Is it too late to learn how to play the bass guitar?

First of all, saying "bass is easy" is kinda insulting. Yeah its easyer than a six-string guitar but its not some cop out instrument. Ive been playing bass for about a year and im almost completely self taught, one downside of this is that i have no knowledge of music reading, i just read tabs (if your going to learn bass, your going to need lots of tabs). If your going to get lessons (i highly recommend lessons if you want to join the Jazz Band next year) make sure you have a good teacher and lots of motivation. Also, if your thinking of buying a bass i suggest a Squier bass, i have a Squier P-Bass and its great for starting out.

deffenetly not too late,..but I'd get into a group base lesson or private lessons for a little bit....or at least at first, cause there might be some competition....and ask the jazz band teacher for tryout music. and your probably going to have to learn all your scales on it,...and some blue scales on it.. -just to warn you if your schools jazz band is really good, your part wont be really hard, but it'll be crutial you know how to do it,....and they probably will want you to learn base like in an orchestra (also) since its kinda the same

I think since you already play french horn, which is by far a very difficult instrument to play (i commend you for sticking to it, i'm an oboe player). It wouldn't be hard for you to switch to bass guitar. I think your only problem will be reading bass clef instead of treble clef. It's really simple to learn bass clef. Learning to read tabs and maybe taking a few lessons shouldn't be a problem. Best of luck(:

Alright. Sounds like my situation, except that I play percussion, not french horn. haha. I had no experience with the bass guitar, but I got one just a month ago. If you watch plenty of free online lessons, and learn to read tabs(You can learn this from websites) the bass is actually very easy. its never too late, go for it. :P good luck. :D Jazz band is sweet. haha.

It's never too late. I say go for it. Put in the hours for practice and you'll be funkin' groovin' in no time. It's a benefit that you already have a musical background. You can already read music, bass is very simple compared to other instruments.

Its only ten oclock here and thats not too late.

I say it's never to late to start playing... I know people in there 50's who started bass! So go for it!

the thing about bass is its easy to learn how to play, and you should be able to put down simple to solid bass lines within a couple of months. however, there are a bunch of techniques to use: slapping and popping, two or one-finger plucking, picking, tapping, and bending. if there are other bassists who've been playing for 3-4 years they probably have mastered bass. if the competition is lax you should be a shoo-in. if you really like bass and want to master it it'll take some hard work and your fingers will hurt. remember bass is easy to learn hard to master

here's a place that makes a 2-string bass (tuned to E-A) and a 3-string bass (tuned to E-A-D) http://www.BogdonMusic.com Bass Player Magazine raves about them in the Jan 2008 Issue, Alternative Press Magazine calls it a cool bass in the Dec 2008 issue, and the NAMM awarded it Best in Show Summer 2008. they posted their phone number on their webpage so you can call em.