Can you learn Bass on a four-string Guitar?

[BeowulfKingsley]

Of course you can. Paul McCartney actually gigged with a guitar strung with 4 heavy strings (for a very short time) while he was learning bass...so why not? Yeah, a real bass is different, but when you're starting out and just figuring out fingerings and approaches, a guitar will do fine. Of course McCartney graduated from that to a short scale Hofner (first borrowing Sutcliffe's and then buying his own iconic violin model), which would be a natural progression. And The Presidents Of The United States' "Bassist" uses an instrument that was originally a guitar converted to use bass strings, and he sounds just fine. It's all good.

 

[bolophonic]

No.

 

[AztecViking]

Don't listen to any of the naysayers. Do what you can now on the 4 string guitar. That being said still try to get yourself a real bass ASAP. Even the cheapest one will do to start. Then by your own desire to keep going work yourself up to a better instrument. Trust me it'll happen if you really want it to.

 

[Fabio_MIJ]

Yes, nothing prevent you from experimenting.
But you won't have the feeling of a real bass, that's very important to decide if it's your way.
Save a little money if you can and buy a used one.

 

[KickingBass]

Seeing as my first bass was a piece of cardboard from off a box lid and some sharpie lines... yes. Yes, you can learn it on guitar. It is not ideal and you can probably sell that guitar to help pay for a cheap bass but sometimes you just have to make do for a while. At least you're trying. Just dont be discouraged when you do switch to bass and it doesn't feel right, you can adjust. Learning on the guitar should be okay for learning some theory and where and how the notes are related to each other.

 

[buldog5151bass]

Isn't that how Macca first started (I only use that name since spelling his last name is a pain in the @#%$@#$)? Seems to have worked out. Similarly, Jamerson started playing plucking a rubber band. Obviously starting with better equipment is better, but you can't buy talent, and you can't buy practice.

 

[Wfrance3]

You can learn bass on a 6 String guitar. But why on earth would you want to??

 

[chris_b]

When I started I was playing bass lines on the bottom 4 strings of an old Spanish guitar.

It worked for a while but IMO to learn to play a bass rather than just play bass lines you need a real bass guitar.

 

[Pbassmanca]

Hello,

I've got a Guitar that's missing two strings but has four-strings in a row still intact. I really want to learn Bass Guitar as I've never had much luck learning instruments and want to give this one a try. I learnt Guitar for a few months but can't remember any of that, learnt Clarinet for two years but can now only remember one note and I learnt Piano for about 4 years or so but stopped a couple of years ago and now can't play a single song on it. Not sure if Bass would be any easier, but I think it'd be more my thing and I'd like to give it a go.

So, I was just wondering, is it possible to learn Bass Guitar on a Guitar with four strings? I don't have a Bass Guitar and won't be getting one anytime soon and, to be honest, no matter what y'all say I'll probably end up giving it a try someday but I'm just curious if it's been done before or something?

Thanks!

Look up Richard Bona, that's how he got his chops.

 

[MYLOWFREQ]

You can learn the notes on the fretboard, but then you'll be frustrated when you pick up a bass guitar one day. I'd get my self a used cheap bass asap.

 

[CosmicRay]

That's how I first started playing bass. On an electric guitar with the 1st & 2nd strings removed. Then I got a "Beatle bass" knock-off. (it was 1965)
That bass was stolen and my parents got me a Gibson EB-0
The rest, as they say is history.

 

[StatesideRambler]

That's how I first started playing bass. On an electric guitar with the 1st & 2nd strings removed. Then I got a "Beatle bass" knock-off. (it was 1965)
That bass was stolen and my parents got me a Gibson EB-0
The rest, as they say is history.

Now, that's spooky. I started out on bass by playing bass lines on the Galanti guitar Mom bought* us in 1965. Then, as soon as I could, I bought an Eko violin-shaped bass with my part time job money. That bass was stolen sometime later and the replacement was a MIJ clone of a Gibson EB. Parallel lives, what?

*I wanted a bass but our Mom said [spoken with a strong Swedish accent], "Oh, no-o-o, you can't play a pretty melody on that." Oddly enough, I still have that Galanti.

 

[McFarlin]

At age 12 or 13 I started learning bass lines by ear, using a right-handed acoustic guitar turned to lefty position. Once my Dad and brother noticed, they hauled me to the big city and found a used Peavey combo and the only lefty bass in the store.

I immediately joined the only band in school, a country music three piece. Then in high school the metal bands appeared. It all worked out okay.

I eventually destroyed that acoustic guitar.
I'm glad it was around. Otherwise, I would probably just be a barely mediocre drummer.

 

[Wisebass]

is it possible to learn Bass Guitar on a Guitar

a bass is not a car! a motorbike no hotdog! 4 strings are not 6!..........
In France burgers are called sandwiches and hotdogs too (at least McDo France does so!!!) Carrots guys!!!!

PinBallL: Have some fun with the stuff you have (it won't do any harm!)

then if you still want to learn bass
get a bass!!! bassplayers do that, it's cool

and (don't tell your neighbors, I told you to do that!)

may the bass be with you

Wise(b)ass

 

[Gravedigger Dav]

Trolls shouldn't have computers.

 

[dxb]

Just get a cheap bass. Sure, you can learn where the notes are by studying a guitar fretboard, but playing bass is completely different from a physical standpoint. Its like the difference between driving a car and a bus. For example, on bass learning to mute the strings you're not playing is very important, whereas on guitar it's not a big issue.

 

[Badwater]

I don't think its the same experience, but you can make music with a 4 string guitar. And even a 1 string guitar.
I present to you Brushy 1 String

 

[Ric5]

how about a ukulele

 

[the yeti]

how about a ukulele

View attachment 1052297

ukes are fine, as long as there's an alt tuning or maybe a 5er (my dog does not have fleas).

 

[CosmicRay]

Now, that's spooky. I started out on bass by playing bass lines on the Galanti guitar Mom bought* us in 1965. Then, as soon as I could, I bought an Eko violin-shaped bass with my part time job money. That bass was stolen sometime later and the replacement was a MIJ clone of a Gibson EB. Parallel lives, what?

*I wanted a bass but our Mom said [spoken with a strong Swedish accent], "Oh, no-o-o, you can't play a pretty melody on that." Oddly enough, I still have that Galanti.

Wow strange indeed! Too bad I have neither the Kent guitar I started on, nor the EB-0. After a few years I traded the EB-0 for my first Fender J, which I still play on gigs!