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Is Bass Worth Picking Up?

#65
GoCDerek said:
Can guitarists really play the bass if they wanted? I'd think it would take some serious work to play both, and be good at both too.
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There are lots of serious bass players that started on guitar.

There are also many true musicians that play multiple instruments very well. Usually piano is the backbone instrument for these types of folks.

But unfortunately there are also lots of "weekend warrior" bass players that are in reality mediocre guitarists that pick up the bass from time to time because they believe it is "easy" or "easier". Or perhaps because they suck at guitar and want to gig (and know that a half decent bass player usually doesn't have a hard time getting gigs).

As many have said, the bass is a *fundamentally* different instrument than guitar. Something the weekend warrior guitarist/bass players too often just don't get. As a bass player you are the glue. You are the groove. If people are dancing to your band's performance (they may not realize it) but they are dancing and moving with the bass line.

The bass player (along with the drummer) holds the band/song together when something goes wrong. And finally, as much as everyone likes a guitar solo, I'll tell you everybody LOVES a bass solo if it is well done.

I love the bass. Beyond all this it also still feels like an instrument that is somewhat unexplored. By this I mean that bass playing has evolved so much over the past 30 years - and I believe it will continue to evolve by leaps and bounds for years to come.
 
#66
For starters if you have to ask that question the answer is defiantly "NO!"
I believe an instrument picks you. You can pick up an instrument but that doesn't mean the instrument picks you to play it. If it doesn't pick you, you'll struggle the rest of your life with it. ......
As John Goodman said "You're entering into a big world of pain Donny."
It's like being in High School and asking your buddy if he thinks you should go out with that girl? ....... If you have to ask, it's already too late. Don't you think she has an opinion on the subject?

This thread started out good, great sarcasm, but turned real lame real fast.
Do the world a favor and don't play the BASS.
 
#67
GoCDerek said:
Yeah, I'll look at GC, but I also don't mind buying online, if it's a better deal. If it helps, I like the bass in Korn, but as well as some other bands in different genres, like RHCP, but in a band, I'd want to play more 'hardcore'.
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No kidding. Flea is such a pussy.

Kidding aside, I'm not sure what "hardcore" means in this context but apparently it does not mean: "butt kicking bass played with world class talent & skill"
 
#69
Before deciding..

Find someone with a bigger air-pushing amp and a properly setup bass

Then have some guitar dude (or key dude) hit a chord.. find the note that "completes" what's missing.

If you can find the note.. and it feels/sounds like the skies just opened up and angels yodeled.. you're cut out for a bass player.

It's easier to fake bass.. it's much tougher to become excellent - compared to guitar. The other thing is that bass playing is more thinking and feeling than guitar.

If you're asking - chances are you didn't hear the chorus of angels when you picked up the bass.

Tim
 
#70
I'm originally a percussionist who picked up bass. Now I'm trying to learn guitar chords so that a) I can look at the guitarists hands and not get so lost and b) I can play along with myself if I feel like singing.

All the instruments are totally different. Out of them......I like playing bass *with a group* the best. Sorry, but bass by yourself in the bedroom gets old after a while (*prepares for flames*:ninja:). For playing by yourself in the bedroom, guitar wins... for the simple reason that drums don't go over too well at 2am when you get the itch to play.

If your goal is to play with a group, and you like the way the bass feels, go with bass-you will be in demand and will find a band easily. If you don't like attention, definetly go with the bass. Be prepared to be ignored...... (I had someone ask me, "so, are you the groupie?" and my guitarist said "noooooooo she's the bass player".....duh. You just watched me on stage!!!:scowl::eek::p).

If your goal is to play at open mics and impress your friends, go with guitar. Just be prepared to be a very small fish in a very big puddle for a while. Maybe forever depending on you and the music scene in your area.

One other thing to be prepared for is the effect the economy has on music in some areas..... What I mean is, a lot of places are turning to hiring duos and solo acts for their music. And the instrument of choice for those is guitar or keyboard....not bass. It can get discouraging watching all the guitar players out doing gigs while the bassists and drummers are home.... :bawl:.

What you may also do is make friends with a local bass guy and see if they have (or know someone who has) a bass just sitting around you could borrow for a month just to try it...... maybe give them a deposit or something?

As for equipment, I started out on "cheap" Peavy basses and the furthest I've moved up is to an Ibanez.... you don't have to spend a lot of money to play on a bass. Pick one that feels right to you regardless of the tag. It is a good idea to have a practice amp if you live with other people, my crate BT15 is all I use to play through until I'm with my band. It also comes in handy because it has CD inputs so I can hook my laptop up through it and be able to play along to a song I'm learning.... and at practice I use it as a speaker for my laptop for the band to hear a song. And if the drummer can't make practice, I use it as my amp (the gutiarists are playing acoustic so they just don't plug in).

One last caveat about bass.......the equipment can be very heavy... and a pita to move around. If you have back issues or don't like lugging stuff....... go with guitar :).

:)
 
#74
GoCDerek said:
I'm still going to consider the Dean basses, the reviews appear to be great.


http://bass-guitars.musiciansfriend...ctric-Bass-with-Active-Electronics?sku=512156

http://bass-guitars.musiciansfriend.com/product/Dean-Demonator-Metalman-4String-Bass?sku=519350

Any feedback on these basses?


My price range is around $200 for the bass, and around the same for an amp, and I can go over the bands I like the bass in again.
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I'd like some feedback on these basses, once I get a bass, I'm going to decide on an amp.
 
#75
ErebusBass said:
What does it mean to be as important as the guitarist?

Each instrument is important in a different way. The bass is locks in with the drummer and holds the groove together, and the guitar stands in the spotlight and wanks around and makes the ladies take their tops off.

But you all get to look at the boobies so what does it matter?

I love the bass.
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Thank you :bassist:
 
#76
More than likely I'm going to try the two basses I posted out at GC, since the reviews are mainly great, I'll just have to see which one I like the most.


I'll do the same with the amp, I'll try them out at the store.
 
#78
bass is the backbone to a band...
try this...put a CD on, and turn the bass all the way down....
yes they are an important part of the band...that and the drummer..don't let the ones tell you that the guitarist is always the "more important"...all members are..but without bass, the song would be pretty zzzzing to me!!
 
#79
Bassmickeyd said:
For starters if you have to ask that question the answer is defiantly "NO!"
I believe an instrument picks you. You can pick up an instrument but that doesn't mean the instrument picks you to play it. If it doesn't pick you, you'll struggle the rest of your life with it. ......
As John Goodman said "You're entering into a big world of pain Donny."
It's like being in High School and asking your buddy if he thinks you should go out with that girl? ....... If you have to ask, it's already too late. Don't you think she has an opinion on the subject?

This thread started out good, great sarcasm, but turned real lame real fast.
Do the world a favor and don't play the BASS.
Click to expand...

ITA with you...I feel like the bass picked me too..all my life I loved the sound of it, even though I didn't know what it was!! Took 36 years to realize this tho!! lol!
 
#80
I didn't read the whole thread yet (I'll do it when I'm done with this post), but it seems that some of you are saying that one can't play bass and recieve a large part of a crowd's attention - this is untrue. While I admit that many bassists will just sit on the sidelines and pump out root notes and nothing else, a good solid bassit who can improvise some witty fills or play brilliant countermelodies AND look like he's enjoying it will never go unnoticed by the crowd. In fact, I think a crowd notices the fact that the bass player, steryotypically the member of the band with less than no stage presence, is the one who is drawing most of the attention.

Flea? Geddy Lee? Gary Thain? Steve Harris?

edit: Ok, so other people made that point too, lol
 

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