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Cant decide bass or guitar

#21
Marley's Ghost said:
I play both. You should do the same. And the guitarist in my new band plays bass. It's win all around. :bassist:
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Same here learn to play both! In my band with the exception of the drummer us three up front switch bass, guitar, and keys/synths all the time. Learn to make music and express yourself with many instruments. Its great fun when at a show people are amazed that we can switch and still sound good!
 
#22
Play both.
Start with the guitar. I started with the guitar and I am very thankful for it, because you will understand music fundamentals much easier on a treble instrument. (Piano is best for this, but we're talking about stringed instruments)
After getting to know music better, listening to it in a completely new way... I felt that the bass is the instrument that speaks to me (as a poster above says). I feel the groove, I can't help but move when the groove is good, I always hear the low end of music and I'm just plain funky and have good phrasing by nature. My right hand is also a natural for the bass, I do things with walking bass that people practice for years. So after a year of mainly rhythm guitar playing I switched to bass. Now I play bass, but almost every day I take my guitar and play it.
My advice to you- start with a cheap acoustic guitar. Like a Fender CD60 or something. Get into basic scales, music theory, learn chords, rhythm, play songs you like. Learn aspects of soloing, too (I made a mistake there, now it's harder to solo on bass).
That way, you'll be able to play the guitar and take it anywhere, play for friends, family etc. (because most of the songs out there are easy when it comes to chords on the guitar) and when you are ready to take up bass- do it! :)
Maybe you won't even want to play bass. Who knows. Play whatever feels right.
 
#23
Plays_For_Dog said:
Bassist keep girls dancing on the floor. Guitarist take them home at the end of the night :/
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HA! That's a good one.

I don't really think it's fair to ask a bass community if you should play bass. Of course we like it. I'd say play both, I got started with bass and decided that I should have a guitar. Bass gets more play time and I prefer the instrument much more, but I will still pick up the guitar time and time again. The only wrong answer is making yourself unhappy.
 
#24
I picked bass guitar for the simple fact that there are too many guitarists in my area, bassists are nearly always in short supply. Plus I find bass more fun, you can get into it more than just ripping some squealy solo's and chuggy riffs, you can feel the bass, and of course a good jam with a drummer is more fun on bass
 
#26
I think parmezans nailed it. I started with a cheap keyboard. I still have no technique on it, but it allowed me to learn basics of music theory that allowed me to play bass beyond roots.

You can play anacoustic guitar anywhere at any time without an amp. If you want, you can get an acoustic guitar with a pickup so if you get the sufficient skills, you can play at local open mics. I happen to own an acoustic bass guitar, but I don't recommend one of these if it's going to be your only bass.

Finally, remember that the more you strum even if you don't do it very well, the less not very well you strum!


Enjoy whatever you select. Have lotsa fun with it.
 
#28
I'm one of those guys who wanted to play guitar, started learning a little, and then switched. A friend of mine wanted to start a band and wanted a bass player. I was a crummy guitar player at that point, but my dad had an old bass in the basement. I've been a bass player ever since and never looked back. People are saying bass is easier, but I never thought so. Its harder to play good bass than it is to play good guitar, but easier to play simple bass than simple guitar (if that makes sense). I'd say do whatever speaks (as others have said).
 
#29
I just started playing bass not that long ago, a played guitar most of my life and based on on millions of millions great guitarist out there i never even bothered trying to be in a decent band...Than I got talked into play bass in my friends Rockabilly band, it took me a little while to get the hang of it, but now that i am I never pick up my guitars anymore and i think the bass is so much cooler!...i even went from listening to nothing but heavy metal to pretty much nothing but 50s music based on the bass lines are cooler (and the sax stuff is so cool!). Anyway i say take up the bass!
A side note, when band ad pops up in craigslist for a guitarist they get 100 plus people applying and you have to audtion and you better be pretty killer or youre not getting in the band....a bass ad pops up and 1 or 2 people if any apply making it a heck of a lot easier to get in a band...at least thats what it's like around my area.
The only disadvantage to bass is there is SOOOOOO much guitar stuff on Youtube!
 
#30
Learn guitar. The notes & positions will be the same on the bass.

Yes, there are differences in the playing style, but they're easier to sort out once you know your way around the frets.

Play both.

Been said many times around here...good guitar players are a dime a dozen. A good bassist is harder to come by. You'll never lack for bands to join/jam with.
 
#31
I always wanted to play bass. I couldn't play guitar to save my life.

Bass, in my humble opinion, is a state of mind. It's the Scottie Pippen to Michael Jordan. It's the Jerry Rice to Joe Montana.

Unless you are fortunate enough to play like Victor Wooten, Flea, etc....you are more than likely going to be part of the rhythm section laying down a groove for the band.

To me, the rhythm section is the foundation the song is built on. It gives the guitarist, keyboardist, etc....the ability to jump out and solo. Drums keeping the beat and bass tying the beat to the chords.

I have heard people say, "Bass is easy to play". Yes, that's true. If you just play root notes on the one...yeah...it's easy to play. There is so much more to playing bass than meets the eye. So many things that can be done to support the other musicians. Not all great bass lines have to be difficult to play. "With or Without You" by U2 comes to mind. VERY simple to play, but when you hum that song....what part do you hum? Same thing with "Another One Bites the Dust" by Queen.

I'd like to play guitar for the ability to sit on the back porch and pick a tune, which is hard to do on the bass. But in a band setting, there is no other instrument that speaks to me like bass.
 
#32
The beauty of your choice here is that you are not bound to one or the other. We love polarizing choices:

Bass or guitar?
P or J?
Coke or Pepsi?
Brittney vs Christina...ok maybe not this one :D

Having a "one or the other" approach is supposed to make life easier, but instead it usually makes things more difficult. One agonizes over their "final" choice...did I pick the right one? What if I went the other way? etc.

There is nothing in this world that is stopping you from learning how to play both. If you feel that you *must* commit, my advice would be to join a band as a bass player. You can always practice guitar (especially acoustic) on your own and get pretty good at it. However, it's tough to replicate feel, timing, and sheer enjoyment when playing bass without playing in the context of a group. If, in the future, you decide you would rather stick to guitar, there is nothing stopping you from doing so.
 
#33
Seriously WOW

I just woke up so I kind of rambled a bit and i apologize :)

Thanks so much for the replies :)

The reason I have to choose one or the other is that I am going to be stuck with that instrument for awhile and that can be a good or bad thing.
Also its either bass or electric because i am going to truly dedicate all my enery and soul to that one instrument because thats the type of person i am.

Again I would have to get the instrument shipped to my country there are not alot of stores i can walk into and try..

So you see making a choice is pretty big its not like once i get it i can send it back :(

I do lean more to bass and to be honest I dont know if you will understand this but I only see myself mostly learning guitar toplay a couple songs that i like.

With bass I see myself practicing and jamming to some jazz , blues etc.


For the point about playing a cheap guitar then going over to bass well not to be rude but that sounded like the guy at one of the bands telling me that start with acoustic then go electric and the other band mate told me that it dont matter play what you heart wants and you will be good at it.

Even if i choose bass i will maybe get an electric down the line but that would be quite some time so it more of which one to start out on.

about the the amount of bassist to guitarist its pretty small here adn thats why i said that if i do play bass alot of churches are going to call me
because every church here has a guitarist drummer keyboard player but very few bassists because they are scarce.


Of course i expected bias when asking this question ^^
 
#34
marlone said:
about the the amount of bassist to guitarist its pretty small here adn thats why i said that if i do play bass alot of churches are going to call me
because every church here has a guitarist drummer keyboard player but very few bassists because they are scarce.

^^
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I play bass at my church (i'm 14) and IMO you don't need to know too much to play in a setting like church (would you be playing at a church?) BUT you do need to learn scales, chord arpeggios and the notes of the neck. I would recommend investing in the 'musicademy worship bass course' (even if you don't play worship). Start with the intermediate course (after some basic lessons, don't waste £60 on the beginner course).
Bass- lays down foundation and groove. Backs up and adds depth
Guitar- leads the band (traditionally) and solos more
Have fun on your musical journey!
Joe
 
#35
I started playing guitar back in 1997 and then a few years later started playing bass. I play bass more now-a-day's, however want to eventually get back into guitar more (I know blasphemous me saying that here). It's really your call man, want to play guitar or play bass? Better yet why not both?
 
#38
So you want a warmer then average sounding guitar and a bass that avoids muddyness and just dull wump wump sound. No problem. Look for mahogany bodied guitars and double humbuckers rather then single coil pups. For bass, most active eq basses can fit quite well for that type of sound. This in part from the added eq tweaking ability and in part due to conversion to LoZ the preamp gives results in little bit of extended bass and treble and more articualte sound in most cases. Yes I'm also comparing very good sounding passive basses and sound tweak adding preamp gave them.

Anyway the ideal for you would be doubleneck bass and guitar or one of each single necked.

Whats available in your country for basses and guitars made their? Many small luthiers make wonderful isntrument that often rival most big name brands. Having one built by good local luthier can give better then most of the stuff you might order online for big name brands. For much lower cost to you. These makers are often seldom heard of in america, which is unfortunate.
 
#39
So you want a warmer then average sounding guitar and a bass that avoids muddyness and just dull wump wump sound. No problem. Look for mahogany bodied guitars and double humbuckers rather then single coil pups. For bass, most active eq basses can fit quite well for that type of sound. This in part from the added eq tweaking ability and in part due to conversion to LoZ the preamp gives results in little bit of extended bass and treble and more articualte sound in most cases. Yes I'm also comparing very good sounding passive basses and sound tweak adding preamp gave them.

Anyway the ideal for you would be doubleneck bass and guitar or one of each single necked.

Whats available in your country for basses and guitars made their? Many small luthiers make wonderful isntrument that often rival most big name brands. Having one built by good local luthier can give better then most of the stuff you might order online for big name brands. For much lower cost to you. These makers are often seldom heard of in america, which is unfortunate.
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Exactly I really like the bass but apart from giving the bottom end to songs I would love to squeeze some sweet melodies from the bass when im ready.

Maybe not a double neck because i think that would be too much for me.

I started playing guitar back in 1997 and then a few years later started playing bass. I play bass more now-a-day's, however want to eventually get back into guitar more (I know blasphemous me saying that here). It's really your call man, want to play guitar or play bass? Better yet why not both?
Today 01:32 PM
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well I do intend to play both but my point is that if i play bass it well be awhile before i can buy an electric because of the cost and other reasons aswell.
Playing bass I think i can find more places to jam easier.



All in all i would say im leaning to bass but I dont know where to start and only have about 800 dollars for the equipment.
If i wanted to get more a brighter bass sound (if that makes sense) Would a 5 or 6 string be better because you can add higher strings or effects pedals do this?
 

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