Wow we’ve got a whole bunch of bass players here. That’s awesome.
You could teach yourself the basics and then join the school orchestra or jazz club or whatever where you can learn most of the other stuff. I did and I’m pretty decent for the amount of time I’ve been playing, and in joining the school orchestra I learned how to play acoustic (or stand-up or upright, however you wanna call it) and that was pretty cool.
Nearly everything but oboe and bassoon.
Favorites - french horn, chimes, vibraphone, pipe organ, classical voice.
Don’t ask - clarinet, bagpipes (one attempt before being ‘requested’ to play some other instrument).
Working on - harp and recorder.
(BTW, I have a Bachelors and Masters Degree…In MUSIC! (apologies to Dr. Science).
Orion007- A couple of other people have told me I could probably pick up the basics of bass playing on my own (since I already play other instruments), so I’m still considering that. My high school doesn’t have an orchestra, just a band (which I’m in). I play bass trombone in the jazz band, and we already have a bassist. I could probably ask him for a little help, though I don’t get along too well with this guy. I know a guy who’s a pretty good guitarist though, and even though I haven’t seen him much in a while, he’d probably be willing to help. I was actually thinking about this a lot today- I’ve got some money now. What’s a decent, affordable bass for a beginner? The above friend told me a Squier would be good to start off with. What about an amp for practice/rehearsal? Well, I’ve rambled enough for now, so it’s off to bed.
-Neil
I primarily play violin (I teach too; I have one student at $10 an hour!), in addition to viola, cello, and piano. I’m the assistant teacher in my school orchestra program (I’m one special 8th grader). I also sing in the choir.
I play guitar (electric and acoustic) and …
Wait for it…
You all probably saw this coming…
I am slowly but surely learning to play…
THE GREAT HIGHLAND BAGPIPES.
Anyone surprised?
Took piano for a couple years as a lad, can still noode around and read sheet music well.
Right now trying to re-hone my skills on the violin, with a view to getting into swing jazz. Got several books with transcriptions and exercises, plus working through a series of self-teach music theory. Now I know how to construct chords; I just gotta find out about progression analysis and harmony. Lotsa fun though!
Also trying to shame Mrs. O into picking up her banjo again by buying books we both can use. That way I can kick some butt at Civil War reenactments.
Brainerd, MN?? Do you by any chance know April or Sabra Abbott?
Wasn’t this done before?
Singer, Tenor I, four years of Music Ed at West Chester University, including a Renaissance, close harmony and a couple of large university choruses (plus all my work in high school, in the community, at church [seven years as a UU church choir director], and in community theatre). Haven’t sung regularly since 1996, though, but am getting back into it.
In addition, weaned on trumpet, learned Mellophone and French horn, took a lot of different instruments in college (proficient at none), and just enough piano to teach somebody their part in the chorus.
I do a mean Harry Connick, Jr., too… 
Esprix
in my youth, I played piano (finest moment : playing from memory MacArthur park on a grand piano in the middle of an empty ballroom in the Wilson Mansion on the campus of Oakland Community College, in Michigan), and (non electric) guitar.
lived without a piano for too many years, then stopped playing the guitar when my (now ex) would grab it from me to play his 3 non chords playing like he was a rock star.
Now, unfortunatley, arthritus in my hands means I cannot exert enough pressure via fingertips, nor can my fingers withstand the stress of movement.
My son, however, plays electic guitars (including bass), keyboards, alto and tenor sax, some drums, harmonica etc.
Hey! HEY!
your humble TubaDiva
BTW, NYC TubaChristmas is December 10. Start practicing already.
(checking watch)
Twenty-four hours, seven minutes.
Good thing I’m not a fisherman in real life; I’d have cobwebs growing all over me.
Can I post for my husband?
He’s a bass player (electric). He has a Music Man Cutlass II 4-string, a Fender 5-string Jazz bass (my wedding gift to him), an Axtra (custom type thing) four string, and another type of Gibson-looking custom bass that’s heavy as a brick. I think that’s all of them!
He’s an excellent bass player, although too modest to tell you. We moved to Nashville for 3-1/2 years for him to give it a shot at the music biz there but I guess he was an anomoly there - worked, supported his family, showed up on time for gigs, never complained and therefore, didn’t get to go anywhere with anyone of note.
He’s getting desperate here in MI for someone to play music with. Most his friends are hacks although they try.
Personally, I took piano lessons for a year a couple years ago until I discovered that I’d actually have to invest time in if I wanted to get any better.
Oh how true!!! FTR I play NOTHING - I do sound board / back of the house type stuff for churches, boy scout meetings, dance recitals, etc… strictly amateur but I do pretty well. I have to know a little about each instrument and its qualities / problems as they apply to sound reinforcement. The music/instruments are rarely the problem - the musicians on the other hand…
Sorry about what may have seen like a crack TubaDiva. It was not intended as one. I should have said I can play the oomf’s that tuba’s typically play (whereas the French Horns play the pah’s). I can play a little more than that and maintain the time and in tune. I may have to go and relook up some of the fingerings since it has been about 4 years since I last played one but after seeing the few sets of fingerings it should come back quickly. It did the last time I played the trumpet.
HUGS!
Sqrl
Sqrl: No, no, you didn’t say it, I said it, in response to you. Hence my marvelously clever wisecrack about “baiting” TubaDiva.
Good luck remembering the fingerings. Don’t forget to remember the BBb fingerings for the big BBb contrabass tuba, the eB fingerings for the little Eb tuba, the F fingerings for the F tuba, the CC fingerings for the CC tuba, and so on.
Dontcha just LOVE non-transposing instruments?
Uke, If I remember them correctly then the fingerings are the same if you think of it by scale degree rather than note name. 
That is how I worked it out on the recorder where one set of fingerings is in F (lowest playable note) and the other is in C. I doubt I will be picking up a tuba anytime soon again since I never plan on buying one and my ex (who majored in tuba and flute of all instruments) is no longer close enough for me to practice on his.
HUGS!
Sqrl
Bagpipes
[decloaking out of lurk mode]
Not one to post to often anymore; just checking in - -
Bachelor of Music Education; taught school music/band for 6 years, became a lawyer instead.
Major instrument was trombone. Used to play pretty well, but haven’t had it out of the case for years. Saving it for ONE of my kids who will follow in Dad’s footsteps.
Mostly, I sing. Tenor, all styles, all genres, best at pop music and lighter jazz (I once had my voice instructor tell me I reminded him of Perry Como).
Nice to see the Tubadiva and Phil still musical.
[back to lurk mode]
From the book “Alt-Rock-A-Rama” comes former Replacements drummer Chris Mars’ ten favorite drummer jokes:
What’s the last thing a drummer ever says to his band?
A: “Hey guys … how 'bout we try one of my songs?”
What do you call a drummer who just broke up with his girlfriend?
A: Homeless.
How many drummers does it take to screw in a lightbulb?
A: Just one, so long as a roadie gets a ladder, sets it up and puts the bulb in the socket for him.
How many drummers does it take to screw in a lightbulb?
A: None, there’s a machine that does that now.
Hear the one about the drummer who graduated from high school?
A: Me either.
What do you call a guy who hangs out with musicians?
A: A drummer.
What does the average drummer get on an IQ test?
A: Drool.
How can you tell when a stage riser is level?
A: The drool comes out of both sides of the drummer’s mouth.
Johnny says to his mom, “I want to be a drummer when I grow up.” Mom says, “But Johnny, you can’t do both.”
Did you hear the one about the guitarist who locked his keys in the car on the way to a gig? It took him two hours to get the drummer out.
Bad timing (pun intended) to follow after the above two posts, but I’m a drummer (rock, love jazz and funk but am not good enough really). I also play keyboards (for composition, so use computer, etc). Used to play violin, flute, recorder.
Yeah Squiers are pretty good. As for amps, if it’s just for starting off and practicing and things like that, a small one of like 30 watts or something is good. It’s easy to carry around and serves the purpose. Crate amps are decent and not too expensive.