Cant decide btw guitar and bass

[ninthwondernj]

ive been playing bass for 3 years, had a teacher for one...im ok at it...too me into my 2nd year to learn my first song by ear. ive played with other people from time to time...they liked what i brought....but sometimes im just not "feeling" bass playing if that makes sense

now on the other hand i bought a guitar about 6 months ago....too me into my 3rd months to learn Junior Kimbrough's "My Mind Is Ramblin" note for note without any instruction...i enjoy it

but i dont think i have the time for both ya know, at least right now.

i cant seem to decide..on one hand i love attempting playing the blues and learning the blues..but on the other i dont wanna be another "gui-tard".......HAS anyone else been thru this situation?

[Matt Till]

You answered your own question, if it's one or the other, go with guitar!

The bass doesn't feel right in your hands, you pick up guitar easier... You're a guitarist in a bassists forum! RUN QUICKLY!!

Seriously, I'd put bass on the back burner if I were you.

[ninthwondernj]

really? i never said that bass was uncomfortable though..........im actually QUITE comfy on bass..... i always feel guilty tho when i think about just putting bass on the back burner because ive been at it for almost 4 years..plus i really do have a pretty awesome Jazz bass too..

ugh both just interest me so much

[seanm]

I agree with Matt. You seem to enjoy the guitar better, go with that.

You can try the bass again if you want later.

[ninthwondernj]

whoa thats 2 for guitar..and 0 for bass....

sheesh...maybe yall could be right, ive got a brand new Geddy Lee and a ****ty Squire Strat and guess which i pick up more

[labgnat]

guitar is better and more fun

[ninthwondernj]

you cant say one is better than the other though man......its all a matter of preference and comfort

[Chase_The_Bass]

IME if u learn to play guitar it makes u that much better on the bass. Learning theory is much easier on guitar, then u can transfer that to ur bass playing. If u play guitar now u will have dicipline that many gertardists lack.

But my solution for u? Give me ur Geddy lol. Play both.

[d8g3jdh]

Be prepared to have a hard time getting gigs if you choose guitar.

[Chase_The_Bass]

Originally Posted by labgnat

guitar is better and more fun

o_O ... dude. Really not cool.

[ninthwondernj]

Originally Posted by Scott Zoltok

Be prepared to have a hard time getting gigs if you choose guitar.

why do you say that??

[labgnat]

guitar to bass player ratio is probably 20:1 approx.

[mrwink]

play both until one really speaks to you as a player and you become one with it... when I switched from guitar to bass it was like I was home after being lost for a long time... so why not just play both until your brain or muse lets you know which direction to go? I still play both, but gig only on bass - I still write on guitar or keys.

Get in a band with another guitar/bass player and split the night - change instruments every set or whatever - you'll learn a lot doing that!

Good luck!

[labgnat]

what you really ought to do is get a 11 string bass, basically guitar and bass in one, it'll be wicked, or 2 necked guitar 1 bass 1 guitar, id' like one of those actually

[ninthwondernj]

Originally Posted by mrwink

play both until one really speaks to you as a player and you become one with it... when I switched from guitar to bass it was like I was home after being lost for a long time... so why not just play both until your brain or muse lets you know which direction to go? I still play both, but gig only on bass - I still write on guitar or keys.

Get in a band with another guitar/bass player and split the night - change instruments every set or whatever - you'll learn a lot doing that!

Good luck!

wow that actually sounds sensible...what actually happenned when you knew the bass was for you??? was it a feel? a confidence?

[Vandelay]

If you own both, you may as well keep playing both, just choose whichever the mood strikes at that moment.

Besides, developing some proficiency on guitar will help your bass playing, and vice versa.

[Poop-Loops]

Originally Posted by ninthwondernj

ive been playing bass for 3 years, had a teacher for one...im ok at it...too me into my 2nd year to learn my first song by ear. ive played with other people from time to time...they liked what i brought....but sometimes im just not "feeling" bass playing if that makes sense

now on the other hand i bought a guitar about 6 months ago....too me into my 3rd months to learn Junior Kimbrough's "My Mind Is Ramblin" note for note without any instruction...i enjoy it

but i dont think i have the time for both ya know, at least right now.

i cant seem to decide..on one hand i love attempting playing the blues and learning the blues..but on the other i dont wanna be another "gui-tard".......HAS anyone else been thru this situation?

I had this exact dilemma. I chose both. I suck at both, but am learning both.

I do mostly bass, but pick up my guitar every now and then. You don't have to be the best, every little bit counts.

[Matt Till]

I personally played bass for about 3 years, picked up a guitar, and fiddle with it every now and then. I'm an OK guitarist now, it's a nice just in case and it helps you better understand your own main instrument.

[ninthwondernj]

maybe something will work...i just dont wanna end up to be one of those guys who is average on many instruments, but doesnt stand out on one

[tplyons]

Originally Posted by ninthwondernj

maybe something will work...i just dont wanna end up to be one of those guys who is average on many instruments, but doesnt stand out on one

Hey, that's me and it hasn't slowed the gigging process. If anything it speeds up the writingprocess.