Switching from guitar to bass

[jdjk7]

So, if you are like me and have been playing guitar for a LOT of years (40+ for me playing live, paying gigs) and then decided that the bass guitar was calling you, I have a couple questions.

1. First how did you overcome (or have you yet) the natural inclination to play bass LIKE a guitarist? 2. Do you practice a certain way or follow instruction from a teacher or online video?
3. What skill sets did you bring with you as a guitarist that you still find applicable to bass?
4. If, like me, you have been playing guitar a long time, do you balance playing guitar in one project and bass in another or possibly in the same project?

I have made the move, have been investing in gear, and I truly believe that bass is my calling for the second half of my life. I want to try and break old bad habits and become a sought after bassist in my area.

I don't think there's anything wrong with playing bass like a guitarist... just as long as you also know how to play bass like a bassist. Technique, methods, and philosophies like this are tools. If you don't need them, you don't need them, but if you might want them, then you should know them. Most of the time I play bass like a bassist, but sometimes I play bass like a guitarist.

My most applicable guitar skill on bass is my picking style. I've heard it said you can't play funk/jazz/blues/etc/whatever with a pick... and I suppose that's true, if the extent of your picking skills are driving 8th note roots. My pick style on bass became a lot more enriched and defined when I started getting better at picking different rhythms on guitar, like funk rhythm guitar stuff. As well, being aware of where I'm picking (neck, middle position, near the bridge, etc) and the dynamics of the notes-- wide open ringing, palm muting, fretting hand muting, etc.

I suppose the other skill is harder to qualify, because it's not so much guitar-specific, but I think it's lost on a lot of bass players. A lot of bass players I see/hear/listen to play very... let's say, statically. They hold down the fort and keep the groove going, for sure. But what they don't seem to have is a sense of letting their instrument/playing breath with the music. They don't react to the other music going on around them, and they don't have a sense of development in the notes they play. This could be in the context of change within a musical phrase, or from one section of a song to another, or across the whole song/piece. You could call this a difference in skill, or you could call it an intentional difference in aesthetic. Either way, I'm not a fan. Music exists in the time domain, and to me it's no different from film or storytelling. If you have something that stays the same throughout the piece... it can work, but to me, it needs to be a calculated musical decision, not the default for an entire instrument. Otherwise it might just feel lazy, or like a "plot hole".

 

[Not Insane]

You're not a solo instrument now - you're linked with your drummer.

This kinda speaks to your use of the word, "solo". I think it's meaning can be pretty broad. I knew a guy that was a very talented multi-instrumentalist. He could play pretty much anything. But he said his favorite was bass. When asked why, he said, "soloing all the time".

I get where he was coming from, but you are also correct about locking in with the drummer, IMO. Most of the time the two players are a single unit called the "rhythm section".

BTW, I'm a bass player from beginning to end, though I can strum a few chords on the guitar. I've noticed that a lot of really good guitar players that pick up the bass can almost immediately technically play "better than me", but their playing style doesn't work as well for the bass. They sound amazing, but they detract from the overall quality of the sound produced by the whole band.

 

[mrcbass]

So, if you are like me and have been playing guitar for a LOT of years (40+ for me playing live, paying gigs) and then decided that the bass guitar was calling you, I have a couple questions.

1. First how did you overcome (or have you yet) the natural inclination to play bass LIKE a guitarist? 2. Do you practice a certain way or follow instruction from a teacher or online video?
3. What skill sets did you bring with you as a guitarist that you still find applicable to bass?
4. If, like me, you have been playing guitar a long time, do you balance playing guitar in one project and bass in another or possibly in the same project?

I have made the move, have been investing in gear, and I truly believe that bass is my calling for the second half of my life. I want to try and break old bad habits and become a sought after bassist in my area.

The transition from guitar to bass is easy in some ways - we share string tunings, scales and arpeggios and the common notes are in the same place. The technical aspects are very similar. The differences will be mostly in your head. This doesn't mean you're stuck playing root/fifth all the time and ignore all the notes above fret 5; it's understanding when you need to lock in the root/fifth or running eighth note lines and when you can go up the neck and stand out a little.

Becoming a bassist means understanding a different role: as a rule, guitars support the vocals or other guitars,. basses support the guitars. Our role is to be a middle man between drums and guitars/keys - we add the musical notes to the rhythm. Most of the time, we're felt more then heard.

The best things you can do to become a bassist are:
1. Listen to the songs (a lot of songs in different genres) from the bassists perspective - forget the chords and lyrics - listen to how bassists connect the rhythm to the rest of the band. For a great exercise, try building bass lines for songs in one genre with another genre. ie build a jazz bassline for Sweet Home Alabama or a country line for Superstition. You'll be thinking like a bassist in no time when you start thinking like this.
2. If you have an experienced drummer friend, sit down with him/her and play some songs with them - and have them give you advice on how to work each song with them. I was very fortunate to work with several great drummers as I was coming up and they really helped me to find pockets and groove.

 

[Not Insane]

I don't think there's anything wrong with playing bass like a guitarist... just as long as you also know how to play bass like a bassist. Technique, methods, and philosophies like this are tools. If you don't need them, you don't need them, but if you might want them, then you should know them. Most of the time I play bass like a bassist, but sometimes I play bass like a guitarist.

My most applicable guitar skill on bass is my picking style. I've heard it said you can't play funk/jazz/blues/etc/whatever with a pick... and I suppose that's true, if the extent of your picking skills are driving 8th note roots. My pick style on bass became a lot more enriched and defined when I started getting better at picking different rhythms on guitar, like funk rhythm guitar stuff. As well, being aware of where I'm picking (neck, middle position, near the bridge, etc) and the dynamics of the notes-- wide open ringing, palm muting, fretting hand muting, etc.

I suppose the other skill is harder to qualify, because it's not so much guitar-specific, but I think it's lost on a lot of bass players. A lot of bass players I see/hear/listen to play very... let's say, statically. They hold down the fort and keep the groove going, for sure. But what they don't seem to have is a sense of letting their instrument/playing breath with the music. They don't react to the other music going on around them, and they don't have a sense of development in the notes they play. You could call this a difference in skill, or you could call it an intentional difference in aesthetic. Either way, I'm not a fan. Music exists in the time domain, and to me it's no different from film or storytelling. If you have something that stays the same throughout the piece... it can work, but to me, it needs to be a calculated musical decision, not the default for an entire instrument. Otherwise it might just feel lazy, or like a "plot hole".

The hardest part of playing bass, for me, is singing lead vocals. Often the bass and the vocals are going off in two different directions rhythmically. It can be very challenging. Meanwhile, most guitar parts work naturally with the lead vocals. When they don't, it's when they go into what I call "B B King" mode. That is, play a quick riff, sing a few notes, but never do both at the same time.

 

[mambo4]

All the advice so far is solid.

I would just add that you want to philosophically commit to being part of the rhythm section
And understand that the rhythm section defines the style in most genres

The "Lock with the kick" advice is not meant to be "play exactly when the kick plays"
(although that is an excellent starting point, especially if unfamiliar with the style)
But you should know exactly what the drums are doing and your part should respect what the drums are doing.

 

[Chrisenbacker69]

Lots of great advice on previous posts. My two cents:
1) Keep immaculate time. Most drummers I have played with have had a tendency to slowly accelerate as a song builds. You are the firewall to that.
2) Find the pocket and live there. Everything else is fluff. Use fluff sparingly and tastefully.
3) Subsume yourself to the song. You are literally the one holding it together. No one else has or will take that responsibility.

 

[buldog5151bass]

1. Start listening for the bass part when you listen to songs.

2. In most pop music, your job is to mesh with the drums - kick, snare, hat/ride cymbal in that order. With jazz, switch 2 and 3.

 

[Bunk McNulty]

Lots of great advice on previous posts. My two cents:
1) Keep immaculate time. Most drummers I have played with have had a tendency to slowly accelerate as a song builds. You are the firewall to that.
2) Find the pocket and live there. Everything else is fluff. Use fluff sparingly and tastefully.
3) Subsume yourself to the song. You are literally the one holding it together. No one else has or will take that responsibility.

I call it "serving the song" but it's the same thing: You'll play a lot of repetitious lines. That's just the way it is. Also: Part of finding the pocket is paying attention to placement (when you start thinking about it, there are a lot of places where "one" can land) and duration (how long you hold the note). This is why I try to avoid open strings where practical: Playing D on the fifth fret of the A string gives you much better control over the note you play. Often, this means taking the long way around on a lick!

 

[iiipopes]

So, if you are like me and have been playing guitar for a LOT of years (40+ for me playing live, paying gigs) and then decided that the bass guitar was calling you, I have a couple questions.

1. First how did you overcome (or have you yet) the natural inclination to play bass LIKE a guitarist?
2. Do you practice a certain way or follow instruction from a teacher or online video?
3. What skill sets did you bring with you as a guitarist that you still find applicable to bass?
4. If, like me, you have been playing guitar a long time, do you balance playing guitar in one project and bass in another or possibly in the same project?

I have made the move, have been investing in gear, and I truly believe that bass is my calling for the second half of my life. I want to try and break old bad habits and become a sought after bassist in my area.

1) I bought a Simandl book, took lessons from a double-bass playing friend, and my high school band director also gave me pointers to make it sound like a bass.
2) I warm up and practice as I was taught on classical piano, trumpet, tuba, and voice: make sure you have limbered up the fingers, take problem spots slowly, and gradually speed up to tempo, etc. I follow this adage: an amateur practices until he/she gets it right. A professional practices until he/she can't get it wrong.
3) Sight reading bass clef from piano tuba, time from my uncle teaching me to play the bass note and chord to accompany fiddle tunes and square dancers, watching the drummer to make a groove, following the stick in classical concert band and chorus.
4) After all these decades, I rarely have a guitar gig anymore, but I do have an active tuba gig, and yes, I split my time between practicing each.

 

[deff]

Are you writing or playing covers or playing original material you didn't write?

I'd just assume that if you were playing covers, you'd learn the parts.

If you're writing, then there are times to lock in with everyone including the drummer and times to be off on your own, but likely still with the drummer, just not the same way as everyone else is.

 

[J Wilson]

I double on keyboards, and in that world it's like going from piano to B3: Both have keys but are entirely different animals and have to be played differently.

Lots of good advice preceding me, so I'd simply say to remember all of your guitar years: When you were playing guitar, what did you need underneath you to play your best? That's where you want to be as a bassist, setting that floor that you needed to stand on to do your best guitar work.

 

[Pdaddy1978]

I started on bass, took lessons from a very good teacher, formed my first and subsequent bands as a bass player.
But, I picked up a guitar soon after and was completely self taught.
Conversely, I have been told I play guitar like a bass player....

 

[Kipp Harrington]

So, if you are like me and have been playing guitar for a LOT of years (40+ for me playing live, paying gigs) and then decided that the bass guitar was calling you, I have a couple questions.

1. First how did you overcome (or have you yet) the natural inclination to play bass LIKE a guitarist? 2. Do you practice a certain way or follow instruction from a teacher or online video?
3. What skill sets did you bring with you as a guitarist that you still find applicable to bass?
4. If, like me, you have been playing guitar a long time, do you balance playing guitar in one project and bass in another or possibly in the same project?

I have made the move, have been investing in gear, and I truly believe that bass is my calling for the second half of my life. I want to try and break old bad habits and become a sought after bassist in my area.

The biggest challenges for me were (in no particular order):

-getting acclimated to the string spacing

-my right had plucking technique (it's easy to injure wrist/hand by straining while plucking if your hand positioning is awkward)

-using a pick effectively and efficiently (believe it or not)

I never touched my guitar the first few years I was learning the bass. But it was by choice. I just fell in love with bass playing! I really don't have much interest at all in playing the guitar anymore.

-Talkbass is a fantastic resource for ANYTHING bass!

Good luck, enjoy the journey, and welcome to the low end!

-

 

[IanStephenson]

I guess the biggest difference is that you have to listen to the rest of the band, and play in time. Otherwise its quite a lot like like guitar.

 

[MichelD]

Keep it simple.

I am reminded of the time I was rehearsing in a band house that had about five different groups practising at various times in the basement. The group I was in was based around a singer songwriter who dresed like Lily Munster, called herself ZaZa Zoom and wrote a mix of pseudobilly lounge type songs. I came from a Top 40/Classic rock dance band background at the time and most of my bass style was based on walking figures like you'd hear in "I saw her standing there," "Already gone," " Johnny B. Goode" and your usual Stray Cats bass.

One day the guitarist from one of the other bands, a Guns and Roses type of group called the Scramblers who should have made it big but various record company and managment collapses kiboshed that showed up and we tried to jam. He started playing something and I joined him with a walking bass thing and he stopped me dead.
"No," he said. "Just stay on the the one note."

Obituary: Ziggy Sigmund was a Vancouver punk rock icon | Vancouver Sun

I was somewhat pissed off at first as he was at least ten years younger than me and barely out of his teens, but I realized quickly that for that style of music, a heavy drone on the root note with the drums was what was needed.

 

[bassbrad]

Many of us of a certain age started as guitar players until we found our special purpose. I started on guitar and cello, later string bass and eventually mashed those together to play electric bass.

Why did I quit guitar? One weekend I saw Eric Johnson with the Electromagnets and Stevie Ray Vaughan with Lou Ann Barton and knew I would never be that good so I went home and sold all my guitar stuff. Fortune would have that I was already committed to play upright bass in the school orchestra and jazz band and the jazz band director wanted me to play some songs on electric. Plus my baseball prospects went up in smoke leaving me with music to pursue.

 

[DaveParker39]

So, if you are like me and have been playing guitar for a LOT of years (40+ for me playing live, paying gigs) and then decided that the bass guitar was calling you, I have a couple questions.

1. First how did you overcome (or have you yet) the natural inclination to play bass LIKE a guitarist? 2. Do you practice a certain way or follow instruction from a teacher or online video?
3. What skill sets did you bring with you as a guitarist that you still find applicable to bass?
4. If, like me, you have been playing guitar a long time, do you balance playing guitar in one project and bass in another or possibly in the same project?

I have made the move, have been investing in gear, and I truly believe that bass is my calling for the second half of my life. I want to try and break old bad habits and become a sought after bassist in my area.

1. For me it was just comfort with the instrument and listening to (both on albums and on instructional content) great bass players like Lee Sklar, Guy Pratt. I slowly moved away from pick-only, but I still use a pick when the song calls for it. I also just listened to bass players I found inspiring or challenging, like Steve Harris, Jack Bruce, John Entwistle.
2. I practice by playing along to recordings almost exclusively (not including rehearsing with the band). If I am trying to learn something new and hard, I play along to video tutorials or UG Pro.
3. Skills... picking, palm muting, two handed hammer on/pull off/tap playing, some chords
4. Guitar is strictly fun for me at this point, and Bass is my "gig" instrument. I have played guitar on various projects/session type things but I mainly let it be a hobby. I love playing bass but I am usually learning and practicing bass rather than indiscriminately noodling.

 

[brocket]

A bit of a cliche analogy, but if the guitar are the walls of a song, the bass is the foundation- (relatively) simple and mostly out of sight, but if the foundation is wrong, the whole thing falls apart.

Tapping toes/bobbing heads/dancing are indications of a good bass line.

I learned how to play drums to become a better bass player. Locking in on the kick drum is a great starting point.

 

[MrLenny1]

I play bass. A little guitar. My buddies that double on bass
sound like guitar players because they think & play like one.
Too busy, staying in upper register etc...
You have a great advantage knowing chords & progressions.
Think like a bass player. lol

 

[GroovyBaby]

The guitarist and piano can often listen and hop on a change a little late without the song skipping a beat. The bass player must be on the changes, not following them. For me that means simple beats flashy as it’s my job to hold the song structure and lead those who may have had a brain fart moment. When I have those moments, I take the band with me!