Which Instrument Do You Think Is Best To Learn Alongside Bass?

[Dubadays]

I hear a lot about people learning bass alongside other instruments, and I was just curious to see who else thinks they benefited from learning another instrument along with bass. I started playing bass when I was about 10, so I've been playing around 7 years. I've been taking drum lessons for about 9 years, which I think has helped my bass playing TREMENDOUSLY. Did you learn bass alongside another instrument, and do you think it helped you a lot?

[gkbass13]

drums or piano. rhythm is huge, which explains the drums. and the keyboard is esential to know for a really strong understanding of theory.

the expression and phrasing in horn playing is cool stuff as well.

[MNAirHead]

Guitar, Keys and Drums..

Just enough to know the theory of how the other guys think.

I commonly will learn new material on keys and guitar first.. helps glue it together.

[Jefenator]

I'm tempted to +1 drums because rhythm is so utterly important, slightly more so than any other element IME/O.

But you get a lot from chordal and melodic studies as well. I get hired at least as much for following & reinforcing chord progressions and cueing off melodies as I do for my "time".

So it's a tough call - definitely one of those YMMV things.

[Pacman]

Piano or guitar. A better grasp of harmony is crucial.

[bobknowsbass]

I think the key is to be a musician rather than just a bassist. A musician plays music with whatever is in front of them, or with no instrument at all.

Piano is good, but I believe that learning anything from a recorder to a ukulele is like making a small deposit in your personal musical bank.

I urge all my students to learn how to be at least adequate at as many instruments as they can. This opens you up your ears and makes you an asset to those that you play with.

[BassistFreak416]

i have been getting a big urge to learn drums recently. i want to get an electric set to be quieter and smaller, but they cost way above what i can get.

i wouldn't consider guitar since every time i hold one, everything about it feels wrong. tiny neck, tiny body, tiny string spacing, multiple strings to hold requiring a hundered or so hand positions, strumming multiple strings at a time, only sounds good with distortion in my mind. if i were to learn guitar, i would need it to be 7 or 8 string to have a larger neck and body, deeper sound fit for metal and similar to my bass, and i would learn enough to play rhythm. they do have some practice necks that i could learn chords and such on.

[BlueStatic]

well it depends...

if you want to advance in drums, go to drums

if you want to learn more about theory, go piano.

Piano is probably the best instrument to learn general music theory and chords because everything is much for visual. Also, with piano you learn both clefs which might be a benefit in the future if you plan on changing instruments or to just know more about music.

[StyleOverShow]

Piano. Its percussive, like drums, and teaches you to integrate/separate the left and right hands.

[cynical-rabbit]

Didgeridoo.

'Nuff said.

[two fingers]

Originally Posted by Pacman

Piano or guitar. A better grasp of harmony is crucial.

This IMO

[MarkTAW]

Guitar is a given for any bass player. You should own & play guitar. Every bass player I know can play guitar - not so the other way around.

Drums are a good option - it'll improve your sense of rhythm.

Piano is good, if you're looking to compose, but it's not absolutely necessary for advancing in theory (but it certainly helps).

Personally, I head towards the other end of the tonal spectrum - mandolin, violin, trumpet.

[tobie]

I've found that the bass & pedal steel guitar (PSG) complement each other. Both 'just hang in there' progressing through chords, with licks / fills where appropriate - and in rare cases, a solo.

I was never sure when to do what on the PSG but learning the bass lit up the light at the end of the tunnel for me.

[T-Funk]

Originally Posted by MarkTAW

Guitar is a given for any bass player. You should own & play guitar.

+1

Most of the bassists I know play piano/keyboards, not guitar. I was no different until several years ago.

However, after learning to play guitar, in my humble opinion, I believe it is the better secondary instrument for the bass player.

Percussions and drums are nice, too, for developing solid timing.

[JimmyM]

Each instrument has different and valid reasons for you to learn them. Keyboards allow you to see a graphic display of each note. Guitar allows bass players to use what they already know about bass and put it in a more melodic and chordal context. Not that you can't get chordal or melodic on bass, but guitar lends itself to it a little easier. And drums will give you a better idea of the drummer/bassist dynamic, which I'm told is pretty important. I learned all of them and I'm glad I did. Unfortunately, I sucked at keyboards, but I can still play a decent guitar, and if I practiced 3 hours every day for a couple months solid I could probably get gigs on drums as well.

[Revvv]

guitar

[MalcolmAmos]

Originally Posted by bobknowsbass

.... I believe that learning anything from a recorder to a ukulele is like making a small deposit in your personal musical bank. I urge all my students to learn how to be at least adequate at as many instruments as they can. This opens you up your ears and makes you an asset to those that you play with.

I can see where drums would be helpful, any rhythm section instrument actually - Keyboard, rhythm guitar, whatever.

I also play keyboard (from fake books aka chord piano), banjo, rhythm guitar, clarinet and a mean harmonica. Ditto the above statement any instrument helps with the other instruments.

[soong]

Originally Posted by cynical-rabbit

Didgeridoo.

'Nuff said.

Nah man, Kazoo.

[oswaldvon]

guitar or piano is probably the best instrument to learn if you are a bassist. i learned to play some drums back in my hardcore/thrash days but back then i focused on speed instead of groove so it didn't help my bass playing that much. learning to play the guitar helps a lot, i often try to learn the guitar parts before i construct basslines for songs and i also use the guitar for song writing.

[MalcolmAmos]

+ 1 on rhythm guitar like said abve. Had not thought of this before, but, all my baselines come from my rhythm guitar experience, aka, melody note and chord sharing some of the same notes, now flow into my baseline riffs (R-3-5-3 or R-3-7-3 etc) with ease.