In an ideal life...

[Barking Spiders]

..and you were blessed with one specific musical talent , knowing what you know now would you have playing the bass as your thing? Mebbe you'd have rather been a great songwriter or melodica virtuoso. I wish I'd been given superb set of pipes with a 6 octave range plus the frontman charisma of a Freddie Mercury or Dave Lee Roth.

[xgsjx]

I've played many instruments over the years & the one thing I wish that I could do, is sing. No matter what, unless I'm singing Sex Machine, I just can't hold a tune.
Which is really strange, as I have no problem playing by ear.

& the answer is yes, I'd still play bass... & keys... & guitar.

[RhysP]

I'd like to have been either an excellent songwriter or an excellent pianist.

[fretmeister]

Piano I think. But I really love the cello too even though I have never played one.

[Trueno]

I'd settle for playing the top octave on the flute without bothering the local cat population.

[BrunoBass]

I'd swap my bass playing 'ability' (minimal at best) to be a great singer. I think I'm a pretty good songwriter and whilst I'm not a bad singer I wish I was better.

[bassjim]

singer

[mikel]

Songwriter. You can have the best musicians on the planet but without great songs they dont amount to much.

[bonzodog]

Id love to be a great drummer. I'm always tapping the steering wheel when driving along with the radio much to my families annoyance.

[miles'tone]

Drummer. My whole approach to bass playing has mostly been about playing drums on a guitar anyway.

[LewisK1975]

Singer / Songwriter - absolutely definitely.

[paul_c2]

The question/original post leaves room for interpretation, I'm taking it as "if you had more musical talent, would you play a different instrument?"

I'd say no: I enjoy playing the bass, partly because it is easier than other instruments (I have played a number of others.....) and partly because of its role as the foundation in a band or group, along with the drums. Its boring to practice on its own but interesting to play with others. I don't seek the limelight or fame off it, so I'm not bothered about being a brilliant front man, or soloist on whatever else eg electric guitar etc etc. For a while I thought I was brilliant at music, until I looked at other things instead of simply bass parts for quite easy graded pieces. Now I know while I'm not brilliant, and there's areas to improve, I am competent on the bass and can make a positive influence.

I guess if I had a ton more musical talent I'd take up another instrument, or instruments, but I'd still keep the bass as my main instrument and enjoy playing it.

[RockfordStone]

[quote name='mikel' timestamp='1476804031' post='3157406']
Songwriter. You can have the best musicians on the planet but without great songs they dont amount to much.
[/quote]
this, the world always needs songs

[xgsjx]

Being a songwriter is just like any instrument. Practice doing it, make a load of crap & then you start to get better at it.
A good place to start is the BC monthly composition challenge thingy - [url="http://basschat.co.uk/topic/292782-october-composition-challenge-get-writing-yall/"]Clicky link thing[/url]

[Lozz196]

Drummer, it would mean I was fitter (health-wise of course).

[Cat Burrito]

The ability to stop any band member from whinging on about stuff that doesn't matter and to be able to placate any argument.

I sound like I've been stung but it really hasn't been *that* bad over the years.

[ahpook]

Theremin or maybe saw.

Edited October 18, 2016 by ahpook

[Cato]

I'd love to have a proper crack at drums, I reckon it would make me a better bass player.

I've got a mate who has offered to lend me her electric kit, but from having a couple of lessons at her house I reckon even that would be noisy enough to have the neighbours coming after me with farm implements and flaming torches where I live.

[alyctes]

Instruments are tools... voice or songwriting.

If I had to pick an instrument it would be cello. With a pickup.

[ambient]

Cello.

I absolutely love cello.

My composition tutor at uni is a cellist. She brought her 200 odd year old cello into a lecture once, and played. So, so beautiful.

[bertbass]

Keyboards, so versatile and you get to sit down.

[JonesTheCat]

Singing. Preferably while playing the bass.

[rOB]

The ability to quickly find musicians with the same musical goals, ability and taste. Persuading them to play with me would be useful too.

Edit - perhaps not exactly a musical talent.

Edited October 23, 2016 by rOB

[cytania]

Can my musical super power be being in two places at once? On stage and sorting the sound on the desk?

If it has to be musical I'd love the timbre of Martyn Wyndham Read, what a voice, what a range.

[bassbiscuits]

Definitely as a songwriter.

I'm pretty good at collaborating on original stuff and hopefully sometimes even bringing something interesting to the table.
But I haven't got the attention span or confidence to sit and chip away at an original idea to turn it into a really good song.

If I could do that I'd die happy.