Guitarist an Automatic Bassist

[MEKer]

Heres what a guy going by the name of "Bullet" said to answer a noob's question about when pick use is appropriate:

"I'm not a bassist, but anyone who plays guitar can play bass really. I use plecs when playing bass, but I guess that is because I am so much more used to them......."

its at a UK site called Electric GuitarForums and when I saw it I almost joined just to flame the guy out but...nah...I let it go

Oh well.

[fretlessman71]

Sure they can play bass - the notes are essentially in the same place. Can they play bass WELL? That really depends on the player - and I'd venture that most guitarists are mediocre bassists at best. Even my mentor/old teacher, whom I perform with frequently and who is one of the most fantastic guitarists you'll ever hear, has mentioned to me how when he's playing bass in church (because they can't find anyone else) that he wishes I was there to do it for him because it's so much harder for him. It's a different thought process, a different role in the band. Maybe this guitarist doesn't have enough appreciation for a good bassist, and if this is the case, I'd question his musicianship... just my $.02.

[MEKer]

Oh yes, I know they also know the notes and some guitarists can even play bass well. What immediately irked me is the memory of many guitarists who, despite never being a bassist, feel they can breeze around on a bass. Then when they try it (usually on YOUR bass), it is obvious they don't understand the many musical viewpoints a good bassist can bring to a song and it shows when they play.

[bassicg]

Very well put!

[rarisgod]

Originally Posted by fretlessman71

Sure they can play bass - the notes are essentially in the same place. Can they play bass WELL? That really depends on the player - and I'd venture that most guitarists are mediocre bassists at best. Even my mentor/old teacher, whom I perform with frequently and who is one of the most fantastic guitarists you'll ever hear, has mentioned to me how when he's playing bass in church (because they can't find anyone else) that he wishes I was there to do it for him because it's so much harder for him. It's a different thought process, a different role in the band. Maybe this guitarist doesn't have enough appreciation for a good bassist, and if this is the case, I'd question his musicianship... just my $.02.

This is exactly it. Too many of these guitarists don't realize the role of the bass like your mentor does. Most times when I let a guitar player play my bass, they'll play guitar stuff on it. That's not the role of the bassist. That's what really differentiates between the two instruments.

[Amitio]

Originally Posted by rarisgod

This is exactly it. Too many of these guitarists don't realize the role of the bass like your mentor does. Most times when I let a guitar player play my bass, they'll play guitar stuff on it. That's not the role of the bassist. That's what really differentiates between the two instruments.

+264

My mate, great guitarist, pick up this 5 string bass in a music store, and just played guitar solos, not once did he use the B and he spent most of his time above the twelve fret.

[ErebusBass]

Well of course they can! A bass is just a guitar with less strings for the people with less talent right?

My guitar player plays double bass... every time he plays my bass I turn the compressor all the way up and the volume all the way down, because he can never seem to remember that my electric is not his upright, and he picks like it is.

[Kermode]

I've lurked long enough...I was originally a guitar player (over 25 years)and 2 years ago I was asked to play bass for some friends when they couldn't find anyone else. I took the gig and I have never gone back, I guess what I'm trying to say is that I instantly realized that they are completely different instruments and it was like a light came on for me. After over 25 years with a stringed insturment I have found my soulmate and it is no in no way easier to play because there are ony 4 strings. Being a converted guitard, I can enthusiastically report that 'those guitar players who think it's easy to play bass' should actually play the instrument the way it was meant to be played, in the roll it was meant for, and not just try their guitar licks on the instrument. My rant of the moment.

[rarisgod]

And that's exactly right. Many guitarists (and actually, a lot of people in general) seem to think bass is easier due to it having less strings, or because they don't play chords like guitar players do. It's ridiculous. The bassist has an entirely different role in the music than a guitarist. Even a different role than the rhythm guitarist. The bass not only provides a background, it provides support. The lower register of the instrument provides backing for the rest of the music. And to provide that support, one must know how to be a bass player.

And this references another thread on the forums, but that's why I refer to the bass as either the electric bass, or just the bass. I rarely use bass guitar, and it kind've annoys me when people refer to my instrument as my "guitar". In correspondence, I never refer to myself as a "bass guitarist". I am a bassist. That's why I joined "talkbass.com" and not "talkbassguitar.com"

[Icarus26]

i think they can play it, some even well. but the two instruments serve different purposes, so you can't really compare players even though there are similarities between the instruments.

[capnsandwich]

Originally Posted by Kermode

I've lurked long enough...I was originally a guitar player (over 25 years)and 2 years ago I was asked to play bass for some friends when they couldn't find anyone else. I took the gig and I have never gone back, I guess what I'm trying to say is that I instantly realized that they are completely different instruments and it was like a light came on for me. After over 25 years with a stringed insturment I have found my soulmate and it is no in no way easier to play because there are ony 4 strings. Being a converted guitard, I can enthusiastically report that 'those guitar players who think it's easy to play bass' should actually play the instrument the way it was meant to be played, in the roll it was meant for, and not just try their guitar licks on the instrument. My rant of the moment.

Yep, same here. I played guitar for over 10 years before ever playing a bass in a live situation. My church needed a bassist and I agreed to it. I've never been happier being a bassist. I find that as a bassist I have more control over the song, where as a guitarist I was just adding to the song, never actually controlling the dynamics or anything. As a bassist I feel like a bus driver driving a big Grey Hound bus. I steer the song to where I want it to go and it goes there. Not that I'm a control freak or anything but I have a good ear and people rely on me and my ear so I'm glad I'm in a position to lead others in the band.

[ric1312]

It really depends on the type of music and the player.

I've met quite few guitar players who could fill in on bass but didn't sound as good as someone who it was their main instrument.

I've also met a quite a few guitar players who thought they could play bass but proceeded to try and play it like a guitar. I for one can tell a huge difference between a bass player that plays with a pick and a guitar player trying out bass and using a pick.

If the bass playing just covers the root notes of the guitar and syns with the guitar it would be easy for a guitar player. If the music calls for the bass player to lock with the drummer, then a guitar player might be in trouble, since depending on the music the guitar is often not right on the kick like the bass player.

[ksandvik]

In 8 of 10 cases I could figure out if someone playing a bass is a guitar player who thinks they could just switch instruments and spend zero time learning how to play bass.

First clue: lots and lots of notes played
Second: Don't follow the drummer
Third: Uses the thumb as a plectra
Fourth: Plays walking bass lines that just don't make sense, all over the map, especially using the high range like a solo instrument melody
Fifth: Does not even realize that the bass line is a mess

Now, the 2 of 10 actually are musicians who understand that each instrument has its own style of playing, or approach.

[MysticMichael]

Originally Posted by rarisgod

Most times when I let a guitar player play my bass, they'll play guitar stuff on it. That's not the role of the bassist. That's what really differentiates between the two instruments.

In some ways, I've had the very opposite experience: Like many of you, I started out on guitar. But I didn't remain there that long. Because the more I improvised and experimented on the instrument, the more I became aware that I was instinctively creating bass parts - not guitar parts. Even though I had already been playing guitar, I never had an intuitive connection to the instrument, as I was soon to discover that I had to the bass guitar - even though I had never played one before.

I went out, bought myself a reconditioned Fender Precision Bass, and haven't looked back since...

MM

[Jazz Ad]

Good guitarists know better than to pretend they can play bass.

[stratovani]

I took up bass last November when I started playing in our church's worship group. I've also been playing guitar for almost 35 years now. My guitar playing skills were an immense help in learning to play bass, and I took to bass right off. However, I was smart enough to realize that bass playing requires a different mind-set from guitar, so I picked it up fairly quickly. I've been loving playing bass since then, and I've improved tremendously. But I still love guitar, though.

[HaVIC5]

Technique is absolutely transferable between a guitar and a bass - a certain nuance in touch obviously needs to be achieved, but it's more or less intact. Whether or not the guitarist is musically advanced enough to know how to fulfill the bass role (as in the musical function, like the voice, or tuba, or whatever) is what we're talking about here. Musical function and instrument are being confused a bit here, which causes the classic bassist defensive position on the matter, but if the guitarist is musically mature enough to understand that role, there's no reason why they can't "be a bassist" by just picking up the instrument. I've seen it happen.

[ksandvik]

Originally Posted by HaVIC5

Technique is absolutely transferable between a guitar and a bass - a certain nuance in touch obviously needs to be achieved, but it's more or less intact. Whether or not the guitarist is musically advanced enough to know how to fulfill the bass role (as in the musical function, like the voice, or tuba, or whatever) is what we're talking about here. Musical function and instrument are being confused a bit here, which causes the classic bassist defensive position on the matter, but if the guitarist is musically mature enough to understand that role, there's no reason why they can't "be a bassist" by just picking up the instrument. I've seen it happen.

One technical issue might be over-using the pinky finger when playing bass, speaking from experience as a guitar player where pinky finger use is a no-brainer concerning light strings. You could cause a lot of pain if you use that one without a need, during long sessions.

[staindbass]

anyone who plays bass can play guitar too ! johnny a

[JimmyM]

Originally Posted by staindbass

anyone who plays bass can play guitar too ! johnny a

Exactly.

It would seem that if you can play guitar you can play bass, but I know too many great guitarists that suck out loud on bass to make it a blanket statement. I will say this, though...I think it's easier to go from guitar to bass than the other way around. But you can do both ways with varying degrees of success if you want it bad enough.