Your very 1st song

[Dood]

I learned my very first bass line from start to finish on a bass that wasn't a bass:-

 

As a kid, we didn't have lots of money and, generally we had to figure out how to overcome problems without finanical support. I built my first bass effect pedals because I couldn't afford to buy them. My first "distortion preamp" for my bass and indeed later a whole bass head and cabinet I built from scratch. A massive 400W beast and a single 15" bass cab. An impressive sound for a teenager!

 

Anyway, there is reason for this preamble, honest. 

 

I really wanted a bass, I needed one, it actually pained me not having one, the draw to the instrument was pretty extraordinary when it took hold  and let's face it, 35+ years later the obsession hasn't dwindled one bit.

 

So, I took a hacksaw to my student-sized acoustic guitar and cut the nut for 4 strings. Unfortunately I was unable to drill the bridge to suit the spacing of four strings at that end, but still I had to conquer and overcome lol.. 

 

I learned Another One Bites The Dust by Queen as my first full song, start to finish, note perfect on an acoustic guitar with four wonky strings. I still have the guitar with it's battle scars!

[Bilbo]

I have absolutely no idea whatsoever. It was a long time ago and not something that I retained. Can't even begin to guess.

[EBS_freak]

49 minutes ago, Bilbo said:

I have absolutely no idea whatsoever. It was a long time ago and not something that I retained. Can't even begin to guess.

Surely it's got to be Donna Lee?

[paul_5]

Probably 'Midnight Hour' or similar. The first song I learned* from TAB was a transcription of Freewill by Rush. That was from one of my brother's guitar magazines that he'd left lying around the house. 

 

 

 

 

*Not completely, but probably over 80%

[BassTractor]

6 hours ago, EBS_freak said:

Surely it's got to be Donna Lee?

 

Ha!
I actually contemplated telling the story of my former girlfriend, who picked up the bass and as her first song played  ...  exactly that ... 😱
Mind you, she already was an accomplished musician, nearly getting the job as second flautist in the Concertgebouw Orchestra.


Since I'm here anyway, some days ago I mentioned "Games Without Frontiers" as my first song. That was before I tried to become a bass player.
A buddy of mine had gone on for 15 years about how he should be playing a musical instrument, but "now" it was too late to start. Fed up with this nonsense, I taught myself said song and when this buddy visited me, I pushed the bass onto his lap and said upon him that he wasn't gonna leave the premises before being able to play the song.
He abided, and some years later became the bass player in a local band.

... the irony being that I myself still can't play the bass. 😀

[Bilbo]

8 hours ago, EBS_freak said:

Surely it's got to be Donna Lee?

 

Backwards

[Thor]

First song I learned from start to finish was ‘Sunshine of your love’ by Cream.

 

 First song I ever gigged was ‘ move it’ by Cliff Richard and The Shadows.

[Dood]

20 hours ago, EBS_freak said:

Surely it's got to be Donna Lee?

 

 

[bubinga5]

The first was this amazing record. I remember learning the root notes then wanting to learn the chord notes. 

 

[Paul S]

On 27/01/2025 at 12:04, Bilbo said:

I have absolutely no idea whatsoever. It was a long time ago and not something that I retained. Can't even begin to guess.

 

My turn - Moondance!  

[Rich]

Caroline by Status Quo. Not much of a challenge, I know  but I also had to sing it.

[Kevan]

Back in the USSR, circa 1977. 

[Oopsdabassist]

Message in a Bottle, the Police, I remember being proper chuffed when the 1st band I auditioned for had this on their playlist, no one told me until the 1st chorus that they played in a different key.......then they had to explain to me what that meant.....I'd only been playing 3 months...i still got the gig!