Staff Pick: All Bass and Some Treble

Music has always played a large part in my life in one way or another.

I was indoctrinated by my father to love all kinds of music from complex progressive rock to cheesy synth heavy 80’s classics. Listening to music become an all day endeavour, so, it only made sense to start playing music. I started on the acoustic guitar, which didn’t last very long, but was lucky enough to get an amazing music teacher in elementary school which ignited my passion for playing music.

This lasted all the way until high school.

I thought it would be cool to try out the bass, since I come from a house full of guitar players, I wanted to be a little different, and it was the best decision I ever made musically.

See, I figured that clarinet wasn’t cool anymore, which it is, but I was just a dumb teenager. Being so rebellious, I thought I would stop playing music and stick it to my musically inclined family.

Also, a dumb teenager move.

In university, I started to fall back in love with classic rock and metal. This re-ignited my passion for music and made me desperate to play again. I thought it would be cool to try out the bass, since I come from a house full of guitar players, I wanted to be a little different, and it was the best decision I ever made musically. I felt the groove and rhythm with the first song I learned: Money by Pink Floyd.

I know it’s a cliché bass line.

But damn, is it good.

From there, I expanded my bass vocabulary and explored the works of Geddy Lee, Flea, John Paul Jones, Cliff Burton, and Les Claypool. All of whom are still, to this day, my greatest low-end inspirations. I realized over the first couple of months, that there could be intricate, melodic, and meaningful bass lines that strayed far from the simplistic pop riffs on the radio.

When the bass is appreciated within the rhythm section, it produces such great music and just inspired me to play more often. Before I knew it, sitting down and laying out a groove became a daily ritual. Sitting down with an instrument, or any other creative outlet, lets you focus your energy and express yourself emotionally. This ritual became a healthy creative outlet. It helped calm me down, keep my head on straight and allowed me to do the greatest thing anyone can: express myself.

I cannot wait to keep playing and reaping the rewards of practice.