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Can you also play guitar?
- Thread starter Bass_Poet
- Start date
I play guitar. But I CHEAT!
I use alternative string tunings. Many, Many out there (look them up!)
Here are a couple examples of me - who knows not how to play even ONE guitar chord "properly"
Eric
I use alternative string tunings. Many, Many out there (look them up!)
Here are a couple examples of me - who knows not how to play even ONE guitar chord "properly"
Eric
It's too bad Talkguitar isn't very popular, I've been interested in learning guitar and having a forum like Talkbass for learning about guitar stuff would be pretty helpful.
I started on bass, about two years before I picked up a guitar, and I've been playing both for 10 years and 8 years respectively. The two work very well hand in hand, in terms of picking up theory and as well as making it a bit easier to jam with other musicians.
I bought a bass to record bass lines to my guitar playing via cross-wired stereo systems back in the 80's. Eventually figured out that bass was my performance instrument.
After a six year hiatus I just put together my guitar pedalboard and restrung my axe two days ago. I miss it.
After a six year hiatus I just put together my guitar pedalboard and restrung my axe two days ago. I miss it.
I can get by with some advance notice. I too have the short fat finger issue, (add stiff ) but the good news is that there are so many ways and places to voice chords on guitar you can adapt to what works well for you.
Also, applying the principle of economy of motion as taught by jazz bassists helped me.
I can get by a a rhythm player in a blues or rock band but, just like bass you are only going to get as good as you put time in to practice, which for me might be learning a track for a recording I might want to do. Sure ain't gonna front a band.
Also, applying the principle of economy of motion as taught by jazz bassists helped me.
I can get by a a rhythm player in a blues or rock band but, just like bass you are only going to get as good as you put time in to practice, which for me might be learning a track for a recording I might want to do. Sure ain't gonna front a band.
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I play guitar so badly our CATS sit up and stare at me in shock and horror. That was the last time I tried guitar. 
For me its a case of I do not grok chords/strumming. Double stops, triple stops, lead style guitar, stuff like that, sure. Strumming a chord, nope, singing, even more no! I'll go back to hiding by the drum kit. I do occasionally pull it out to work on techniques like tapping that are much easier on guitar, but that's about it.
For me its a case of I do not grok chords/strumming. Double stops, triple stops, lead style guitar, stuff like that, sure. Strumming a chord, nope, singing, even more no! I'll go back to hiding by the drum kit. I do occasionally pull it out to work on techniques like tapping that are much easier on guitar, but that's about it.
I bought my first guitar a month after I bought my first bass, but I never spent much time learning how to play. 40 years later I sound not much better than I did on day one. If I crank up a fuzz box I can approximate some Neil Young and Lou Reed style leads, that's about it.
Here's an example of my lead playing from around 2005. I can't remember how many takes it took to get this but it was a lot
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
Here's an example of my lead playing from around 2005. I can't remember how many takes it took to get this but it was a lot
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
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I can, and I do.
It took a long time for me to learn, mostly because I'm self taught-- BEFORE the internet
To say you can't is selling yourself short. Maybe it doesn't come easy to you (I'm in that boat myself). However, through constant, intentional effort you can learn to play if you so choose. There are people born without arms who leaned to play with their feet(!) All I'm saying is that if you really want to add the guitar to your skill set, just keep at it. Don't make excuses. I am always meeting people over 50 who were told that "if you didn't learn to play while you were a kid, you never can-- that window of opportunity has closed." That of course is a bunch of nonsense. If you have the desire to learn you can.
Personally, I enjoy playing bass much more than guitar because... well, it's just more fun to me... I could care less about solos (guitar or bass). Maybe I'm just weird like that
Yup, actually have been playing guitar for longer than bass (almost 30 years now, bass about 25 years). I was a big fan of shredders (Yngwie, Paul Gilbert, Vai, etc.) in my formative years and practiced A LOT so I am actually very skilled, usually more than the guitarists I play with . After that I added influences that round my playing out better (Jimmy Page, Nile Rodgers, SRV (although I don't consider myself a blues guy), classical, etc.)
I only play bass in bands at this point, it's just where I like to be. I still play a lot of guitar in my studio. I am also learning flamenco guitar right now and really enjoying it, it is very technical which appeals to the "shredder" still in me but also just has an amazing sound.
As you can see, my current collection is pretty evenly divided between bass and guitar (with some mando and uke thrown in for fun).
. After that I added influences that round my playing out better (Jimmy Page, Nile Rodgers, SRV (although I don't consider myself a blues guy), classical, etc.)I only play bass in bands at this point, it's just where I like to be. I still play a lot of guitar in my studio. I am also learning flamenco guitar right now and really enjoying it, it is very technical which appeals to the "shredder" still in me
but also just has an amazing sound.As you can see, my current collection is pretty evenly divided between bass and guitar (with some mando and uke thrown in for fun).
I feel like this guy, today, but on guitar:
But can you play Ukelele, with those sausages, then by all means. My thing is that I've been more comfortable on bass than guitar always. Even when starting out. If this ugy stayed like that since ages ago, and played ukulele for ages, then no problems. I am not that huge, or overweight or even tubby. But fat fingers I've gained.
But can you play Ukelele, with those sausages, then by all means. My thing is that I've been more comfortable on bass than guitar always. Even when starting out. If this ugy stayed like that since ages ago, and played ukulele for ages, then no problems. I am not that huge, or overweight or even tubby. But fat fingers I've gained.
Yeah, I think that's a typo. I think I even read it as if the typo wasn't there. It's the Stew Mac sheet they send with their setup tools.
It should be .010". Just double checked the Fender setup guide (where Stew probably gets the measurements) and it says .01
I had one year of guitar lessons when I was in 6th grade or around that age. I slowly learned on my own, mostly learning chords for accompaniment and picking out melodies by ear. I learned diminished and augmented, minor 7th chords, etc. Then when I wanted to record some songs at home, I got a bass when I was about 24 or 25 and started playing in bands. The guitar knowledge and playing made it easier to transition to bass.
Played guitar for 25+ years. Bass 10 or so, but really only seriously for about 4-5 years. I'm a decent rhythm guitarist. I can sing and accompany myself adequately, and get my way through most popular styles by ear. Non-musicians think I'm a good guitarist because I can do that. I've never been able to really master lead, though. I can solo, but it's generally very simple blues/rock riffs. I get lost quickly.
I have no improv ability to save my life. But I can get a groove going, and stay in a pocket guitar and bass-wise.
On guitar I struggle with single notes, scales and arpeggios. Can't get what's in my head out to my hands very well, in that respect. I should have been able to progress far beyond what I can do, given the amount of time I've put into playing. For one thing, I have REALLY big hands with mediocre dexterity. Even when practicing regular, lessons, etc.., there's a point that no matter what I do I just can't break to the next level. Bass has been different, though. I keep progressing, getting better. It's made it SOOOOOOOO more enjoyable. The guitar has taken a back seat. I only use it for songwriting and performing solo.
I picked up the fundamentals on bass right away because I could play rhythm guitar and know a little theory. Learning technique on bass has helped me understand some things I was missing on guitar, but it hasn't helped me play guitar any better. I'm definitely loving learning and playing bass. It's like a new world to me. I wish I started earlier.
I have no improv ability to save my life. But I can get a groove going, and stay in a pocket guitar and bass-wise.
On guitar I struggle with single notes, scales and arpeggios. Can't get what's in my head out to my hands very well, in that respect. I should have been able to progress far beyond what I can do, given the amount of time I've put into playing. For one thing, I have REALLY big hands with mediocre dexterity. Even when practicing regular, lessons, etc.., there's a point that no matter what I do I just can't break to the next level. Bass has been different, though. I keep progressing, getting better. It's made it SOOOOOOOO more enjoyable. The guitar has taken a back seat. I only use it for songwriting and performing solo.
I picked up the fundamentals on bass right away because I could play rhythm guitar and know a little theory. Learning technique on bass has helped me understand some things I was missing on guitar, but it hasn't helped me play guitar any better. I'm definitely loving learning and playing bass. It's like a new world to me. I wish I started earlier.
I play guitar and have small-ish hands. It just takes practice, you will get the hang of it if you give it time.
I learned guitar first and started bass about a year later. I have always kept up with guitar however. I love the playing rhythm and getting different
"beats" while playing. I can play lead but not stuff like SRV. Because of the way I have learned, playing guitar, then bass, it would seem it would be harder to
play bass without having played guitar first. I learned all kinds of chords on the guitar and all the Dim, Aug, Major 7, 6, 9 on minor and major and that helps
me when playing playing bass. Often with the band that I play bass with I will suggest a different chord or adding a Em7 etc instead of just Em. Or I may
suggest to play the E chord on the 7th fret or even the fourth on different parts of the song. I glad to have learned guitar first.
"beats" while playing. I can play lead but not stuff like SRV. Because of the way I have learned, playing guitar, then bass, it would seem it would be harder to
play bass without having played guitar first. I learned all kinds of chords on the guitar and all the Dim, Aug, Major 7, 6, 9 on minor and major and that helps
me when playing playing bass. Often with the band that I play bass with I will suggest a different chord or adding a Em7 etc instead of just Em. Or I may
suggest to play the E chord on the 7th fret or even the fourth on different parts of the song. I glad to have learned guitar first.
