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Why bass over guitar?
- Thread starter Softballcrew31
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- honest opinion
… naw, he drove away after the fight, loaded and in despair over loosing her … booze, drugs, and a 17 year old lovestruck kid with a very hot car … not a good combination then (50 years ago) … or now ...
I would have to disagree. Bass is not, in any music, an ancillary role. It is the foundation and the bridge between rhythm and melody. Some players may be frustrated guitar players, but not all. I played a little guitar before I took up bass, but guitar, keyboards, or any other instrument I tried has not given me the satisfaction I get from bass. My bass heroes are Dusty Hill, James Jamerson, Donald "Duck" Dunn, and Carole Kay. Victor Wooten, on the other hand, plays guitar parts on a bass. That is not a bad thing, but no my cup of tea and not bass to me. If you play bass and want to play lead parts, you picked the wrong instrument.
(disclaimer - the "you" is not personal, it is the global you.)
I grew up humming bass lines for some reason. That's about it. Always thought that the bass was the coolest part of most songs. Again, that's about it.
So those people would be wrong in a global sense of the word, how is that supposed to make your statement any better?
Sorry you misunderstood. I did not intend to say they were wrong. I voiced an opinion. YMMV. Well, one part I consider wrong is casting bass as having an ancillary role.
Because my teenage son is a guitarist, and I wanted to be able to play something that would let him take the limelight, and where I could be supporting him. But I also wanted it to be something where there'd be some overlap, and so bass fit better than drums or keys. Also figured that it would be easier to get started with at my age. (Not easier overall--real mastery of any instrument is hard--but just easier to get up and running for simple songs quickly.)
Now that I've been at it for a few months, couldn't be happier that I did it—bass is really fun!
Now that I've been at it for a few months, couldn't be happier that I did it—bass is really fun!
Way back when I was young, Bass Players could easily find a gig.
Not taken personally!
All good points. My friend would agree with you; he likes to think of the bass as not only an instrument but a register, one that is left noticeably void when the bassist ignores the foundation to play leads.
I didn't intend "ancillary" in an insulting way--that bass is an afterthought--but in the sense of, as Google would have it, "providing necessary support"; and this support can be usefully defined, as you do, as binding rhythm to melody.
Not sure it's "wrong" to play leads on bass, though, so long as the parts are appealing to the ear.
Rythm guitar and bass could both suit you. I have tried guitar, drums and bass, and bass is the one that stuck, for various reasons. One of them was the realisation that most of my favourite songs have basslines that really drive the groove or harmonise in ways that really give the song it's "feel" and being able to do that excites me.
I still play guitar now and then, it's nice if you're playing on your own (without any backing tracks or other players), playing bass on your own is fine when you're practising, but if you want to write songs, guitar may be a better choice. For writing, I find it's good to start on guitar, then create the bassline after, but that's just my process, YMMV, etc.
Being able to do both is great and some of the skills carry over (for example, note positions on the four "lower" strings on guitar are the same as the four strings of a bass in normal tuning), but you may have to be careful of also carrying over habits from one instrument to the other. For example I tended to pull the strings away from the guitar when fingerpicking, had to learn to pluck "sideways" on bass.
I still play guitar now and then, it's nice if you're playing on your own (without any backing tracks or other players), playing bass on your own is fine when you're practising, but if you want to write songs, guitar may be a better choice. For writing, I find it's good to start on guitar, then create the bassline after, but that's just my process, YMMV, etc.
Being able to do both is great and some of the skills carry over (for example, note positions on the four "lower" strings on guitar are the same as the four strings of a bass in normal tuning), but you may have to be careful of also carrying over habits from one instrument to the other. For example I tended to pull the strings away from the guitar when fingerpicking, had to learn to pluck "sideways" on bass.
because when I first touched a guitar it did nothing for me. maybe played it 2 minutes. then 2 years later I picked up a bass unaware what it was and it was like the heavens opened up and God's light shone down on me.
that's why I play bass and have never really even touched a guitar except for the occasional camp fire
that's why I play bass and have never really even touched a guitar except for the occasional camp fire
The English language can be ambiguous. Many words have multiple meanings.Maybe not wrong, but you can't deny that there plenty of jokes about bass solos.
I personally always heard the low end as a kid so that's what I wanted to do. Not a frustrated guitarist (do you hear how these guitarists are? 'Oh well he plays bass because he sucks on guitar') at all. I Just enjoy it, am good at it, and that's enough!
Well, if you're not leading, your supporting, which is what ancillary means. But yes, I can see how the word has negative connotations. The Oscars don't give out awards for "best ancillary actor".
I bought a guitar in 1997 and one week later I was playing bass lines only. That guitar was my bass for 2 years. I can't play guitar, but I am very thankfull for wanted to learn it as a teen. That's how I discovered my passion for the bass.
Do this:
Put Mozart's Eine Klein Nachmusik playing. What makes you vibrate when listening to it? The theme playing instruments or the pom pom pom pom pom pororororom?
Listen to Sultans of Swing. Do you shake your head to the guitar or the bass line?
Double yes? Congratulations, welcome to Talk Bass!
You will know as soon as you try both instruments.
Here it is, my first bass:
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those were prophetic words in my life too, and while I tried forever to ignore them they still resonate today. one of my big regrets is not getting that guy's name and number, he had a big blonde Jazz Bass laying across the back seat of his car, opportunity blown... the op should be me in 1970 doing the smart thing instead of not and jump on bass now. guitar will be far easier to get into once your brain and fingers do their similar musical communicating.
Why? Because the real question is... why would one choose guitar over bass?
In my case, guitar was a gateway drug to bass. The reason I began playing electric bass is because my school friends were starting a band and they needed a bassist. Over time, my relationship with the bass became serious. I still play guitar, mostly for my own amusement. But I get paid to play bass.
But if I were to do it all over again?
Seriously. I wish I had learned when I had the chance.
But if I were to do it all over again?
Seriously. I wish I had learned when I had the chance.
"I played lead guitar all my life, and lead guitar players are a dime a dozen.
But if you learn to play the bass, you will get work"
-Dad, helping me decide at age 13.
But if you learn to play the bass, you will get work"
-Dad, helping me decide at age 13.
I sometimes feel like bass chose me. I had always connected to the sound and feel of the bass before I knew what it was. I'm also a big guy (and was a big kid), so my guitar playing friends asked my to learn bass. It was a perfect fit for me. While I agree that it's good to have a wide variety of musical skills, it's probably best to start out on whatever resonates most first.
