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Why bass over guitar?

#201
I started on sax in 6th grade and was really good at it, good enough to the point where I was getting bored of being in band and playing show tunes and other songs that didn't resonate with me.

When I signed up for jazz band in 7th grade, I saw the kid on bass, and I had never seen a guitar with 4 strings before, which sparked the question "what the hell is that?" Then he started playing a simple riff--the sound it made gave me chills, and I knew from that moment on that my life as a sax player was over and that the only instrument that would feed my soul was the bass.

My parents didn't have much money, so I went a few years before I got my first bass (horrible story leading up to my buying it; not going into it here) and I haven't looked back.
 
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#206
I'd say just go with what vibes for you--don't overthink it. It's gotta be fun and get you excited. You can always experiment later. Start on bass if that inspires you, then get a beater acoustic guitar, a cheap keyboard too and plunk around on those for kicks whenever you have time and see where it leads.
 
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#208
I've played both bass and guitar since 1967, and piano since '61. Why do I choose the bass now? It's where the gigs are! My guitar playing is mainly acoustic (blues, country, jazz standards, folk) and either solo (most often) or duo/trio stuff. But in the country band, it's the bass. When me and the drummer are groovin' the whole place gets jumpin'. After our opening number one or the other of us will usually smile and say "da rhythm section is in da house!".
 
#209
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#210
Guitar is a queer thing with skinny strings that cut you. I much prefer the harp or the lyre for high pitched free ringing strings. Dulcimers both Appalachian and hammer make sense too. Keyboards, horns and flutes and wistles like ocarina make sense to me. Bass instruments make sense. Guitar does not. Percussion, of course, is Instrument One, makes sense too.
 
#211
GIBrat51 said:
Well, ^THIS^, of course - but... when I was a kid ( and folks like Buddy Holly were actually still making new songs), the bass player in most bands was always just sort of off in the background. And, not being the kind of person who really wants to be up front in the spotlights. I always thought that, if I was ever in a band, back there off to the side, was the spot for me. And, when I was in a band? That's where I stood. Worked out well...:whistle:
And, I have to agree with the folks who say "get both". There's no rule that says "one or the other". While bass is my first love (I have 24 of them at the moment), I do have a guitar or 6 as well. And a mandolin, and even a banjo....:eek::eek:
Click to expand...
Definitely agree that there's no "one or the other", I still play keys and guitar from time to time myself

Funny story about me is that I was originally a pianist playing on my own for leisure (no musical goals at the time), then one fine day a classmate of mine asked me to teach him how to play one of his favourite songs on piano, following which he decided to ask me and some of our other classmates to jam for fun, and so we headed down to a small jamming studio with a few songs in mind to try out. We were all amateurs who had never played in a band at that point, simply jamming out for the heck of it. Of course, everyone wanted to play guitar, no one wanted to play bass. I looked at the studio bass and thought, "Well, why not?", and somehow, as lousy as that bass was (I think it was some cheap P Bass copy), it was enough to get me hooked, and I switched from keys to bass for the few jams we amateurs had.

Long story short, after a decade or so of playing piano and guitar for fun, I'd found my new voice in the bass guitar, and the rest is history
 
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#212
I think I just really appreciate the subtle nature of the bass. It really started whenever I fell in love with Led Zeppelin (my pic and name both reflect that they're still my favorite lol). JPJ's part in "The Lemon Song" is nothing short of legendary, and that song really turned my ear towards the low end. As I started paying more attention to what the bass was doing I found that I was also hearing the other instruments better too. Just listening to the bass made me appreciate music more. Otherwise I just would've been a guitar worshiper like I feel so many music fans are. Not to say "guitar bad, bass good" but that was just my experience. Anyway, I wanted something else to do and picking up the bass was my first choice. I'm still new but I'm definitely in love!
 
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#217
I never chose bass over guitar
My answer is both
I started on guitar & was a reluctant bass player at first--but grew to love it, and eventually started taking it more seriously.

If you have to choose--try both in a store or with friends' guitars/bases they let you play--see what speaks to you more, but be prepared to add the other later down the road.
 
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#218
Why not play both? I picked up guitar, mostly because my parents wouldn't let me get drums. Ended up switching to bass for about a decade because there was a big bassist shortage. After that, went back to guitar because good bands dried up for both guitar and bass. Playing guitar alone made more sense, especially on acoustic. I still pick bass up from time to time to keep basic skills in case something opens up.
 
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#219
What are you looking to do?

If you're just looking for a hobby that is only important to you then either are a valid option. If you're looking to join a band, again, either are valid. If you want something that you can take along with you camping or just unwind with or share with friends, guitar lends itself more to that aspect.

Personally I started on guitar and never left. But, as I've found so often with others, I didn't choose bass, it chose me. I just so happened that I am basically a bass player at heart who also likes guitar.
 

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