experianced bassists only!! help??

Question

hey...
i am a musician, been playing for 8 years on the clarinet. not that i am sick of it- i just had enough of not being able to play decent rock or metal.
with the guyz i play with, it is difficult to fit in music wise with such a different instrument.
so i was thinking...maybe base. i have no problem with the musicality- i just have never had anything to do with strings. so i want to know:
1- how hard is it to play, how long it will take to learn, difficulty.
2- if you can learn it alone, and be good- or do you need a teacher.
3- if you need to know how to play any other instruments before you touch a bass. ( in my experience, all the bassits i know play guitar and piano.)
also, ifyou suggest any other instruments that you think would be better- but i have to say, stuff like guitar-i mean a lot more then just a bunch of chords.

please please please help me!!
thanx sooo much..

Answer 1

The bass is a very fun instrument but you need to keep a few things in mind. I'll answer your questions first:

1. It's not hard - especially if you have a musical background. It will take a few months to sound like you know what you are doing.

2. Yes you can learn it alone. Get a good introductory bass book and get started.

3. No, you don't need to know any other instruments.

The bass is a tough instrument if you have small hands. You can buy small-scale bass guitars but they are few and far between. If you want to gig and you may need to borrow other folks basses, you've gotta learn a full-scale bass.

Also the strings are rather thick, so you will be developing some intense callouses on your finger tips of your left hand.

Now, with that said, remember that with the bass you will be the rhythm, you will be the bottom, you will be the backbeat. In other words it isn't a lead instrument. You support the other instruments. If this doesn't bother you then good deal.

I'm mainly a guitar player and love that instrument because you can do it all alone. Just you and your voice and your guitar and your songs - that's all you need. I've been playing for over 20 years and just don't know what I'd do without music. It's saved my life.

GO FOR IT! LIFE IS SHORT

FP

Answer 2

1. Bass is easy if you play only the root notes and rhythm stuff and all that. It's hard if you decide to learn slapping and popping style, stuff like Stu Hamm, Jaco Pastorius etc.

2. If you learn alone, but you learn theory, than you'll be as good as playing with a teacher. A teacher will usually teach you some theory, teach you songs and than you play together. If you play it using the wrong technique, the teacher will correct you.

3. No, you don't need to know how to play other instruments.

I find Guitar more fun, but harder, but that's just me.

Answer 3

the bass is i think one of the most fun insturments i have learned to play. I learned to play the guitar first so i got the hang of it verry fast but it doesnt matter what one you play first. the bass i think was easier than the guitar because you dont play as fast as a guitar. ill answer your first question.

1. it might take you a couple of months to get the hang of it then you will be rockin with your friends.

2.i recomend a teacher but i learned the bass without one, get a learn to play book.

3. no you dont have to learn any other insturment before you play the bass, all insturments are different so you dont need one before the other.

GOOD LUCK o and dont ever give up on your insturment.

Nathan M

Answer 4

lol
a metal clarinet player, thats awesome.
actually i played clarinet in highschool and i also played bass
in punk band. You will have to learn to the the bass cleft, its
literally three notes up from the treble cleft for example
a "c" on a clarinet is an "e" ona bass ect ect ect.
its not too hard to learn a new instrument and you must be pretty ok of youve been playing for 8 years. I learned on my own
and it didnt take too long to get the hang of it.

Answer 5

What exactly is EXPERIANCED...