A question that might earn me a few enemies

[Grayson C.]

I'm not sure if this belongs here...

Anyways, I've been playing bass for about a year and some spare months, and I've gotten to be pretty good. I can sight read now, woot! Anyways, I'm finding my musical creativity to be running into a few barriers that I don't think I can do anything about....most of these barriers have to do with the instrument itself - fret width, strings, etc. I'm interested in learning (NEVER switching to!) guitar in order to help get some of the creative juices running around.



but not just any guitar...



...Classical guitar!



I've taught myself PIMA on bass in the past few days, and while I'm obviously far from proficient, I can get my way around without tripping over my fingers. Unfortunately I don't know that much about classical guitar and I'd like to start learning ASAP. I don't have money for a teacher, but my girlfriend has played classical guitar for 9 years and is pretty good - but she's rather busy and we probably won't be able to do anything until the end of the summer. Could anyone here direct me to perhaps some beginner's sheet music or just some place to start?

Thank you for your help, and I promise I won't give up bass.

[two fingers]

Try a video. You can rewind it as many times as you want. Should be able to find one for $10-$20. Good luck!

[bui]

[FSFromTX]

I did the same thing! By picking up classical guitar, I've opened new horizons for bass. Plus your finger desterity will improve vastly.

[Rudreax]

If you're only looking to do it to improve bass, I guess you could use videos. Otherwise, I seriously suggest you either find a way to save enough money for a teacher or find someone else who knows how to play the style and learn from them.

[Grayson C.]

I'm looking to do it to make me a better musician. I'd like to learn how to play classical guitar because it's melodic and it's something very different. I'd pick this instrument over, say, marimba, because I think it has more of a direct influence ON my bass playing - make sense?

[Human Bass]

Relax man, you wont have enemies for trying to other instruments. All here all know that every instrument has a special, unique feel. I, for one, dream of having a cello. The 27.5" scale feels quite natural for my big hands.

[Chipsonfire]

Originally Posted by Human Bass

Relax man, you wont have enemies for trying to other instruments. All here all know that every instrument has a special, unique feel. I, for one, dream of having a cello. The 27.5" scale feels quite natural for my big hands.

Speak for yourself! Anyone who plays anything but bass is no friend of mine. And guitar, no less! Shameful

...

I plan on doing something very similar, only I'm choosing classical guitar because that's the only one I could get for free Yay guitar-playing little brothers!

[Ed Fuqua]

The thing that will have the most direct effect on your bass playing will be playing the bass. The thing that will have the most direct effect on your musicality will be learning and understanding musical fundamentals. The thing that will have the most direct effect on playing with meaning and intent will be learning to hear with clarity.

There are many ways to avoid sitting in the same room with a real live breathing human being who will help guide you with the above principles. And since the principally voiced objection is that it "costs too much", I am amused in the extreme how much time and money goes into avoiding it.

[Depth_Charge]

A lot of musicians are multi-instrumentalists and the only enemies you risk making are the guys you play with when you finally demand them to "give it here so I can show you"

Now, grab a trial copy of guitar pro 5 here:
http://www.guitar-pro.com/en/index.php?pg=download

Then head on over to:
www.ultimate-guitar.com

where you will find oodles of sheet music and tablature in both full song and lesson form, in a lot more instruments than the 2 you are currently interested in developing skills in.

Those will get your regurgitating whats written. For the technical stuff, never dismiss the value of someone willing and able to teach you things, be it formally structured learning or while noodling on your guitarists 12 stringer on a break.

[Grayson C.]

I was very good with avoiding the bad habits that seemed likely to pop up whe I was teaching myself bass. Sure, I could have spent money on an instructor, but I put in a lot of dedication into watching myself and making sure that I was fretting correctly and holding myself in proper posture, even in the first week of holding my instrument (I had no musical background whatsoever, bass is my starting point). For example, I've been doing "one finger per fret" before I even know that I was supposed to do that because it just seemed logical. And when I disovered that I was "raking" the strings, I decided to teach myself how to do it without raking as wel, just so I could have the experience of doing it both ways. I'm planning on doing the same with classical guitar.

In general I'm pretty good with not being sloppy with my music. You're all right that an instructor would help me loads, but I move back and forth between two cities about 4 hours apart from each other (Miami for home and Sarasota for college), and I'm also a poor college student who needs to spend his money on his studies, not his hobbies. Thankfully, my girlfriend will be able to tutor me once school starts again, but that's a good month or so away.

[TheFrogPrince]

Originally Posted by Ed Fuqua

The thing that will have the most direct effect on your bass playing will be playing the bass. The thing that will have the most direct effect on your musicality will be learning and understanding musical fundamentals. The thing that will have the most direct effect on playing with meaning and intent will be learning to hear with clarity.

There are many ways to avoid sitting in the same room with a real live breathing human being who will help guide you with the above principles. And since the principally voiced objection is that it "costs too much", I am amused in the extreme how much time and money goes into avoiding it.

This guy makes sense.

I was told by a pro musician when I asked about learning multiple instruments to focus on bass if thats what I really wanted. Maybe you could learn some piano to expand your composing and arranging. Piano seems to be the most useful second instrument, even to dabble in.

[Stumbo]

Originally Posted by Ed Fuqua

1) The thing that will have the most direct effect on your bass playing will be playing the bass.
2) The thing that will have the most direct effect on your musicality will be learning and understanding musical fundamentals.
3) The thing that will have the most direct effect on playing with meaning and intent will be learning to hear with clarity.
4) There are many ways to avoid sitting in the same room with a real live breathing human being who will help guide you with the above principles.
5) And since the principally voiced objection is that it "costs too much", I am amused in the extreme how much time and money goes into avoiding it.

Originally Posted by TheFrogPrince

Maybe you could learn some piano to expand your composing and arranging.

+1(outlined for effect).

[J.D.B.]

Yup, answered yer own question. Well done. Always try to broaden your view, it is KEY to creating new stuff with ease.

Josh

[grifff]

Aaron Shearer makes a great classical guitar method book series. I highly recommend it. I learned out of it and it's great.

[heavyrocker]

why dont u play classic music on bass?you could play Bach on bass.i did so and i tell u it was very useful esp. for my hands' dexterity and also so enjoyable
but of course learning a new instrument is never a bad idea

[Grayson C.]

I learned several of bach's cello suites on bass. But if I'm going to far as to play classical guitar on bass (and I am)....then I think it's time for me to start playing classical on guitar.