Serendipity

[Zig-Zag]

I am a six string player who has been playing seriously for over 20 years (up to that time I'd been playing on and off for 30 years). I've always thought about picking up a bass, but one thing that prevented me from doing that was thinking that tuning was different, and I'd have to recommit my time to essentially relearning an unfamiliar instrument. I reached a point where I was losing my motivation for guitar playing. When I discovered the tuning for a four-string base was the same as the top four strings, I was really stoked for getting one.

I picked up a MIM Jazz a little over a year ago, and I'm back to playing daily. I even find time to play the six strings.

 

[Bioflava]

Welcome to TalkBass and electric bass: a larger version of the bottom 4 strings of your guitar

 

[jamro217]

Welcome to TB. Hope your transition to a new instrument is going well. Traditionally the role of the bass is different from the guitar. If you approach it as such (rather than a large, lower register guitar sans the B and E), you will most likely progress faster. Hope this helps, and enjoy the wealth of knowledge and camaraderie offered here.

 

[mambo4]

There may also be some technique adjustments needed due to beefy strings and wider frets.
good luck!

 

[Zig-Zag]

There may also be some technique adjustments needed due to beefy strings and wider frets.
good luck!

Yes, and higher action, and right hand technique, etc. Plus, I tend to want to think about the G-string like an E-string, and it's hard to get that all strings are ascending 4ths instead of one major third thrown in (too good to be true). The wider fret thing is tricky, too. The stretch is tricky, but you've also got to be right next to the fret to keep from buzzing. I'm okay as long as I don't try to switch back and forth between six string and bass in the same session... that REALLY screws me up... on both instruments.

I also think I am a naturally better bass player, because of the way my brain works, but it is still just as hard to be a really good soloist on either instrument. I get that the roles are different. The way I understand it is that the bass is critical for keeping rhythm and also to define the chord. But being a six string player, I can't be held to playing 1, 3, 5s without throwing in some other stuff.

Also, thanks to all so far. This is a friendly place... educational, too.

 

[Russell L]

Be careful you don't start playing "lead bass." Very annoying. Keep it simple and let your playing do what a bass ought to, although there are times you can throw in something.

 

[2BitHack]

Be careful you don't start playing "lead bass." Very annoying. Keep it simple and let your playing do what a bass ought to, although there are times you can throw in something.

Or, you can play whatever you like

 

[Zig-Zag]

Be careful you don't start playing "lead bass." Very annoying. Keep it simple and let your playing do what a bass ought to, although there are times you can throw in something.

Yeah, words to live by, thanks. I've never played bass with others... only along with CDs. I'm getting ready to record some songs, and I'll lay down a couple of bass tracks for each song. Hopefully, I'll learn a lot from doing this.

 

[Zig-Zag]

Also, I'm a jazz and fusion fan. Weather Report is my favorite band, and Jaco my favorite bass player. I'm not even suggesting that I can touch his talent, but as for being a "lead bass" player, he prolly defines the term. I think the genre you're in, what you're saying on your instrument and how you're responding to the other musicians, your volume level, and how you fit in the mix are the most important considerations after you are satisfying your role in the group. But like I say, I'm still learning.