--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I've been playing the bass guitar for…" description: "\"I've been playing the bass guitar for almost twelve years and fretless for about nine, so I've got quite a bit of mileage in my hands already.\" — Jaco ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9ea/jaco-pastorius-24965_bass_i-ve-been-playing-the-bass-guitar-for-al_1944527.png" --- # I've been playing the bass guitar for almost twelve years… ![“I've been playing the bass guitar for almost twelve years and fretless for about nine, so I've got quite a bit of mileage in my hands already.” quote by Jaco Pastorius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9ea/jaco-pastorius-24965_bass_i-ve-been-playing-the-bass-guitar-for-al_1944527.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9ea/jaco-pastorius-24965_bass_i-ve-been-playing-the-bass-guitar-for-al_1944527.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9ea/jaco-pastorius-24965_bass_i-ve-been-playing-the-bass-guitar-for-al_1944527.png) > “I've been playing the bass guitar for almost twelve years and fretless for about nine, so I've got quite a bit of mileage in my hands already.” [Jaco Pastorius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jaco-pastorius/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Extensive experience with fretless bass gives the player deep skill and confidence. **In simple terms:** Long practice builds expertise. Key Takeaway Leverage your experience to mentor others. Themes musicianship skill confidence mentorship Mood proud reflective Type inspirational educational When to use this quote - teaching - recording sessions - live performances - instrument maintenance Key Concepts instrumental mastery musical expression Questions to Reflect On - How can you continue to challenge yourself? - What new techniques will you explore? A Different Perspective Even with years of practice, complacency can hinder growth. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bass guitar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bass-guitar/) [Guitar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/guitar/) [Playing bass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/playing-bass/) [Song](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/song/) ## Related quotes > [I first picked up the bass guitar when I was twelve years old, and fooled around with it. By the time I was thirteen…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-mendoza/i-first-picked-up-the-bass-guitar-when-i-was-twelve-years-old-and/) [Mark Mendoza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-mendoza/) > [During college I realized I had a music predisposition and really got involved in it. I started playing bass guitar. That was how I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronnie-dunn/during-college-i-realized-i-had-a-music-predisposition-and-really-got/) [Ronnie Dunn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronnie-dunn/) > [I'm starting to play all the melodies with kind of keyboard sound but playing it from the bass guitar.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-m-starting-to-play-all-the-melodies-with-kind-of-keyboard-sound-but/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [But people are now realising why I was playing bass with Hendrix.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noel-redding/but-people-are-now-realising-why-i-was-playing-bass-with-hendrix/) [Noel Redding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noel-redding/) > [I think that where it came from and the initial birth of it - it did come out of a jam at Bruno's studio,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-ronson/i-think-that-where-it-came-from-and-the-initial-birth-of-it-it-did/) [Mark Ronson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-ronson/) > [I stepped back from being out front to playing bass. So we started switching: I'd play bass on one song, we'd switch on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-livingston/i-stepped-back-from-being-out-front-to-playing-bass-so-we-started/) [Bob Livingston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-livingston/) > [Acting had been a hobby that turned into a career, the directing was a hobby that turned into a career, and music just really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-jamal-warner/acting-had-been-a-hobby-that-turned-into-a-career-the-directing-was-a/) [Malcolm-Jamal Warner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-jamal-warner/) > [Age isn't a barrier to playing the bass, and I've definitely improved over the years, although maybe I'm not as flash as I once…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzi-quatro/age-isn-t-a-barrier-to-playing-the-bass-and-i-ve-definitely-improved/) [Suzi Quatro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzi-quatro/) > [I started playing bass for the same reason everyone else does – I’m a lousy guitarist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-dirnt/i-started-playing-bass-for-the-same-reason-everyone-else-does-i-m-a/) [Mike Dirnt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-dirnt/) > [I like writing songs. I like the camaraderie of it and I like touring. I love playing bass. And then there's free beer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keanu-reeves/i-like-writing-songs-i-like-the-camaraderie-of-it-and-i-like-touring/) [Keanu Reeves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keanu-reeves/) > [My dad taught me to play bass. He's a bass player; he still plays in a band in Michigan to this day. He taught…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mayer-hawthorne/my-dad-taught-me-to-play-bass-he-s-a-bass-player-he-still-plays-in-a/) [Mayer Hawthorne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mayer-hawthorne/) > [I compose, produce, arrange - I don't just perform. I'm playing keyboards, playing bass, doing everything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rosalia/i-compose-produce-arrange-i-don-t-just-perform-i-m-playing-keyboards/) [Rosalia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rosalia/) > [My major influences were primarily guitar players and bands; I started playing bass by accident.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dusty-hill/my-major-influences-were-primarily-guitar-players-and-bands-i-started/) [Dusty Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dusty-hill/) > [I don't want to wreck my voice. I love to concentrate on playing the bass and keeping it very rock-solid. If I were singing,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tina-weymouth/i-don-t-want-to-wreck-my-voice-i-love-to-concentrate-on-playing-the/) [Tina Weymouth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tina-weymouth/) > [I hate playing the bass, bro. I've been playing the bass because it's there and I don't want anyone else to play it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kid-cudi/i-hate-playing-the-bass-bro-i-ve-been-playing-the-bass-because-it-s/) [Kid Cudi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kid-cudi/) ## More by Jaco Pastorius > [I had an upright - it took me years and years to get enough bread to get it. I'm from Florida, so one morning…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jaco-pastorius/i-had-an-upright-it-took-me-years-and-years-to-get-enough-bread-to/) [Jaco Pastorius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jaco-pastorius/) > [I took the frets out of my bass after I was getting into jazz a lot and I wanted to have that upright sound.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jaco-pastorius/i-took-the-frets-out-of-my-bass-after-i-was-getting-into-jazz-a-lot/) [Jaco Pastorius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jaco-pastorius/) > [My concept is not bigger than Weather Report. I am Weather Report. It comes through me; I do not create nothing. It comes from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jaco-pastorius/my-concept-is-not-bigger-than-weather-report-i-am-weather-report-it/) [Jaco Pastorius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jaco-pastorius/) > [The secret to the sound is to drop the bass on the floor!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jaco-pastorius/the-secret-to-the-sound-is-to-drop-the-bass-on-the-floor/) [Jaco Pastorius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jaco-pastorius/) > [It's really easy to play harmonics, anyone can do it. It's another thing to be able to swing, to make to make a band…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jaco-pastorius/it-s-really-easy-to-play-harmonics-anyone-can-do-it-it-s-another/) [Jaco Pastorius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jaco-pastorius/) > [Joseph Zawinul and Toots Thielmans, in my opinion, are the only Europeans who can play rhythm-and-blues.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jaco-pastorius/joseph-zawinul-and-toots-thielmans-in-my-opinion-are-the-only/) [Jaco Pastorius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jaco-pastorius/) > [I play in tune like a cello player and use legitimate vibrato. There are no tricks; it's just all in the hands!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jaco-pastorius/i-play-in-tune-like-a-cello-player-and-use-legitimate-vibrato-there/) [Jaco Pastorius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jaco-pastorius/) > [A chimpanzee could learn what I do physically, but it goes way beyond that. When you play, you play life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jaco-pastorius/a-chimpanzee-could-learn-what-i-do-physically-but-it-goes-way-beyond/) [Jaco Pastorius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jaco-pastorius/) > [I'm not a star. I'm just backing up the cats.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jaco-pastorius/i-m-not-a-star-i-m-just-backing-up-the-cats/) [Jaco Pastorius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jaco-pastorius/) > [I'm the greatest bass player in the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jaco-pastorius/i-m-the-greatest-bass-player-in-the-world/) [Jaco Pastorius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jaco-pastorius/) > [Trumpets! Can you bring your... uh... extracurricular tubing necessities next rehearsal?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jaco-pastorius/trumpets-can-you-bring-your-uh-extracurricular-tubing-necessities/) [Jaco Pastorius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jaco-pastorius/) > [I'm not a star. I'll never be a Frank Sinatra or Elvis Presley or a Ray Charles. I'm just an imitator, man. I'm doing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jaco-pastorius/i-m-not-a-star-i-ll-never-be-a-frank-sinatra-or-elvis-presley-or-a/) [Jaco Pastorius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jaco-pastorius/) > [Joseph Zawinul does overkill, and his technological overkill sucks, but there's no friction between us; I just say, 'Look,' and that's it. Do you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jaco-pastorius/joseph-zawinul-does-overkill-and-his-technological-overkill-sucks-but/) [Jaco Pastorius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jaco-pastorius/) > [All you've got to do is keep your ears open.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jaco-pastorius/all-you-ve-got-to-do-is-keep-your-ears-open/) [Jaco Pastorius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jaco-pastorius/) > [So what, I'm living in a park. Parks are beautiful. I'm a musician. And I'm tired of dumb people who don't know where I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jaco-pastorius/so-what-i-m-living-in-a-park-parks-are-beautiful-i-m-a-musician-and-i/) [Jaco Pastorius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jaco-pastorius/) [Explore all 23 Jaco Pastorius quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jaco-pastorius/) ## More Bass quotes > [I remember that the bass was turned up slightly more on the mix from last week, and I thought that was good - or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-ronson/i-remember-that-the-bass-was-turned-up-slightly-more-on-the-mix-from/) [Mark Ronson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-ronson/) > [In life's orchestra, the bike is the double bass. Hard to forget it](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-fournel/in-life-s-orchestra-the-bike-is-the-double-bass-hard-to-forget-it/) Paul Fournel > [Bass guitar is the engine of the band.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzi-quatro/bass-guitar-is-the-engine-of-the-band/) [Suzi Quatro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzi-quatro/) > [I'm 12 years sober, so I don't have beer! When I used to drink I really liked Bass Ale!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristin-davis/i-m-12-years-sober-so-i-don-t-have-beer-when-i-used-to-drink-i-really/) [Kristin Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristin-davis/) > [The kind of fishing that I do is pretty much bass, trout or freshwater fishing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dale-steyn/the-kind-of-fishing-that-i-do-is-pretty-much-bass-trout-or-freshwater/) [Dale Steyn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dale-steyn/) > [Imagine if you were a drummer, and you accidentally picked up two magic wands instead of sticks. There you are, keeping the beat, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-hedberg/imagine-if-you-were-a-drummer-and-you-accidentally-picked-up-two/) [Mitch Hedberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-hedberg/) > [I was never much of a bass player.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-adams/i-was-never-much-of-a-bass-player/) [Ryan Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-adams/) > [I've always been playing with other people, and that's how I learned. I got a kit of drums I couldn't play, but I also…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ringo-starr/i-ve-always-been-playing-with-other-people-and-that-s-how-i-learned-i/) [Ringo Starr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ringo-starr/) > [I grew up on the pirate radio scene which started out as drum 'n' bass music. U.K. garage picked up and got bigger on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dizzee-rascal/i-grew-up-on-the-pirate-radio-scene-which-started-out-as-drum-n-bass/) [Dizzee Rascal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dizzee-rascal/) > [Close to the Edge by Yes. Such a fun tune to play on bass.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-acton/close-to-the-edge-by-yes-such-a-fun-tune-to-play-on-bass/) [Brian Acton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-acton/) > [I've been in a band, so I understand the politics. Sometimes the bass player doesn't like what the guitar player is doing, and you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ric-ocasek/i-ve-been-in-a-band-so-i-understand-the-politics-sometimes-the-bass/) [Ric Ocasek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ric-ocasek/) > [That's what Joe Don Rooney and I do. He plays guitar and I play bass - and there's no reason to call it a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-demarcus/that-s-what-joe-don-rooney-and-i-do-he-plays-guitar-and-i-play-bass/) [Jay DeMarcus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-demarcus/) > [I've always said the bass just happens to be the crayon I picked out of the box. I'd still be drawing the same pictures...…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/les-claypool/i-ve-always-said-the-bass-just-happens-to-be-the-crayon-i-picked-out/) [Les Claypool](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/les-claypool/) > [I was a guitar player in a band that had two keyboard players, sometimes two other guitarists, a bass player, and a drummer, four…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-satriani/i-was-a-guitar-player-in-a-band-that-had-two-keyboard-players/) [Joe Satriani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-satriani/) > [I live a different way today. I have a family, and they are a priority for me. These days, I no longer wake up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanley-clarke/i-live-a-different-way-today-i-have-a-family-and-they-are-a-priority/) [Stanley Clarke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanley-clarke/) Browse all 722 Bass quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I've been playing the bass guitar for almost twelve years and fretless for about nine, so I've got quite a bit of mileage in my hands already.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Jaco Pastorius" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jaco-pastorius/i-ve-been-playing-the-bass-guitar-for-almost-twelve-years-and/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Bass" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jaco-pastorius/i-ve-been-playing-the-bass-guitar-for-almost-twelve-years-and/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9ea/jaco-pastorius-24965_bass_i-ve-been-playing-the-bass-guitar-for-al_1944527.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9ea/jaco-pastorius-24965_bass_i-ve-been-playing-the-bass-guitar-for-al_1944527.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9ea/jaco-pastorius-24965_bass_i-ve-been-playing-the-bass-guitar-for-al_1944527.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I've been playing the bass guitar for almost twelve years and fretless for about nine, so I've got quite a…” — Jaco Pastorius", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Jaco Pastorius", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jaco-pastorius/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I've been playing the bass guitar...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jaco-pastorius/i-ve-been-playing-the-bass-guitar-for-almost-twelve-years-and/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jaco-pastorius/i-ve-been-playing-the-bass-guitar-for-almost-twelve-years-and/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```