Force is one of their main songs!). But I've learned a lot, have increased my speed quite a lot, and I am having a lot of fun... so if in two months I'm not able to play with them (to learn their setlist, mainly... I've learnt the slow stuff already), well, we'll part our ways, but I'll have improved a lot at least! And I will have played with a band. And I've bought a good amp and cab (GK 800RB with GK 4x10RBH cab, the cab should arrive this week or next!), so if I have to search for a new band, I'll have that covered.

Forgot to mention:

When I was a kid I went to music school for one year: music theory (solfeo in spanish, from the notes SOL-FA, G-F) and the flute.

I played sax in middle school and sucked. I enjoyed playing music and tried again in my 30's and realized I still sucked and could not even tell if I was in tune so I gave up playing until I found out about electronic tuners. Later, while married to my current wife, I tried playing her acoustic guitar but found the strings too close together to play most chords. Then, when I was attending a new church and saw that they had a drummer, guitar player, and no bass player, I tried it. I always liked the bottom end and knew soon after trying the bass that this was the instrument for me. I love it, even though I'm not very good right now, I'm getting better all the time.

Waterman

Ahhh I need a cool hat like yours!!!
I actually started in the military when I was stationed in Korea. You think it's hard for people to find a bassist in the USA.....try finding a bass player on a Military post of about 1000 people!! lol
I bought a Samick bass for $99 at their factory outlet, and the rest is history.

My older brother was the guy who started to play an instrument.the
first instrument in our house was a cheap japanese j style bass
that he bought and I always wanted to play it.At that time it was
more of a toy for me than a musical instrument. But then he sold it
and picked up the guitar and again I remember i was always
looking for an opportunity to tweak around with his guitar although
he was right handed and I'm a lefty!
After sometime I wanted to play. At first I wanted to pick guitar but
we wanted to start a band so I picked bass and I'm more than
happy for this decision than anything else in my whole life :)

When I first heard Jimi Hendrix in 3rd grade, I wanted to go where he was, inwardly, that space of "being". So as soon as I could, I got old beat up acoustic guitars and tried to make music. I also played the couch with coat hanger sticks, and of course, the broom, before I got a guitar. Started bass at 12, and focused on it later in life. Jimi saved me from my family and my dysfunctional life in the home. I am always grateful to him.

"Jimi Hendrix in 3rd grade"


Jimi Hendrix was never in 3rd grade! LOL

LOL !!!!!! Good one, Wayne! I should have said, when I was in 3rd grade!

All too familiar story for me.

Both my older brothers were musicians, so I had a love of great 60's music from about age 5.

I have always loved music and started to play 6 string at age 12. But struggled with it for years.

At about 17 I was to have a jam with some guys and there were 3 guitarists so they said I should play the bass. After a quick run through from one of the guitarists, I took off.

I found that I seemed to be able to comprehend playing the bass better (it just made sense to me) Without offense I liken it to dyslexia, I could not quite get the 6 string but the bass just made sense to me.

I am now 47 and enjoying playing as much as I ever have.