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Do you play guitar too?

#61
I play guitar and bass. Currently bass. Knowing chord formations helps me identify what our guitarist is playing. It confirms we are on the same page or some corrections need to be made. Although I practice bass everyday, I enjoy working out the correct guitar chords for new songs we cover. Keeps things interesting for me.
 
#62
kr01.jpg


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I seem to be playing these a lot these days.
 
#63
I started bass in 1970 and didn't start on guitar until 1996. Progress was real slow for years due to working so many hours. Made some real progress in 2009 when I was laid off for 14 months and then I went back to very high hours again.

I'm trying to make a real effort to get more into it again. Did a lot of writing on guitar when I was laid off and I really miss it.

(Love my Tele!!)
 
#65
I was given a Toys R Us at age 6, discovered I picked it up left handed and never touched it again because I was "playing it wrong" and the cheese wire hurt my fingers. 11 years later I started playing bass (southpaw). It's been almost two years, and I've been utterly confused by chords; I broke out that old acoustic and it totally clicked.

I did just buy an electric and I've only picked up my bass once this week; but that's mainly because I know the bassline for this song I'm working on, and I'm just trying to get the guitar to work around it. I've also discovered bar chords are easier then normal chords.
 
#67
Yes I was trained in classical guitar as a youngster

I play eg and classically occasionally but not often these days as I have focused on bass for a number of years now

I actually enjoy playing bass more than guitar. I think it is because of the basic drive capability that can be generated off a bass....

Others may feel differently, but fewer well placed notes coming off a bass riff keeps me happy as compared trying to work at blistered shredding for sake of a lead break....

But I do enjoy listening to great guitar players and especially if I am in a band with them...

Rossa
 
#68
I have been playing bass for 34 years. I have also been playing guitar for 34 years. However, guitar is a hidden instrument for me. I only have my 4 acoustic's at my house and never take them anywhere out of the livingroom. I play them all the time. I have very rarely played guitar on stage and even on occassion showed up at a open mic night with my guitar. However, I am a bassist and always have been a bassist. On my guitars, I play bass lines and bar chords. Nothing more.
 
#69
I'll add that I played guitar for 10 years before picking up the electric bass. I did play tuba and trombone in school band and at university, so I always had a bass player mind. I was told for years to get a bass guitar, as they kept telling me I was merely playing bass lines and bass-centric counter melody on a guitar. Once I did go to the bass, I have considered myself a bass player, as I should have been all along.

I get a lot of value of knowing how to play guitar, albeit at a very intermediate level. Knowing the guitar neck allows me to see, not just hear, what a guitarist is doing. Chord tones, patterns, progressions were easier for me to "see" and hear using a guitar. Plus, it's a little easier to just pick up an acoustic and jam a little at home on the couch.

As long as you practice both with the mentality that each is it's own animal with it's own perspective, you'll get a lot value out of it. If all you are doing is playing bass on a guitar, then you may feel stymied a little. You won't be gaining guitar skills, just bass skills on a different instrument (not that this is a bad thing necessarily).

Many others have said the same, just wanted to give the OP another vote in the "play guitar too" column.
 
#70
EricF said:
Overall, I consider myself a musician. Learning more than one instrument is a good thing.
Click to expand...

This. I play various instruments and genres under the theory that the more perspectives on music you have, the better. I consider myself jack of all trades, master of one :bassist:. Obviously guitar, upright bass, cello, etc. have more crossover ideas and techniques than clarinet, but they all help.

As an example, I play piano, so it doesn't seem weird to me to play with both hands on the fretboard and I've played keys and bass simultaneously. I don't consider it a technique thing but a perspective thing: if organ players can play on three different manuals at once then why can't other musicians?

All that said, I agree that it's helpful to concentrate on your main instrument at least a few minutes a day even when you are learning something else.
 
#72
I actually started on guitar. My dad (thanks dad!!) had one and I fooled with it and had him show me some chords. Too hard. He suggested bass. And I took off. I went back to guitar later and got into electric and lead for a number of years. I love playing acoustic guitar. And I sing lead and harmony as well. I’ve played in some combos on acoustic and some solo stuff. Let’s face it. When the band gigs dry up which they usually do you can’t play solo bass for even a miniscule crowd. And you can only dazzle the locals with the Barney miller intro for so long.

One of Life’s biggest lessons kids - give yourself options!!!! :smug:
 
#74
I've been in & out of playing guitar. Gave it up completely a couple of times, but kept feeling like it beat me & I could probably pull it off if I were to commit more.
So I finally did start putting in the time, a few months ago I starting splitting my time equally between guitar & bass. Previously I'd been bass 2/3, guitar 1/3, mostly because I have two basses & one guitar, LOL!
Well, after months of practicing guitar for at least 30 minutes/day I had that ah-ha moment last night while running through some 3 Days Grace songs.

Admittedly it's just power chords, but I got that adrenaline-Rush feeling I get from playing a Rush song on bass.
It makes me want to play more, so I think I'm on the upswing of a spiral now, whereas before I was on the downward spiral a long long time. Never getting better, because I didn't practice enough, & never wanting to practice because it was frustrating how badly I sucked at it.

Maybe I've finally broken through to a turning point, I hope.

Oh, and here's my guitar:

3z25aVv.jpg


For my birthday last year I bought a new bass & this pre-owned LTD Deluxe, & I think I found the Grail in both of them.
Every bass or guitar I've tried since pales in comparison.

Oh wait, the much more expensive ESP at Sam ASh was probably better, but I didn't have this guitar there to A/B them.
 
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#79
Just my opinion but I think it helps your bass playing. Chord structure and harmonies. Kind of like sting and Chris squire when they switch the root around and get all these cool things going on. I implement that in my playing as well. It freaks guitar players out. They think the ceiling is caving in when you play a root note that’s “not on the record”:smug:
They have this look like what just happened??? Or they look at you and think you’re Mozart or something. Playing multiple instruments is a blessing. So many dog it simply cause they can’t do it.
 
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