Should I play bass?

[hrodbert696]

Well, this punched a lot of TB's buttons - "bass is simpler than guitar" and "bassists are frustrated guitarists."

The thing is, both of these statements are SOMETIMES true. There are a lot of bands where teenage kids got together in a garage and the least capable guitarist got "demoted" to bass. There are people who took up bass because they had the notion (before learning to play) that it would be easy. Heck, my own daughter, home from college, declared over dinner that she would fill her summer free time by learning both bass and guitar. When she affirmed that she was serious, I gave her a first lesson on the basics of playing. She hasn't come back. It wasn't as simple as she assumed (or maybe I'm just an awful teacher, I don't know). And, a lot of bass parts are the simplest parts in rock and pop songs.

But only sometimes. I took up bass because I love the sound of the bass and what it does in a song, not because I couldn't cut it on guitar. I took up guitar later, because I wanted to better understand what guitarist's were doing and for songwriting. And, as I've posted before, what's simple is not the bass but the music that's often written for it. If you played the bass line - just the bass line - to U2's "With or Without You" on piano or guitar it would be very very simple to do. If you set out to play Pachelbel's Canon on bass (solo) it would be very difficult and require a high level of musicianship. What's simple or complex is not the instrument but the music you play on it. There are a lot of crappy guitarists churning out power chords while bassists compose melodic lines with groove.

Anyway, to the OP - if you have the money for a rig and the time to work on it, by all means, try bass. It's a great instrument. Moving to bass from guitar will be easier than if you were moving to it from flute or oboe or something. It still has strings and frets and you understand the role of an amplifier. But as someone else mentioned, it isn't the same instrument, any more than playing tuba is the same as trumpet or double bass is the same as violin. Some things you know from guitar will translate - others not. Focus on learning it as its own instrument and find its own voice in the music.

 

[Helaskold]

Play whatever you feel like playing. If you woke up this morning and thought "Hey, I bet playing the bass for a while would be fun", then play it... instead of (inadvertently) ruffling the feathers of a bunch of sensitive bass players.

 

[vasilio]

You're probably right : ) don't mean to discredit bass any. As a guitar player I know how important good bass is to the entire sound of the band. I'm just thinking if you had to trade places with Jimi Hendrix or Noel Redding in the Experience which would choose?

I'd trade places with Billy Cox.
There's a reason Noel Redding was fired!!

 

[deeptubes]

For us TBers, true bass is a calling deep within our souls. We're bassists 1st, by choice. Not a fleeting thought - "Hmm. Maybe I'll buy a bass today." It is our passion. Without that fire, you will end up the failed guitarist mediocre bassist that you described in your first post.

 

[4StringAxe]

Just saying, it's possible.

 

[AciDBatH666]

I'll chime in, with cliff notes if I can to keep it short.
I'm 34, got a guitar when I was 15 and started playing metal. Learned from Metallica's "Riff by Riff" book. ALL the riffs from their first album to the black album. I loved metal rhythm. I feel like I got really solid at it. I hate solos and the thought of running all over the neck to impress people. All I wanted to play was thrash riffs that moved a crowd.

Stopped playing for a good while and bought a used 5 string bass from Daddy's Junky music when I was about 27 or so. I bought it because 1) I wasn't playing guitar, and 2) I always thought that I should have started on bass first since I dug rhythm so much and because there's always a lack of bassists (in my area at least). I then went on a huge G.A.S. spree trying to obtain that "metal" bass tone I've always heard but couldn't duplicate with my current gear.

I'm currently playing with a band that I love, and the sound and tone that I bring gets total respect. These guys were playing without a bassist and had 5 songs when I got introduced to em. After several practices, the guitarists were commenting on how great it is to finally have a bass player that's got tone and can bring a lot of their sound together. I managed to bring the drummer's kicks out, and the guitarists decided to drop a few of the things they were doing and put things on my plate, freeing them up for fills and cooler accents to what they were doing.

So bass can be very rewarding. And realizing that when people are moshing and thrashing around to YOU is music to my ears and only makes me want to be a more solid and consistent player.

 

[bluesdogblues]

..Out of the ones that do, very few play bass well. I hate to say this here, lol, but it seems that many bass players are just frustrated guitar players.

I don't think it's true

Most of the good musicians are already in successful bands.

All of successful bands were not successful bands at the start. Logic. So NOT all good musicians are already in successful bands.

Any input would be greatly appreciated! Especially from those that have made the switch. Thanks!

Whether you'd switch or not, IMHO there's a big needs for every musicians, bassists, guitarists or anyone,..to have the 'right attitude' about things, including some of yours I commented above.

 

[vasilio]

Bass : easy to play - most difficult to master.

 

[dropbass]

No

 

[Feral Feline]

...
I guess I should have written my post more sensitively sensibly.

Fixed it for you.

Coming to TB at the onset of your venture into the deep end is a good place to start, but I'd suggest to begin with that you lurk more, post less.

 

[bluesdogblues]

You're probably right : ) don't mean to discredit bass any. As a guitar player I know how important good bass is to the entire sound of the band. I'm just thinking if you had to trade places with Jimi Hendrix or Noel Redding in the Experience which would choose?

So it's a star vs sideman question...
How if the question is:
"If you had to trade places with [Paul McCartney/Sting/...] or [their sideman] in [his band] which would you choose?"
The answer could be the superstar or the sideman either.

Perhaps the better question should be like this instead:
"If you had to trade places with Paul McCartney or John Lennon or George Harisson in The Beatles, which would you choose?"

...which is also could become an ugly question..

 

[pbass6811]

Ok, dude, here's my .02...

It's kind of apparent that the main reason you want to switch is to try to get more, better gigs. I would venture to say that even if you're competent on bass, if you go to an audition and a real bassist shows up for the same gig, you'll be looking for the next audition. We think differently than guitarist, and, as has been mentioned earlier, it's usually pretty easy to spot the bass player that used to be a guitar player. As has also been mentioned earlier, there's plenty of real, talented bassist that are looking for gigs. Don't just assume that because you have a bass and some knowledge, that you'll be in demand.

Having said that, I have a friend that was a lousy lead guitarist and a sub-par rhythm guitarist. At my encouragement, he picked up bass, and has become a decent bassist. It took him years to get out of the "guitar player" mentality, but he was able to get it.

There's plenty of hit songs with bass parts played by the guitar player, but you can still tell. If you want to get a bass rig and try your hand at being a bassist, have at it, but don't say we didn't warn ya'...

I'm trying to think of any guitar players that can pull off being a real bassist, and the only guy that comes to mind right now is Prince. I'm sure there's others, but he's the only one I can think of, right now, that sounds as good on bass as he does on guitar...

 

[jetgraphics]

Will I feel fulfilled and happy playing bass?
No offense to bass players but, for most bands, bass is much simpler than guitar.

Modern bass is like being the lead guitarist, rhythm section, and bass accompaniment rolled into one.

 

[Dana R Gregory]

Before you tackle bass, you need to ascertain how strong your sense of rhythm is. Many lead guitar players think they can handle bass because they have fast fingers. They usually have a hard time keeping the steady beat due to a weaker sense of rhythm. You need the be a human metronome. The bass is the foundation of the rhythm and it keeps the drummer on beat. This is especially true if you are playing any kind of dance music. Can you be content to stand in back and pound out a simple oom pahh style beat if the song calls for it. It is a big change if you are a lead player and used to the spot light. The bass is the unsung hero that keeps it all together. If you do switch, I wish you well. It is a good move in your area where as you say, there are very few bass players and every one plays guitar. Good luck and keep us posted.

 

[placedesjardins]

Hey guys, I need some input! I've been playing guitar since I was 14 and I'm now 28. I've been quite successful playing guitar. I've played for large crowds, gone on tour, played live on the radio and led a blues rock band that took 2nd place in a state blues band competition.

So, why am I considering playing bass? For one, everybody seems to play guitar and no one seems to play bass. Out of the ones that do, very few play bass well. I hate to say this here, lol, but it seems that many bass players are just frustrated guitar players.

However, the biggest reason I'm considering bass is because I can't seem to find good musicians to form a new band with. Most of the good musicians are already in successful bands. I feel like I could play bass well enough to fit any any band that has already formed with great musicians. It seems like I could get gigs all the time. I've written bass parts for almost every band I've been in and have recorded bass parts on friend's albums.

The only thing that is making me hesitate is whether I will feel fulfilled and happy playing bass. No offense to bass players but, for most bands, bass is much simpler than guitar. That doesn't mean it's any less important though and ultimately as a musician I desire to make music sounds the best it can no matter how simple that ends up being.

Any input would be greatly appreciated! Especially from those that have made the switch. Thanks!

didn't really make a switch, but I learned to play both.

 

[perkjos]

you won't ever become a good bass player if your only reasons to play it are the ones you mentioned. You'll only become good at bass if you love to play it.

 

[Timmah]

You're probably right : ) don't mean to discredit bass any. As a guitar player I know how important good bass is to the entire sound of the band. I'm just thinking if you had to trade places with Jimi Hendrix or Noel Redding in the Experience which would choose?

You're confusing difficulty with glory.

 

[pbass6811]

Before you tackle bass, you need to ascertain how strong your sense of rhythm is. Many lead guitar players think they can handle bass because they have fast fingers. They usually have a hard time keeping the steady beat due to a weaker sense of rhythm. You need the be a human metronome. The bass is the foundation of the rhythm and it keeps the drummer on beat. This is especially true if you are playing any kind of dance music. Can you be content to stand in back and pound out a simple oom pahh style beat if the song calls for it. It is a big change if you are a lead player and used to the spot light. The bass is the unsung hero that keeps it all together. If you do switch, I wish you well. It is a good move in your area where as you say, there are very few bass players and every one plays guitar. Good luck and keep us posted.

I'd love to hear ANY guitar player admit that their sense of timing and rhythm might not be as on point as it needs to be...

 

[MrLenny1]

Go ahead & try it for a year, that will answer all your questions.
IMHO, coming from guitar to bass I highly recommend a Fender Jazz.
The neck is slim & preferred by guys who swap and trade off.
Good luck & don't forget to think like a bass player as you play.

 

[MovingPitchers]

I see we have a lot of dislike towards guitar players.