If you're a guitar player...

[riprorin]

is there any reason to take bass lessons?

My 11 yr old son has been taking guitar lessons for about 2 1/2 yrs. I just bought him a bass and he seem to be doing pretty well with it. Would he benefit from lessons, or should I just let him go at it on his own?

[Ezbass]

You obviously saw the benefit of him taking guitar lessons so why not bass lessons? There is a tendency for guitar players who then play the bass to view bass as a guitar with less strings (normally) and end up playing it like a guitar which leads to overplaying, not paying attention to the rhythm, etc. I'm not saying that this is true for all, but it can and does happen. I played guitar to a high degree for before discovering the righteous path of the low end, but I still took some lessons initially which sorted out a number of issues which did not affect me as a guitar player and I'm a better bassist for it.

[Blueszilla]

That's really cool he's so interested in music, playing guitar and bass is so much fun.

If he's already taking lessons, his teacher may be able to include bass specific content. No reason to stop the lessons, there's always lots to learn. It's more about learning to communicate musically, it applies to all instruments.

Good luck!!

[Phalex]

Guitar and bass are relatives, but they are both very different animals.

[riprorin]

Thanks for the replies!

He has a gutiar lesson tonight so I'll discuss it with his teacher.

My original thought was to get him a few bass lessons so he learns the right technique.

I don't know if it's the novelty or not, but my son seems more passionate about the bass than the guitar.

I gave him a bunch of tab, but he's working hard on "War Pigs" at the moment.

[Ezbass]

Originally Posted by riprorin

I don't know if it's the novelty or not, but my son seems more passionate about the bass than the guitar.

Smart boy

[Thunderthumbs73]

Originally Posted by riprorin

is there any reason to take bass lessons?

My 11 yr old son has been taking guitar lessons for about 2 1/2 yrs. I just bought him a bass and he seem to be doing pretty well with it. Would he benefit from lessons, or should I just let him go at it on his own?

Bass lessons would sure be helpful, but I'd let him go it on his own and see if he really wants lessons. He's already taking guitar lessons, and I'd say unless he's particularly motivated, just let it be and see where he takes it.

...this coming from a teacher who has a few his own students who he knows are WAY over-scheduled...

[MarkTAW]

Edit: didn't read the OP closely enough.

Bass is very different from guitar, he would definitely benefit from lessons.

[cowsgomoo]

Originally Posted by riprorin

is there any reason to take bass lessons?

My 11 yr old son has been taking guitar lessons for about 2 1/2 yrs. I just bought him a bass and he seem to be doing pretty well with it. Would he benefit from lessons, or should I just let him go at it on his own?

bass nearly always performs a totally different role to guitar in any given ensemble, so, yeah, lessons in style are crucial... trombone or bassoon are probably closer to bass stylistically than guitar

not to mention technique can be radically different... even playing a bass with a pick is not greatly like playing a guitar with one

[mutedeity]

Originally Posted by riprorin

is there any reason to take bass lessons?

My 11 yr old son has been taking guitar lessons for about 2 1/2 yrs. I just bought him a bass and he seem to be doing pretty well with it. Would he benefit from lessons, or should I just let him go at it on his own?

That's like asking if he has been playing piano for a couple of years is there any point in him taking violin lessons in my opinion. Bass and guitar are really completely different instruments. Their role and function are quite different within an ensemble and the technical approach and application are different as well.

Not only that, consider that learning proper technique for bass could and probably will enhance your child's outlook on both instruments. Sure, you could let him work at the instrument on his own and there is nothing wrong with that, but I would say that it will probably benefit his bass playing to have someone give him a few lessons from a bass playing perspective if nothing else.

[Yngwie 4String]

No you dont NEED them, but you might WANT them.

[rokkitt]

I would say take bass lessons

i have seen many a person play the bass like a guitar.

it is NOT the same thing. Bass players here who have taken lessons and lock in with the groove, and put up a "wall of sound" know what I mean.


yes, take lessons, from a few different teachers. you will get different points of view, but as long as you are working with a bass teacher, you will learn all the abilities of the instrument.

let us know what happens, and how you do!


allen

[nickonbass]

I went from being a guitar player to a bass player.

I played bass (in a band) for about a year before I went and got a few bass lessons with a bass teacher and I improved/understood a few things I just wasn't getting as a guitar player almost overnight with the bass lessons.

I say go for it - at least to get 3-4 lessons from a bass teacher on basic technique.

You've/he's got nothing to loose really and a lot to gain.

[skiltrip]

I'd say it depends on the person. I was a guitar player for a lot of years. My brother taught me I'll Cry Instead by the Beatles and from there I just kind of figured the rest out. Started playing bass because it was fun, and in studio it was much easier to just play the parts myself instead of waiting for a bass player to show up.

Some people pick things up on their own, and some benefit from being guided in the right direction. I'd say start with some lessons, he'll know right away if he likes it, or if it's beneficial.

I took guitar lessons a couple times when I was a little kid, and I knew right away I didn't like it. I did much better figuring things out for my own and developed my own writing and playing style as a result.

[DocBop]

Being one of the worst things in the world is a bass player that sounds like a guitar player. So yes the fingerboard and tuning are basicially the same he can pickup the bass and play it, BUT the important thing is the FEEL and thought process is completely different. So you don't have to have a teacher to learn bass if he has a good knowledge of guitar. There are a few technique things that he could pickup on his own or hanging out with other bass players. But has to learn to treat the bass and guitar as two different instruments.

I've played both over my life, but I usually have mainly been one or the other not both. I avoided doubling (playing both on a gig) so I was thinking as a guitar player or bass player for years at a time. At home I play both since I write and record. Overall playing both seriously has benefited both instruments. Most of what I know about improv I learned as a guitar player. My bass playing has help my rhythm guitar playing and coming up with parts to complement each other.

So playing both is good. Have to understand they may have similar necks and strings, but are really two different instrument. Use what you know about the one to play the other better. Have fun.

[Thunderthumbs73]

Originally Posted by riprorin

is there any reason to take bass lessons?

My 11 yr old son has been taking guitar lessons for about 2 1/2 yrs. I just bought him a bass and he seem to be doing pretty well with it. Would he benefit from lessons, or should I just let him go at it on his own?

If the kid wants lessons, sure. If he doesn't mention 'em, then let it go for a while, or bring up the possibility of lessons once every few months, if that. Don't push it. Obviously, he's doing something productive with music, and apparently successful music lessons or experience with guitar. That bar of investment (instrument and time) seems to be met already from that outlet. The other part of music is the enjoyment. If the son wants music lessons as it will make him enjoy music more, then do that. If not, don't do that.