Which should I start to learn how to play, bass or electric?

Question

I am lead vocals in a band, and I want to learn to play either the bass or electric guitar. I have an alto voice, and don't know which one to play!?! Which is easier to play as lead? and what does each one do? Sorry, but please speak in Layman's terms!

Answer 1

First, can you even sing and do 'something' else at the same time? If you can do that, then you can try an instrument.

I play bass and sing. Unless I know my music (the singing, or the bass lines) very well, it's hard to do both at the same time. If I have the bass lines memorized, or the words/melody memorized, (or both) then it's easy.

The bass is really considered a rythym instrument and goes hand-in-hand with the drums. You have to really keep a beat, and proper timing to play the bass. That's the hard part about bass. The easy part about the bass is that it's one note at-at-time -- *very* rarely to you play chords on a bass.

Lead guitar is much harder than bass.

There's also rythym guitar you could consider, especially if there is already a lead guitarist. Strumming chords to the beat while singing is pretty easy.

Answer 2

by looks, bass is the easiest besides rythem guitar. lead guitar is the most complicated, especially if this band is metal or blues. but in some cases, the bass can get a bit complicated; its job is to go hand in hand with the drums to give the song its weight and bottom end, and to also make the song sound fuller and tighter. a bad bass player can and will throw off a good drummer's timing, and a bad drummer can cause alot of headaches for a good bass player....and btw, it will clearly show up in how the song sounds also.
98% of bass work is single notes instead of chords, but its also timed to make the bass drum sound more punchy.
rhythm guitar is just chords, lead guitar depending on style can range from simplistic (old 50's style) to supersonic like steve vai. i can tell u from first hand that bass is much easier 8x's out of 10. lead is an art form for those that have the dexerity to be able to hit mach 1 on the frets.

Answer 3

Bass would be easier to learn.... only 4 or 5 strings and you only play one note at a time. The hardest thing about it will be playing one melody on the bass while singing a different one. After 5 or 6 years of practice, you'll get good at it if you stick with it.

Answer 4

I would recommend guitar. As a singer you will find guitar more suitable. Bass can be a little more difficult while singing. In any case, if you learn guitar you are learning bass - they are very similar. Once you learn enough guitar you can play bass or guitar switching from one song to another.

Answer 5

learn the guitar. then decide because if you can play a guitar you can play a bass....it doesnt work as well the other way though ;) GOOD LUCK!

ps - also, if you learn the guitar it will be easier to write songs by yourself and create a melody and if you are good enough it will always be easier to get small coffee house gigs etc if you can play by your self!

Answer 6

um bass guitars are ussually electric... your question was misleading. i new what you meant but I have to give you a hard time about it. easier to play it depends. for lead its guitar but it'll take you awhile to do anything with either instrument. though the guitar is one of the easiest instruments to play it does take a long time to get "good" in my opinion of goodness lol. it'll take at least 2 years and the necessary basic skills for me to say you were "good".

Answer 7

It will help give you a foundation in playing, but it won't mean you'll automatically be able to play it, as they are quite different instruments.

Answer 8

You should start learning how to play electric, it sounds fun!