Should a Bassist Know Basic Guitar?

[Rip Van Dan]

Seems like there have recently been a lot of threads about playing guitar. So, I thought I would add this:
To be the best one could possibly be on the bass, should there be a knowledge of basic guitar, being able to at least play major and minor chords? Or, is it enough just to hear or visually recognize what the guitarist is doing?

Yes. I learned basic open guitar chords and then barre chords in 1965 just before picking up the bass. Was nice because I not only knew the basics of the keyboard, but if I was lost or confused while playing, I could look at the guitar player's hands to figure out where we were.

In fact, I did exactly that when I was invited to come play bass for a group who had a gig in Nevada. Drove from LA up to Fallon, Nevada (just under 500 miles) to meet the group. I knew the guitar player who had invited me up and he introduced me to the drummer and girl singer. Then I set my stuff up on stage and we started playing. I watched the guitar player's hands all night as I followed along. I was familiar with the songs (top 40), but didn't know how to play them. If I could not have followed his hands, I would not have been able to play. After 5-nights of 4-sets each, I didn't have to follow the guitarist's hands very much anymore.

Nothing but advantages from learning basic guitar playing first.

 

[Rip Van Dan]

Seems like there have recently been a lot of threads about playing guitar. So, I thought I would add this:
To be the best one could possibly be on the bass, should there be a knowledge of basic guitar, being able to at least play major and minor chords? Or, is it enough just to hear or visually recognize what the guitarist is doing?

One more thing I might add, learning how to play guitar has also allowed me to play guitar on some songs where it was just all but impossible for me to play the bass correctly and sing the song. Did the Chicago song "Beginnings" with a group a few years back and I just couldn't play the bass part for crap while singing that song. So I passed off the bass to our lead singer and taught him the signature patterns so he could do it (he was a rhythm guitar player). When performing, I would pass him my bass, pick up his acoustic/electric guitar, and start the guitar intro to the song, playing guitar throughout while singing the lead. Then he'd come in on bass, and then the rest of the group and drums would come in to finish the intro and kick into the song.

That same lead singer did a little keyboarding. We decided to play a couple of Doors songs and he just couldn't get the intro to light my fire. I showed him a little bit of it and he looked up and said, "how about you play keys on this one and I play bass?" Since I had taken piano as a young child and again in college, I acquiesced, bought the sheet music and learned how to play it for real...was fun!

So learning other instruments does have its up-sides.

 

[Matt23]

Really?

I can't speak to rock musicians, but in jazz and bluegrass, the only two places where I ever play bass, it seems like the standard terminology is to refer to chords by their numerical position.

Jazz is the only place where it seems used here... I should add I'm in the UK. Perhaps it's not so widely used here.

 

[ThunderFox]

I think it depends on what you want to achieve as a musician. If you are just interested in playing the bass, then no, you shouldn't have to learn any guitar skills, though some skills are easily transferable from one to another.

If you are a songwriter, then I would try and learn as many instrument as you can do delve deeper into the art. I did from a young age to now in order, I know; Keyboard, Recorder, Xylophone, Guitar, Ukulele, Bass, Accordian, Organ, Violin, Drums, and now I'm currently learning the trumpet. I do this because I want to learn as many instruments as I can, it's just my passion, but it also helps me to understand each instrument's place in music. So songwriting is easier now than ever, I can play all the parts.

Either learn what you are interested in, or what you might play in the future. Just because someone plays violin, doesn't mean they need to learn the Viola, Cello and Double Bass too. That's my opinion anyway, don't go out of your way if you don't need to.

 

[JimK]

Guitar...OK. Piano? YES!
Unless you're a savant, something is needed for you/me to hear chords.
For me, it was the guitar; piano came later.

Also big-
Learning a drum groove; learning about rhythm & what a percussionist deals with in making a groove.
Hopefully, this helps you/me keep & internalize "the time".
Nothing, FME, is worse than having a drummer call you out because you cannot keep "the time".


End goal? Better musician = better bassist.

FME...

 

[fdeck]

I don't need to know how to play guitar, in order to know that it's too loud.

 

[Pedullist]

Yes, piano too.

 

[Mantis Tobaggan]

Bassist should know bass guitar

 

[Buster Brown]

I said "No" because it makes no difference, whatsoever. I learned bass YEARS before I ever learned a chord on the guitar or piano.

I can say, however, that when I learned guitar I noticed it (nearly) immediately affected my bass playing - in a negative way. I (briefly) played the bass like a guitar player - and I hated that. I saw my mistakes and immediately quit them.

I have stated this for nearly 55 years of playing bass - when a guitar player picks up a bass, nothing good comes from it

 

[BassBrass]

I vote no, and would like the question to be about trumpet. Many bass players were or still are trumpet players. It gives an advantage with dramatic projection and original melody. I include Mr Entwistle in that group even though he favored the mellophone from the British brass band experience. Trumpet doesn't brainwash you into thinking like a guitarist or being the guitarist's servant. Bass is closer to drums and voice, just like trumpet is. Keyboards and reading music is a better prep than guitar, helps you visualize music, guitar not so much, but bass is really all you need.

 

[jamro217]

I said yes. Although I don't believe it's absolutely necessary, I think the added knowledge of guitar, or any other instrument, can only help make a person a better bassist.

Well said.

 

[jamro217]

I think knowing guitar is very important to a bassist. As many posters here have pointed out, in a jam situation, following the guitarist's hands for visual clues is an essential tool. What about when it comes to composing bass lines? Understanding how various musical instruments interact can open up a whole new world when it comes to improvising and creating memorable bass parts. Rather than relying on the lead guitarist to actually lead, you can travel together via counterpoint.

 

[Two-Spirit]

You're eventually going to know some chords on either guitar or keyboards. Broken chords make up a lot of baselines and you need to know them and how they sound. I'd get a piece of junk guitar and gradually strum through some lead sheets or fakebooks. Outside of serious music there's about 5000 chords used in songs. Learning guitar is a good thing as long as you don't spread yourself too thin.

 

[dtripoli]

Should the sax player in your band need to know basic guitar?
Should an orchestra violinist need to know basic trumpet?
No, what they need to know is basic music and their instrument.

Tom Cruise's character in the racing movie, Days of Thunder, is asked specifics about his car's engine after winning numerous races.
"Can't tellya, I don't know anything about mechanics"

Cole Trickle

 

[Hi-End Basses]

We would if they didn't tune that damn C string flat!

 

[beans-on-toast]

What I don't get is why basic guitar, as opposed to regular guitar.
Does basic guitar have only four strings?
Seems to me that would be like a very short scale bass.
Then there's classical guitar. That must be like a Les Paul or a Telecaster.

 

[alaskaleftybass]

I think it's important to learn guitar but I wish I had learned piano. I've always admired those guys who can sit down to a piano at a party and do an impromptu show. Plus it really helps with songwriting.

 

[Bassique]

I learned guitar to be able to record my stuff and for songwriting. So yes I would recommend learning it.

 

[Tom Bomb]

It's just a little cross-pollination, either way. Might as well take advantage - Life's too short (scale). So join the Trebellion

 

[Wisebass]

NO you don't have to play guitar to be a great bassplayer
all you have to play is a great bass

may the bass be with you

Wise(b)ass