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Should I learn to play bass?

#22
SUBnet192 said:
LOL yeah I don't like it that much, it's very noisy actually... But I have no idea what to go for... and he seems to like it. I was actually thinking of getting it modded...

Marc
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Put in the Monte Allums mod if you can solder.

If not, look at the MI Audio Crunch Box! It's a similar kind of distortion, but MUCH higher quality. ~$100 on the used market (forums here and Harmony Central, etc)
 
#23
If you want to switch instruments to play along and have arm/wrist joint pain. Might I recommend switching to playing a keyboard. From a physical exertion point of view its a lot lower impact.

With even an introductory knowledge in music its pretty easy to play left hand bass lines similar to what you can play on a bass guitar.

I'm not in any way endorsing a keyboard as a superior instrument to a bass or an all around practical replacement but if you want something that is very low joint strain and little to no impact its a good choice.

-Rav
 
#24
bassflyer19 said:
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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I knew that one was coming lol. Yeah but I should have asked "under these special circumstances"... I mean, maybe someone else had similar problems as me but no issues playing bass :)

As for my son, I'm looking forward to what he'll do with bandmates :) He had the experience at summer camp last summer (the 2 videos on youtube with a band) and he liked it (but found the drummer too loud in the rehearsal room lol)

I used to play sax in high school/navy cadets as a teenager. I'm a musician at heart, I'm just trying to find a good outlet to express it lol

Marc
 
#25
Rav said:
If you want to switch instruments to play along and have arm/wrist joint pain. Might I recommend switching to playing a keyboard. From a physical exertion point of view its a lot lower impact.

With even an introductory knowledge in music its pretty easy to play left hand bass lines similar to what you can play on a bass guitar.

I'm not in any way endorsing a keyboard as a superior instrument to a bass or an all around practical replacement but if you want something that is very low joint strain and little to no impact its a good choice.

-Rav
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Good idea since I already have a keyboard (MIDI) but... I find it boring lol You know... the appeal of the strings...
 
#26
I know you said that you've had therapy, but have you ever seen an occupational therapist? I had a very achey right wrist for a while, and my day job involves a lot of keyboarding and mousing. It boiled down to posture in my chair and how my arm was resting on my desk. I wore a splint to bed every night for about a month, and it's been fine ever since - about two years ago. Occupational therapists are not the same as physiotherapists, not at all. They look for the root cause and try to address that. You should not be in pain, either at work, or playing guitar!
 
#29
BillMason said:
I know you said that you've had therapy, but have you ever seen an occupational therapist? I had a very achey right wrist for a while, and my day job involves a lot of keyboarding and mousing. It boiled down to posture in my chair and how my arm was resting on my desk. I wore a splint to bed every night for about a month, and it's been fine ever since - about two years ago. Occupational therapists are not the same as physiotherapists, not at all. They look for the root cause and try to address that. You should not be in pain, either at work, or playing guitar!
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I agree... I have bad posture at work and at home, I changed chairs, desks and still have the same issue. I was recommended to use a drawer type keyboard support but I can't work with that...

Even playing (sorry for those who hate it) Guitar Hero or Rock Band video games my right arm gets really stiff and painful after a while (but again, it's fast strumming).

Thanks for the suggestion, I guess I could try to find a specialist (again) but I've spent so much $$ on this already... You sort of say f'it after a while...
 
#31
The RD's have a great rep. I don't know alot about that model specifically. I play a '93 soundgear model Ibanez. They're both made in Japan, I believe. Coming from an Ibanez believer, I'd say you can't go wrong with it.
 
#32
Regarding the pain in your arm and shoulder, after many years of working at a computer I also began to experience pain in my shoulders, neck, and arms. Eventually I developed a problem that was so severe that my left hand ring finger and pinky went numb and I could no longer play at all with these fingers. My guitarist recommended his chiropractor and I went to see him for treatment. The problem with my fingers was cleared up within a few weeks and I have been going monthly ever since February of this year to keep things "tweaked". I should mention that a year of this treatment cost me about as much as my deductible would have cost me for one MRI scan (which an orthopaedist I saw wanted to have done). I just thought I'd relate my experience in case it was something you wanted to consider.

As for playing bass, I never wanted to play anything else after a few years doing it. That won't apply to everyone, but if you have an interest at all I think you should give it a try.

BTW, your son plays well. I wish I had started playing that young.
 
#35
Silaxian said:
Regarding the pain in your arm and shoulder, after many years of working at a computer I also began to experience pain in my shoulders, neck, and arms.
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I purchased a Microsoft Natural Keyboard and a trackball ball mouse to solve my arm/wrist problems. I also put the mouse on a foam keyboard wrist wrest (vertically placed to the keyboard) where I can also lay my entire forearm.

The MS Natural Keyboard works for me because I don't have to shift my wrist so much to press Enter and shift on the right side (side note: Why isn't there an Enter key on the left side as well?).

Anyway, these two things saved my computer career/hobby because I used to spend up to 10 hrs a day on it.

I also used Chiropractic/massage therapy to resolve a deep muscle injury to my left lower back.

Best suggestion, have your arm/shoulder assessed and go from there. If you don't get results from one, try another.

Good luck to you and your son.

Btw, your son rocks!

OP Question: Should I learn to play bass? IMO, you should learn to play bass if you would learn it even if your son wasn't playing guitar. If your intent is to back up your son, I would get a fancy keyboard setup with a drum machine that would totally play backup for your son and have a great time doing it. I also suggest that your son begin doing vocals as well. Maybe some vocal lessons for the both of you would be fun.
 
#37
SUBnet192 said:
so I'm thinking of learning bass, as the playing SEEMS to me less frantic and might be easier on my right arm.
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Easy...just as long as you remember to put that superglue in the hole on the side of your thumb before playing :D


jk, seriously though...I'll have to disagree and say bass is a different kind of hard. Guitar is a lot of memorizing chords and such, but I know just as many scales as my lead guitarist does and run through them more fluently as well. If you're going to play bass you near have to develop an excellent ear....which only comes with practice. So learn some scales, try playing along with music over and over and over again (even if ur screwing up, keep at it) and make sure you find a teacher or someone to help you work on your posture, because if guitar is hurting your right arm then bass might require a little more cognitive discipline when it comes to posture and such.
 
#38
Stumbo said:
OP Question: Should I learn to play bass? IMO, you should learn to play bass if you would learn it even if your son wasn't playing guitar. If your intent is to back up your son, I would get a fancy keyboard setup with a drum machine that would totally play backup for your son and have a great time doing it. I also suggest that your son begin doing vocals as well. Maybe some vocal lessons for the both of you would be fun.
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I was always more into guitar than bass, but since they are in the same family and guitar isn't working for me, I thought i'd give it a shot. I already have a full band setup in his room (keyboard, roland v-drums, and his guitars), all that's missing is bass lol He plays drums in high school, as they didn't have guitar...

As for singing, he's only 12 and really doesn't want to sing...

I tried the Microsoft keyboard and trackball thing a few years ago when my main issue was wrist pain, that helped a lot. Nowadays it's no longer my wrist but mostly upper arm/shoulder and forearm tension that bugs me. Thanks for the advice :)
 

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