Carlo Chirio, a 47-year-old bassist from Cuneo, Italy, began his bass journey at the age of 16 thanks to some friends. He didn’t fall in love with the instrument immediately, but once he did, his passion only grew stronger over the years. “It happened almost by chance,” he comments, “and I fell in love with the instrument later. It’s a love that still lasts today and has only grown stronger over the years.”
When it comes to his gear, Carlo doesn’t limit himself to just one bass. He picks his instrument based on the project he’s working on. “I have many basses, and there’s not one I always use. I choose the one that fits best with the project. My most ‘historic’ bass is a Music Man Stingray, which I’ve had for over 15 years. I’ve used it exclusively with my main band, Emily la Chatte, in over 500 concerts.”
Carlo is active in several bands, with Emily la Chatte being the most established. “We perform in an ironic style, changing the lyrics of songs and creating a show that engages the audience. I also have a duo tribute to Queen songs called QUEENdi, where I play a fretless bass. Together with Ferruccio Fusetti, who plays acoustic guitar and sings, we rearrange the most beautiful songs by Freddie and the band. I also have a group that’s very special to me, called The SmileS, where we play 1950s rock ‘n’ roll. In this band, I play either a nice Fender Precision or an Italian-made violin bass.”
Outside of performing, Carlo is also a music teacher and has written several instructional books for bass guitar. “Aside from playing, I’m a music teacher, and over the years I’ve written several methods for electric bass. The first one, written about ten years ago, focuses on the Double Thumb technique, but I’ve also created others on slap, blues, and timing.” All of his books are available as eBooks on his website, www.carlochirio.com.
Carlo’s musical journey has been shaped by continuous learning. From the moment he picked up the bass, he’s been studying, taking lessons from different teachers who have each passed on their unique passion and perspective on the instrument. “Since I started playing, I’ve always studied and had several teachers, each of whom passed on their passion and vision of the electric bass. Teaching has also given me the chance to learn something new every day from my students, and I continue to study to this day. It’s something that makes me feel good.”
For a closer look at Carlo’s work, you can follow him on various platforms:
- Website: www.carlochirio.com
- YouTube: bit.ly/carlochirio
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/bassoelettrico
- TikTok: @bassoelettrico
- Bass eBooks: bit.ly/metodiBasso