Can I still have fun playing bass with no band?

[garry414]

Hi guys. I’m 15 years old and have been playing for nearly a year now and I think I’ve made good progress so far. I’d probably want to be in a band at some point but if I don’t any time soon, is it still possible to have fun playing bass without having people to play with? Thanks

 

[Spud]

Hi guys. I’m 15 years old and have been playing for nearly a year now and I think I’ve made good progress so far. I’d probably want to be in a band at some point but if I don’t any time soon, is it still possible to have fun playing bass without having people to play with? Thanks

Heck yes! If you like to play just play. Have fun, and down the road you might play with others.

 

[Rick]

To make it fun get a ehx pog, bass big muff and an auto wah like a boss aw 3.

 

[teleme01]

I been playing guitar by myself for over 50 years and it sucks, my advice is try making more friends than I have.

 

[mayfly]

Get in a band! You're a bass player - it should be no problem to find people to play with.

 

[supertruper1988]

I find a lot of joy in playing along with songs I love and learning them in the process. Lots of cool stuff to be learned for the music you want to play in a band.

 

[TBurst Std]

Yes you can enjoy. Learn a good amount of walking lines (this can spread from Jameson (Motown) to McCartney (Beatles))

Start working on slapping bass.

As far as a band, a solid bass player can always find a gig.

 

[Scab Pickens]

I’d probably want to be in a band at some point but if I don’t any time soon, is it still possible to have fun playing bass without having people to play with?

You are the only one who can answer that question (unless you are some sort of AI bot).

 

[NedRyerson]

Hi guys. I’m 15 years old and have been playing for nearly a year now and I think I’ve made good progress so far. I’d probably want to be in a band at some point but if I don’t any time soon, is it still possible to have fun playing bass without having people to play with? Thanks

It absolutely is. I've been playing bass for almost 30 years and there's always more to learn. The fun is when I'm out and I hear some random song playing. I focus on the bass of that song if it's particularly interesting and then make a note to myself to try it out the next time.

Despite being mainly a metal player, I find that other genres really expand and innovate with bass playing, even as metal does. The metal bass that I prefer is usually in lockstep with the drummer and straying a little bit from what the rhythm guitar does. It's common for the bass to follow the rhythm guitar since in many metal bands, they start with the rhythm guitar riff then expand outward from there.

But funk, disco, reggae, ska, and blues all take bass in different directions, and I love learning about it. I don't have the time to dedicate to it that I wish I did, but that's why I've been playing for so long! I incorporate those techniques into my metal playing so that I'm not just chugging 8th notes on the E string all the time.

 

[Rick]

True ... bass players can always find a gig.

 

[ghostrider]

Absolutely! Play along to some recordings to build confidence and join a band when you're ready. Bass players are always in really high demand.

Me: "I play guitar and I'd like to join the band."

Band: "Nice to meet you. First let's meet up a few times to get to know each other. Then send me videos of you playing these 12 songs note for note. I will know if you miss a note. Then we'll bring you in 5 more times to jam with the band. Then we'll need bank statements and nude photos of you. If we like you, we'll cast lots to make sure that it's the right move."

[5 seconds later another dude walks up]

Bass Player: "I play bass and I'd like to join the band."

Band: "You're in."


Exaggeration? Maybe a little... but not really.

 

[BroccoliRob]

i'm not convinced this is a real person tbh

 

[Rick]

I'm not convinced either, but it was a good question.

 

[Jebberz]

My 16 yo son started playing bass only a few months ago... he his now in 2 bands and subs in a 3rd one...

 

[TBurst Std]

While a guitarist primarily, I am a good bassist as well. In the last 2 days, every weekend and a weekday into mid April got gigs on bass.

It’s 2 things. 1. The amount of bass players is slim. 2. It you’re above serviceable, you’re in demand.

When I moved here 3 years ago I was talking to the owner of the music store I now consult. Noted I played both. His remark, don’t let anyone know you play bass or you’ll never play guitar again. There’s very few bassists here. True Words!

 

[TBurst Std]

And I have 90+% of my bass ground covered. Hell just picked up a studio fill in gig. Covered are:
PBass flats
Pbass rounds
50s PBass sc rounds
Jbass rounds
Jbass fretless tapes
Hofner HB flats
Rickenbacker 4003 rounds
Spector active PJ
Dingwall active 5 string

I am blessed. I can easily cover 90+% of the tones needed.

 

[Bruce Campbell]

And I have 90+% of my bass ground covered. Hell just picked up a studio fill in gig. Covered are:
PBass flats
Pbass rounds
50s PBass sc rounds
Jbass rounds
Jbass fretless tapes
Hofner HB flats
Rickenbacker 4003 rounds
Spector active PJ
Dingwall active 5 string

I am blessed. I can easily cover 90+% of the tones needed.

That is an awesome arsenal even if bass were your primary instrument.

 

[TBurst Std]

I knew I forgot 1:
MM Stingray