Beginner Bassist

You're at the age where everyone thinks guitar is "cooler" and bass is "pointless", but I can promise you in a few years that very same friend will be begging you to play bass in his band.

 

Your friend is full of it, pure and simple.

 

Have to agree with VeryCool- I switched to bass in high school, and have never had to search very hard for a project. Pick up a decent Jazz bass. It'll make that change easier - (smaller neck)

 

Say that to these guys:

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=TVl39LBZGMw&desktop_uri=/watch?v=TVl39LBZGMw

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=oYWklAV_cwQ

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=biPhaIkjW6Y

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=OFgHy-ia8RM

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=geHLdg_VNww

+infinite others. The bass is like anything- it's powers are only fully revealed depending on the person who uses it.

 

Buy Led Zeppelin II and give it to him.

 

Either your friend has never been to a proper live band show, particularly jazz and rock or only listens to music through crappy cheap ear buds that don't replicate well. Either way the above posters are correct, the bass guitar is extremely important in many bands and groups. Later on when guitarists are a dime a dozen, a talented bassist will be highly sought after.

 

I bought my first instrument mostly because I liked the way it looked. It was a bass. I've attempted to learn guitar over the years but it never stuck. I continue to love playing bass and I play and think like a bass player. You can usually hear the difference between a guitarist playing bass and a bass player. (not always, think of Ron Wood in this regard - great guitarist, great bass player). Just remember, there are way more guitarist than bass players - you will always be needed. Music is many faceted and a bassist always plays a part.

 

Bass = sexy. The end.

 

This.

Or "Grand Funk" by Grand Funk Railroad.

 

Depends whay kind of music you like. In prog rock, jazz, and some ahrd rock, the bass can be just as strong as guitar for its presence. Having decent listening system also makes a diff on wether you hear the bass or not.

 

seems like you are already inclined towards bass. You chose well..At your age it may seem like an overlooked instrument, but like other people have already echoed, you will truly realize its significance and awesomeness through the years as you develop your style and musical sensibility. I started out the same as you, with the same people in my ear telling me about how "boring" bass was and how I was somehow an inferior musician to them because "bass is easier than guitar", etc,etc..I too, doubted my choice for a time. 13 years later I realize that I stuck with an instrument that I still love and have developed a sense of groove and rhythm that most guitarists do not possess. It is something they will never really understand..whats important is that YOU understand it.

/rant....and good luck on your musical journey

 

Don't worry, brother. I played bass throughout highschool. Our school's Chapel services had a worship band and they always turned the bass so far down that nobody could hear it. Ultimately, no one at that age really respects bass, and mainstream radio/party music that most highschoolers like to listen to rarely features bass prominently.

That's going to change. You will find people who are more musically inclined who will welcome a bassist with open arms. Stick with the instrument, it's a whole bunch of fun and you can change your friend's mind and the minds of others by how you play!

 

Blood sugar sex magik - rhcp. Nuff said.

 

Learn to play the tastiest piece you like...Play it for him.

If he doesn't appreciate it,..find someone cool to hang-out with.

Follow your bliss.

 

I didn't realize how much the bass can take the lead until a friend of mine introduced me to RUSH…specifically, the album "Moving Pictures". Sadly, that was about five years after I tried my hand at guitar, couldn't get the hang of it and lost interest. Which leads me to a true, sad and sadly-true story;

When I expressed my initial interest to my mom (a drummer in an all-girl rock band) she told me, "Maybe you should try bass first, hon. It's got four strings instead of six, you don't have to learn chords at first, it's a good foundation if you want to try six-string later and most importantly…there's always a demand for a good bassist. Guitarists are a dime-a-dozen." But being in 5th Grade like I was, I obviously knew better. Guess how that turned out!

Learning bass, and learning it well, can only serve you well. There are literally tons of bands out there who's bassist is a frustrated guitarist who, when his band said, "Ah crap, we need a bassist!" he sighed (probably quite heavily), raised his hand and said, "Ok fine…I'll be the bassist."

"Pure" bassists are a rare breed to be cherished.

 

Long live Rush Malak. Such fun stuff to play on the Bass.. very tricky stuff though. Ged never seems to write easy bass lines LOL

 

Then I switched to bass because... I wanted to play live... and to do that, instead of Musician Institute essays, you need
a band

And... what bands need (drumroll here)?!
They need bass players!

Here I am: after 69 basses (and countin') I'm the walkin' (bass) menace of every guitar player in bands I play...

I'm no professional, and they're not. They just want me to play and record and gig with all of them (friends) 'cause a decent, reliable bassist's already the dealmaker/breaker of every respectable band out there

Cheers,
Wallace

 

This!

Also, Bassists always get the girls! We have stronger hands

 

A few more for your buddy to listen to...
Level 42
The Who
Duran Duran
The Cure
ANYTHING that Donald "Duck" Dunn was a part of (Even the Blues Brothers)
Any classic Motown
Muse
Iron Maiden
Rush
Metallica
U2
A lot of stuff by Prince and Lenny Kravitz

And I DEFINITELY second Led Zeppelin and the Chili Peppers