Bass guitar = classical guitar, right?

[Savage_Dreams]

Anyone that plays bass can play some guitar. anyone that plays guitar can play some bass. doesnt mean every bassist is a Steve Vai, or every guitarist a Jaco.

Ive always liked to say this:
mechanics and plumbers both can turn a wrench, but would you call a plumber to fix your car?

different instruments are different mindsets, points of view, and skill.... no matter what they have in common.

 

[HolmeBass]

Closer than tuba, piano, or ballet.

I think it would take a lot of work, so don’t kid yourself. But I think working on classical guitar will help your bass playing.

 

[in tune]

Don't forget it's a bass guitar...
I play both...so voted ''Kinda true''

 

[MultiScaleMale]

I didn’t vote because “kinda true” and “kinda false” are really “kinda the same”. If you already play bass, learning classical will be quicker, but you won’t be able to just pick up a classical guitar and play it well.

 

[Sam Evans]

As a sometimes decent bassist who tried very hard for a few years to learn classical guitar -- and failed miserably -- I think (hope?) the answer is no ...

 

[Gorn]

If you tuned a six string bass EADGBE and you have tremendously dexterous fingers, you can kinda play the same stuff, right?

 

[MYLOWFREQ]

I started on classical guitar, and switched to bass after 1 year.

It's true that the way we play with our plucking fingers is somewhat similar, and I didn't have any trouble switching to bass.

The main difference is that generally speaking the classical guitar is a polyphonic instrument, where the bass plays one note at a time. Of course this is generalization but the main difference is being able to mute the strings you don't play on bass where on a classical guitar you want the open strings ring. This, and the fact that the bass has a much longer scale length yields to a different playing technique.

 

[Aloe]

- Can you play classical guitar?
- Maybe can. Never tried.

-- lieutenant, can you play the piano?
-- sure I do!
-- a guitar?
-- yeah, sure
-- a harp?
-- no way, my playing cards are slipping through

 

[And I]

It is totally false but I couldn't vote for the option that said "just stick to bass". Learn classical guitar if you wanna!

 

[Lesfunk]

Closer analogy would be “if I can fly an airplane, I can fly a helicopter “ but yes, agreed

 

[zenrad]

No. Doing it the other way around worked better for me, I was trained in classical guitar and started playing bass 10 years afterwards. Learning to play with my fingers laid the groundwork for my right hand technique on bass. The type of right hand rest stroke we use on bass where we play a string and come to rest on the string below is called Apoyando in classical guitar, a free stroke is called Tirando. That's about it for me.

I say go for it. I don't know if your bass skills will help much but classical guitar is a beautiful thing.

 

[groooooove]

the stylistic implications of classical guitar and bass guitar are as different as a diet of raw meat vs the strictest vegan in the world.

edit: and to say "they're tuned to the same notes" is like saying "they both use a knife and fork."

 

[Scott Lynch]

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.)

I think your question is about skill transfer, which I think is an excellent one, and I love to think about that stuff too as a multi instrumentalist.

IMO/E, having dabbled in classical guitar, there is some skill transfer that exists between the two but it is pretty minimal. The additional possibilities in notes opened up by the high B and E strings (especially chord voicings made possible by the overall tuning of the instrument) as well as the use of the PIMA plucking system add a lot to think about when playing fingerstyle guitar, as a start. That said, if you're learning fingerstyle bass and you like it, some classical guitar would be a great second instrument. I worked through Book 1 of the Christopher Parkening Method and liked it a lot.

It will almost certainly make you a better bass player and broaden your overall musicianship.

 

[Shanannigan]

I don't think the way bass guitar is taught that it's easily transferrable to classical guitar. However, I do believe that many aspects of classical guitar technique should be adopted in bass guitar education.

 

[TeeSee]

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.)

Let's say you're a Martian, and an Earthling mistakes your £<DRFT192-330 for a £<DRFT392-330 (Hex as it's unpronounceable) you'd be laughing like these happy little fellows;

However to us they both look the same since they have strings and a neck and a body, we're not going to notice the £<DRFT192-330 has 2000 strings less than the £<DRFT392-330 and works only at sub light speed. To the Martians it's the difference between a trombone and a flute.
That said, I'm owd' school and think that bassists are more part of the rhythm section alongside the drums wood block and triangle than the guitarist and organist innit.

 

[coy garcia]

I started studying both at the same time in high school... gravitated to bass but... I find the spacing and fingerpicking comfortable on my nylon string guitar...not so much on my steel string or on a electric.

 

[jemerpi]

Yes,....if it's a Russian classical "guitar" called a balalaika.

Interestingly enough, on the bass version, a leather plectrum is normally used.

 

[Koog]

They are two very different instruments. But if you're inclined to to pursue both classical guitar and bass, go for it.

Best of luck and, above all, have fun and find fulfillment with your musical activities.

Koog

 

[lermgalieu]

Nope

 

[Knavery]

This post has GOT to be tongue and cheek. If not, it's a very stupid question.