Friday, April 04, 2008

haquibat al fann, or channeling my inner bootsy

Last month, I ordered an electric bass guitar. I actually ordered the whole kit and caboodle - carrying case, strap, amp, and stand. And a copy of "Bass Guitars for Dummies". For real.

Now, the first time I had ever tried to play the bass was in the store the day I ordered mine, when I was checking them out. I can't read music. All I can do, really, at this point is play the first part of "Love Me Tender" (sans chords) on keyboard, and "O Susannah!" on the harmonica. I once could play Nirvana's "Rape Me" on electric guitar. I learned that in high school. One of the school bands was performing it at our senior prom, and the guitarist used our computer classes to practise (he also provided the soundtrack for our anti-physics classes boycotts). We were pretty wayward. But that was over a decade ago, and I can barely remember how to play it now.

I'd always said that if there was any instrument I was going to learn how to play, it was going to be the electric bass. It's a crucial element in most musical genres, from the Afro-jazz of home to every form of reggae, from funk to indie, from hip hop to punk. Music's integral to my being, and I want to start making my own. And what's a song without bass?

I don't know why I decided to buy an instrument now. Mainly because I couldn't find a reason not to. Bass players in a band don't get no shine, but I'm not in this for the glory. I don't intend to perform, just to play along to the basslines in my favourite reggae and p-funk tracks. I'm excited. Since I've ordered my guitar (it will need a name - any suggestions?), I've been a great mood, looking forward to when it arrives. If anyone from Steve's Music is reading this, it should have been here last week!

I'm counting down the days to when "grooving to a bassline" is going to change meaning. When I'll cancel plans because I need to practice. When I can add "wannabe musician" to the list of self-descriptives.

In the meantime, I'll marvel at Lloyd Parks' basslines for Dennis Brown and build on a newfound respect for Robbie Shakespeare. The extra bass in my sub woofers is turned up all the way, in a rub-a-dub style.

2 comments:

Sudacana said...

For names:
Thara if a girl and Taro if a boy.....

Jamilah Malika said...

if you ditch me for your bass, i'm gonna call it bitch, hepher, inatimate object of your affection or some such business.