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Should I learn to play bass?

S

SUBnet192

Nov 30, 2008
33
0
#1
Hi everybody...

A few years ago (about 5) my son who was 7 at the time asked if he could learn to play guitar. So I bought him a guitar (and one for me too!). I took lessons, enjoyed it, but I started having pain in my right arm and shoulder. I still dabble once in a while but I can't play very long, while my little rock star has kept on playing :)

I still want to play with him, so I'm thinking of learning bass, as the playing SEEMS to me less frantic and might be easier on my right arm. Am I right in this assumption?

I have found a used Ibanez Rd500 with a Hartke A25 amp for about 475$ CAD. Would these be a good starter set for me? I'm not into buying the really low end crap music stores sell to parents who don't know any better (heck, my 12 year old plays with a mesa and a musicman petrucci guitar :) ) So while I do want quality, I'm not planning on investing as much as that for myself (for now anyway).

Any feedback on this would be appreciated.

Oh and if anyone's interested...

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Thanks,

Marc
 
#2
You might be thinking wrong about the bass being easier to play then the uitar. I will agree that mentally it is easier in some ways becuase you don't have to know chords as much. I know a bunch of the more serious theory people are gonna jump on me for that statement, but if you are just wanting to play along and lay down a simple groove knowing your root notes will get you there. And if all you want to do is lay down the groove your left hand certainly doesn't have to work as hard as a guitarists left hand. BUT YOUR RIGHT HAND IS BUSTIN ITS HUMP. My right hand is the first thing to go when playing any fast hard rocking songs. The first couple nights I played with a band when I started playing a gain a few years back my right hand would cramp up and I would be stuck single pickin root notes with my ring finger.
But if you want to keep playin woth your son it might be worth the time and money to pick up a $200 bass and give it a whirl. You already know the fretboard so whats to lose.
 
#3
I definitely think you should learn bass if you feel it is in someway calling to you, and you'd be able to jam with your kid - totally cool. How "frantic" you play is entirely up to you and the style of music you and your little fella dig together. I can think of endless numbers of "frantic" bass players - Entwhistle, Harris, JPJ, Jaco, etc., but if you're digging country, that's cool too and likely a lot easier on your right hand than other styles.

However - you shouldn't hurt no matter what - you should consider seeing an occupational therapist about this problem.

For gear, there's all kinds of inexpensive but good gear available these days - a >$300 Squier Vintage Modified or Classic Vibe are really decent basses, and pretty inexpensive.
 
#5
i would definately try it. i am currently listening to your son play and holy crap, that kid is good!

i don't know if that such a good deal on the bass and amp. how many watts is the amp? 25?
 
#8
Definitely learn to play bass if you feel that's what you want to do. But don't do it because you think it's easier than guitar or any other instrument. But -coming from a guitarist of 18 years and bassist of 1 year - bass is not easier than guitar by any means, either musically or physically. Actually, bass is much more physically demanding than guitar.
 
#9
I think that you should stick to the guitar...develop a way to play it without pain. You must be playing it with a bad posture or something like that, guitar is not meant to hurt. But if you feel like picking up the bass do it. But keep in mind that the bass can hurt too if you have bad tecnique.
 
#10
Yeah I really didnt want to get into the "bass is easier than guitar" thing, I'm not putting down bass players here ;) Just saying that I don't see bass players "shredding" as much as guitar players, seems more laid back to play bass (then again, John Myung from Dream Theater...). Thought it might be easier on my right arm. I have seen therapists for it, and basically, I'd have to quit my job for it to get better. So I thought (in my crazy brain) that playing guitar would be a change from typing all day and it would help me sort of get better (basically I AM not typing/mousing) but it's basically the same areas that get solicited so...

I just don't want to invest in gear that'll end up back in the classifieds a week later if it kills me... I have no bass playing friends around here to borrow one so...

I guess I'll give it a shot, holidays are coming, that'll give me something to do :) Any thoughts on the RD500/Hartke combo I saw? I read about the Hartke amp and it doesn't look that great... 8" speaker...

Should I go with 4 strings/5 strings? I'd be playing Iron Maiden, Pink Floyd, stuff to accompany my son so...

Thanks for all the great feedback!

Marc
 
#14
SUBnet192 said:
Should I go with 4 strings/5 strings? I'd be playing Iron Maiden, Pink Floyd, stuff to accompany my son so...
Click to expand...

Awesome - that says P bass all the way. Go for a four string - if you want cheap buy decent, like I said get a Squier Vintage Modified P or a Classic Vibe P. *Not* an Affinity or a Standard Squier mind you. For the amp - buy a used Peavey TNT combo amp, you'll get your money back out of it easily if you decide to de-invest later, and they sound half decent. If you like it - you have decent enough gear that you didn't pay a lot for, and those basses are very mod-friendly.
 
#15
I took up bass a few months ago. I had my right shoulder operated on a few years ago (impinged rotator cuff) I play lefty so the bass is on that shoulder. After reading a thread about straps I bought a Comfort Strapp, it’s a big help. I might look into something wider though. Have that shoulder checked, get a good strap to go with your bass and enjoy.
 
#16
BillMason said:
Awesome - that says P bass all the way. Go for a four string - if you want cheap buy decent, like I said get a Squier Vintage Modified P or a Classic Vibe P. *Not* an Affinity or a Standard Squier mind you. For the amp - buy a used Peavey TNT combo amp, you'll get your money back out of it easily if you decide to de-invest later, and they sound half decent. If you like it - you have decent enough gear that you didn't pay a lot for, and those basses are very mod-friendly.
Click to expand...

Ok. uh... What's "P"? :)

I'm really gunning for that Ibanez RD500 right now...

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#19
SUBnet192 said:
Ok. uh... What's "P"? :)

I'm really gunning for that Ibanez RD500 right now...

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Click to expand...

Sorry a Fender Precision-style bass, like the one below - same thing that Roger Waters and Steve Harris play. I haven't met an Ibanez yet that I liked the sound of - cheap or expensive, but hey - by all means get whatever you like! You're the one who will be playing it, and it's not like you're planning to gig with it, just having some fun with your kid. I don't know much about the Hartke's, sorry.
 
#20
you do have the realizatin that your asking a ton of bass players if you should enlist and become one of the ranks, right? of course you shuld play bass!

your kid rocks btw. i wish that my guitarist had that speed and ability. well my two rhythm guitarists. (bloody 3 guitarists in a 5 piece band)
 

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