The first musical instrument that I started playing with any real intent was the electric bass. When I was at sixth form I pestered my dad until he agreed to lend me the money to buy a cheap Fender Precision copy from the local music shop in Middlesbrough.

I remember plugging the bass into our home hi-fi via the tape deck's line in and being chuffed to bits when I'd worked out how to play N.I.B. by Black Sabbath on my first day of instrument ownership …

…If only my progress had continued at that rate

Whilst still at sixth form I purchased a real Fender Precision (see sidebar) and started making some real progress, playing along to Led Zeppelin songs and joining bands

It was only when I went to university, though, that I started to learn how to play properly. I met up with a guy called Chris Lord who was/is a fantastic guitarist and he opened my eyes to just what could be done on stringed instruments. For this I owe him a debt of gratitude. He also opened my eyes to the wonderful variety of musical instruments out there. For this my wallet will hate him for all eternity!

Whilst at university my bass playing came along in leaps and bounds via learning Geddy Lee bass lines and practicing for many hours so that I could play the bass lines from the first Yngwie Malmsteen album. Fortunately the student life afforded me many holidays and <ahem> ‘spare’ hours in which to put in the practice.

Recently my bass-playing chops have suffered a bit since I have been swayed by the dark-side of the six stringer, but it still remains my musical first-true love