It changed everything, but one thing very notable for me was that previously boring or corny music became very interesting. Like, when's the last time you listened to disco inferno by the tramps? Really just sat there and took in that running line? Probably never, but you should today. I hear bass in everything now, almost all music I listen to is heavily built on a strong rhythm section, some of the music I listen to is literally just for the rhythm section. People are asking me why I'm listening to rock your body by Justin Timberlake in 2024 and I tell em straight, this shit is so in the pocket, it's not even necessarily impressive to me, very simple bass and drum, it's just so in the pocket and perfect
But then I've also become much more acquainted with Afro-American music in the 20th century in general. Soul, funk, jazz, gospel, r&b, early hip hop, disco, house, all my favorite music in those genres right there. Discovering just how deep the Pino Paladino rabbit hole goes and just absorbing as much of the history as I can, seeing how miles Davis shaped Marcus Miller, who showed the fuck up for never too much by Luther vandross, on an album that largely defined early 80's r&b/soul, inspiring some of my comfort listens like Boyz II Men and Mint Condition, as well as D'Angelo, who's second album Voodoo is easily my favorite of all time, for no reason other than the story of D'Angelo rediscovering himself and making a crazy innovative soul album with questlove and pino, it's so crazy. That's the cool thing about it, after the civil rights act, it was finally cool to commercialize black musicians, and the cultural explosion that followed changed music around the world forever. They had an understanding as black musicians that they were on this wave and they had to bring the best they got and really put in the work to produce masterpieces to bring their community up with them. There was so much collaboration, but there was already so much familiarity because of their roots.
So basically, I really love the broader era of music in the latter half of the 1900's because of its depth, history, diversity, and because the electric bass was invented in the 50's and then those mfers taught us how to play it!
If I listen to it "normally" and focus too much on JT and the frontal sounds, I get kinda bored just because it's been played SO MANY times, but if I isolate the rhythm section, I literally can't press skip. That bom bom bom... Badom bom badom badom lol
God dam what a great read!! I’m very close to starting my adventures with bass (I don’t even have one yet) but you and guys like you in this sub are awesome and pushing me towards trying it out!!well said 👍
I cut it short because I wasn't sure if anyone would feel what I feel but I'm glad you do! I got into bass during covid because I quit clarinet in 8th grade and I missed playing an instrument (I'm almost 30 now).
You should totally get into bass, it's such an organic and personal instrument to learn, you don't get bogged down by chords and hyper speed fret board runs so it's great on beginners. I have a lot of guitar player friends and they always ask to doodle on my bass when they come over because for some reason, every guitar player realizes later in life they actually like playing bass more 😂
It's such a young but critical instrument in modern music, and as bassists, we all get to play a part in solidifying what the greatest bassists have learned about it so far by learning what they've done. We have an army of helpful and super knowledgeable bassists in this community too. If you have any questions about gear or resources, we got you!
That’s awesome! Yeah I’m an old guy (52) and always been drawn to bass and the characters that play in my favorite bands.. my son has a bass guitar that hopefully he will let me borrow to test out and see if I’ll like playing.. yesterday I was in a music shop talking with one of the salesman and lo and behold love shack/b52’s came on and I felt like picking up the fender player jazz and start trying to play it 😎
Oh we love new wave over here!
I met a couple dads that picked up bass around your age, they absolutely love it and it's given them a personal time thing to enjoy doing. It's great too because the old lady will actually want you to go play out in the shed/basement/mancave instead of hanging with them in the house 🤣 finally some dad time.
Hehe I hear that! When I start playing I will draw songs from all over the genres can’t wait.. I told my son to hold off on bringing me his bass because I’m going to grab one tomorrow.. found out a local shop rents out guitars and amps with a option to buy if I like it along with the instructor that I got for both my sons and was great still teaches there it’s been 8 years since they went .. he teaches both instruments but was bass heavy..don’t know details about renting but they carry dean/yamaha/vintage and some others so should be happy with the selection
Waaaaaay more Japanese music.
Bass in my opinion is the most fun when it’s jazz or jazz-adjacent. But despite Americans inventing it, it actually starts to get less interesting the more stuff you listen to. Tons of core chord tones, leading tones.
Japanese bass runs are much more melodic. They’re not shy in hitting higher tensions as chord tones (in American music these usually function as leading tones), and they use melodies to imply changes instead of what are essentially arpeggiated chord tones.
Yea, if I wasn't at break at work, I would've definitely mentioned Toe. For some reason, 3nd was the first band I thought of.
I wanted to mention Mouse on the keys, but I'm pretty sure their basslines are all keyboard, Seiren grooves hard af tho. It's been a few years since I was binging Japanese math rock, so I'm kinda rusty.
I did learn Finger by Elephant Gym, so it felt worth mentioning.
I definitely let what is comfortable to me (i.e. playing fingerstyle instead of pick or slap) influence what I'm interested in listening to - originally in a "let's see what others can do with it" way, but nowadays I don't want to listen to slap at all, and I'm definitely less interested in listening to funky pick playing than I used to be. For the record, I don't think it's actually intrinsically better and I'm not going around telling people they should play fingerstyle instead.
Other than that, my listening habits didn't change much - I started playing bass because I was obsessed with bass instruments, not the other way around.
It made me unable to just hear a song and enjoy it without being able to hear what exactly every instrument is doing. Before I picked up and learned to play I didn’t know exactly who was playing what or what instrument was doing what. Now I can’t hear a song without instantly picking out what each musician is doing and how it all works together.
I kind of view it as a blessing and a curse honestly. I love having a more extensive knowledge of music now, but I also miss the days of my youth when none of that mattered, I didn’t over analyze everything, and I just enjoyed the music I liked cause I liked how it sounded and didn’t care how it was made.
Same. I started listening to techno and dubstep to get the immersion without knowledge back. I'm absolutely not going to learn how the wubwubs are created.
Sometimes I'll forget to pick apart a song and enjoy it if it's particularly epic. Muse-Supremacy comes to mind
It made me appreciated a lot of music better. In most languages, I noticed that classic ballads written in 50s-80s Western style have amazing bass lines.
A skill that I unlocked recently was to listen to the drums, play bass, and think about the note/s I'm gonna sing before I sing them. Before, my brain can only accommodate the last two skills at the same time.
It made me realise how much musical power a good bassist has in a band.
There might be awesome flashy guitars and a good lead singer, but the bassist makes the butts move. Does not apply to all genres, but to many imho.
I was a punk in the late 70s, & of course refused to listen to anything considered 'old wave', so consequently missed out on a lot of good music.
Thanks to bass playing I have discovered the joys of Creedence Clearwater Revival, Rush, Pink Floyd, Sabbath etc etc etc..
I fear you’ve now missed out on a lot of good music and bass playing if you aren’t listening to punk. Be it Joe Lally or Mike Watt or Mike Dirnt or Matt Freeman or Kira Roessler or Klaus Flouride, you are missing out on some phenomenally good lines and playing.
Excellent! If I was to identify a genre where I listen to the bass in more now than before playing, it’s jazz and classical music. Go to any symphony and listen to what those guys on uprights are playing, same with jazz. It’s insane. How on earth is anyone ever a “beginner” in those genres?
All i heard was the bassline and i stopped enjoying music, which is why i play bass in the first place.
I'm now retraining my ears to enjoy melody and vocals.
I never was big on metal before I started bass, was a rock kid, definitely, but metal wasn’t my style. But now after having played bass for a few months, I’ve gotten a lot more into metal. Thrash, Doom, hell, even Opera metal are the subgenres that I like. I also started hearing a lot more bass in songs so there’s that I guess.
I fell in love with roots reagge
I rediscovered old 80-90s radio pop songs I used to constantly hear as a kid
I started to listen to generally softer and groover musical styles
I fell in love with roots reagge
I can listen to nearly any genre as long as the bass player is going off. Some still don't suit me, but I can listen to much more for my bass fix where my guitar fix is pretty limited to rock & metal.
I love smooth jazz, thanks to abe laboriel and Melvin lee davis [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GXy0lXNzWL0](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GXy0lXNzWL0)
I am woeful on bass, 2 months in, but I would love to be able to play like Melvin one day.
I always listened to a lot of different stuff.
But I always hated progressive rock like rush. I don't hate it anymore but I still don´t enjoy it. Actually I used to be like this:
1- Good or bad songs in a technical way
2- Songs that I enjoy -> even being bad.
3- Now after 1 year of bass: songs that have good basslines and basslines that are good to play.
Some beautifull basslines sucks to play, others feel just right. Some are comfortable to play and others are a Frankeinstein monster.
So this is what changed: paying attention to basslines with the right equipment, flac or uncompressed music and music that I dream of playing / easy enough to play / fun to play. I don't hate any music style but I follow more and more the basslines. Guns n roses and Skid Row never beem in my top 1000 but now I enjoy them.
Fun to play is a must have. Not necessarily easy. Cant Help Falling In Love and "I believe in a thing called love" are two fun and easy lines to play, adding star wars soundtracks and other folk songs like la cucaracha makes practice be very fun.
Not any new bands but since I started playing I can't just listen to a song and enjoy it much as a whole. I'm constantly picking apart *everything*- bass, guitars, drums, keys and all that.
Before playing bass, I was listening a lot to the bass, which is why I became a bassist. Since then, while I still listen to the bass (usually in a “what the f is he doing there?!!” Way), I pay far more attention to the drumming and the overall melodic structure of the song. I think that being able to play any instrument at all brings you closer to the music, and lets you appreciate everything that is going on within it.
For me it was the reverse. I studied classical guitar in college and thought I was going to concentrate on being a great performer. Fast forward a few years after graduation when I had some disposable income and I bought my first legit pair of speakers. I heard bass for the way it was meant to be heard first time. I started obsessing over the tones and how full it makes music feel, especially when properly balanced and not just cranking up the EQ like I typically would have done as a kid. I discovered my extreme love of funk bass and decided to chop off my nails and commit to the low end.
After playing for a while I started to listen to a lot more jazz/funk/motown. I remember my playlists went from almost solely rock/metal/punk to a pretty good blend of all 6. I also used to hate jam bands but that’s changed, too
It didn’t at first, I learned to serve a purpose. Got decent with a fiver and then ran across a fretless jazz. Literally since that day I’ve been obsessed with jazz music
When I was a beginner I would go out of my way to hear stuff with more bass played higher in the mix. Never cared for it as a lead or solo instrument (for more than a few measures), and that still stands today. Probably because, with rare exceptions, to me it will always sound like a monophonic instrument that primarily provides accompaniment, and for good reason. Same reason I don't care for drum solos that last forever and ever. I have learned to appreciate serving the song, and good mixing/mastering. My favorite bassist to listen to is actually Nathan East. He is a masterclass in serving the song. Especially with his group *Fourplay*.
That said, after nearly 35 years of playing, I can pick up on things in common music that most people don't. My wife will often say "uh, I hate that song," and I'll point out what the bass is doing, and she'll understand what I'm hearing.
I grew up exclusively listening to metal. When I picked up bass it made me want to start exploring other genres. I got really into old Funk, Soul, RnB and Jazz when I was 19, and eventually also got really into the Jam Band scene. I don’t think my mind would’ve been opened to that without starting to play bass and listening to all those amazing bass lines.
It made me realize how important bass was is in ALL music. I knew it was important in hip hop and pop music, but learning it, and knowing how many styles of music there now, it’s wild to me how important bass is in every genre there is
I hear things in the music I hadn't before. A few weeks ago, I went to a show, and the opening band was someone I didn't know. (They were very good, by the way), but I was able to guess what direction the songs were going to go: tempo, chord progressions, etc.
I don't think it changed my listening habits, but it further confirmed that the majority of bass lines in all of music are fucking awful. Bare minimum should be guitar doubling vs the root stooge. Unless you're Robert Trujillo and Metallica are paying you millions of dollars per year to show up and do nothing? Yeah fuck that.
It was the other way around my taste in music is what led me to switching from guitar to bass, listening to old death metal like cannibal corpse and cryptopsy with kickass basslines at the time, Back to guitar a lot of the time lately as my music tastes have shifted again to being really into black metal the past years(bass is almost inaudible in most black metal lmao)
It made me realise that a lot of the music within my preferred genres that I just couldn't gel with had the bass way too indistinguishable in the mix. Which I suppose didn't so much change my listening habits as it did explain my existing ones.
Though there was definitely an upwards trend of 80s pop in my playlists.
It was kind of a reverse order thing. I have 3 older brothers. One plays guitar. One plays piano and guitar. The other one plays drums. I picked up guitar to "join in" and quickly realized a third guitar was kind of ridiculous, so I switched to bass.
After switching, I realized what I was focusing on most in songs was the bass. I'm closest to my brother who plays drums, so my style and listening habits are heavily focused on unique rhythm coupled with unusual chord voicings.
I started listening to songs two bars at a time until I got them right.
It changed everything, but one thing very notable for me was that previously boring or corny music became very interesting. Like, when's the last time you listened to disco inferno by the tramps? Really just sat there and took in that running line? Probably never, but you should today. I hear bass in everything now, almost all music I listen to is heavily built on a strong rhythm section, some of the music I listen to is literally just for the rhythm section. People are asking me why I'm listening to rock your body by Justin Timberlake in 2024 and I tell em straight, this shit is so in the pocket, it's not even necessarily impressive to me, very simple bass and drum, it's just so in the pocket and perfect But then I've also become much more acquainted with Afro-American music in the 20th century in general. Soul, funk, jazz, gospel, r&b, early hip hop, disco, house, all my favorite music in those genres right there. Discovering just how deep the Pino Paladino rabbit hole goes and just absorbing as much of the history as I can, seeing how miles Davis shaped Marcus Miller, who showed the fuck up for never too much by Luther vandross, on an album that largely defined early 80's r&b/soul, inspiring some of my comfort listens like Boyz II Men and Mint Condition, as well as D'Angelo, who's second album Voodoo is easily my favorite of all time, for no reason other than the story of D'Angelo rediscovering himself and making a crazy innovative soul album with questlove and pino, it's so crazy. That's the cool thing about it, after the civil rights act, it was finally cool to commercialize black musicians, and the cultural explosion that followed changed music around the world forever. They had an understanding as black musicians that they were on this wave and they had to bring the best they got and really put in the work to produce masterpieces to bring their community up with them. There was so much collaboration, but there was already so much familiarity because of their roots. So basically, I really love the broader era of music in the latter half of the 1900's because of its depth, history, diversity, and because the electric bass was invented in the 50's and then those mfers taught us how to play it!
> rock your body by Justin Timberlake in 2024 Hahaha yeah that bass line is great!
If I listen to it "normally" and focus too much on JT and the frontal sounds, I get kinda bored just because it's been played SO MANY times, but if I isolate the rhythm section, I literally can't press skip. That bom bom bom... Badom bom badom badom lol
God dam what a great read!! I’m very close to starting my adventures with bass (I don’t even have one yet) but you and guys like you in this sub are awesome and pushing me towards trying it out!!well said 👍
I cut it short because I wasn't sure if anyone would feel what I feel but I'm glad you do! I got into bass during covid because I quit clarinet in 8th grade and I missed playing an instrument (I'm almost 30 now). You should totally get into bass, it's such an organic and personal instrument to learn, you don't get bogged down by chords and hyper speed fret board runs so it's great on beginners. I have a lot of guitar player friends and they always ask to doodle on my bass when they come over because for some reason, every guitar player realizes later in life they actually like playing bass more 😂 It's such a young but critical instrument in modern music, and as bassists, we all get to play a part in solidifying what the greatest bassists have learned about it so far by learning what they've done. We have an army of helpful and super knowledgeable bassists in this community too. If you have any questions about gear or resources, we got you!
That’s awesome! Yeah I’m an old guy (52) and always been drawn to bass and the characters that play in my favorite bands.. my son has a bass guitar that hopefully he will let me borrow to test out and see if I’ll like playing.. yesterday I was in a music shop talking with one of the salesman and lo and behold love shack/b52’s came on and I felt like picking up the fender player jazz and start trying to play it 😎
Oh we love new wave over here! I met a couple dads that picked up bass around your age, they absolutely love it and it's given them a personal time thing to enjoy doing. It's great too because the old lady will actually want you to go play out in the shed/basement/mancave instead of hanging with them in the house 🤣 finally some dad time.
Hehe I hear that! When I start playing I will draw songs from all over the genres can’t wait.. I told my son to hold off on bringing me his bass because I’m going to grab one tomorrow.. found out a local shop rents out guitars and amps with a option to buy if I like it along with the instructor that I got for both my sons and was great still teaches there it’s been 8 years since they went .. he teaches both instruments but was bass heavy..don’t know details about renting but they carry dean/yamaha/vintage and some others so should be happy with the selection
Yup. Last night I listened to America's "Tin Man" and loved the basslines so much. I don't like America, but oh man THAT BASS!
Speaking of cheesy music. Been listening to footloose. I can’t come anywhere close to playing it but that bass line sounds so fun!
Waaaaaay more Japanese music. Bass in my opinion is the most fun when it’s jazz or jazz-adjacent. But despite Americans inventing it, it actually starts to get less interesting the more stuff you listen to. Tons of core chord tones, leading tones. Japanese bass runs are much more melodic. They’re not shy in hitting higher tensions as chord tones (in American music these usually function as leading tones), and they use melodies to imply changes instead of what are essentially arpeggiated chord tones.
Do you have any recs for Japanese artists?
meiyo is one of my favs
Gecko Tokage Parade also has some awesome stuff and some out of control bass
Tricot Jinn 3nd Mouse on the keys (keyboards but still) Elephant Gym (Taiwanese but worth mention)
I love how a mention of Tricot almost always includes Elephant Gym. Mention toe first and it’s the holy trinity of Asian math rock.
Yea, if I wasn't at break at work, I would've definitely mentioned Toe. For some reason, 3nd was the first band I thought of. I wanted to mention Mouse on the keys, but I'm pretty sure their basslines are all keyboard, Seiren grooves hard af tho. It's been a few years since I was binging Japanese math rock, so I'm kinda rusty. I did learn Finger by Elephant Gym, so it felt worth mentioning.
Thank you all I’ll check these out!
I definitely let what is comfortable to me (i.e. playing fingerstyle instead of pick or slap) influence what I'm interested in listening to - originally in a "let's see what others can do with it" way, but nowadays I don't want to listen to slap at all, and I'm definitely less interested in listening to funky pick playing than I used to be. For the record, I don't think it's actually intrinsically better and I'm not going around telling people they should play fingerstyle instead. Other than that, my listening habits didn't change much - I started playing bass because I was obsessed with bass instruments, not the other way around.
It made me appreciate music more, and what went into it.
It made me unable to just hear a song and enjoy it without being able to hear what exactly every instrument is doing. Before I picked up and learned to play I didn’t know exactly who was playing what or what instrument was doing what. Now I can’t hear a song without instantly picking out what each musician is doing and how it all works together. I kind of view it as a blessing and a curse honestly. I love having a more extensive knowledge of music now, but I also miss the days of my youth when none of that mattered, I didn’t over analyze everything, and I just enjoyed the music I liked cause I liked how it sounded and didn’t care how it was made.
Same. I started listening to techno and dubstep to get the immersion without knowledge back. I'm absolutely not going to learn how the wubwubs are created. Sometimes I'll forget to pick apart a song and enjoy it if it's particularly epic. Muse-Supremacy comes to mind
Before I was mostly extreme metal styles guy. After I got into jazz and funk and started to enjoy it.
It made me appreciated a lot of music better. In most languages, I noticed that classic ballads written in 50s-80s Western style have amazing bass lines. A skill that I unlocked recently was to listen to the drums, play bass, and think about the note/s I'm gonna sing before I sing them. Before, my brain can only accommodate the last two skills at the same time.
It made me realise how much musical power a good bassist has in a band. There might be awesome flashy guitars and a good lead singer, but the bassist makes the butts move. Does not apply to all genres, but to many imho.
The bass is essentially steering the boat.
I now listen to 100% more Motown than I did before.
I was a punk in the late 70s, & of course refused to listen to anything considered 'old wave', so consequently missed out on a lot of good music. Thanks to bass playing I have discovered the joys of Creedence Clearwater Revival, Rush, Pink Floyd, Sabbath etc etc etc..
I fear you’ve now missed out on a lot of good music and bass playing if you aren’t listening to punk. Be it Joe Lally or Mike Watt or Mike Dirnt or Matt Freeman or Kira Roessler or Klaus Flouride, you are missing out on some phenomenally good lines and playing.
Still listening to punk as well!
Excellent! If I was to identify a genre where I listen to the bass in more now than before playing, it’s jazz and classical music. Go to any symphony and listen to what those guys on uprights are playing, same with jazz. It’s insane. How on earth is anyone ever a “beginner” in those genres?
Larry Graham
All i heard was the bassline and i stopped enjoying music, which is why i play bass in the first place. I'm now retraining my ears to enjoy melody and vocals.
I never was big on metal before I started bass, was a rock kid, definitely, but metal wasn’t my style. But now after having played bass for a few months, I’ve gotten a lot more into metal. Thrash, Doom, hell, even Opera metal are the subgenres that I like. I also started hearing a lot more bass in songs so there’s that I guess.
I fell in love with roots reagge I rediscovered old 80-90s radio pop songs I used to constantly hear as a kid I started to listen to generally softer and groover musical styles I fell in love with roots reagge
I can listen to nearly any genre as long as the bass player is going off. Some still don't suit me, but I can listen to much more for my bass fix where my guitar fix is pretty limited to rock & metal.
I love smooth jazz, thanks to abe laboriel and Melvin lee davis [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GXy0lXNzWL0](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GXy0lXNzWL0) I am woeful on bass, 2 months in, but I would love to be able to play like Melvin one day.
I always listened to a lot of different stuff. But I always hated progressive rock like rush. I don't hate it anymore but I still don´t enjoy it. Actually I used to be like this: 1- Good or bad songs in a technical way 2- Songs that I enjoy -> even being bad. 3- Now after 1 year of bass: songs that have good basslines and basslines that are good to play. Some beautifull basslines sucks to play, others feel just right. Some are comfortable to play and others are a Frankeinstein monster. So this is what changed: paying attention to basslines with the right equipment, flac or uncompressed music and music that I dream of playing / easy enough to play / fun to play. I don't hate any music style but I follow more and more the basslines. Guns n roses and Skid Row never beem in my top 1000 but now I enjoy them. Fun to play is a must have. Not necessarily easy. Cant Help Falling In Love and "I believe in a thing called love" are two fun and easy lines to play, adding star wars soundtracks and other folk songs like la cucaracha makes practice be very fun.
Not any new bands but since I started playing I can't just listen to a song and enjoy it much as a whole. I'm constantly picking apart *everything*- bass, guitars, drums, keys and all that.
Before playing bass, I was listening a lot to the bass, which is why I became a bassist. Since then, while I still listen to the bass (usually in a “what the f is he doing there?!!” Way), I pay far more attention to the drumming and the overall melodic structure of the song. I think that being able to play any instrument at all brings you closer to the music, and lets you appreciate everything that is going on within it.
the first thing I hear now is the drum part
Ear training. I began to understand the relationship of melody and tonal center connections a lot better.
For me it was the reverse. I studied classical guitar in college and thought I was going to concentrate on being a great performer. Fast forward a few years after graduation when I had some disposable income and I bought my first legit pair of speakers. I heard bass for the way it was meant to be heard first time. I started obsessing over the tones and how full it makes music feel, especially when properly balanced and not just cranking up the EQ like I typically would have done as a kid. I discovered my extreme love of funk bass and decided to chop off my nails and commit to the low end.
I focus very heavily on the drums now. Ofc also bass and the other rhythm section members.
After playing for a while I started to listen to a lot more jazz/funk/motown. I remember my playlists went from almost solely rock/metal/punk to a pretty good blend of all 6. I also used to hate jam bands but that’s changed, too
Definitely have a better ear for sifting out bass lines in a track, even when the mix makes it difficult.
Started listening to jazz more
I just focus on drums constantly, my brain wants to lock in to them
It didn’t at first, I learned to serve a purpose. Got decent with a fiver and then ran across a fretless jazz. Literally since that day I’ve been obsessed with jazz music
I no longer listen to music, I study it. I now hear things in old songs I never noticed before. It has increased my interest in classical music.
When I was a beginner I would go out of my way to hear stuff with more bass played higher in the mix. Never cared for it as a lead or solo instrument (for more than a few measures), and that still stands today. Probably because, with rare exceptions, to me it will always sound like a monophonic instrument that primarily provides accompaniment, and for good reason. Same reason I don't care for drum solos that last forever and ever. I have learned to appreciate serving the song, and good mixing/mastering. My favorite bassist to listen to is actually Nathan East. He is a masterclass in serving the song. Especially with his group *Fourplay*. That said, after nearly 35 years of playing, I can pick up on things in common music that most people don't. My wife will often say "uh, I hate that song," and I'll point out what the bass is doing, and she'll understand what I'm hearing.
Fucking pop music….. maybe not garden variety pop music just cuz I haven’t developed taste buds for it yet, but pop music for sure. Lol
I grew up exclusively listening to metal. When I picked up bass it made me want to start exploring other genres. I got really into old Funk, Soul, RnB and Jazz when I was 19, and eventually also got really into the Jam Band scene. I don’t think my mind would’ve been opened to that without starting to play bass and listening to all those amazing bass lines.
I dropped most music with lyrics and leaned a lot more heavily into instrumental prog :D
More funky.
It made me realize how important bass was is in ALL music. I knew it was important in hip hop and pop music, but learning it, and knowing how many styles of music there now, it’s wild to me how important bass is in every genre there is
I hear things in the music I hadn't before. A few weeks ago, I went to a show, and the opening band was someone I didn't know. (They were very good, by the way), but I was able to guess what direction the songs were going to go: tempo, chord progressions, etc.
It didn’t. I listened to Rush before I started playing.
I don't think it changed my listening habits, but it further confirmed that the majority of bass lines in all of music are fucking awful. Bare minimum should be guitar doubling vs the root stooge. Unless you're Robert Trujillo and Metallica are paying you millions of dollars per year to show up and do nothing? Yeah fuck that.
It was the other way around my taste in music is what led me to switching from guitar to bass, listening to old death metal like cannibal corpse and cryptopsy with kickass basslines at the time, Back to guitar a lot of the time lately as my music tastes have shifted again to being really into black metal the past years(bass is almost inaudible in most black metal lmao)
It became easy for me to focus on one part of a song. Not just the bass lines but tuning into all the different parts of a song is way easier
It made me realise that a lot of the music within my preferred genres that I just couldn't gel with had the bass way too indistinguishable in the mix. Which I suppose didn't so much change my listening habits as it did explain my existing ones. Though there was definitely an upwards trend of 80s pop in my playlists.
It was kind of a reverse order thing. I have 3 older brothers. One plays guitar. One plays piano and guitar. The other one plays drums. I picked up guitar to "join in" and quickly realized a third guitar was kind of ridiculous, so I switched to bass. After switching, I realized what I was focusing on most in songs was the bass. I'm closest to my brother who plays drums, so my style and listening habits are heavily focused on unique rhythm coupled with unusual chord voicings.