Janek/Others Music question

[sk8terguy316]

Hi Janek and others,

First off, I would like to start by saying that you inspire me as a player and person. But, now for the question:

Recently I have been finding myself in an odd mood which has been creeping up ever increasingly, but just started recently. THis mood is that I feel sometimes like the bass is no longer my voice and I should switch to a guitar or a UB. For some reason, these instruments have been attracting me more lately. I want a career in music and for the musical sounds I have in my head sometimes I feel they would be more easily executed on a guitar, but then I want to become a professional musician one day and I know that their is much more competition in the guitar world. But still I don't know if this is just a phase and I'm being fickle. So I decided to seek your council.

Have you ever felt simlilar feelings toward the bass or a different instrument?

What do you think I should do/ What would you do if you were 16?

[Groovy Bastard]

Hi Sk8terguy,

I was in the same situation some years ago: I was a guitarist, doing quite well (major in music ed, minor in jazz guitar), but found out the only stuff I really dug playing on guitar was Wes Montgomery style music. Also I was writing a lot of music which didn't need a guitar most of the time, and played bass in some bands.

One day (all of a sudden) I realised how much more fun I was having playing bass than playing the guitar, feeling at home on stage etc. At that moment I admitted to myself that I was a bass player, not a guitarist, and made a big decision to hange course (which meant losing some gigs, changing college and needing to move).

But I can say that now, 3 years later, I never had a single regret. Beacause I like the instrument so much more, and it's closer connection to my musical self I've put much more time into studying and writing than I'd ever have done on guitar, and enjoy the music so much more.

If you want to spend your life being a musician, make sure you do it playing the instrument that you love, that feels right to you, otherwise you're never going to get yourself motivated enough to make it.

[janekbass]

well there is certainly less of a demand for guitar players as there are so many of them compared to bass players.

Being a good bass player will mean that you always work in the music industry. I used to be a guitar player, a classical guitar player, and switched to bass for many different reasons. But one of those reasons was because there was definitely more work for a bass player than a guitar player.

Ultimately you should do what feels right, and what your heart tells you to do.

Easy,

Janek