Kinder Posted April 15, 2013 Share Posted April 15, 2013 Far too soon - about 6 weeks after picking up a bass for the first time at the tender age of 14. The set included Phanton of the Opera & Running Free by Maiden, plus Alright Now etc so a few bass solos to ease me in! The scariest thing was we were supporting a band made up of people from Musical Exchanges in Brum - proper talented musos. God only knows how we got the gig, why we took it or what they all thought. I think I've blanked it out. All gigs after that were a lot easier though! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bluesparky Posted April 15, 2013 Share Posted April 15, 2013 For me it was straight away, the school I was at bought a bass guitar (pretty much for me - I was the only pupil in my GCSE music class and I pestered the teacher / department to get one) and I had to join the school orchestra that week and play bass, shifting across from the brass section where I'd been for the previous four years. The first school concert with me on bass was only a couple or three weeks later. The first PROPER gig, i.e. with an independent band was about six months later and that seemed to go alright too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BernardJazz Posted April 15, 2013 Share Posted April 15, 2013 About 1 month if you include college gigs, I had already played guitar for 2 years and picked up bass because there was a severe lack bassists at college, probably the best decision I've ever made. With a proper band it was 3 years until I gigged with them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chrismuzz Posted April 15, 2013 Share Posted April 15, 2013 When I first picked up the bass, I spent 2 years of jamming in a guitarist friend's bedroom, writing grunge and playing along to Metallica. Then when we both went to college, we started an indie rock/funk type thing, and gigged a few weeks later! Not long after that, we took all the stuff we'd written before college, and started a female fronted prog rock/metal band. Kind of a weird transition now that I think about it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gafbass02 Posted April 15, 2013 Share Posted April 15, 2013 Two weeks I think. A long time ago now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rogerstodge Posted April 15, 2013 Share Posted April 15, 2013 About 2 months, joined my 1st band on the Sunday and supported the Angelic Upstarts the following Friday at a club called Skunx in London 1982 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grangur Posted April 15, 2013 Share Posted April 15, 2013 First picked up a bass in/around 1978. After 2 years I gave up, but kept the bass. Went back to it 3yrs ago and still not gigged yet. I went to a gig in a local pub on this last Saturday and was amazed how useless the bass player was; very poor fretting, single finger plucking etc... I'd thought I wasn't up to it yet!! So now looking out for a band of equally minded mediocrity. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jazzneck Posted April 15, 2013 Share Posted April 15, 2013 [quote name='Grangur' timestamp='1366046969' post='2047708'] First picked up a bass in/around 1978. After 2 years I gave up, but kept the bass. Went back to it 3yrs ago and still not gigged yet. I went to a gig in a local pub on this last Saturday and was amazed how useless the bass player was; very poor fretting, [b][color=#ff0000]single finger plucking etc...[/color][/b] [/quote] So did James Jamerson............ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Myke Posted April 15, 2013 Share Posted April 15, 2013 3 days and 2 hours practice.. I was 13 and the gig was shocking! But I got the bug Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BassTractor Posted April 16, 2013 Share Posted April 16, 2013 Hm. Depends on how you look at it. See, a buddy of mine bought a bass, and I had some joy with it without "picking up bass" or practising, even though I admittedly did "pick up a bass". This was in '81-'82. I never learnt to play bass, but did find out how to play "Games Without Frontiers", and taught it to another buddy so as to get him to start playing an instrument. Mind you, this was just about where to put one's fingers. No technique or stuff. Some years later ('85?) I had to pick up the bass without being able to play the bass, when, as an accomplished musician in other areas, I was asked to dep the very next day. So I did. You choose: one day or three/four years. BTW, roughly thirty years later, I still can't play the bass, and I'm still not practising as I should. But noise is emitted from the thing, and I enjoy myself. best, bert Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fozza Posted April 16, 2013 Share Posted April 16, 2013 (edited) Some mates at school formed a band in April 1991 and I got roped in to play bass. The singer had the gear so I borrowed his. I'd dabbled on guitar a bit. I could play a few chords but not much of a player. First gig was in the school hall in June or July so about 2-3 months from first pluck to gig. We played Blues/Rock, a mix of covers and originals. We didn't sound too bad given our age (all 14) and lack of experience. Anyway, the crowd enjoyed it and that's what counts, innit? Edited April 16, 2013 by Fozza Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
matski Posted April 17, 2013 Share Posted April 17, 2013 4 years: got my first bass when I was 12, and played my first gig when I was 16. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flyfisher Posted April 17, 2013 Share Posted April 17, 2013 I played my first bass-playing gig before I even had a bass. it was a band of school mates and we played a summer fete at an old folks home with me playing bass on an old acoustic guitar. I was about 16, so early 70s. I can only remember three of the songs - House of the Rising Sun, Love Like A Man (RIP Alvin Lee) and an original. I dread to think what it sounded like but fortunately there are no recordings as evidence. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
police squad Posted April 17, 2013 Share Posted April 17, 2013 Bought my first bass from Kennards in Canterbury in July 1981. It was a Tempest SG shaped thing. (Kay under another name I think) . Did me first gig on rememberance sunday that same year (Nov 8th). I had just turned 13. I still see the members of my first band. Guitarist does an Ozzy tribute and the drummer now plays Keys for Toyah!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spike Vincent Posted April 17, 2013 Share Posted April 17, 2013 [quote name='Spike Vincent' timestamp='1366016151' post='2047190'] 4 hours. [/quote] I should point out that's 4 hours after picking up a bass for the first time ever.And one of those was spent gaffer taping the strap on the horn so I could play it left handed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dmccombe7 Posted April 17, 2013 Share Posted April 17, 2013 I think it was approx 1yr but so long ago it might have been longer. I attended lessons for 9-12 mths and wasn't long after that i played in a rock band. We were s**t tho from memory. Totally disorganised - LOL Dave Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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