"The switch" - moving from guitar to bass

[pamackie]

Greetings all. I've been playing guitar for 9 years now and have become fairly flexible and strong in technique - but here in Chicago alone, there are hundreds and hundreds of six-string aces with better chops and experience than myself. So I'm having serious trouble finding a band as a guitarist, and have made up my mind to switch to bass full-time.

I'm sure many of you have been in the same boat, so what do I need to know in order to break habits that may work on guitar but not on bass? What gear considerations should I keep in mind when I go shopping for my first bass and amp? Anything else I need to know?

Thanks in advance.

[ChrisPbass]

Originally Posted by pamackie

Greetings all. I've been playing guitar for 9 years now and have become fairly flexible and strong in technique - but here in Chicago alone, there are hundreds and hundreds of six-string aces with better chops and experience than myself. So I'm having serious trouble finding a band as a guitarist, and have made up my mind to switch to bass full-time.

I'm sure many of you have been in the same boat, so what do I need to know in order to break habits that may work on guitar but not on bass? What gear considerations should I keep in mind when I go shopping for my first bass and amp? Anything else I need to know?

Thanks in advance.

As a former guitarist, WELCOME!

Prepare for the obligatory 'guitar' comments

[LarryO]

You don't need to break any "bad habits". The role of a bass is different than guitar in most songs but don't think of it as you switching from guitar to bass. Think of it as you learning to play a different instrument, same as if you were going from guitar to a tuba.....different instrument, different application but your experience with guitar, song structure, harmonies....etc will actually help you, not hurt you as long as you treat it as a different instrument. A bass is not a 4 string guitar but you can play the role of a rhythm guitar with a bass......But that's just my opinion

[grifff]

It's not really that hard technically speaking. The difference will be the way you go about playing the instrument. You have to think more about the rhythm instead of melodies and leads. I made the switch about 6 months ago and can easily play both instruments. I had played classical guitar prior to making the switch, so using all four fingers on my right hand was not an issue.

It's going to be making the mental switch from thinking like a guitarist to thinking like a bassist that will be hardest.