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Is It OK to learn other Instruments while learning bass?

#21
I played some guitar before picking up the bass. I've always had an acoustic or electric guitar around so I kept on learning chords and some basic blues leads. Didn't put much time per day into to it, but kept at it, year after year. Then I spent a bunch of time on the keyboards.

Learning other instruments helps, not hurts your musicianship.

Since your just starting, I think you have to get some competence on the bass first. Then add keyboards and guitar on the side. Recognizing chord patterns on either instrument has always helped me.
 
#22
DocBop said:
Best second instrument to learn is keyboard. Makes learning theory visual, best for studying ear training, if you get into recording need it for MIDI work, these days lots of bass is done with KB or doubled with KB might as well get the working instead of a piano player. Making learning to solo easier by being able to play chords and see how scales sound against them. And composition, and arranging, and just sitting and messing around. Learn enough to play "arrangers piano" and can sit and "work" on tunes with the girl singer.
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+1 My musical journey started with a cheap keyboard that I got from Costco. I got it to see if I would actually develop the discipline to practice. Several months later, I got my bass. Not that I am proficient on either instrument yet, but the keyboard knowledge has come in handy for learning bass parts.

Saw a mondolin for $29.00 at Music-Go-Round the other day.....
 
#24
CatfishStudios said:
I play guitar, mandolin, banjo, fiddle(very poorly) Piano, bass, drums, saxophone, Shakuhachi, , mountain dulcimer and lap steel. and I can honestly say, that each instrument has given me new insight on the other instruments, in other words... Every time I learned to play a different instrument, I got better exponentially with all of them. I say if you desire it, go all out, and do it.
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+1
except my instruments are: bass, guitar, drums, ukulele, Piano Accordion, synths, double bass and computer (producing, sequencing and recording).
 
#25
I haven't played the trombone for nearly 18 years, but I've been thinking about getting one to help supplement my bass learning. My son is learning the guitar and he wants to play the trumpet in school next year, so this should help both of us broaden our skills and give us another jazz instrument in our arsenals. Versatility is a good thing, but it will take a lot of dedication and practice.
 
#27
slightly off topic, but I play in a big band that does a lot of dance band gigs (waltz, foxtrot Q/S, that sort of thing....)

Before I got married last year, my wife-to-be dragged me to some dance lessons, so we could do a Quickstep as our first dance. (Our Big Band was playing)

I was quite suprised to find that learning ballroom dancing help me understand which parts of the music were REALLY important for dancers....

Given up the dancing now tho... :-)
 
#29
It's a great thing to learn as much as possible.

I think everyone should attempt to play a little bit of each instrument family and experience instruments from other cultures. What better way to gain an understanding of the world around you then through the language of music.

I never thought much of flute until I tried to play it, I have a newfound respect for upper woodwinds that is for sure.
 
#30
Yeah!! Learn more instruments! I started with the violin, then viola, mandolin, flute, piano, DB, piccolo, bassoon, accordian, tuba, church organ (found out jazz worked real well there), harmonica, euphonium, and somewhere along the way I taught myself 7 chords on the guitar, got bored and quit on it. I can still play 7 chords......and I also play EBG, but I group that in with my DB usually.
No harm in being "well rounded".....I have most of those instruments in my house as well.:hyper:
 
#31
Of course it is Ok for all the above reasons but................

it might slow you down in your progress on bass if you divide your practice time in half. When you are new to an instrument I feel it is best to concentrate your efforts on that one especially in the beginning. But that is just my thoughts and experience on this,

Sly
 
#32
It's tricky but fun. I played tuba for years then picked up bass. It kind of worked out that when I graduated HS I didnt have a tuba, but I had a bass. I filled the gap with another instrument. But being a band kid I know that it is difficult and stressful learning more than one.
My advice: if you really want to go for it. Try finding a cheaper instrument at a pawn shop or something to find out if you really do have an interest. If it shows you do, take lessons with a teacher or online.
There are plenty of options out there, just take the time to look over and think about it. I never think you can have too much musical background in you life. Good for you!
 
#33
My Dear Friends,

Yes, by all means learn other instruments. Learning piano/keys especially will help to break you out of the linear "fretboard" thinking that restricts the playing of a lot of bassists; you'll be more melodic, thinking more about the phrasing you're hearing in your head moreso than the particulars of fretboard navigation.

It also helps immensely to be able to get behind a bandmate's instrument and show them what you are hearing rather than trying to explain it, especially during songwriting when a lot of ideas are flying around. Drummers and guitarists I have worked with and I have often done this, and I can attest that it greatly improves communication between musicians.


Warmest regards,


Kurt
 
#34
I like being a multi-instrumentalist for song writing purposes. When you reach a road block on one instrument, switch to another. Very often things keep moving forward that way.

I'd say guitar because I like the portability, but I think keyboards is a very good choice as well. Sax is very cool, but I think that the skills are less likely to immediately help you. I'd encourage you to learn sax, but I'd wait until you had some more time playing before going to it - develop your ear a little more and perhaps wait until transposing isn't a daunting task. OTOH, the melodocism of sax would be a very desirable thing to transfer to your bass playing.

KO
 
#36
In my world of bassdom, I progress in big jumps to the next skill level. I rarely show steady improvement. This also means I hit long plateaus where nothing really happens. This is when I spend time on another instrument. Drums have made the biggest change. Got alot better at more percussive styles as soon as I could play a decent drumbeat. Now I can do endless runs of 32ths and 64ths. Never would have happened without discovering some things on a drumset.

Spent some time with a keyboard and learned to properly apply fundamental scales, triads and music theory in my bass playing.

I got my first fretless bass awhile back and couldn't manage it all that well until I dug my old slide trombone. A couple months later I was off and running.

I could go on.

Yeah, learn some other instruments. Keep conscious of your time spent though. If you have particular goals on your main instrument (bass?) make sure you are dedicated to it and working toward those goals through your other instruments. Maybe keep a journal.
 
#39
I learned most of the theory I know on a guitar. It just made more sense to me, with the extended range, and chords. And the skills used in bass carry over to guitar (and vice versa).

And whenever I plateau, or get tired on bass, I will switch to guitar for a period of time. That way I continue progressing as a musician while still taking a break.

And on top of that you will begin to get into the heads of your guitards

DO IT
 

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