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Can practicing 2 instruments at once hurt?

#41
Smooth_bass88 said:
Playing guitar won't hurt your bass playing, however it's physically impossible for it to help your bass playing. I mean, do pitchers practice being a quarterback?
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How is that physically impossible when the two instruments basically are physically similar to the point where they can fully intersect? How is that physically impossible when most good guitarists can be given a bass and play decently enough to get through a set?
 
#44
I play guitar and bass at a fairly proficient level (20+ years now). I think splitting time between the two will only help you grow as a musician. Familiarity with lead guitar will help you melodically on bass.
 
#46
honeyiscool said:
How is that physically impossible when the two instruments basically are physically similar to the point where they can fully intersect? How is that physically impossible when most good guitarists can be given a bass and play decently enough to get through a set?
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If your goal is to become a multi-instrumentalist, practice two or three instruments or whatever. But if your goal is to become a good bass player, there are certain physical requirements that are impossible to obtain playing anything other than a bass. There are certain techniques that simply don't translate from one instrument to another based on things like string tension, scale length, string spacing, etc.
 
#47
Smooth_bass88 said:
If your goal is to become a multi-instrumentalist, practice two or three instruments or whatever. But if your goal is to become a good bass player, there are certain physical requirements that are impossible to obtain playing anything other than a bass. There are certain techniques that simply don't translate from one instrument to another based on things like string tension, scale length, string spacing, etc.
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Marcus Miller seems to take bass clarinet pretty seriously. I dunno. Seems like a pretty good bassist.
 
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#49
Malcolm35 said:
IMO the B string is for the low ledger notes, if you are not playing from standard notation it's there if you need it.
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I assume we're talking about the low B on a 5 string. It's easy to think that it's just an extra string that's there when needed. Let me tell you from experience, for many people it just ain't as simple as that. As much as we try to play 4 string bass with a low appendage, just the existence of the strings can throw the fingers off. I think it took me at last 6 months to feel relatively comfortable on a 5 string and a year to feel like I'm at home on it.

As far as the OP's concern about playing two instruments. As it was stated by someone else... As long as you have the time to dedicate to both.
 
#50
No it won't hurt you to learn guitar and bass. In fact your creativity in writing songs will be much improved. I've come to the conclusion it's easier to write songs by starting with a bass riff. They haven't all been taken like most guitar riffs have. So if you write in bass and then fill in with supporting guitar you've got a better song. My opinion anyway.
 
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#52
I played guitar for around 12 years before picking up bass. Honestly, it made me a better guitar player as well. I understood music theory easier, rhythm and timing improved. All of those translated to guitar. I say go for it.
 
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#53
Smooth_bass88 said:
If your goal is to become a multi-instrumentalist, practice two or three instruments or whatever. But if your goal is to become a good bass player, there are certain physical requirements that are impossible to obtain playing anything other than a bass. There are certain techniques that simply don't translate from one instrument to another based on things like string tension, scale length, string spacing, etc.
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I don't think this is true at all. Translating bass info to piano or whatever isn't the concern. The concern and one reason to do it is you get to see music from a different perspective by playing a different instrument, and that can only help you.

Bass is just plucking strings and fretting notes. Anyone should be able to do that effectively in the first 3 months of playing. The thing that takes real practice is understanding music.
 
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#56
I feel kind of "morally obligated" to try to play ever and any instrument I can. So yeah, slowing down my progress on bass specifically, but enhancing my overall progress as a musician.
 
#57
StatesideRambler said:
Monotony??!!
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Lack of a better term.......
Bassically, It's getting stuck in a rut.
Switching instruments seems to help
Some pros do it. Glenn Frey played keys and guitar. Freddie Mercury lead singer and keys. Peter Cetera & Terry Kath switched up sometimes. Go to s bluegrass jam, and you'll see someone play fiddle for awhile and switch to banjo or guitar.
 
#58
Would learning fretless and fretted bass at the same time count as two instruments? ;>})
My method [starting as soon as the Glarry p-bass arrives] will be to learn it on the p-bass then immediately apply it to the Rogue fretless. {-Or vice-versa sometimes...} Sh be fun!
Greywoulf
 

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