Being a bass player...

[Edgar664]

I have learned some songs, you know stairway to heaven, paranoid, master of puppets and I played once in public, but it just feels too weird, I have to "think it to much" to play whatever I'm playing in guitar and always the looking at the fretboard. I feel a lot more comfortable with a bass in my hands

 

[RBrownBass]

Used to play acoustic guitar at home a lot, even composed on it for my old original band. Never was interested enough in it to want to play it full time, tho.

 

[DarkArwen]

Was never great, but I was far better than I am now. Picking up my acoustic again to write songs on, and just to keep my hands used to the neck. My left hand is stronger now so barre chords are easier. Now the problem is the neck is too small, the frets are too small and the strings are too close together.

 

[etechstan]

I am originally and still primarily a bass player but somehow ended up with a ratio of five guitars to two basses.

 

[oyobass]

I play guitar twice a week as a volunteer at my church for the recovery group, and bass four times a week, (including rehearsals). I'm better at the bass, it's my main instrument, but I enjoy playing guitar as well. I find it makes me a better bass player.

 

[masterFlash]

If you can do one you should be able to do the other. Basically they're the same; like driving a mini cooper and a F-350. One is a zippy little thing and the other gets the work done. But it's not like going to a violin were the strings are strung in 5ths and wrapping you hand around that tiny twig causes cramps. The guitar is basically a soprano bass.

 

[Honk'n_down-low]

I keep two Guitars at my Studio for my Guitards Friends to play. Other than that, the necks are too small for my big hands and those little strings hurt : )

If I could find one with a bigger neck or have one made that way - I would be killer on it : )

 

[Brubass]

I started on bass and then switched to guitars after college. When I'm not playing in a band, bass is rather unfulfilling. 28 years later, I started playing bass in bands again. I find it complementary to play both. Though I don't consider myself great at either, knowing chord shapes and the approach of a guitarist helps me be a better bassist, IMHO. It's much easier when we're in an improvisational jam to be able to see the chord shapes the guitar is playing and knowing that I can play off of them and vice-versa. I know where and how to play a part that melds well with the overall sound of the group.

 

[aikakone]

I got my guitar when I was 12 and played through my teens. I never got very good no matter how hard I tried, so I don't consider myself much of a guitarist at all. I started playing bass when I turned 30, though, and that clicked in my brain. Since I've been taking lessons the last 2 years, when I DO try to play guitar, I"m actually pretty good.

So the odd moral of my story is that being a good bass player has made me a better guitarist. (But at the end of the day, I'm still a bass player. That's where the heart lies.)

 

[Noseferatu]

While I'd never call myself a guitarist, I can probably play one better than most people who do.

Same here.

 

[danjl131]

self taught on guitar for 5 years, self taught on bass for three. i love bass so much more than guitar. on guitar i can do anything but shred, but i dont think i would want to anyway. part of me is grateful for knowing guitar as it opens up many doors in songwriting and overrall musicianship, but the other part of me hates it when people push me to play guitar (like my mom:scowl rather than bass. i like when people recognize me as a bassist.

 

[KimblesNimble]

being a good bass player has made me a better guitarist. (But at the end of the day, I'm still a bass player. That's where the heart lies.)

+1

And not being able to play songs on both (covers esp) is really limiting as far as flexibility as a musician (like singing and playing).

For parties/beach/get togethers etc. I usually grab the acoustic over bass, not that fun playing covers when people are following you playing bass lines / singing and trying to figure out what you're doing. And playing solo bass and singing is prb not a great idea. Plus you can easily play along with a guitar because you know what he/she is doing.

 

[KimblesNimble]

Also (sorry) I mean I'm never gonna be one of these guys who picks up the bass a blows Coltrane solos or anything close to that. But I also learn as many instruments as I can. Being solid on the low end, singing and being able to play anything with strings + piano drums is much more useful than dedicating myself to being the most bad ass bassist in town. (please don't ban me)

 

[Korladis]

I can play some rhythm guitar. But only if I stay in a standard tuning. Otherwise it's just too confusing and awkward.

 

[COBRARI]

As most bass players know... singing and playing the rythym on bass can be a train wreck. I am one of those players that as soon as I start singing, something falls apart unless I have played the song a brazillion times.
So, because I am in a trio, we share the lead singer duties. Except for two songs I sing while playing bass, I trade off the bass with the guitarist and then sing while I strum the chords.
Nothing complicated, no lead solos, just strumming chords and a little single note pickin'.

 

[T-MOST]

I'm a "ok" rhythm guitarist but thats really all I'm interested in. I started on guitar and played for 5 years (that was 22 years ago) but bass seemed more interesting.

 

[stingray2112]

I started out on bass and then my neighbor was getting rid of an old acoustic and gave it to me. I'm not good at lead but I can play chords and do alot of finger picking, it just feels more natural since I play bass.

 

[Thunderthumbs73]

Do you ever play guitar? If so, how are you at it? I stink at it, I can play chords, but it seems when I play bass, I "get it", anyone feel this way? I jam with my buddy, he is a good guitarist, but sometimes he makes me play along with him on second guitar, I just plain suck. Maybe I'm thinking too much?

Anyone? Thoughts?

Wouldn't trade playing guitar for bass, or trade playing bass for guitar. I know I'm not a completely fulfilled or satisfied musician playing both of those instruments, much less choosing only one of those.

Play guitar if it moves you and interests you, not on some basis who who is better than whom, and whether your ranking as "better" or "worse" compared to anyone else "legitimizes" you to play the instrument.

 

[TheRatt]

I've lost any interest in the guitar since I tried the bass. I haven't played the bass very long at all, but even so, for some reason guitars look "strange" to me now........like they have such skinny little strings all close together........and too many of them too! ,

And such short necks on those things!!

The few times I've tried to play guitar have been... embarrassing, so I've learned my place, so to speak. Then again, so have the multiple guitarists who have tried to pick up my bass.

 

[Mike M.]

I write and record at home on guitar and while I'll lay down my own rhythm and lead parts I don't consider myself a "guitarist." I'm self taught, have never played guitar in a band and to this day I only know a few cover songs. I learned guitar by seeing what I could come up with as oppsed to trying to figure out what other people are doing. Even though I consider myself a very basic "guitar player" I've been told I have an unusual take on things and people have gone, "wow, that's you on guitar too?!" But I couldn't jam on guitar in a band to save my life and I know it.