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I thought this seemed an appropriate topic for the music section here...

So, who is the person who inspired you to pick up your instrument, be it a real instrument like bass or piano, or just inspired you to pick up a DAW like FL studio and start making music? Or did you just hear a song/solo that you liked and said to yourself "man, I gotta play that!" Do you have an artist who's style you try to emulate when you play?


Me? By bass hero is Justin Chancellor.  He has such an unorthodox playing style, and the first time I heard him on 10,000 days I was mesmerized. I knew right there I had to play bass.

An example of Justin's genius, from an interview:

Interviewer:    About seven minutes into “Rosetta Stoned,” there’s a complex syncopated groove over a tabla-drum part. I counted 15 beats from the beginning to the end. What are you counting in there?

Justin:  That was interesting, because the pulse beat in that case got added late. When we started writing the song, there was stuff in 5, and in 6. Danny (the drummer) started playing 5 with his feet with like a double-hit, and 6 over top of that. Basically, I play the 5/16 pattern on the root note, then a descending scale that matches Danny’s snare from the 6 beat. So it’s like [sings both parts at once]. That’s the 6 moving across the 5 beat, cycling around until it gets back to the same point. After we’d been doing that for a while, Danny decided it would be interesting to add a pulse—I think it’s a sample—with his foot. So then there’s sort of a 4, a straight pulse, which doesn’t really exist anywhere else in the song. I spent a lot of time sitting in traffic coming back from rehearsal with my hands on the steering wheel, trying to play that 5 with my right hand and the 6 with my left—and trying to figure out how Danny was doing it before I was able to play it on the bass.
<3

I was a big Dream Theater fan back then (well, I still am, but, you know? Whatever...). The sounds they make really were the main reason I wanted to pick up the guitar.

But I started on bass. And I still love playing bass 
John Myung is such an amazing player, he just grooves with it. But he can step it up and take over the scene when he wants. So, I guess he is the biggest reason really.

I started guitar later on, and play it more than bass now. Lot of influence there.

I don't know, music just seems to be a part of me. And I never really try to copy or emulate one person or song or sound. Sometimes my influences are obvious, and they just happen by what I am most into at the time. But more often then not, it is some melding of sounds and ideas that come out, and no one person or band, or even style, can really be found as influence.

But I think the influence of John just transcends all others. His ideal of melody in the bass line, being able to just fit in and then pop out where needed, all of that, is always what I strive to achieve. Whether I am playing guitar, bass, whatever I have at the time.


BTW: Justin Chancellor is awesome. Really innovative use of time and rythm always gets me going.    

BTW: Justin Chancellor is awesome. Really innovative use of time and rythm always gets me going.    

Yes! 13/8 FTW. (one of my favorite tool bass riffs alternates between 6/8 5/8 and  13/8 )

I should probably check out these Tool fellows sometime. I've been meaning to for a while.

I play violin (and I'm feeling REAL DISCRIMINATED AGAINST by your thread title, Nicholai ), and I think the one violinist who most inspired me in my early years was Itzhak Perlman. He has polio, and he has to take his bows on crutches with somebody else holding his violin, but he plays with such flash and virtuosity that he made my little nine-year-old eyes bug out. I had a concert of his on VHS tape that I used to watch over and over again.

I should probably check out these Tool fellows sometime. I've been meaning to for a while.

I play violin (and I'm feeling REAL DISCRIMINATED AGAINST by your thread title, Nicholai ), and I think the one violinist who most inspired me in my early years was Itzhak Perlman. He has polio, and he has to take his bows on crutches with somebody else holding his violin, but he plays with such flash and virtuosity that he made my little nine-year-old eyes bug out. I had a concert of his on VHS tape that I used to watch over and over again.

Hey, I tried to be as politically correct with that darn title as I could.     I didn't know you could play violin!  Stringed instruments tuned in fifths are awesome! (Stupid bass, tuned in perfect fourths.  ) 

I'd say the first band that really inspired to start making music was Rush. Namely Geddy Lee's bass playing. His style was just so cool and I liked how it gave the bass a more frontal role in the band. I eventually picked up guitar thanks to Alex Lifeson, Steve Vai, Buckethead and a host of others.

I ended up expanding my music tastes by, well, alot. Hell, I even listen to Rap and Hip/hop every so often now, but my roots still lie with punk. I've also been tempted to get into electronic music as well as recording at some point. Dream Theater's Keyboard player (can't recall the name) sort of pushed me towards that, along with some of Sub-Level 03's stuff.

I just wish I had more time and focus to learn more theory and stuff, rather than just grabbing tablature.

Adrian Smith FTW!!!
Dave Murray FTW!!!
Janick Gers FTW!!!


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gZD4aGLuQJQ

Hmm,

I actually started the guitar because, like everyone else, I wanted to become famous or rich or something on those levels.  I realized so much more because of people like Paco de Lucia and Ulli Bögershausen.  Their fingerpicking styles and emotional music mesmerized me.  My awesome guitar teacher first introduced me to Paco de Lucia when I first started playing and found out about Ulli from, where else, the internet.  These guys inspired me to become a better guitarist.  By listening to their works, I felt like practicing until my fingers started to burn, with hopes of becoming as professional as them.  After listening to the same song over and over and over, I realized that crucial turning point that most musicians have in their life; It’s not about the money or fame, it was the music and the feeling that you get when you play, never wanting to stop (sorry for being so cheesy). 

As my interest in the guitar expanded, other legends introduced me to different genres of music.  Good ol’ Jimi and Slash helped me find my obsession for rock, but I still have a passion for classical and flamenco fingerpicking the most. 

One of Ulli's fine works: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jRunVFDICtY

And one of Paco de Lucia's: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=To09Km0y8ic&feature=related

let's see...Basshunter, Angerfist, Tiësto, and the newgrounds audio portal!

[Helios Creed]

Not really a hero, but I've always liked Helios Creed as well as his original music project Chrome,[/url] who were one of the original Industrial bands.

Another guy that I like a lot is Greg Sage of The Wipers[/url]. The Wipers were one of the original Punk bands from the Pacific Northwest, and played a big influence on a lot of the Sub Pop grunge bands from Seattle in the late 80's and very early 90's.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jRunVFDICtY[/url]

And one of Paco de Lucia's: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=To09Km0y8ic&feature=related

I really enjoyed Ulli's and Paco de Lucia was excellent as well, thanks for sharing. I actually have been moving towards fingerpicking  more and more. Mainly Antoine Dufour, Erik Mongrain, Michael Hedges, Don Ross inspired this... A few others I can't think of at the moment as well. The subtle effects you can get through the style of playing and technique are absolutely beautiful. 

Just need to get the initiative to start working at it. Work has been stamping that out quickly sadly enough.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jRunVFDICtY[/url]

And one of Paco de Lucia's: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=To09Km0y8ic&feature=related

I really enjoyed Ulli's and Paco de Lucia was excellent as well, thanks for sharing. I actually have been moving towards fingerpicking  more and more. Mainly Antoine Dufour, Erik Mongrain, Michael Hedges, Don Ross inspired this... A few others I can't think of at the moment as well. The subtle effects you can get through the style of playing and technique are absolutely beautiful. 

Just need to get the initiative to start working at it. Work has been stamping that out quickly sadly enough.

Yes,

Micheal Hedges was an awesome guitar player as well.  His harp guitar was very unique.  I especially loved his rendition of Bach's cello suite No.1 prelude. 

Yea, it really blows when work gets in the way of my playing too 

Bass - Geddy Lee
Hammond Organ - Keith Emerson
Drums - Neil Peart

Don't play any of those instruments (except a bit of drums), but still.

As far as things I do play:
Akai MPC - Jeffrey Logan ('Jel')
DAW - I'd have to say Trentemoller, Apparat, or Four Tet...

Yann Tiersen
Angela Aki
Shannon Wright

They're all quite amazing. =)

My guitar hero is Dan Donegan of Disturbed. I've always loved the band, and he inspired me to finally pick up the guitar I got for my birthday like 2 years before I saw them in concert.