hey, so i play the guitar. i am alright, i mean i am a little past a beginner, but not really a jimi hendrix. so, i would actually like to switch to playing the bass instead and was wondering how diffucult the bass guitar is to learn and play. And if my skills with the guitar, will help make the bass easier to learn.
thanks.
2006-12-11 10:31:51 · 11 answers · asked by zooey d 1 in Entertainment & Music ➔ Music
bass is just 2 less guitar strings. i think playing bass is more fun than guitar. also bassists highly sought after so your pretty much guaranteed to be in a band.
2006-12-11 10:42:24 · answer #1 · answered by noxtommorow 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I've switched from guitars to bass, like some of us here who had answered your question. It can be intimidating the first time you pick up the bass and feel so helplessly slow. You will eventually catch hold of the feel of the thick strings, wide frets and long necks. It is something you'll need to get used to.
Yes, it is an advantage that you know guitar, in a couple of aspects. You need not learn how to hold the strings at the frets on your fret hand. You would have also already learnt the fairly similar basic coordination of your pick/plucking hand and your fret hand. It a head start for you.
Remember also to try both picking and fingering techniques on the bass guitar strings, since you're switching from electric guitar and have the advantage of knowing the proper way of holding and using a guitar pick. Settle with techniques that you find most comfortable and efficient for you.
Bare in mind too that you're playing a bass guitar now. The role of the basslines in the band is slightly different from the electric guitar riffs and solo licks in a song. If you're playing in a band and jam regularly, you'll notice that your attention will switch from focusing on cues from vocals and bass to drums too.
In fact, I feel that as someone had mentioned above, to be able to play more than one musical instrument is an advantage. You've sorta 'been there, done that', so when it is time to jam with your mates, you'll actually see and hear things in a whole new different perspective, and more vividly as well.
Bass is a whole new world, other than the above that I had mentioned. Always remember not to play the bass, like a guitar even if you're picking your bass guitar. Also, just go with the flow and feel the groove. Lock in tightly especially with the drummer and pay attention to his snares, hats and kicks. If you stick to bass long enough, you'll learn to love the bass more than you love your guitar and will eventually understand why us bass players are so passionate about the instrument. =)
Enjoy!
2006-12-14 04:20:36 · answer #2 · answered by wst 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The fingering techniques that you use on a guitar can easily be used with a bass. There are a few things to be wary of though. Bass guitar by itself sounds excellent, but when added with another musical instrument, it can sometimes sound out of key, or like a mess. This of course depends on which types of notes you are playing over chords. Many bass lines tend to be simple relying on playing the 1st or 5th note of the chord. Occasionally when the bass line plays the 2nd, 3rd, 6th, or 7th note, the result can be a somewhat jumbled sound. (I am assuming you have at least a little bit of music theory under your belt when I am writing this, and if not, there are many websites that can help teach you some basics.) This usually happens when the latter set of notes are held for an extended period of time, rather than being used as passing tones. Of course, depending on what type of music you play, the sound may not affect the song at all. So I guess to answer your question, the only real difference with bass and guitar is not expecting everything you play on bass to sound as good as a guitar over a separate guitar riff. Hope this helps a little bit.
2006-12-12 00:40:42 · answer #3 · answered by jim e 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes, it is an easy transition. It also works the other way around. I played bass straight for a few hours, constantly using a bass pick, and when I picked up my guitar the next day I could feel the difference in how strong my right hand was. (or maybe that was because of something else HAHAHA j/k)
2006-12-11 18:44:21 · answer #4 · answered by Anton the Nordic Bard 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Ok, there is something important here that nobody has mentioned. What kind of music will you be playing?
I ask this because depending on the style (thinking jazz here) bass can be an entirely different experiance. Also, if you don't have VERY good time, then getting into the swing of jam sessions can be hard at first.
2006-12-15 00:36:07 · answer #5 · answered by jaywalkingjorn 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
actually its not going to be as easy as you think. If youre used to guitar the bass is gonna seem real long to you and the frets are wider and strings are thicker. You should be able to play it though but its still going to be different. I hate how people think guitar and bass are completely similar.
2006-12-12 21:03:22 · answer #6 · answered by SkatinBabylon 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes I'm a bass player/song writer. I also play guitar not that great but i play it enough to be the the best song writer of my band.
2006-12-11 18:43:01 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes, most definitely... I was in the same situation because my brother got a bass and I wanted to learn it too. it was not as hard as I thought...
2006-12-11 18:34:32 · answer #8 · answered by A7X Girl 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
actually....quoting the great LEMMY...."playing guitar greatly improves your bass skills"....I've been playing guitar for 20 years..and i also play bass too...being multi-talented like that makes for some great jam sessions
2006-12-11 18:37:50 · answer #9 · answered by hoagie13365 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
just like guitar bud
easy to begin
harder as it goes
2006-12-11 18:38:57 · answer #10 · answered by ? 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋