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Switching between Bass and Guitar-who does it?
- Thread starter 4string4ever
- Start date
I go years between cycles. Still do actually. I've just gotten out of my guitar cycle after about 3 years and back over the hump into the bass cycle.
are you talking about switching instruments in a set or playing bass in one band and guitar in another? i've never been in a band where i switched instruments, but in my old band where i played guitar our singer would occasionally play bass for a misfits cover while our bassist took over on vocals. i started out playing bass in bands for about 5 years, then from 2005 to 2010 i played guitar in a band, then from 2010 to 2015 i played bass for 2 bands, now i'm starting a new band where i'm back on guitar, although i'd love to get another one going where i play bass
All durations of switching, within a set or over long periods of time, all perspectives are interesting.
I do it regularly. I play in a duo where I switch between bass and guitar throughout the night. I play in two bands strictly as a bass player, and another where I only play guitar. It keeps things interesting, sort of. I still think of myself as a bass player even though I have pretty good chops on guitar.
I always have the problem of adjusting my touch from one to the other. After bassing for a while, it takes me a week or so to be able to do anything on guitar that doesn't sound like I'm strangling a chicken.
Sometimes I play guitar only for a few days, sometimes I play bass only for a few months, sometimes I play both several times in one day (landscaper's hours are nice in that way). Occasionally when I don't feel like firing up the DAW, I'll lay down the bass on a few sweaters on the floor and play both at the same time like an organ.
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I also go in cycles. I'm currently in a guitar cycle. I still grab a bass from time to time to make sure I can jump on a bass spot if one were to open. I don't really have trouble adjusting.
I own a guitar that i sometimes write on, but i would never play it "in public"...does that count?
In high school and college, I switched between bass and guitar, but never within a single band. Then, in a cover band in law school I switched between bass, guitar, lead vocals, and being entirely off stage. It depended largely on who had showed up at practice when we learned the song, but also on vocal range, whether our primary lead guitarist was willing to learn the song on guitar, and other stuff I don't remember. It was loads of fun. I haven't played guitar on stage since that band's final gig in 1992, some of which strangely ended up on Japanese TV, but that's another story!
At home, I spend at least as much time on guitar as bass, unless I need to learn lots of material on bass for a band or project. I recently joined a cover band, so I've been learning loads of tracks, and have barely touched my guitars for the past couple of months.
At home, I spend at least as much time on guitar as bass, unless I need to learn lots of material on bass for a band or project. I recently joined a cover band, so I've been learning loads of tracks, and have barely touched my guitars for the past couple of months.
I mainly only play bass live, but I play a lot of guitar at home and rehearsals (largely for songwriting purposes). If I go a long time without playing much guitar it can be tough to adjust to the smaller strings and tighter spacing.
I don't play guitar in the band, but at home I switch between guitar, bass, and banjo as far as stringed instruments go.
I play in multiple bands/projects. Guitar in some projects, bass in some. I never get bored or tired. These days I focus more on bass.
I don't have to do any switching within in the same band
but I play bass in one band and rhythm guitar in another.
but I play bass in one band and rhythm guitar in another.
I switch when the song calls for it. Examples: Wish you were here, by Pink Floyd. I start out on the 12, then switch to the bass when the drums kick in. The same for Bon Jovis' Dead or Alive. I have about 30 or 40 songs that I switch (multiple times) during songs. I also have a Godin 12 string to learn the song on, without breaking my back. I've played both guitar and bass for 40 years, but those thin strings kill my fingers, so I always come home.
I just got an LTD Tele and have a Vox amp on the way. I had an acoustic for years and never played it, but I find myself picking up the electric all the time now. My brother was/is a great guitar player but I want to start writing more stuff for myself now. I am really enjoying it!
On a band/live music situation I only play bass, however I play guitar almost everyday at home, along with keys and other instruments. On a side note and frankly speaking - and I repeat this on every similar thread, I cannot understand how can one play bass and not play guitar...
