It's as hard or easy as you want it to be. Plenty of bass lines out there that would take the average IQ moments learn. Of course if you want to glide effortlessly through modes, arpeggios, tempo changes , chord changes and the likes, you will have to put in quite a few hours but they're worth it.
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Is it hard to learn bass guitar?
- Thread starter NelsonLawson
- Start date
It is easier than guitar to be good enough for joining a band but like any other instruments it can be hard to be good.
Turnaround
Commercial User
Easy as pie. Lemon meringue pie. The crust can be tricky. And the meringue. Takes a bit of practice to get it right. Just like learning bass.
*If I can do it, anybody can do it.
*There's more call for bad bassists than bad guitarists - Kenny Rogers
* Parent: "What did you learn today at your lesson?"
Youngster: "I learned the notes on the E string."
Parent (one week later): What did you learn today?"
Youngster: "I learned the notes on the A string."
Parent (2 weeks): "What did you learn today?"
Youngster: "I learned the notes on the D string."
Parent (3 weeks): "What did you learn today?"
Youngster: "I learned the notes on the G string."
Parent (4 weeks): "What the hell happened to you?!?"
Youngster...smelling of cigarettes & beer: "I had my first gig."
Riis
*There's more call for bad bassists than bad guitarists - Kenny Rogers
* Parent: "What did you learn today at your lesson?"
Youngster: "I learned the notes on the E string."
Parent (one week later): What did you learn today?"
Youngster: "I learned the notes on the A string."
Parent (2 weeks): "What did you learn today?"
Youngster: "I learned the notes on the D string."
Parent (3 weeks): "What did you learn today?"
Youngster: "I learned the notes on the G string."
Parent (4 weeks): "What the hell happened to you?!?"
Youngster...smelling of cigarettes & beer: "I had my first gig."
Riis
Depends on your ability to learn and your hand coordination. Some can pickup a bass and figure it out pretty quickly. I've only been playing bass for 45 years and I still suck.
When you're in your car, finger-drumming on the steering wheel to whatever music is on, do you improvise variations on the rhythm? While you hum or sing along? You might be a bassist. Or a drummer...
I played guitar for years before trying bass, and I found it to be a different sort of animal. Yeah, they look similar, and have similar arrangements of notes, but the technique and approach is different. Like has been said, easy to start, but getting good takes a lot of work - like anything else.
But, much of what you learn on bass can help you with other instruments later, if you choose to branch out. A good sense of rhythm, timing, and pitch is universal.
Dive in and work at it.
And for every 20 wannabe guitar heroes, there's one bassist, so there's a better chance of finding a spot in a band.
I played guitar for years before trying bass, and I found it to be a different sort of animal. Yeah, they look similar, and have similar arrangements of notes, but the technique and approach is different. Like has been said, easy to start, but getting good takes a lot of work - like anything else.
But, much of what you learn on bass can help you with other instruments later, if you choose to branch out. A good sense of rhythm, timing, and pitch is universal.
Dive in and work at it.
And for every 20 wannabe guitar heroes, there's one bassist, so there's a better chance of finding a spot in a band.
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Its easy if your into it and finding time to practice just happens naturally. I would recommend learning bass and guitar at the same time its sorta like getting a buy one get one free on the learning
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This is it, right here. I think learning notes, the fretboard, and being able to play basic parts with other musicians, it's the least complicated to get started on if you have no musical experience. That said, you can play for 50 years and still not have it mastered.It's easy at first, but it gets harder the better you get
I think the physical act of playing a bass is easier than training your brain to think like a bassist. Thinking about and approaching music in a way that's different than percussionists and melody instruments do is where I believe the "real" challenge of bass playing lies.
If you're willing to open your mind and explore music in a way you haven't before, then you can have a great time playing bass.
If you're willing to open your mind and explore music in a way you haven't before, then you can have a great time playing bass.
The beauty of bass is that you can play along with a simple sing in an hour or so.
With or without you U2. 15 minutes.
And at the other end of the spectrum you find guys like claypool, miller and Wooten.
So yes and no.
With or without you U2. 15 minutes.
And at the other end of the spectrum you find guys like claypool, miller and Wooten.
So yes and no.
Ric5
Inactive
- Jan 29, 2008
- 29,772
- 30,452
- Disclosures
- I like 5, 8, 10, and 12 string basses
playing bass is easy
(1198) GENE SIMMONS BASS SOLO SHOW - YouTube
and
playing bass is hard
(1198) Billy Sheehan - Bass Solo - YouTube
(1198) GENE SIMMONS BASS SOLO SHOW - YouTube
and
playing bass is hard
(1198) Billy Sheehan - Bass Solo - YouTube
Picking up a bass first time to a first couple songs can be very easy. The spacing is manageable for a beginner. And the steps up the neck make sense to someone without much experience.
I'd say it is among the most easy instruments to Start. And as difficult as you make it.
Do it. Have fun.
I'd say it is among the most easy instruments to Start. And as difficult as you make it.
Do it. Have fun.
Chess club, book club etc. if your end goal is to socialize do something else. If you are driven by a love of music and a desire to play it - go for it , but don't expect it to be easy.
If you find yourself interested in progressing with the bass, IMO, I would find an experienced instructor with a strong understanding of the fundamentals to get you started on the right track. It's too easy to develop habits that may be hard to break. In addition, the instructor would be able to ensure the bass you're using was properly set-up. Hopefully, this instructor would teach you to read music which will go a long way as you progress. Most importantly, the instructor needs to keep your bass learning fun which will encourage you to learn to love the bass. I wish I had done this decades ago. Oh, and I highly recommend heeding input from the awesome members of TB who have a wealth of knowledge and experience in many areas.
