• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join freeLog in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

What's your view on this?

Big change this will turn out to nothing, but I have to ask you this : what is your view on people who only play one instrument? I know some people who play several instruments, and I know some people who only one instrument.

I know it can help you with creating your own music if you play on several instruments, but is it necessary to play on several instruments? Personally I'm fine with bass guitar, though I'm itching to learn how to play drums and guitar. But even if I won't learn how to play them, I'm fine.

Anything wrong with that?
I don't see anything wrong with it. My band is made up of a drummer that doesn't play anything else, a full time guitar player that doesn't play anything else, two singers one of which does sing and play guitar a little and the other can't play any instruments. Then myself I started playing trumpet at 9 years old. Started playing bass at 13 and my first keyboard around 15. I'm now 33. I will say we do write differently than a lot of bands from what I read and hear. With us a lot of our material is me coming up with chord progression and melodies on keyboard and then figuring out how to play those parts on guitar and bass. I show the guitar player some chords and melodies and he and the drummer kind of jam it out. Then the basslines are made up on the spot after the drums are sorta set in stone. The drummer will add or change kicks to go with the bassline but most of my bass parts are improv.

I do think playing keyboard has a big influence on the way I approach bass. I do use chords a lot. Even when I'm not playing chords I'm often arpeggiating a chord with notes that make up a chord. And I doubt I would do that stuff as much if I didn't play keys because most of the chords I use I didn't learn from a bass book
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: Thomas Kievit
I have to imagine it's pretty difficult to only be able to play one instrument. If you know one at all, there are probably enough similar instruments, that you could pick one of those up fairly easy. Even us bassists always have things like uprights or guitars or ukulele.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Thomas Kievit
Short answer is no.

L O N G answer: It depends on how deep you want to get into the music, level of playing / desired level of playing, how playing only the bass is working out for you, how good your brain is at understanding music, how involved you'd like to be in the music writing or band arranging process, etc etc etc.

If you want to learn anything, I would start with singing (even if you plan to never do it in public). There are a lot of tone-deaf musicians out there. I'd recommend learning singing #1 to every instrumentalist (drummers included). Learn to sing the melody, your favorite bass lines, study and sing other instrument's lines. Try writing bass lines in your head, then sing it, then transcribe it to the bass. Sing scales, intervals, harmonies, and take your time to really make sure you are hearing the note in your head and singing it in pitch.

Upright bass is a great one! It will easy to find the notes as it's tuned the same. Its a different animal to play, but having skills on one will give you great insight on the other, and vice-verca. Basslines don't always translate exactly between the instruments, so learn proper technique from a teacher.

Guitar is a natural choice for many bass players, and it will help you learn your relationship with it as a bassist. No need to learn to shred, but basic chord stuff is good to know; with in a song you should at least be know the roots of the chords and better what the chord value is (major, minor, etc), and better still to incorporate it with singing a melody and carrying a tune by yourself...not always practical at the campfire with your electric bass.

Mandolin is basically a 4 string instrument; 8 strings, in unison pairs of 2. Many bass players find it easy once you learn a few songs.

Piano is a universal instrument. Anyone studying music at a college level is required to learn piano in addition to their primary instrument.

Drums. Study drummers. Most drummers love to talk about gear, ask them how their stuff works, how they tune their drums or get cool tones.

Of course its all optional. I can dabble in all of the above, and although I wouldn't want to be seen doing most of it in public, at least I can transcribe music by ear, make arrangements, correct other players bad notes or help them find the best thing to play, participate in backup vocals, and make money playing and teaching multiple instruments, plus I just feel like I can relate to everyone else in the group and play the best possible bass lines, knowing what everyone else is doing.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Nephilymbass
I have a been (snake charming flute) that I can make sound like a duck quacking. That probably doesn't count as a second instrument.

I play guitar well enough to get calls for gigs on it. That probably counts. I play congas well enough to get people to ask me to stop playing them.

Seriously, I think it's a good idea for bass players to at least acquaint themselves with either piano or guitar to assist in developing an understanding of chord construction and voicing. I have composer's chops on piano, and I play guitar reasonably well. I've learned to play basic common beats on congas, bongos and timbales. I did that mostly for fun, and to increase my understanding of Latin music. The snake charming flute is going to take some time. I'll give up when I get tired of all these ducks coming around.
 
My view?

I look at it like this:

shocked.jpg
 
  • Like
Reactions: Hahaha