Switching between Bass and Guitar-who does it?

[khutch]

Love it, thanks!!

I must be doing something wrong though because I don't have one of those things clipped to my headstock....

 

[waveman]

I play both, and always switched back and forth when I was younger. I would say bass is my natural instrument. I like to play guitar at home a lot when not gigging. When I am gigging more often, I play bass more to keep my chops up on specific songs and learning new songs. I am more of a rhythm guitar player, but I like to pretend I can solo, lol.

 

[velalv]

I just started learning guitar. I play bass primarily, and am much more proficient on bass, but occasionally my wife wants to sing along at church with just a guitar, so I'll hop off the bass and play some basic open chord type songs on the guitar.

 

[Honch]

Actually it's better to be a "main" bass player that dabbles with guitar, than the other way around. We all know guitards who tries to play guitar on bass. And think they're any good. Or just as good. A bass player that changes to guitar has this ... he can step into the shoes much quicker although he wont strut with his solos.

 

[Bass Turtle]

Up until recently it's been mostly guitar for me after 20 years of playing both. Lately however, I've caught the Bass fever and play it about 80% of the time hence hopping back on TB after a 5 year break. Also, In a band situation I prefer holding down the bottom and there seems to be more opportunities to play as a bassist (too many guitarists I guess).

 

[Corevalay]

I don't switch live, but I play guitar in my original band and play bass in a coverband. I enjoy both very much, so it's really nice to be doing both as often as I do.

 

[Jean Rodriguez]

I switch between them on a daily basis even though I'm mainly a guitar player. I guess it has to do with the mood that I'm in at the moment. Some songs I love playing them on guitar and other I just love the baseline (great majority of Beatles songs). Oddly enough, the baseline is the last thing that I write when writing songs.

 

[Gaolee]

Guitar is what I noodle around on in the basement. I don't play it in public. There's a reason for that.

 

[fourtet102]

Been playing guitar for 20 years and finally switched to bass and now going back and forth. Get gigs for both even though I strongly prefer bass. I do believe that playing multiple instruments (even from within same family) benefits us musically.

 

[TripleDouble]

I play and love both. I'm a much better guitarist than bassist, but started playing bass while in music school as a way to get out and play clubs and not be Mr. Serious all the time. I've gigged more and made more money as a bassist throughout my career. They both have their virtues, and I learn things about bass and music from the guitar and vice versa.

 

[RustyAxe]

I pick up gigs on electric bass guitar, acoustic bass guitar, acoustic upright bass, acoustic six/twelve string guitar, electric guitar and occasionally keys. I don't usually switch off in the middle of a gig, though.

 

[Kragnorak]

I pick up gigs on electric bass guitar, acoustic bass guitar, acoustic upright bass, acoustic six/twelve string guitar, electric guitar and occasionally keys. I don't usually switch off in the middle of a gig, though.

Close but no cigar for me. I've gotten paying gigs playing electric bass, acoustic bass, upright bass, cello, and keys - including switching during a gig. Just a couple weeks ago I opened for Candlebox and played upright for most of the set and stage piano on a couple.

But nobody has ever paid me to play guitar - there are too many better guitarists! I just pulled out my acoustic to relearn a song I wrote and it was painful, so I've gotta get my chops back. Those thin wires slice through my bass callouses

 

[zontar]

I play both guitar & bass, and am learning mandolin.
For fun, mostly play at home, don't earn any money from it (I don't gig)

I did go to a jam not long ago and brought a bass, a guitar & a mandolin--played them all.
Just switched between songs as to which one felt right for that song.
There were other guitar players & another bass player--so those were always covered, and one of the guitar players also plays mandolin, so he used mine for a couple of songs.

It was fun.

At home I sometimes play all of three in one day, or I might play just one of them.

Now I have a cheap cigarbox guitar to throw into the mix as well.
So it's fun.