JimmyT: Congrats on your first steps...The Blues is an endless universe. It can be made fun of, listened to, and played on a superficial level by simpletons; or it can reach into the depths of the human soul and attain a level of high art. If you play upright bass, try on some Willie Dixon, or Stephen Barry from Montreal. It's not what you have. It's what you do with it. The Blues has endured countless trends and still thrives today. If you haven't checked out Martin Scorcese's series on The Blues, it's a good starting point. You could look at the painting of the Mona Lisa and say, "hey, it's just a woman sitting in a chair." Or, maybe you might have the eyes to see that what is there has touched the source of all creation... Your journey on upright bass in the Blues may be a long one. It's up to you. Best Wishes. bob