Bass is the easiest Instrument EVER.

Admpres · #1 08-28-2011, 05:08 AM

Okay, so, I'm looking on YouTube at a few covers, and on almost half of them I see a comment saying roughly, "Bass is the Easiest instrument ever. Pick up a guitar, and you'll see what a real instrument is." or something of the sort.
Personally, It makes me want to reach through the Internet and smack some random guitard(or troll) upside the head.

Does anybody else feel my rage, or is it just me?

Nev375 · #2 08-28-2011, 05:15 AM

Bass is easier than guitar in exactly the same way that driving an 18 wheel tractor trailer is easier than driving a car.

gumtownbassman · #3 08-28-2011, 05:17 AM

I just love watching a guitarist trying to play bass, they got the notes, but no rhythm or mojo.
Same can be said for drummers or bongo players, even some skill has to be applied to a tamborine or triangle.

Admpres · #4 08-28-2011, 05:17 AM

That's what I'm saying!!
Like a Boeing 747 compared to a Toyota Prius!
Beep beep!

Rob22315 · #5 08-28-2011, 05:19 AM

Plunking out one or two songs on any instrument is easy. Mastering any instrument, including bass, is very difficult.

Vincent P · #6 08-28-2011, 05:19 AM

This is the life we choose to live when we become bass players. Wonder how many of those comments you see on a Wooten, Miller, Clark, or Entwhistle video???

Vincent P · #7 08-28-2011, 05:20 AM

Shoot I would have to add Esperanza to that. I just purchased her latest CD. WOW!!!

Sabu · #8 08-28-2011, 05:23 AM

While such comments are annoying, for me it's actually one of the bass guitar's strong points that, due to the fact single notes are played most of the time, a total beginner can be playing complete songs on the instrument within minutes of picking it up.

Then, that same beginner can stick with the instrument for a few years and learn how complex bass guitar can be.

I'm sure there are a few others in the world but in my limited experience, bass guitar is THE instrument that comprises the whole ""simple/complex" thing best. It's great for gigs where I've already worked all day (often starting at 5AM) and am pretty tired by midnight: I can simplify my playing a bit and nobody notices

Admpres · #9 08-28-2011, 05:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vincent P

This is the life we choose to live when we become bass players. Wonder how many of those comments you see on a Wooten, Miller, Clark, or Entwhistle video???

Believe it or not, I have seen them on a few Entwhistle videos.
What has this world come to?!

Vincent P · #10 08-28-2011, 05:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Admpres

Believe it or not, I have seen them on a few Entwhistle videos.
What has this world come to?!

Liam Wald · #11 08-28-2011, 05:34 AM

Actually it is true!
I used to be a professional tambourine player but switched to bass a few years ago because the tambourine was just to darn hard. Bass is far less demanding.
Like Sabu said, you only need to play one note per song.

Kaappari · #12 08-28-2011, 05:38 AM

Guitarist should keep in mind that guitar is one of the easiest instruments to pick up and play. Its one of the reasons that it is so popular. If they wanted to play a difficult instrument, they should start playing french horn or oboe for example.

Admpres · #13 08-28-2011, 05:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kaappari

Guitarist should keep in mind that guitar is one of the easiest instruments to pick up and play. Its one of the reasons that it is so popular. If they wanted to play a difficult instrument, they should start playing french horn or oboe for example.

I'm quite fond of my two rocks and an abnormally large stick myself. Now that's what I call a REAL mans instrument!

Icey101 · #14 08-28-2011, 05:43 AM

i'm a failed guitarist....

and not ashamed to say so ...lol

ysand · #15 08-28-2011, 05:45 AM

The truth is that the bass is the easiest instrument in pop and rock music, in comparison with the other intruments.
It's the music that the majority listens to, and judges by that.
Look at the tabs that someone can find of most popular songs (people look for tabs usually). The basslines are always simple (or simplified).

This leads to most people considering that playing bass is easy, and it is if you want to play simple songs.

Now when someone listens to jazz, fusion etc, you can totally tell that bass playing can be VERY demanding.

In conclusion, people are confused between mastering an instrument and just using it, and there are a lot of simple "users" when it comes to bass.
Personally I don't blame people that say bass is easy, i just blame their music taste :P

Strohsx · #16 08-28-2011, 06:08 AM

Guitars sound wimpy, they're like those little farts you get when you eat broccoli, where are a bass sounds like a full on manly protein fart.

Actually vocals are now the easiest instrument in pop music.

refbassist · #17 08-28-2011, 06:15 AM

it's easy to play an instrument in general and too damn difficult to become a musician

Admpres · #18 08-28-2011, 06:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Strohsx

Guitars sound wimpy, they're like those little farts you get when you eat broccoli, where are a bass sounds like a full on manly protein fart.

Can I make this a sig?!

Never_grew_up · #19 08-28-2011, 06:24 AM

Bass is easier to learn from a beginner's standpoint because there are only 4 strings (I'm old school) so fewer note positions to learn. You don't *have* to learn chords (remember, Beginner) and as long as you play the root note of each chord in some sort of rhythmic pattern that fits with the song you'll fill the low end. This doesn't make you a great bass player (or even a really good one) but if you reach this point you could jam with your guitar playing buddies in any garage or basement.

However, because of the longer scale and heavier guage strings it's a lot harder to get started on bass and stay with it because until you build up the grip strength, calluses, and stamina required to play for any length of time without hand cramps or sore fingertips, there's a tendency to think "Bass is cool and bass is easy so I wanna play bass" that quickly gives way to "I don't wanna practice because it hurts my fingers".

Admpres · #20 08-28-2011, 06:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Never_grew_up

However, because of the longer scale and heavier guage strings it's a lot harder to get started on bass and stay with it because until you build up the grip strength, calluses, and stamina required to play for any length of time without hand cramps or sore fingertips, there's a tendency to think "Bass is cool and bass is easy so I wanna play bass" that quickly gives way to "I don't wanna practice because it hurts my fingers".

Great point! I never would have thought of that, as I've had my callouses for 10+ years now!

They've kind of turned into fingertip 'rocks' at this point!