will classical guitar help?

[thanos_lee]

i have heard that if you learn classical guitar,your bass skills will improve.is it true?

[Byron Santo]

Learn the classical guitar techniques and if you want to play the classical guitar while learning the techniques then feel free but it is not needed.

I have quite a collection of classical guitar books and DVD's that I've used in the past. Also learn Flemenco techniques to!

[Richard Lindsey]

Originally Posted by thanos_lee

i have heard that if you learn classical guitar,your bass skills will improve.is it true?

Not necessarily. Generally speaking, IMO it never hurts a bass player to have some familiarity with a chordal instrument, whether it's guitar or piano or both. Specifically speaking, IME classical guitar helps on the technical side, with the use of your fingers, especially on the right hand, but that in itself doesn't make you a better bass player in terms of knowing what to play on the bass. Only playing bass will do that. Nor is classical guitar the only way to get the facility you want on the bass. I don't think Patitucci, for example, ever did any CG, and his fingers work just fine.

[thanos_lee]

Originally Posted by Richard Lindsey

Not necessarily. Generally speaking, IMO it never hurts a bass player to have some familiarity with a chordal instrument, whether it's guitar or piano or both. Specifically speaking, IME classical guitar helps on the technical side, with the use of your fingers, especially on the right hand, but that in itself doesn't make you a better bass player in terms of knowing what to play on the bass. Only playing bass will do that. Nor is classical guitar the only way to get the facility you want on the bass. I don't think Patitucci, for example, ever did any CG, and his fingers work just fine.

i agree,it wont help the way i think bass lines.the thing is that i already have a CG and also i like the sound of it,so i'd like to know if it is worthy to start practicing a second instrument in this period(i play for about 3 years),or i should i study bass a little more....
anyway,thanks for the advice.....

[Richard Lindsey]

Originally Posted by thanos_lee

i'd like to know if it is worthy to start practicing a second instrument in this period(i play for about 3 years),or i should i study bass a little more....
anyway,thanks for the advice.....

Why do you have to choose between the two? It's not an either/or issue AFAICS.

[TheDarkReaver]

it will definetly help you as a musician.

[WalterBush]

I studied classical guitar in college because I didn't get along with the bass teacher there.

It was possibly the best thing I had done up to that point for my playing. My right hand technique improved, and looking at songs that contained melody, harmony, and bass lines, as opposed to just playing bass, opened my eyes as a songwriter. I got a very good idea of how bass fits in a song, and how a song compliments a melody.

[Steve]

Any classical training will help a great deal to be a better player IMO. Most people get way too wrapped up in what they play and not how they play it.

Classical strips all that away. You play what's written. You play what everyone else has played for hundreds of years before you. Techniqe, touch and execution are everything and THAT helps a bass player.

[Bassist4Life]

Play whatever you want to play. Music knowledge transfers from instrument to instrument. You could get something out of playing the trombone. Are you looking to play the bass like a classical guitar? If so, check out Dominique Di Piazza.

Joe