Dare I Mention...Ulp!...GUITARS?

plangentmusic · #1 01-25-2011, 07:55 AM

I just wanted to put this out. I'm sick of all this anti guitar stuff. To anyone who uses the term "guitard", do you know how stupid that sounds? We're all musicians. We all want to explore that world. If someone is a DB, don't blame it on the instrument they play.

So here goes...

I relate more to the bass. I started on drums, then piano, I sang, then bass and lastly guitar. But I have to admit, there's nothing that has improved my bass playing, my soloing, my sense of melody, my relative pitch and composing skills more than playing guitar.

That doesn't make the guitar superior -- it makes it superior at certain things. Just as the piano is superior for learning certain things and just as the bass is superior at certain things.

Incidentally, to all guitarists who want to have a better understanding of voice leading -- learn the bass!

You can get a pretty decent acoustic guitar for a couple of hundred bucks. Learning open chords and finger picking will really help technique. Playing electric guitar will do the same, plus improve picking.

And check it out...all the guitar parts on my CD were played on a $299.00 Squier 50's strat. The guitar is AWESOME. A little sample: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KNdxFnCdlxo

With the money spent on lessons and books and repairs and what not, isn't another three hundred dollars on something that will change your musical outlook for life?

Am I wrong? Let me have it!

negative theory · #2 01-25-2011, 07:57 AM

I have always played both guitar and bass. I find that learning a different instrument allows me to further understand how they go together. I never understood the guitar player bashing on here.

musicelectronix · #3 01-25-2011, 07:57 AM

I thought this was a joke with some sub-textual content. I didn't realize bassists were actually calling other people retards.

staccatogrowl · #4 01-25-2011, 08:00 AM

Musicians benefit from proficiency on multiple instruments. Start with the piano if you want the fast track to the big picture: harmony, melody, rhythm. Two hands, two clefs.

The rainbow unfolds from there. Learn as many instruments as possible, whatever they may be.

plangentmusic · #5 01-25-2011, 08:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by musicelectronix

I thought this was a joke with some sub-textual content. I didn't realize bassists were actually calling other people retards.

Yes, and ironically it just magnifies the disparaging stereotypes about bassists.

Rumblefisher · #6 01-25-2011, 08:05 AM

Just playing devil's advocate...

It's not so much the playing of *guitar* so much as it is the stereotypical ego of the *guitarist*... The constant need for attention represented in the form of exaggerated soloing or playing what they want a song to be rather than what it is. This is something that can easily be found in a bassist, a singer, etc.

The reason (I feel) that this has taken a life of its own is because, since this is a bass forum, it's a safe way to vent frustration and be sure to get a pat on the back. Ironically, it's sometimes fueled by a need for attention

It's akin to saying that lawyers lie all the time...a general, sweeping statement that, though it may have some truth to it in some cases, does not represent the totality of lawyerdom accurately.

ThaLowEndTheory · #7 01-25-2011, 08:06 AM

I like to build parts basses and refinish them. So that naturally goes for guitars also. I have several strats and I mess around on guitar quite a bit. I can't play much, but I can play a few songs. My love is bass though. Always has been. I sort of have to force myself to pick up my guitars and practice on them. My thoughts are that it can only help my bass playing. I do have to admit that when I pick up one my guitars I still feel like I'm gonna break it. lol!

THand · #8 01-25-2011, 08:08 AM

yeah, I love playing guitar. At this point, I can't imagine playing with someone else and not being able to look over and understand exactly what they are playing. It also helps if you are doing originals. You can walk in the door with the bass and guitar parts...giving you more control of the final sound. Sting did this with the Police. In the film "Everyone stares", there is a part where Sting is on a strat showing Andy the chord progressions. I'm not saying Sting is a better guitarist than Andy, he's not, but that is how he controlled the band.

THand · #9 01-25-2011, 08:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CFclef

......

It's akin to saying that lawyers lie all the time...a general, sweeping statement that, though it may have some truth to it in some cases, does not represent the totality of lawyerdom accurately.

Sure it does!

john m · #10 01-25-2011, 08:17 AM

I only call someone that if they are.

There are also drumtards, saxtards, and even basstards.\

Unfortunately guitarists get a bad wrap because some (not all), are technical wizzards but lack in the theory department.

i.e. Can't play in the key of Eb, can't play a chord with a flatted 5, etc. They still have their place.

oldcatfish · #11 01-25-2011, 08:21 AM

I have played guitar since I was a teenager, and bass only the last 5 years or so. I agree there are definite advantages of being able to play both.

That being said, I'm in no way offended by the "guitard" comment. It describes certain personality characteristics of a lot of guitar players: everything should be played with distortion and Yngwie Malmsteen speed, and you should use at least a 1/2 stack with 100 watt tube head for every gig. And every other musician is playing their chosen instrument because "they weren't good enough for guitar."

musicelectronix · #12 01-25-2011, 08:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by oldcatfish

I have played guitar since I was a teenager, and bass only the last 5 years or so. I agree there are definite advantages of being able to play both.

That being said, I'm in no way offended by the "guitard" comment. It describes certain personality characteristics of a lot of guitar players: everything should be played with distortion and Yngwie Malmsteen speed, and you should use at least a 1/2 stack with 100 watt tube head for every gig. And every other musician is playing their chosen instrument because "they weren't good enough for guitar."

Similar type of things can be said for most bassists, too. It is like seeing evolution and natural selection at work. Not that much different than "ugly but funny" stereotype. Maybe bassists are so into musical theory, because unconsciously they want to have an evolutionary edge to compensate?

Hutzbordello · #13 01-25-2011, 10:01 AM

im vaguely sure its a joke and your being irrational

bassbully · #14 01-25-2011, 10:02 AM

I love the guitar as much as bass and maybe a bit more. I started on guitar years ago but did not become a bassist out of frustration with guitar..I loved both. When i played guitar I was younger and it never went anywhere. When I returned to music about 10 years ago I picked bass since I had never played it in a band and I knew it would get me work quickly.
Today I own 3 guitars and write allot of songs which I hope to start performing in the next year in small venues and possibly do an album. The guitar is more musical for me and without it I wouldnt be a bass player or be needed as one.

Wasted Bassist · #15 01-25-2011, 10:06 AM

Guitarist =/= Guitard.

Guitarist - Good Taste = Guitard

Simple stuff guys.