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Do you play guitar too?
- Thread starter lilcrate
- Start date
I don't. I played various wind instruments in high school. Then I played nothing till I was about 27, then on a whim I decided to play the bass.
i started on guitar. switched to bass. went to college for bass. graduated. now i teach guitar because nobody else wants to learn the bass.
I can play some simple stuff on guitar, don't own one and have no desire at the present time. When the clock runs out on my current project I may pick up an acoustic.
Since I found my guitar in a dumpster, I dabble a bit here and there. I've used it for a few recordings, but for the most part I'll just plug it in, crank the distortion, and just play some punky down-picked power chords on the E string till I get my fix. Then I'll switch to my other 6 string.
I played guitar for many years before bass and although in bands I am pretty much a bass player now, I still play a lot of guitar at home in my studio. I am that bass player that secretly wishes someone gives me the "bass is easier, you couldn't hack it on guitar" line so I can pick up a guitar and fire some Yngwie back at them (I learned guitar in the 80's and loved the neo-classical shred stuff, heck, I still love it 
).
I think my background in guitar and continued playing has only improved my bass playing. I also can (reasonably) play keyboards, drums, uke, mandolin and all of them help. If nothing else, it provides a good distraction if you feel you are hitting a wall on bass (or any instrument). Cello is next on my list.
Playing multiple instruments also can expand your musical taste. For example, these are the last songs I learned on each instrument:
Guitar - Laid to Rest : Lamb of God
Bass - Signed, Sealed, Delivered : Stevie Wonder
Uke - Super Mario Bros. Theme
Mando - Copperhead Road : Steve Earle
Keys - I Dreamed a Dream (from Les Miserables).
Fairly diverse, and can't say I would try to learn Les Mis tunes on guitar (for instance).
Basically, anything that expands your mind as a musician is all good.
Later
Rob
).I think my background in guitar and continued playing has only improved my bass playing. I also can (reasonably) play keyboards, drums, uke, mandolin and all of them help. If nothing else, it provides a good distraction if you feel you are hitting a wall on bass (or any instrument). Cello is next on my list.
Playing multiple instruments also can expand your musical taste. For example, these are the last songs I learned on each instrument:
Guitar - Laid to Rest : Lamb of God
Bass - Signed, Sealed, Delivered : Stevie Wonder
Uke - Super Mario Bros. Theme
Mando - Copperhead Road : Steve Earle
Keys - I Dreamed a Dream (from Les Miserables).
Fairly diverse, and can't say I would try to learn Les Mis tunes on guitar (for instance).
Basically, anything that expands your mind as a musician is all good.
Later
Rob
Anything stevie wonder did is valuable to learn on bass to aid ur rhythm and chops...love me sum stevie
I started on guitar in '91 and played speed metal/thrash till around '98. I then got into an Alice in chains type band, which split off into a female fronted thing where I found myself playing bass. That was '99. Haven't played guitar (with any seriousness) since. Still have my old flametop, silverburst and j40 acoustic ..... they sit in a closet and rust. 
sadly.
sadly.
"played" guitar for a few months before falling in love with a P bass. Spent 3 years mostly just playing bass, then started getting back into guitar seriously.
Now I am only playing out on guitar and my basses are gathering dust... Haven't even seen one of them for about a year because it's been stashed in its case under my bed... Probably still has beer on it from the final party/gig with that band haha.
So yes, it can halt your bass progress. But only if you let it. It did in my case because I got a steady gig playing guitar and needed to focus on it rather than bass.
Now I am only playing out on guitar and my basses are gathering dust... Haven't even seen one of them for about a year because it's been stashed in its case under my bed... Probably still has beer on it from the final party/gig with that band haha.
So yes, it can halt your bass progress. But only if you let it. It did in my case because I got a steady gig playing guitar and needed to focus on it rather than bass.
Thanks for the responses guys. I think I'll learn a little bit of it if I have time on top of my bass progressions.
The scenario gets odd though:
I bought my brother's old guitar to mess around on a few days ago. GF sees it and acts all weird (she isn't good at hiding stuff). After a few questions from her and some from me, I think I figured out why. I'm pretty sure she bought me not only a Gibson les paul (I told her I thought it was a cool guitar at GC), but an acoustic guitar (I told her I wouldn't mind an acoustic guitar and an acoustic bass, just conversation at GC) for Christmas as well. I didn't realize she was taking our conversation at GC so seriously. If I did, I would have pointed out some stuff I need related to bass, not stuff I wouldn't mind owning.
So I may end up with 3 guitars and 1 bass. That will be awkard. But oh well, I only really need one bass to shred and the guitars will look good sitting around.
The scenario gets odd though:
I bought my brother's old guitar to mess around on a few days ago. GF sees it and acts all weird (she isn't good at hiding stuff). After a few questions from her and some from me, I think I figured out why. I'm pretty sure she bought me not only a Gibson les paul (I told her I thought it was a cool guitar at GC), but an acoustic guitar (I told her I wouldn't mind an acoustic guitar and an acoustic bass, just conversation at GC) for Christmas as well. I didn't realize she was taking our conversation at GC so seriously. If I did, I would have pointed out some stuff I need related to bass, not stuff I wouldn't mind owning.
So I may end up with 3 guitars and 1 bass. That will be awkard. But oh well, I only really need one bass to shred and the guitars will look good sitting around.
Yes, I'm a rhythm section--guit, bass, & drums. I'm one of the few who would rather be Malcom than Angus. I just prefer rhythm guitar. No solos. They hurt my ears.
I can play rhythm guitar. I can also play lead but tend to sound like a bass player playing lead lol.
I can also play drums and a little piano, but I was given a gift for playing bass. I was most definitely NOT given a gift for playing these other instruments.
I can also play drums and a little piano, but I was given a gift for playing bass. I was most definitely NOT given a gift for playing these other instruments.
I've played 6 string , 12 string and bass guitar in bands and as solo projects (both lead and rhythm) That being said , I have made more money playing bass than all the others combined and am currently playing bass in two bands.
I'm a long time bass player - 40+ years - with a couple of long periods of inactivity. I had an acoustic around the house to pick out bass parts instead of breaking out an amp, etc. Some guitar knowledge slipped in over all that time.
I bought an Epiphone Dot about a year and a half ago to get serious about the 6 string. Still a hack but getting better every day.
I bought an Epiphone Dot about a year and a half ago to get serious about the 6 string. Still a hack but getting better every day.
- Oct 18, 2012
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- Disclosures
- Endorsing Artist: Fender, Spector, Ampeg, Curt Mangan, Nordstrand Pickups, Korg , Conquest Sound
I started playing guitar in 1976 and bass in 1978. I am primarily a bass player but still play guitar. I have found that playing bass has helped me to become a better guitar player and playing guitar has made me a better bass player.
I started out on guitar and picked up bass because I couldn't find available bassists that could play AND show up. 
I don't think there's any disadvantage to learning or practicing on guitar. There are plenty of things that work on both instruments. Of course, there are plenty of specialized differences between both instruments. That's part of the fun.
I don't think there's any disadvantage to learning or practicing on guitar. There are plenty of things that work on both instruments. Of course, there are plenty of specialized differences between both instruments. That's part of the fun.
Technically started on guitar but was playing basslines plus my brother was playing guitar so i picked up bass. I never stopped guitar but i was very mediocre for some years until i decided to get better at it since i was failing to find a guitar player i could get along with musically. Now i guess i'm just passable but to play what i like to play and write, i'm good enough.
I have more guitars than basses in any case. I have one bass and 5 guitars though only two are really worth something. I have a Squier Strat, a Seagull acoustic i never play (i pretty much have no use for acoustic), an Aria Pro II FS (which i hadn't used...or stringed...in like 7 years until a few months ago, thought the neck would have warped but it's ok, better sounding than i remembered), a Gibson SST (that i'm trying to sell it since i also have no use for semi-acoustics) and a Gretsch Nasvhille '67 that's been repainted had its pickups changed and pickguard too. Still, it's obviously my most prized one:
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
Technically i also had a Fernandes Vertigo but i kinda lent it indefinitely to my brother since it actually used to be his.
In all these my most commonly used though is probably the Squier Strat. I was never keen on Fender/Squier but i can't deny it has the tone i'm most often looking for.
While i do write songs playing all the instruments, if i played them live, which i intend to eventually, i'd want to play bass. I'm still not as comfortable on guitar, and the truth is i could nevr like it as much as bass and have as much fun playing it. Also, i hate all the fiddling about that needs to be done to get the tones i'm looking for. On bass there's one tone i want and it only requires seting the EQ, no effects no nothing. Chances are when i plug my bass in anywhere, i'm only a few seconds away from the tone i want...with guitar...oh boy....
I have more guitars than basses in any case. I have one bass and 5 guitars though only two are really worth something. I have a Squier Strat, a Seagull acoustic i never play (i pretty much have no use for acoustic), an Aria Pro II FS (which i hadn't used...or stringed...in like 7 years until a few months ago, thought the neck would have warped but it's ok, better sounding than i remembered), a Gibson SST (that i'm trying to sell it since i also have no use for semi-acoustics) and a Gretsch Nasvhille '67 that's been repainted had its pickups changed and pickguard too. Still, it's obviously my most prized one:
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
Technically i also had a Fernandes Vertigo but i kinda lent it indefinitely to my brother since it actually used to be his.
In all these my most commonly used though is probably the Squier Strat. I was never keen on Fender/Squier but i can't deny it has the tone i'm most often looking for.
While i do write songs playing all the instruments, if i played them live, which i intend to eventually, i'd want to play bass. I'm still not as comfortable on guitar, and the truth is i could nevr like it as much as bass and have as much fun playing it. Also, i hate all the fiddling about that needs to be done to get the tones i'm looking for. On bass there's one tone i want and it only requires seting the EQ, no effects no nothing. Chances are when i plug my bass in anywhere, i'm only a few seconds away from the tone i want...with guitar...oh boy....
