Guitar is of course better for playing/performing by yourself, and arguably for composition. I tend to write songs with guitar or piano. But I mostly play bass because (a) I really like making huge, threatening noises, and (b) everybody and his kid brother thinks they can play guitar, but every rock band needs a bass player. Lower supply with the same demand means a higher "market" value. ;o)
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I'm torn between Bass and Electric guitar
- Thread starter Vika
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You can do both.
On a side note, 'bass guitar' is such a misnomer. You don't call a tuba a 'bass trumpet'.
On a side note, 'bass guitar' is such a misnomer. You don't call a tuba a 'bass trumpet'.
This. Why do you have to choose? I have three basses and three guitars, and I play 'em all.
Of course, but the original poster was specifically asking what he should do if he had to constrain himself to one.
On a side note, 'bass guitar' is such a misnomer. You don't call a tuba a 'bass trumpet'.
No, but you do call a bass clarinet a bass clarinet.
When I was 20, I couldn't afford to own more than 1 instrument.This. Why do you have to choose? I have three basses and three guitars, and I play 'em all.
Neither. Music is the road to ruin.
Just kidding. Play both, see which one really does it for you. I played (and gigged) guitar for 30+ years before I took up bass in earnest, and I wish I had done it earlier. I still enjoy guitar for writing and such, but for me, bass is where it's at. You gotta do what works for you.
Just kidding. Play both, see which one really does it for you. I played (and gigged) guitar for 30+ years before I took up bass in earnest, and I wish I had done it earlier. I still enjoy guitar for writing and such, but for me, bass is where it's at. You gotta do what works for you.
It's sorta like putting the puppy down in the middle of the room and seeing who he gravitates to.
Get both instruments. The one you pick up most often is the one for you.
Get both instruments. The one you pick up most often is the one for you.
I suggest you start with chords on the guitar so you can sing along with various songs.
Play bass that goes with the songs you learn.
It's always cool to look over at the guitarist and see what chords are being used.
Sometimes I have to learn new chords to keep up with at least the chord part of a song. I enjoy that a lot and also learn chords on my own . For me, it's easier to attempt originals on guitar. I also picked up chording on the keyboard. That's helpful as well.
Good luck.
Play bass that goes with the songs you learn.
It's always cool to look over at the guitarist and see what chords are being used.
Sometimes I have to learn new chords to keep up with at least the chord part of a song. I enjoy that a lot and also learn chords on my own . For me, it's easier to attempt originals on guitar. I also picked up chording on the keyboard. That's helpful as well.
Good luck.
If you can only play one, first decide what your end goal is. What do you want to be doing musically a year from now?
Do you just want to enterain yourself, play only at home? Then maybe a guitar is best. Nobody really ever sits down at the campfire with friends, pulls out a bass, and sings along. Bass often doesn't really work as a solo instrument, or as a singers only accompaniment. Only bass players really appriciate the sound of bass alone. Typically friends and family don't get it when they hear you play bass alone.
Do you want to be in a band? As others have noted, the supply of guitarists is pretty saturated. Ya can't fling a dead guitarist without hitting another guitarist. The place is crawling with them. Bands need good bass players. There are already too many guitars. If you play bass you are more likely to find a spot in a band than if you are a guitar player. Bass sounds GREAT in a group! I think there is more room for doing more new creative stuff on bass. I kinda think everything you can do with a guitar has been done.
Do you just want to enterain yourself, play only at home? Then maybe a guitar is best. Nobody really ever sits down at the campfire with friends, pulls out a bass, and sings along. Bass often doesn't really work as a solo instrument, or as a singers only accompaniment. Only bass players really appriciate the sound of bass alone. Typically friends and family don't get it when they hear you play bass alone.
Do you want to be in a band? As others have noted, the supply of guitarists is pretty saturated. Ya can't fling a dead guitarist without hitting another guitarist. The place is crawling with them. Bands need good bass players. There are already too many guitars. If you play bass you are more likely to find a spot in a band than if you are a guitar player. Bass sounds GREAT in a group! I think there is more room for doing more new creative stuff on bass. I kinda think everything you can do with a guitar has been done.
When you listen to your favorite music what speaks to you the most. I played guitar for forty years but when I listened to music I would always follow the bass part in my head. When I realized this I sold all my guitars, effects and amps. I bought a bass and I've never been happier.
Bass will always be my main instrument, but along the way I've learned to play guitar a bit, too. Enough to play rhythm guitar if someone needs one, and enough to write guitar parts. Picked it up because I figured I may as well learn how to play bass's smaller cousin, as it would make me a more versatile musician. Plus it can be pretty fun, too.
Step 1. Buy a double bass.
Step 2. Play said double bass.
Step 3. Wonder why you even own other instruments any longer.
Step 2. Play said double bass.
Step 3. Wonder why you even own other instruments any longer.
Learn both. I started on bass, but eventually learned guitar mainly to become a better bass player. Learned drums as well (poorly). If nothing else, what I've found is that I tend to look at what the guitar player's fingers are doing to help me come up with bass lines. So learning to spot chords on site will greatly benefit you until you develop your ear well enough not to need to look so much.
I also vote "both" and would add that that the OP's desire to "commit fully" to either one or the other is a false dilemma, since, as many here have observed, study of one instrument will inform the other and vice versa.
Wishing you lots of fun!
Wishing you lots of fun!
Here's my 2¢ –
For solo playing, guitar is a bit more straight-forward. Traditionally, pop music most often features guitar as the leading instrumental voice... with half a dozen chords, you can cover plenty of classics and write your own simple material. Lessons and tutorials for these things abound on YouTube. Grab your guitar, sit down, and play a song people will recognize.
Not saying that's impossible to do on bass, but it takes a bit more effort and musical craftsmanship to get there, IME.
Now here's my purely subjective opinion on the matter: If you want to have the time of your life playing music and not give a damn what other people think about it, play bass. Play in a band, jam along with a recording, whatever... but when you lock into the groove with the drums, that's it. You're the brick and mortar and you know it. Everyone else is just cutesy stucco and paint on top.
For solo playing, guitar is a bit more straight-forward. Traditionally, pop music most often features guitar as the leading instrumental voice... with half a dozen chords, you can cover plenty of classics and write your own simple material. Lessons and tutorials for these things abound on YouTube. Grab your guitar, sit down, and play a song people will recognize.
Not saying that's impossible to do on bass, but it takes a bit more effort and musical craftsmanship to get there, IME.
Now here's my purely subjective opinion on the matter: If you want to have the time of your life playing music and not give a damn what other people think about it, play bass. Play in a band, jam along with a recording, whatever... but when you lock into the groove with the drums, that's it. You're the brick and mortar and you know it. Everyone else is just cutesy stucco and paint on top.
