• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

Is playing bass easy?

#61
Kukulkan61 said:
It's what a majority of people ask at gigs. Is it easier to play it only has 4 strings? Hasn't anyone ever approached you with that same lame question?
Click to expand...
Non musicians are often clueless, I don't let that bother me. People have told me they like they way I play guitar. Some people may not even notice what I do on bass but they would notice it if I wasn't there. I'm okay with that, I see it as my role as a bassist.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Kukulkan61
#64
fingerguy said:
There is also something to be said about hand size. I know a great guitar player that said he didn't really have the finger strength to hold down bass notes properly but amazing guitar player. I can see that. Another reason I enjoy bass more for my sausage size finders and using a 4 string I have more room for finger placement where I would have to cram my fingers for many chords on guitar.
Click to expand...

perhaps someone should have taught him about things like set-ups and lighter strings. i'm a 5' 3" woman and i can hold down bass strings. the only reason i play extra lights has more to do with some health issues.

btw, have you ever tried a guitar with a wider neck? i hate the standard 1 11/16" nut width on the average dread - i prefer a 1 13/16" or 1 7/8" nut, leaves a lot more room for finger maneuvers. and some classicals have a 2" or 2 1/4" nut, LOTS of room there!
 
  • Like
Reactions: fingerguy
#65
pcake said:
perhaps someone should have taught him about things like set-ups and lighter strings. i'm a 5' 3" woman and i can hold down bass strings. the only reason i play extra lights has more to do with some health issues.

btw, have you ever tried a guitar with a wider neck? i hate the standard 1 11/16" nut width on the average dread - i prefer a 1 13/16" or 1 7/8" nut, leaves a lot more room for finger maneuvers. and some classicals have a 2" or 2 1/4" nut, LOTS of room there!
Click to expand...
To be honest, I have no idea. I see a guitar and try it. I do not know specs at all: wood, size, etc. My new Fender P-Bass I couldn't tell you anything other than my hand slides up and down that neck like melted butter and it's made in America.
 
  • Like
Reactions: slobake
#67
fingerguy said:
To be honest, I have no idea. I see a guitar and try it. I do not know specs at all: wood, size, etc. My new Fender P-Bass I couldn't tell you anything other than my hand slides up and down that neck like melted butter and it's made in America.
Click to expand...
Got rid of my Jazz bass because the neck was to small for my tastes. I hope that one day to put together a Jazz with a Precision neck.
 
#68
I feel the things that set apart the good from the mediocre have very little to do with the notes being played or the technical skill being applied, but everything to do with feel and timing. Not to generalize, but I can almost always tell when it's someone who's primarily a guitarist playing the bass or a bassist playing the bass. To many guitarists (not all, of course) it often becomes primarily about melody and how many notes can be joined together, as opposed to playing less notes, but being melodically in the pocket. Conversely, there are some guitarists who have an excellent grasp of the concept. Like others have said, bass isn't the most difficult instrument to "play", but it can be very hard to master. A guitarist with a pedestrian knowledge of some chords can sit down and with nominal effort play you a song that would be generally pleasing to listen to. A bass player with the same level of knowledge respective to their instrument would have a much harder time conjuring up anything that most people would actually consider to be listenable, on the spot under the same circumstance. A bassist with a thorough understanding of music and with a measure of technical skill would be able to produce the same results at the hobbyist guitarist, except there's a lot more going on than simply strumming some barre chords.
 
#69
Playing beginnger bass is easier than playing beginner guitar. The bass doesn't require as fine a motor skills as the guitar. Beyond that, they both can get quite challenging from a technical standpoint and for different reasons.
 
#73
For some people yes.. For some people singing is easy.. For some people dancing is easy.. for some people fighting is easy..... for some people making friends is easy... for some people tying their shoes is easy.... for some people writing is easy..... you get my point..

It is relative... but it is easier... if you keep it fun....
 
  • Like
Reactions: slobake
#75
slobake said:
Got rid of my Jazz bass because the neck was to small for my tastes. I hope that one day to put together a Jazz with a Precision neck.
Click to expand...
Why not this where you can adjust to Jazz pick-up and much more. I really like the feature of being able to switch between passive and active mode.

AMERICAN ELITE PRECISION BASS

0196900700_gtr_frt_001_rr.jpg

 
#77
I struggled with acoustic guitar for a few years until I tried the electric bass at age 18 and learned very quickly. Soon tried piano/keyboards and struggled with that, too.

On a whim, I bought an alto sax for $500 and I was playing respectably well after 6 months. A few years later, got a flute and couldn't play for crap after more than a year of maple practice.

Have tried various other instruments with mixed success, but after almost 30 years and more than 15,000 hours, I'm very skilled on bass. I don't believe that's because bass is particularly easy for me, I just think that since I enjoy it so much that I still look forward to playing every day, and there's no substitute for lots and lots of practice.

Then, about 8 years ago, I bought a Roland e-drum kit and it was awesomely fun. I played almost 2 hours every day and got pretty good in a short amount of time.

I guess my answer is, its easy to play an instrument that I like, but if I'm not enthusiastic, then its a chore to play and I won't learn it.
 
  • Like
Reactions: slobake
#79
fingerguy said:
Get this instead for it's a lot more fun:
Kala U-Bass

Kala-Bubinga-U-Bass-620x233.jpg
Click to expand...

I'm too cheap to pay for one, so I got the Chinese made Hadean:

3b69749d-7b3d-4347-a906-70858ef46fb6.jpg


It's fun to take to the park & get some sun while I play for the ducks in the pond.
The stream almost drowns out the E string though.

I reference the Luna, because it's tuned like a guitar.

If I can stick to practicing, and lately I have, I'll probably buy another guitar soon. Oddly enough I wish I had back my old LTD guitar. That thing was a real gem & I only paid $115 for it!
Hmm, maybe I'll see if I can find another like it. I still have the spare tuners & bridge someone gave me.

As far as bass being easy goes, it depends on the song or the genre.
I was reviewing songs to learn on Saturday & I've always loved the Misfits but their songs are boring on bass, really boring.
Today I was having fun playing "Last Dance with Mary Jane", LOL
It's not incredibly difficult, also not incredibly boring.
 
Last edited:

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back