Bass guitar = classical guitar, right?

[Greenman72]

So.....I'm a rookie bassist. Been playing about 7 months.

Here's a video that I like to listen to at work.


Question - if a person can play bass guitar, can they also play classical guitar like this? Or are they two totally different animals?

(Again, please don't take it too seriously. It's just fuel for a discussion.)

 

[Warpeg]

No

 

[bholder]

Kinda false. Both worth learning, but no, not so many similarities, at least not the way I normally play bass. I do use a fingerpicking technique sometimes to do arpeggio things that gets closer though. But normally not.

 

[MonetBass]

Since I play both, I can say with confidence that those are quite different regarding technique.

 

[Sharko]

If I can drive a car I can probably fly a helicopter right?

 

[GretschWretch]

If you already play bass, the only thing you will get from taking up classical guitar will be classical GAS.

 

[bholder]

If I can drive a car I can probably fly a helicopter right?

"If you can dodge a wrench..." hehe hehe hehe

 

[KevInDaBassment]

It's totally different non-fretting hand positions/techniques for me....so I don't think the feel (paired with string count and scale difference) will make it an easy learning curve for most people. YMMV, I chose "Kinda False" as my answer

 

[Slade N]

How did you compute that these two things are equal/the same?

 

[Jason Bonilla]

I don't really think so, the feel of a 4 string bass is very different to the feel of a classical guitar, and most bassists don't play 6 string. But I can think of two amazing bassists that came from a classical guitar background. Abraham Laboriel, and Gerald Veasley!

 

[Gervais Cote]

Two very different animals to me.
Some experienced bassist told me to buy a guitar to improve my play but when I was asking them why, they all told me "this will allow you to have a better understanding of the guitar player's role in a band doing so."
Well, for the kind of music I play, my best friend is much more my drummer than my guitarist so I stay focused on snare and bass drum instead.
Friends brought me a few guitars to let me give it a try but I used them less than 1 hour every time so they went back home and didn’t miss any of them.

 

[mambo4]

The notes and patterns on the low pitch EADG strings are the same
The tuning of the the high pitch BE strings are not,
bass patterns fail when using the upper strings
bass lines are not chords and melodies conceptually.

 

[mambo4]

<delete>

 

[Turnaround]

So.....I'm a rookie bassist. Been playing about 7 months.

Here's a video that I like to listen to at work.


Question - if a person can play bass guitar, can they also play classical guitar like this? Or are they two totally different animals?

(Again, please don't take it too seriously. It's just fuel for a discussion.)

The way you hold the instrument is different. The way you pick is different. Your approach to chording is different. The muting is different. The function is different. And there's that whole bit about the strap. More different than similar.

 

[Aloe]

I've never bonded with a classical guitar. however my Gretsch semiacoustic sometimes inspires me.

play whatever you like, it's all about the music. all instruments are different and it's fun to play some. learning a guitar, a drum kit or keys won't hurt you as bass player, but likely will help you.

 

[Keither]

My right hand technique looks superficially close to classical guitar. So I picked one up at a music shop and tried it out. Only to realize the strings are spaced too close and the small diameter of the string severely effects the timing of plucks. Completely different feel.

Same story with banjo...

 

[Williethump]

If I can drive a car I can probably fly a helicopter right?

Only once.

 

[Williethump]

If you already play bass, the only thing you will get from taking up classical guitar will be classical GAS.

Mason Williams:

 

[r_bnks]

 

[Ostie]

It’s very different, but I don’t want to discourage you. By all means, try, and I wish you much success.