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Guitar or No Guitar?

Muddslide

Muddslide

Feb 23, 2007
5,284
5,082
Mobile, Alabama
#1
Just wondered how many people here do NOT play guitar. I think the assumption most of the time would be that a bass player plays guitar as well, even if marginally, or has a guitar or two laying around.

I haven't had an electric guitar in years and I'm seriously considering selling my last remaining acoustic guitar for some more bass gear.

I dunno...I don't think I've gotten any enjoyment from guitar in years. Whenever I pick one up, I end up playing the same boring stuff I've played for 20+ years.

Whereas with bass I seem to be constantly inspired. I always get a charge out of playing the bass. I just don't think guitar speaks to me, or wants me to speak through it, or something.

Anyone here bypass guitard altogether?
 
#2
I'm a hack guitarist, at best. Did have a 6 string Ric and a Vox AC15 until last week when I gave them to my son as an early inheritence. Still have 1 acoustic, but that's it. I leave the guitar playing to the couple of guys I know that do it right. I'm totally focused on bass, and happy for it, but 1 acoustic is handy, if for nothing else, songwriting.
 
#3
I didn't completely bypass guitar, but my experiences with it pretty much put me on the path to bass. I have an acoustic and an electric; the acoustic is from when I wanted guitar lessons at 13 (and HATED acoustics, but that's what my mom bought me because they were cheaper), and the electric is from college when a friends said, "your hands are too small for bass - learn to play this Squier Bullet instead!" :rolleyes:

I studied classical guitar for a year in high school, though, and I was always more comfortable with finger-picking individual notes rather than strumming chords. I finally bought my first bass a few months ago and my first decent bass a few weeks ago. I still suck, but I'm sticking with it, which is more than I ever did with guitar.
 
#8
when i was a teenager, everyone i knew played guitar.. i thought, if i am a guitarist i really have to prove myself, but if i buy a bass, i can play with everyone in town :)

i don't own a guitar.. i mess around on them now and then but i can't do much more than play power chords..

i think ultimately it will make you a better bassist to play other instruments, so you get a better understanding of their roles, and help train your ear..
 
#9
Started on guitar, played it for 13 years - switched to bass exclusively, been playing it for 10 years. Now I actively play both in different bands, but guitar feels alien to me, and have not much motivation. . .

Although many think I still play guitar better than bass. . . arghhhh!

But I think that understanding guitar or piano can make you a better bass player, and ultimately, a better musician.
 
#10
Muddslide said:
Just wondered how many people here do NOT play guitar. I think the assumption most of the time would be that a bass player plays guitar as well, even if marginally, or has a guitar or two laying around.

I haven't had an electric guitar in years and I'm seriously considering selling my last remaining acoustic guitar for some more bass gear.

I dunno...I don't think I've gotten any enjoyment from guitar in years. Whenever I pick one up, I end up playing the same boring stuff I've played for 20+ years.

Whereas with bass I seem to be constantly inspired. I always get a charge out of playing the bass. I just don't think guitar speaks to me, or wants me to speak through it, or something.

Anyone here bypass guitard altogether?
Click to expand...

I studied jazz & classical guitar for years, taught privately, attended Berklee etc, before switching to bass. I have several guitars I will never sell, regardless of how little I play them. However, I do gig occasionally on guitar, and record sometimes, too, although I definitely consider myself a bassist and don't advertise myself as a guitarist at all. I can still read for guitar but not as well as I used to, and I'm definitely better at bass these days.
 
#16
Both my kids have guitars, I have a 12 string acoustic but I can't play them to save my life.
My bass teacher in high school (many, many years ago) said gun slingers (guitarists) are a dime a dozen. If you want to always have a job musically just play your bass.
I have stuck with his philosophy, and for the most part I have always had a gig of some sort.
 
#17
StevieT said:
My bass teacher in high school (many, many years ago) said gun slingers (guitarists) are a dime a dozen. If you want to always have a job musically just play your bass.
I have stuck with his philosophy, and for the most part I have always had a gig of some sort.
Click to expand...

That's pretty much what my drummer friend told me when I mentioned I was picking up bass: that there are plenty of guitarists out there, but if you play bass or drums you're set. He's currently in two actively gigging bands and plays a lot of pit gigs.
 
#19
My dad has this ancient twelve string guitar he got as a wedding present* that I like to play some chords along. I can't do anything but play chords though. It's horribly intonated and the darn thing won't stay in tune for more than one song, but it's till fun when my guitar friend comes over to show him a cool strumming pattern on it. I've also contributed a tiny bit to some guitar work here and there.

*Actually he got a banjo as a wedding present but he thought it was too hard so he got a twelve string guitar instead. He hasn't changed the strings since he got it about thirty years ago. Sounds good too.
 

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