Is it possible to maintain your skill in both guitar and bass, and still progress?

[paniak17]

I currently play piano, bass, and most recently guitar. I love each instrument, but i'm lately finding it hard to maintain my "skill" or whatever you want to call it in each one. I'm going to have to put in a lot of time just to maintain all of these, plus i want to progress beyond my current skill. Now, piano and bass was easy, because they were so different, so im didn't have a problem, but most recently i added in guitar, and i love it, but i also love bass, and since the scale length, number of strings, strings spacing, and a bunch of other factors are so different, but the instruments are so similar, its hard switching back and forth, so how do you guys do it? Does it just come with time? Can I still progress on bass while playing guitar?

[anonymous278347457]

Ive been playing bass for 2.5 years and guitar for about 7-8 months, I play rhythm guitar(badly ) in 1 band and bass in another. At first, the string spacing and tension confused me really badly, but after a while I think i'm getting more used to it.

But however much I play guitar, I still consider myself mainly a bass player.


I play piano and clarinet too, but those feel totally different to guitar and bass.

[markjazzbassist]

i don't think you can progess with both unless you have LOTS of free time. I play both and my bass sees infinetely more time. I just can't justify practicing my guitar that much since it doesn't pay my bills. it's more of a hobby or something to do when i'm really bored.

[Richard Lindsey]

I think you can progress with both, if you play both seriously. I've been doing it for pretty much all of my adult life (at least, I hope I have). I consider myself both a guitarist and a bassist, with neither one favored.

But I think you may progress more slowly, if you're trying to do two instruments seriously. Most of us just can't get in as much time on each of two instruments as we could on one. This doesn't mean you can't get to a fairly advanced place on both; my guess is just that you're likely to take longer to do so.

By way of (rough) analogy, I've heard that kids who grow up with more than one language in the house take longer to get to a given level of verbal ability ... but eventually they do get there, and they become comfortably bilingual.

There are also variables that have nothing to do with one instrument versus two. For example, time. Someone who plays both instruments, has lots of time to practice and gig, and works regularly on both will probably advance more quickly (all else equal) on both instruments than someone with no free time would on just one. Individual talent and commitment level play parts too.

[keb]

It'll come in time. That's been my experience. The different scale lengths, strings, etc., will seem weird at first, but those feelings will go away and you won't even think about it.

[Sundogue]

One will help with the other. Playing other instruments can only be of help in playing bass as you gain an insight into how each instrument fits.

But as far as maintaining skill? That's up to how much time you are willing to devote to each instrument.

I play with a guy who can play every instrument except wind/reed ones. Actually he excels...no, is a virtuoso on any instrument, be it keys, guitar, bass whatever. He plays them all with regularity. He always records his own CD's, playing all the parts, doing all the singing and mixing and production. But he is more an exception than the rule.

It's up to you and what you want out of it. The more you put in, the more you'll get out.

[badstonebass]

I was always a guitarist. I have found that playing bass has actually made me better at guitar.