Picking up the bass

[Icarus26]

alright well i'm almost forming a band with these two guys i know. they're both guitarist. this is my fifth month of learning and playing bass, still working at it. they both say that i should learn guitar first and then go back to bass because that's what most bassist do, i dont know if there's any truth to that, (tell me if there is).

my question is, do you think it's a good idea to learn guitar first then go back to bass.

also, how did you pick up the bass?

[brivello]

If your going to play the bass, it makes no sense to switch to a guitar. Playing the guitar will not help you get better at the bass nearly as much as playing a bass would.

[carlos840]

In my opinion that is rubbish! I started with guitar when i was a kid, i am sure it helped me when i started playing bass when i started, but i had a time in between when i didnt play any instrument for 5 years!
Bass is a completely different instrument than guitar, and you are better of starting on bass and sticking to it...
Im sure other people will agree with me when i say that there is nothing worst than a guitar player playing bass, its a different way of approaching music and playing it, and there is no other way to learn to play bass than play it...

[FrostFire]

I started on bass clarinet, oddly enough, then I bought a bass. The two really had nothing to do with each othe though, I just felt like playing bass as a hobby of sorts, while bass clarinet was a school thing.

[sssmmike]

I'm gonna start practicing rugby and maybe someday I'll become a great soccer player.

[novahands]

Started with trumpet

[ErebusBass]

Originally Posted by sssmmike

I'm gonna start practicing rugby and maybe someday I'll become a great soccer player.

Excellent point. You my friend, have just had your first encounter with ignorant guitarists.

I started on drums. Really helped my bass playing, although the plan wasn't to switch the bass. I just picked one up and felt at home.

[sssmmike]

I switched to bass from accordion, for the chicks!


I wish I could sing.

[w33nie]

Your friends are full of crap

[envika]

drums to bass. i still play drums though.

[Pdthelefty]

Originally Posted by FrostFire

I started on bass clarinet, oddly enough, then I bought a bass. The two really had nothing to do with each othe though, I just felt like playing bass as a hobby of sorts, while bass clarinet was a school thing.

At least you played BASS clarinet. I played regular ole clarient.

[bfc]

I wanted to either play bass, guitar, or drums. I picked up the bass because it was the easiest to learn (the basic stuff). Simple bass lines are so easy to play. Plus, what's great about bass is that once you develop the skill of playing it, you can play very difficult lines, as well. There are only about a bagillion guitarists out there, and drummers have to lug around all their gear. Bass is obviously the wisest choice. Plus, I just love the low end! My ears automatically tune in to bass parts of any song I listen to!

[bfc]

This is a weird transition, but I went from flute to bass!!

[Body]

Played drum for like 2 years back in 5th/6th grade, then wanted to make a band with a few friends and we needed a bass player, soo..

[rakirksey]

Originally Posted by bfc

This is a weird transition, but I went from flute to bass!!

+1 I did the same transition

[thycrusader]

I started playing Bassoon in 6th grade, but I had a horrible teacher, so i didn't stay motivated(I should shoot myself in the foot, for not sticking to an instrument, it would have helped me greatly in the future.) So I only played for a year then quit.

Freshman year I picked up bass because thought it would me make me stand out and be unique among the plethora of guitar players. And my inspiration was the countless hours of listening to The Police cassette tapes my dad had around the house while young I really liked "that low guitar." That and I couldn't fit a drum set anywhere in my room.

This is a bassoon for those who are curious.

[Murder_Worship]

i started with the euphonium

[EliasR]

I played clarinet, sax, and flute, then picked up a bass at jazz camp at lunch and fell in love. Still play clarinet though.

[JazzyJames]

I took one session of drum lessons but then my parents were totally against getting me drums. My dad, being a guitar player let me have one of his guitars and I played that for awhile and then went to bass.

[WyrdoBass]

I started with, and am still playing, cello. 2 years on that, then I picked up bass. My 5th month too lmao.

I'm grateful for the cello experience cuz now I can read notation and bass clef on sight. Still memorizing my fretboard tho itll come with time