switch from guitar to bass

Welcome to the instrument that drives the band, chi!

I went from guitar to bass, but that was back when the pyramids were still being built and all basses were 4. But, IME and that of others I know who made the transition, the number of strings isn't an impediment at all. There doesn't seem to be any kind of "graduation" process you have to go through from less to more strings.

If anything, I find more-than-4 easier as long as your hand size doesn't create physical difficulty, because you can play "across" rather than "vertically". The only complaining about multi-strings that I know of is from people who bought one before they made sure the string spacing was comfortable for them, (assuming you're playing fingerstyle).

Also, don't make the mistake I made when I went to more-than-4: Using an amp that can't handle the B or an F# string, either in terms of sufficient power or in terms of dB's at lower Hz's. Those low freq's are watt-hungry.

Hope you have some nice fingertip callouses to start

 

Easy like cake, assuming that you play fingerstyle guitar. If you only play with a pick, the bona fides probably will berate your tone, your technique and your mother. (Even if you play with a pick, you might find the heavy strings and wide string spacing a little odd at first.) But plenty of people have made the switch without too much effort.

One thing to keep in mind if you're considering the six-string bass; it's typically tuned in fourths, BEADGC, low to high, rather than like a guitar.

 

i dont think so

i have seen a 6 string bass and they have a very wide neck

 

6 and 7 strings are HUGE! but im still buyin a 6 in like 2-3 weeks. cant wait!

 

if i were you i'd start of with a 4 string, cause they neck isnt all that big and its very nice. i have played a 5 string and i couldnt get used to the semi wide neck it wasn't much of a difference, nut i would say 4 or 5 because i've also played on a 6 and i couldn't play it at all i could only play on the last 5 strings i couldnt reach the low string very well. its up to you but i play a 4 and soon i'm getting a 5 but like i said 4 or 5's the best.

 

chi - IME, the B/F# will make it totally fart out, IF the amp doesn't completely melt. The guitar- amp "45 watt Marshall into a 2x12" mentality just gets murdered by bass. It's not a cheap proposition.

 

its a very easy transition imo, i made it with no problems, IMO a six string bass isnt a bad choice, granted the neck is bigger than what your used to, but there are more things you can do with a 6 than you can on a 4. also IMO, if you start out on a 6 youll learn to play it without having to adjust to it later on down the road should you decide you want one.

btw, this thread would be better suited in basses

 

Basses and guitars are not "in different keys". You can play either in any key you wish. And the bass E,A,D,G strings are an octave lower than the same bottom strings on the guitar.

 

Chi, welcome to Talkbass.

No small practice amp would be sufficient for playing with loud guitars. Most small practice amps would not work very well with the low B.

One that would work well with the low B is the Fender Bassman 25. It goes for around $269, has 25 watts and a 10" speaker, along with stereo aux input, headphone jack, effects send & return, line out, tuner out, extension speaker jack, active 3 band EQ and Enhance circuit. It is louder than most practice amps, and handles the low B better than any of the others that I compared it with.

As far as starting with a 6 goes, that is your decision. If that's what you want to play, I say go for it! Some decent low priced 6 strings are the Ibanez BTB406, the Spector NS2000/6, and the Carvin LB76. Or you can look for a nicer used 6 and get a real good deal.

Good luck!

 

I started playing bass first, I then sold my bass and switched to guitar (hey guitar was cooler to a 15 year old ) then about 5 years later finally back to bass (got over peer pressure) and bass is where I am staying. and I am secure about being a bass player

IMO to go from bass to guitar was much more difficult cause' there is "usually" much more chord use and you use more fingers at the same time which I found tough keeping them all properly grouped together.

When I finally went from guitar to bass the last time it was very easy. However I now understood scales etc... and had my fingering pretty good.

If you are a decent guitar player it should be relatively easy.

Also one of the advantages of having knowledge of both guitar and bass is you can better recognize what the guitar player is doing and you still can tell them what to do j/k

 

One of my biggest influences, Tim Bogert tunes his C to B. As he says, "20 million guitarists can't be wrong."

 

20 million guitarists can't be wrong...
what about 20 million drummers?
ok bad joke, sorry

 

I played geetar but that was when I was 10. The biggest problem I had was fretting, I sugest you set up thebass w/ low action and lots of relief, something I didn't do it will save you a lotta pain and frustration.