One bassist that comes to mind that plays his bass like a guitar somewhat is John Myung from Dream Theatre, incredible bassist to watch. Dude rips!
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bass vs guitar
- Thread starter madmanmerc
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Smooth_bass88
vaxx!
- Oct 31, 2006
- 12,122
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- have been on nationally released albums, charting on the Billboard 200
As long as you're playing music, it's seemingly irrelevant what instrument you're playing- if the end goal is to improve.
I just play bass, that's it.
Well one thing you can get from playing other instruments that playing only bass doesn't give you is perspective of what goes into everyone else's parts. Yeah, you can learn the nuts and bolts of music on any instrument, but you can't appreciate how all the parts mesh together in a song nearly as easily, or know how to write for other instruments in a way that makes sense to them, or show them a part that you think they're not getting right, or be able to relate to them on their own terms and they you. If you're happy playing bass and not worrying about that, I've got no beef with you and I hope you have fun, but the only people who say learning other instruments gives you nothing that helps your musical development have never tried to learn other instruments.
It's almost like those who don't know how to play another instrument diss those that can. 
The bass was my first instrument (actually, the accordion was really first instrument, but I'm trying to forget that). I actually wanted to play bass at 13 years old. I didn't get 'lumbered' with it, I was not a frustrated guitarist, and I HATED it when people would ask me if I played bass because it was easier than guitar (of course... it has two fewer strings, right? Gotta be easier!). I was just always drawn to the power of the bass. First, it was the sonic power of the instrument, then later, I learned how musically powerful the bass is in a band. As a bassist, you have the power to control the direction of the music. Or as I like to say; the drums may be the engine, but the bass is the driver. I was already a huge Beatles fan and LOVED Paul's playing (I just wished it was more prominent in the mix), but once I heard/saw "Exit... Stage Left" back in the early '80s, I was totally hooked! I never knew a bass could sound like that... I didn't know a bass could be played like that! Later, I discovered all our other bass heroes (Jaco, Squire, JPJ, Entwistle, Bruce, etc, etc..) and the bass became my identity.
I didn't care if I ever played a guitar. I had owned guitars and messed around with them from time to time, but it didn't stick. I did my songwriting on keyboards (transferred from my accordion playing days) but I was a bassist first and foremost. until I was about 26 or 27. That's when I moved to a town that had a much more active local music scene (Flagstaff, AZ) than the place I came from (Lowell, MA). Lots of musicians around with lots of opportunities to jam... But often times these were impromptu, acoustic jams at parties or around the bonfire, and I got tired of standing on the sidelines while everyone else was having fun playing, so I figured it would be a good time to learn to play the guitar.
So I borrowed a friend's acoustic guitar and woodshedded like mad until he asked for it back (about 2 weeks later), then I borrowed another friend's guitar for a couple of weeks, then another (like I said, a lot of musicians around) until I felt I was good enough to take my chops around other people. I basically learned to play on borrowed guitars with a BUNCH of sheet music and tab books given to me by friends. Wahoo!
I kept on woodshedding until I got good enough to play guitar in bands (running strictly rhythm, folks... I didn't wanna make it cry or sing). Eventually I was invited to join a gigging band, which was headed by a local musician for whom I had a LOT of respect, and he dug my playing too! I couldn't believe it! I was just a bass player who never even cared about playing guitar!
I eventually left Flag and in the next band I was in, I was holding down the bottom end again. I never played guitar in a band after that, but I still play guitar and occasionally play open mics. I also do all my writing on guitar now. I find it much more gratifying and expressive than writing on a synthesizer, which means I come up with a lot more creative ideas on the guitar than I ever did on a keyboard. I'm just as much a gear-head and guitar geek as I am a bass geek (so I get GAS both ways!). But my soul is the bass guitar. I think the instrument spoke to me on a very primal level and it has ever let me go. No matter what other instruments I play, I've always identified myself as a bassist, first and foremost (I never refer to myself as a 'guitarist'). I'm grateful that I finally found a reason to learn to play guitar. Like the keys, it's another tool which extends my creative vocabulary. No conflict.
I didn't care if I ever played a guitar. I had owned guitars and messed around with them from time to time, but it didn't stick. I did my songwriting on keyboards (transferred from my accordion playing days) but I was a bassist first and foremost. until I was about 26 or 27. That's when I moved to a town that had a much more active local music scene (Flagstaff, AZ) than the place I came from (Lowell, MA). Lots of musicians around with lots of opportunities to jam... But often times these were impromptu, acoustic jams at parties or around the bonfire, and I got tired of standing on the sidelines while everyone else was having fun playing, so I figured it would be a good time to learn to play the guitar.
So I borrowed a friend's acoustic guitar and woodshedded like mad until he asked for it back (about 2 weeks later), then I borrowed another friend's guitar for a couple of weeks, then another (like I said, a lot of musicians around) until I felt I was good enough to take my chops around other people. I basically learned to play on borrowed guitars with a BUNCH of sheet music and tab books given to me by friends. Wahoo!
I kept on woodshedding until I got good enough to play guitar in bands (running strictly rhythm, folks... I didn't wanna make it cry or sing). Eventually I was invited to join a gigging band, which was headed by a local musician for whom I had a LOT of respect, and he dug my playing too! I couldn't believe it! I was just a bass player who never even cared about playing guitar!
I eventually left Flag and in the next band I was in, I was holding down the bottom end again. I never played guitar in a band after that, but I still play guitar and occasionally play open mics. I also do all my writing on guitar now. I find it much more gratifying and expressive than writing on a synthesizer, which means I come up with a lot more creative ideas on the guitar than I ever did on a keyboard. I'm just as much a gear-head and guitar geek as I am a bass geek (so I get GAS both ways!). But my soul is the bass guitar. I think the instrument spoke to me on a very primal level and it has ever let me go. No matter what other instruments I play, I've always identified myself as a bassist, first and foremost (I never refer to myself as a 'guitarist'). I'm grateful that I finally found a reason to learn to play guitar. Like the keys, it's another tool which extends my creative vocabulary. No conflict.
I have always had a guitar kicking around and like to noodle on my cheap acoustic-it sits next to the couch.
everytime I have owned an electric, I sell it-I don't like the tiny strings and have trouble playing guitars in tune-it must be the man grip I have lol.
I don't like the asymmetrical aspect of the guitar and I hate having to retune G strings every 5 minutes.
everytime I have owned an electric, I sell it-I don't like the tiny strings and have trouble playing guitars in tune-it must be the man grip I have lol.
I don't like the asymmetrical aspect of the guitar and I hate having to retune G strings every 5 minutes.
Right? Heck a violin must be a cinch to play, not only does it only have four strings, but it's tiny as well!
Beat me to it. Exactly what I think whenever i hear the "bass is easier than guitar" statement.
I actually find bass more difficult than guitar to get a song just right. With a guitar I can look at a chord chart and play most songs acceptably straight away. With bass, while I can sometimes play a song straight off, it will usually take at least a few runs through to work out what lead in lines work with each chord change, what kind of rhythm and groove is needed, what notes of each chord work best, where some fills might fit and what they can be etc etc etc. I'll usually be making changes to how I play a song even after playing it 10+ times.
Smooth_bass88
vaxx!
- Oct 31, 2006
- 12,122
- 16,794
- Disclosures
- have been on nationally released albums, charting on the Billboard 200
It's almost like those who don't know how to play another instrument diss those that can.
What makes you say that?
Smooth_bass88
vaxx!
- Oct 31, 2006
- 12,122
- 16,794
- Disclosures
- have been on nationally released albums, charting on the Billboard 200
That's exactly what I would say whenever I heard people say that... Most of the time, anyway (sometimes I just didn't feel like having that conversation... Again.).
Smooth_bass88
vaxx!
- Oct 31, 2006
- 12,122
- 16,794
- Disclosures
- have been on nationally released albums, charting on the Billboard 200
I just re-read through page 7 of this thread. No 'dissing'. Perhaps you're misinterpreting?
Drums/percussion have always been my "home". Started playing in 1st grade. Am a Music Education major with percussion as my main instrument.
I picked up guitar in 6th grade mostly to learn the melodic side of songs i was learning on drums as well. My uncle Will was a jazz bass player around town, and I was always facscinated with him playing the walking bass lines, so i would spend time trying to do that on the guitar. I also was a huge Rush fan, so i was quite aware of Geddy;s bass lines as I figured out drum parts.
In high school, friends wanted to start a band....2 guitar players and a drummer. I wanted to be in the band, so they were like 'dude, lay bass". Spent the summer working to buy a bass and amp. Got my trusty 72 P and a late 60's era Fender Bassman 50 watt head and a Kustom 2x15 cabinet used.
The bass was like a "third arm" for me. I was not allowed to play drums after 8pm, so I would go to bass after practicing drums. I had found the other puzzle piece to my "home". Since then (about 1985), i never picked up a guitar again, other than to hold for someone else. It just does not interest me...though I totally appreciate people who are good at guitar at any level.
So for me, it is:
Drums = Bass > guitar
I picked up guitar in 6th grade mostly to learn the melodic side of songs i was learning on drums as well. My uncle Will was a jazz bass player around town, and I was always facscinated with him playing the walking bass lines, so i would spend time trying to do that on the guitar. I also was a huge Rush fan, so i was quite aware of Geddy;s bass lines as I figured out drum parts.
In high school, friends wanted to start a band....2 guitar players and a drummer. I wanted to be in the band, so they were like 'dude, lay bass". Spent the summer working to buy a bass and amp. Got my trusty 72 P and a late 60's era Fender Bassman 50 watt head and a Kustom 2x15 cabinet used.
The bass was like a "third arm" for me. I was not allowed to play drums after 8pm, so I would go to bass after practicing drums. I had found the other puzzle piece to my "home". Since then (about 1985), i never picked up a guitar again, other than to hold for someone else. It just does not interest me...though I totally appreciate people who are good at guitar at any level.
So for me, it is:
Drums = Bass > guitar
