Joe is surely just messin' with us to stir controversy for fun.guy n. cognito said:
He's a respected regular around here for a long time, and a professional bassist; there's no-way he's that simple-minded.
Right, Joe?..
Joe P.
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Does anyone think guitar is harder than bass?
- Thread starter MistaMarko
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He's a respected regular around here for a long time, and a professional bassist; there's no-way he's that simple-minded.
Right, Joe?..
Joe P.
Joe Nerve said:I disagree. It's a lot easier to play a tambourine, than piano. A harmonica than a guitar. A recorder than a flute. Lots of instruments are easier than the violin.
I think it's a valid question also. If a kid for whatever reason doesn't have the time or talent to put into an instrument, and asks "Which would be easier?", to say guitar would be a lie. Just about anyone can play a song in 1 day on bass, not on guitar. My girlfriend doesn't play bass and for fun once I showed her the beastie boys "you gotta fight for your right". She jumped on the stage with my bass and did an excellent job. OK. She did a decent job.That would be impossible on guitar. Just to play a simple bar chord takes time and practice.
Also - ANY guitarist can play bass if they had to in a pinch. Many bass players couldn't do the same on guitar. If a bass player and guitarist in a band were to swap instruments for a gig, the guitarist learning bass would have a MUCH easier job than the bassist. It would be the exception to the rule for it to be the other way around (jaco like bassist in a band where the guitarist just keeps the rhythem).
I disagree completely. A lot of guitar player can handle a bass (meaning the can play guitar style and producing decent sounds) but really playing bass is more than that. Every instrument has its specialities and needs a lot of practice and understanding - if you really want to play it and not just producing a few notes.
That's not a valid point Joe Nerve. ANY bassist can play something on the guitar. After 2 weeks of bass I could transpose whatever I had learnt on guitar, same goes for my brother who is a guitarist and could play somewhat decently my fender p. I played his guitar better than he played my bass though, not technically but he was sloppy on my bass and it didnt sound good, whereas I could play easy stuff on his guitar and it sounded great. It's all a matter of people.
Joe Nerve said:I disagree. It's a lot easier to play a tambourine, than piano. A harmonica than a guitar. A recorder than a flute. Lots of instruments are easier than the violin.
I think it's a valid question also. If a kid for whatever reason doesn't have the time or talent to put into an instrument, and asks "Which would be easier?", to say guitar would be a lie. Just about anyone can play a song in 1 day on bass, not on guitar. My girlfriend doesn't play bass and for fun once I showed her the beastie boys "you gotta fight for your right". She jumped on the stage with my bass and did an excellent job. OK. She did a decent job.
Also - ANY guitarist can play bass if they had to in a pinch. Many bass players couldn't do the same on guitar. If a bass player and guitarist in a band were to swap instruments for a gig, the guitarist learning bass would have a MUCH easier job than the bassist. It would be the exception to the rule for it to be the other way around (jaco like bassist in a band where the guitarist just keeps the rhythem).
My wife has been playing guitar for a month, and she can already play several songs. Granted, they are simple songs, but she can play them. Last night, she accompanied me on "Please do not go" by the Violent Femmes. She can't, however, play the bassline. Wow, if a guitar song by a famous band can be so easily mastered my a total novice, then guitar must be easier than bass? Right?
Please, let's keep making stupid comparisons.
- Oct 7, 2000
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Joe P said:
I'm serious. Not sure why this question gets me going - I think it's a matter of pride or ego with bass players. I believe with all my heart and soul that it's easier to be a good bass player than it is to be a good guitarist.
I'm a decent guitarist. I'm a much better bass player. Many years ago I was learning Sweet Child of Mine to try and get into a cover band. I was learning some Van Halen songs also. The lightbulb went on above my head. I could be in a kick ass cover band playing bass, in about a 16th of the time it's goig to take me to learn this stuff on guitar. How can anyone argue that?
Yes, you can compare Jaco with a Ramone - but that is sooooo much the exception to the rule. For every Billy Sheehan or Victor Whooten in the world there are hundreds of guitarists who get themselves into that league of playing. If you take the minimum requirements for both instruments and say which would be easier to learn to get on a stage as quickly as possible - bass is the answer. Same the other way around - if you were to ask which would be easier to master, sorry - but bass also comes up as the one for me. I won't even bring classical guitar into the mix (but I just did).
I really think bass players egos get in the way here. Yeah - you may be waaay more talented than many many guitarists, and you may bring the bass to a level that no guitarist can play, but bottom line is... well... i've pretty much exhausted myself on this one.
Joe Nerve said:I disagree. It's a lot easier to play a tambourine, than piano. A harmonica than a guitar. A recorder than a flute. Lots of instruments are easier than the violin.
I think it's a valid question also. If a kid for whatever reason doesn't have the time or talent to put into an instrument, and asks "Which would be easier?", to say guitar would be a lie. Just about anyone can play a song in 1 day on bass, not on guitar. My girlfriend doesn't play bass and for fun once I showed her the beastie boys "you gotta fight for your right". She jumped on the stage with my bass and did an excellent job. OK. She did a decent job.
Also - ANY guitarist can play bass if they had to in a pinch. Many bass players couldn't do the same on guitar. If a bass player and guitarist in a band were to swap instruments for a gig, the guitarist learning bass would have a MUCH easier job than the bassist. It would be the exception to the rule for it to be the other way around (jaco like bassist in a band where the guitarist just keeps the rhythem).
Actually, I think you're demonstrably wrong about nearly everything here. First, a tambourine isn't an instrument, it's a rhythmic accessory, so leave that out.
A harmonica is not necessarily easier than a guitar (ever hear Toots Thielemans, Larry Adler, or Howard Levy), and a recorder is not necessarily easier than a flute (ever hear any really good early music?).
Whether an instrument is easier or harder *in the initial stages of learning* has absolutely ZERO to do with whether it's harder to master, period. And IME you're wrong about the relative easiness of bass and guitar in the early stages anyway. I've played both guitar and bass semi-professionally to professionally for 30+ years. I don't claim to be the best in the world at either one, but I have a very long acquaintance with both, and I've played both at a fairly decent level. The fact is, I've seen many people learn to play a 3 chord song acceptably on a guitar in a couple of hours (as long as there are no bar chords), and I've seen no evidence that people can pick up bass faster than guitar.
Whether the two players could switch instruments in the middle of a gig is also utterly irrelevant to the question. It means nothing. Also, any guitarist CANNOT play bass in a pinch (though some certainly can); my life as a musician is full of examples that disprove that. Physically produce notes on the bass, maybe; actually play bass in any worthwhile way, quite likely not.
Joe Nerve said:
This is sad. Pitiful, really. The lack of self-esteem you have for yourself and your profession is clearly visible in your opinions on this topic.
Better hope the Nerve doesn't catch on to your little theory or you job will be at risk by thousands of guitar hacks just ready to jump on the easier instrument.
Joe Nerve said:
Well, I'm not interested in guarding the honor of the bass, or the guitar for that matter. I'm just saying, it's a pointless question, and it's a waste of time trying to answer it one way or the other. It's like asking, which is harder, mastering novel-writing or mastering archaeology?
As for classical guitar, I did that for a number of years, so I'm pretty familiar with that as well. I wouldn't place it above what someone like Gary Karr or Edgar Meyer does on the bass.
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Just for the record - while my arguments might seem heated, I'm smiling over here. I enjoy this argument for some reason - and I'm not messing with anyone. I really wish you guys would sit back for a minute, take a deep breath, and really think about what I'm saying before defending the difficulty behind playing bass.
A lot of you are talking about the aesthetics, the finer points of being a good bass player, musician, whatever. yeah - playing bass has a vibe that a lot of guitarists don't get right away (but most pick it up if they stick with it a while).
I've given lessons to total newcomers on bass, and I've done the same on guitar. It is sooo much easier to get someone going on bass. THINK ABOUT IT!!!!!!! Learning 2 open chords on guitar is harder than playing an entire simple song on bass. There's nothing to argue. It's easier. It says nothing about who's a better musician, it's simply easier to make music with a bass than it is guitar. I would bet everything I own that I could teach a total newcomer enough to play bass in a band quicker than anyone could teach a guitarist the same. Given that whoever was learning had the same degree of intelligience, talent and desire.
Just for the sake of argument also - my girl jumped on stage with 5 minutes instruction, Guy - your wife took a month. And lots of bands have bass players that are better than their guitarists. I don't think that's the point here.
A lot of you are talking about the aesthetics, the finer points of being a good bass player, musician, whatever. yeah - playing bass has a vibe that a lot of guitarists don't get right away (but most pick it up if they stick with it a while).
I've given lessons to total newcomers on bass, and I've done the same on guitar. It is sooo much easier to get someone going on bass. THINK ABOUT IT!!!!!!! Learning 2 open chords on guitar is harder than playing an entire simple song on bass. There's nothing to argue. It's easier. It says nothing about who's a better musician, it's simply easier to make music with a bass than it is guitar. I would bet everything I own that I could teach a total newcomer enough to play bass in a band quicker than anyone could teach a guitarist the same. Given that whoever was learning had the same degree of intelligience, talent and desire.
Just for the sake of argument also - my girl jumped on stage with 5 minutes instruction, Guy - your wife took a month. And lots of bands have bass players that are better than their guitarists. I don't think that's the point here.
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guy n. cognito said:
Now yer attacking. I'm not doing that here, I'm just stating my opinion. If you're getting angry about it, perhaps there's some truth to what I'm saying - and it's hitting a NERVE.
I'm getting a little angry about what you just said, so perhaps there's some truth in that. Not pitiful though, I do alright for myself for a guy lacking self esteem.This to say that in a way like in another way, bass can be easier than guitar, and the other way around. It all depends on how the player first confronts the instrument if hes starting out. Has nothing to do with one being easier than another. Thats just silly.
Joe Nerve said:Just for the record - while my arguments might seem heated, I'm smiling over here. I enjoy this argument for some reason - and I'm not messing with anyone. I really wish you guys would sit back for a minute, take a deep breath, and really think about what I'm saying before defending the difficulty behind playing bass.
A lot of you are talking about the aesthetics, the finer points of being a good bass player, musician, whatever. yeah - playing bass has a vibe that a lot of guitarists don't get right away (but most pick it up if they stick with it a while).
I've given lessons to total newcomers on bass, and I've done the same on guitar. It is sooo much easier to get someone going on bass. THINK ABOUT IT!!!!!!! Learning 2 open chords on guitar is harder than playing an entire simple song on bass. There's nothing to argue. It's easier. It says nothing about who's a better musician, it's simply easier to make music with a bass than it is guitar. I would bet everything I own that I could teach a total newcomer enough to play bass in a band quicker than anyone could teach a guitarist the same. Given that whoever was learning had the same degree of intelligience, talent and desire.
Just for the sake of argument also - my girl jumped on stage with 5 minutes instruction, Guy - your wife took a month. And lots of bands have bass players that are better than their guitarists. I don't think that's the point here.
Hey, I'm not stressing either. I just know you're wrong, that's all.
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Joe Nerve said:
Again, you're talking about the difficulties of music, not the instruments. Give a newcomer a six-string bass and have him try to play the same two open chords. Give a newcomer a guitar and have him play the same entire simple song playing the bass part. Which is easier then? It's the music that's harder, not the instrument.
Joe Nerve said:
I play both and, to me bass is harder to play properly.When I play guitar it seems it's a limitless freedom of expresion.The bass, to me anyway has less room for that beacause you must simply hold it down.
BTW I have been playing bass for 15 years and, guitar for about 8 years.Bass is still my main instrument and musical interest.
Joe Nerve said:Now yer attacking. I'm not doing that here, I'm just stating my opinion. If you're getting angry about it, perhaps there's some truth to what I'm saying - and it's hitting a NERVE.
I'm not angry at all. You're making an argument, based on nothing more than your own, jaded opinion, and I'm poking fun at you. I'm merely stating my opinion. Given your view on bass playing and it's simplicity, you obviously don't think much of it. What does that say about you? Obviously, I'm now hitting a nerve..... To me, it says something about a musician when he comes out and says that he picked an instrument simply because it was easier. I would think the same thing about any professional that does their job simply because it's easier than some other job. You made the tamborine comparison, not me. Again, who's being insulting.
Besides, I didn't say my wife took a month to learn the song, she has only been playing a stringed instrument for a month. So, if you want to continue arguing that bass is simpler because you can start playing songs quickly, then you have to deal with the fact that the same can be done on guitar. What does it prove that you put your woman on stage to hack through a simple song? Nothing. That's my point, but it seems to be the whole basis of your argument.
Your argument that bass is simpler than guitar is insulting to the rest of the bassists out there who have spent years trying to master their instrument. Sure, there are bassists out there willing to stick to the basics, but there are plenty of guitarists willing to do the same.
