That's always the case. Who ever thinks otherwise is probably self taught or ignorant.
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Should a Bassist Know Basic Guitar?
- Thread starter BassFishingInAmerica
- Start date
That's always the case. Who ever thinks otherwise is probably self taught or ignorant.
Nope! Learning major and minor keys, including notes, arpeggios, chords, modes, etc. is MUSIC THEORY, not guitar. Theory is the same for any instrument you pick up. You can learn the exact same information with the instrument you practice on every day.
The beauty of this is that it's easy to learn to sing while playing guitar. You can learn a lot of folk songs (and play just for yourself) and it still be beneficial to your bass playing.
You don't have to be able to reach performance level proficiency to benefit. It gets your brain to start processing music in a different way. A way that's intrinsically linked to your body. Sort of like muscle memory, but on steroids.
And don't be surprised if you discover you can actually sing far better than you thought possible. Singing is just another physical skill. Some people have it naturally or come by it easily. Others will have to work at it. But my experience is that nearly everyone can be taught to sing. At least to a workmanlike and acceptable level.
It's really no different than learning any other musical instrument. Except this is the only instrument you can't buy - or will ever need to.
Luck!
I voted "makes no difference" but it sure can't hurt, and if you really know the fingerboard of your bass, then you *do* know basic guitar. Sort of unavoidable. Learning a few cowboy chords is simple, too.
Agreed if your playing bass as your main instrument but certain instruments will never lend itself to playing triads or 7th chords such as saxophone. Therefore it's imperative to sit down in front of a piano or keyboard to hear all notes played at once and not just an arpeggio. To get a clear understanding of chord structure you must play and hear them to develop your ear.
Even with bass we are sort of limited when playing chords. More than likely we hit 3 out of the 4 notes it takes to play a 7th chord because of the way bass is tuned. Its not impossible to play all 4 notes but it's a lot harder. But we can get away with playing only 3 notes. For example we can leave out the 5th note in a major 7 chord and only play the 1, 3, 7. Because the 7 has the dominant sound in a 7th chord.
I think a bassist should know a second instrument of some melodic / treble clef range. For me that was saxophone and it absolutely helped shape the way I approach bass. Guitar is a great second instrument to know, but so is piano, trumpet, etc.
I voted "makes no difference" but allow me to clarify: You don't necessarily have to know basic guitar but it is extremely beneficial to have at least some fundamental theory.
I said "It doesn't matter" because this is slightly misleading question. A bass player doesn't need to know guitar to do what you are describing, a bass player needs to know music theory. Chords are chords, scales are scales; it doesn't matter what instrument they are applied to.
Where knowing some basic guitar playing helps is with writing. Coming up with riffs or fully orchestrated compositions on just the bass is a little difficult at times.
I learned quite a bit about harmony through playing guitar, so i say YES, it is a good thing to learn. Piano could also be beneficial as well. But by no means do you have to learn them to be an accomplished bassist specifically, but to be an accomplished musician and composer, it sure helps.
I play the guitar rhythmically different and voice chords differently on guitar. it inspires my bass playing to branch out.
The OP specifically asked if a bassist should pick up guitar to learn chords. Therefore, the object isn't to ultimately play the chords, but rather to understand chord structure. Arpeggiated chords are a fundamental part of bass lines. Or, you can pick up a 6- or 7-string bass and play 7th chords.
Bass is a better fit to my physique, I have larger diameter industrial type hands. I would suppose since I am part Neanderthal I have a tendency to prefer rhythms. Therefore bass comes most easy to me and I like it.
Knowing too much guitar could bring too much melodic influence, the best bass doesn't track exactly along, it is between percussion and melody, augments both.
So I would say knowing both percussion AND melody can put a bass player in the best "in-between".
Knowing too much guitar could bring too much melodic influence, the best bass doesn't track exactly along, it is between percussion and melody, augments both.
So I would say knowing both percussion AND melody can put a bass player in the best "in-between".
Chords on the bass are played very differently from guitar, especially open chords on the first 3 frets of a guitar. To a bass player unfamiliar with basic guitar forms, these chords would be unrecognized.
At least know the chord shapes and what those chords are 1,2,3,4,5 frets up with a capo. Then if you ever are in a position where they're playing a song you don't know, watch the left hand (assuming a righty) and you won't be lost.
The notes in a chord are just strummed notes in a scale. If you know the scale, you know the notes.
Yes! I was about to write that. That is somethig any bassist should know. If I want you to give me Am chord and you don´t know how the crap is the position but you know your theory, then you will be able to figure it out. 1-m3-p5 BOOM.
And the fun part is when you want to folow the guitarrist, but he´s playing power chords. lol.
It's beneficial to learn as many instruments as you can - the more you know about how other instruments work, the better you'll be able to glue them together as a bass player. And then of course you can apply some of the other instrument's techniques to the bass as well 
I recently went to an acoustic jam evening and a young chap was impressed that I was playing along on the venue's acoustic bass to songs I'd never heard before.
