Has learning to play drums helped your bass playing?

[Robot.G]

Has learning to play drums helped your bass playing?

I bought an electronic drum kit a few months back. I was hoping that learning to play drums would not only help me with bass playing but also rhythm guitar. I suffered a shoulder injury though and still haven't started playing drums yet.

Just curious if those of you who might play both bass and drums see a benefit.

Let me know?

 

[DirtDog]

Yes. As has playing guitar. Each of these instruments have made me a better musician on all the others.

I actually have formal training on drums so I can speak “rhythm” and largely self taught on guitar and bass.

 

[wraub]

Yes. Absolutely, yes.

 

[Guild B301]

I think it could help your timing.
I played drums, before I played bass. And...No, I don’t think playing drums helped me a better bassist.
I played trumpet before drums, and guitar before that.
I played each one about 5 years or more, before I took up the next instrument. However, every one of them made me a better musician overall.

 

[rzamites]

I started on drums long ago, it’s helped with guitar, and now I get to see if it helps with bass!

 

[Malcolm35]

I read up on "how to play drums" -- never played on a kit, and just that helped me understand what the drummer did.

 

[dreamadream99]

It’s good to understand what drummers do in an ensemble, just as it’s good to understand what pianists and melody instruments do. Ensemble awareness is a lost art. Things like balance, tempo, give and take, call and answer, phrasing, just to name a few.

Learning to play drums can’t hurt your bass playing.

I’m not convinced it will help or improve it though. They are different disciplines.

I know what does help bass playing though: play and listen to as much music as possible.

 

[KohanMike]

I guess sometimes it's in your blood, I never played drums, but I have a very good sense of rhythm, attested to the fact that my younger brother has been a very accomplished drummer for the last 40 years. I played rhythm guitar for almost 50 years and was often told I should play bass because I had a good feel and sense of time, but I didn't want to be encumbered by a big electric bass, forget a stand up double bass.

Seven years ago I joined a seniors uke group and a year later the leader asked if anyone would like to take up the bass. I did some looking around and discovered all the bass ukes and mini bass guitars available, so I went for it. Six years later I have 30 bass ukes/mini bass guitars. One of my pet peeves is when the leader does the count in, she ultimately doesn't stay in tempo, which I try to force with my bass, sometimes successful, sometimes not. I'm also a very good dancer, as another note.

 

[Malcolm35]

Had a friend that played rhythm guitar in a good ole boy Country band we were in. Always had his knickers in a knot because the vocalist did not follow the count.

Notice I said we had a friend.... The vocalist was the wife of the Director. You know who won that argument. He is still a friend but does not play with us any longer.

Some time we have to go with the flow.

 

[geeza]

Absolutely

 

[Hounddog409]

Has learning to play drums helped your bass playing?

I bought an electronic drum kit a few months back. I was hoping that learning to play drums would not only help me with bass playing but also rhythm guitar. I suffered a shoulder injury though and still haven't started playing drums yet.

Just curious if those of you who might play both bass and drums see a benefit.

Let me know?

No. But I played drums first.

 

[AboutSweetSue]

I’m a firm believer that playing other instruments helps one to become more proficient at playing other instruments. Not sure if that makes sense, but you get it.

 

[scuzzy]

Every instrument i know how to play has helped and influenced my bass playing. And vice versa. Drumming has really helped, just to listen to rhythm, and the importance of having a consistent kick pattern.

 

[JeezyMcNuggles]

Has learning to play drums helped your bass playing?

I bought an electronic drum kit a few months back. I was hoping that learning to play drums would not only help me with bass playing but also rhythm guitar. I suffered a shoulder injury though and still haven't started playing drums yet.

Just curious if those of you who might play both bass and drums see a benefit.

Let me know?

I already play the drums. I guess it helps. I've got a beat in my head constantly. Helps me come up with lines...constantly.

 

[JimmyM]

There is absolutely no question on earth that playing drums helped my bass playing. So did playing guitar, keys, trumpet, flute, and tuba. Any time you can learn how to play another instrument, it benefits you, even if you never get good at it, like keys, trumpet, flute and tuba I only wish I'd have kept up drums, but my wife is glad.

 

[Pings Bass]

Yes. 100%.

In a lot of Latin music, every instrument acts like part of the drum section. Bass is the lead drum, basically. If you're out of time, it throws everything off. Since Latin bass comes from a from a drum part (tumbao) it's critical to have a working knowledge the other drum parts: clave of course, bell patterns, basic conga, bongo, timbal/cascara etc.

If you're playing bass on anything with a groove, you've got to know the drum parts, and playing the basic drum groove is a great way to learn it.

 

[bolophonic]

100% yes.

 

[jeffb28451]

Yes, definitely, but now I’m late to gigs and leave the stage on the last note, only to be found hours later by my band mates, too drunk to walk and hitting on 20:year old waitresses.

 

[Drumdialogue]

Drums and the bass are like peanut butter and jelly. They can only make each other better.

Mikey
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