Bassing Around in JB

It’s been about 2 months since I picked up electric bass. Johor Bahru Baptist Church was gracious in partly  sponsoring my lessons at Schumann Music Centre (under the Yamaha group), as my intention of learning is to play in worship service. Even more importantly, I am allowed to borrow the bass guitar and a spare amplifier to practise at home. The bass has 5 strings too, instead of the usual 4.

Before, I had been backup singing – my singing the ‘parts’ or ‘harmony’ got notice, and I joined the worship team. I’ve wanted to pick up an instrument for a while now, but during the years in Penang, here were lots of talented people around. So it seemed like there wasn’t any need for me to pick up an instrument. Lagi-lagi, feel inferior if compare to all the geng players!

But in JBBC, there is a lack of available servants in music. (Small family church also). At the time Anne and I joined, I think 3 people can play piano/keyboard; 2 people can play guitar well enough for Sunday; 2 people are available for bass; and 3 people can play drums (1 well, 1 okay, and 1 less okay). This seems like quite many, but in actuality these players overlap instruments. For instance, 2 of the bassists are also the drummers!

This situation changed with a bassist/drummer going to National Service; a guitarist and a pianist becoming busy as new parents; and a drummer from Youth disappearing, probably to Uni or College. Thus the count (excluding me and Anne) was: 3 on piano, 1 on guitar, and 1 on bass/drums.

So here was an opening and a need to learn an instrument! Now I felt it more worthwhile for me to pick up music. There was only 1 bassist left (and since drums are more vital, she’d play drums which left no bass a few times). Anne can play piano, guitar and drums. So it was bass guitar for me!

In fact, bass seems easier to pick up than acoustic/electric guitar. It has 4 standard strings, instead of 6. The strings are also arranged so that every 5 frets, the tone becomes the same as the next string up. You can play decently holding one note and plucking one string at a time, instead of chords. The frequency of notes for bass is lower. Bass is a supporting instrument, rather than a lead – less pressure on the player. The strings are thicker and tougher – I think I probably would have snapped multiple acoustic guitar strings by now! And personally, I like the ‘feel’ of bass in music.

By the end of 1 month of picking up bass, I was (over)confident enough to try playing in Sunday worship. It went okay… Missed and misplayed notes here and there, getting stuck on occassion… But I believe I’m getting up to standard. Yesterday was only my 4th time I think, and it went pretty well.

What I do is after the practise on Saturday, I bring the lyrics+key sheets back and try the songs out at home. I like to modify the notes to my own taste/style, instead of just following the basic keys monotonously. And it works pretty well! At least for the songs I am familiar at singing, which I can then imagine in my head and find neat sounding riffs to complement. Like singing parts, it feels natural to me to find and incorporate other notes. My mum’s musical talent genes finally activated, heh.

It’s fun and feels great to play for worship… A different feeling from singing, which is more automatic-no-need-practise for me. Currently my inspiration has been the very 80s, video-game style bass of The Black Mages.

Being in a small church, even beginners like me can try their best and not get booted off the stage. I thank the LORD that He has given me the opportunity, the encouragement and the ability to serve Him in this manner. And as a safeguard, I’ve asked Him to take away my skills if I ever do it for my own pride and glory instead of His (until I realize my error and repent).

PS. And on a side note, I’ve baru saja enlisted in Discoverer’s Club (children) and Youth ministries. Anne is in Discoverer’s Club and does piano (majestically) and drums (choonly) for worship. Wah! But not to brag in this whole post  :)