I see you're a man of culture as well.
Started getting into chordal playing recently which makes me glad to have picked up a sixer a while ago (so that was bound to happen). I can see an A/B rig in my future as well.
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Why bass over guitar?
- Thread starter Softballcrew31
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Started getting into chordal playing recently which makes me glad to have picked up a sixer a while ago (so that was bound to happen). I can see an A/B rig in my future as well.
I didn't choose till someone told me good bass players have a lot easier time finding work than most other instruments except keyboards. And I could never play keys well enough. I still play guitar, too.
My parents bought me a Spanish guitar and the action was so bad I couldn't push enough strings down to make a chord. My friend had a real electric guitar and as I wanted to play with him, and a second guitar part was out of the question, I started picking out bass lines. It sounded good and I found I could do it with ease.
Over the years bass has become a highly complex instrument and I've almost kept up.
Over the years bass has become a highly complex instrument and I've almost kept up.
My older brother played a Stratocaster, so, being the younger, supportive brother, I took up the bass.
Besides, I have always loved the lows, in any song, and I just wanted to be the person making those bold, earth-shaking lows.
Besides, I have always loved the lows, in any song, and I just wanted to be the person making those bold, earth-shaking lows.
It depends on what you hear in a song. I started with guitar, because that's what everybody was doing. When I was asked to play bass with friends, I realized how often I was listening to bass in songs.
Then, it's true that when you play soccer with friends, everybody wants to play forward, and nobody wants to play goalkeeper. So, going against the flow has advantages. It's lonely at the bottom.
Then, it's true that when you play soccer with friends, everybody wants to play forward, and nobody wants to play goalkeeper. So, going against the flow has advantages. It's lonely at the bottom.
You can choose both, if you feel it will help you in some way. Then, you can decide which is your 1st. instrument or stay on both.
I started out on violin when I was eight. It was an unwanted gift for my older sister and I inherited it. Took lessons for a few years. Then guitar at thirteen. Wanted to be a rock star. (Still waiting for that to happen. 
) Bass and drums a year later. Drums for the fun of it, bass because I was floored by Gerald Johnson's playing. Piano shortly after that. A serious attempt to actually use some of the musical information previously accumulated. Speaking as a musician, you can't go wrong learning the piano. Everything is taught and explained at the keyboard. Even if you never intend for it to be your primary instrument it behooves you to understand it. You can write great songs on the guitar, but for arranging, writing, and going over parts at practice/rehearsal the piano is still king. Once I realized that the bass has the power to control the overall quality and direction of the band it became my primary voice. Try this. Play your favorite song with just the first note of each measure and the rest rests. Now play it with the first and third beats. (For a reggae feel beats two and four.) Now play the simplest line you can throughout each measure. Listen to the how the bass acts in that setting. Try playing the normal recorded line next. One more take. Play as much as you can without hurting yourself. The song is far different than earlier on. Guitar solos have a minute and a half of your undivided attention, but the bass makes the whole song possible.
) Bass and drums a year later. Drums for the fun of it, bass because I was floored by Gerald Johnson's playing. Piano shortly after that. A serious attempt to actually use some of the musical information previously accumulated. Speaking as a musician, you can't go wrong learning the piano. Everything is taught and explained at the keyboard. Even if you never intend for it to be your primary instrument it behooves you to understand it. You can write great songs on the guitar, but for arranging, writing, and going over parts at practice/rehearsal the piano is still king. Once I realized that the bass has the power to control the overall quality and direction of the band it became my primary voice. Try this. Play your favorite song with just the first note of each measure and the rest rests. Now play it with the first and third beats. (For a reggae feel beats two and four.) Now play the simplest line you can throughout each measure. Listen to the how the bass acts in that setting. Try playing the normal recorded line next. One more take. Play as much as you can without hurting yourself. The song is far different than earlier on. Guitar solos have a minute and a half of your undivided attention, but the bass makes the whole song possible.
Hi Softballcrew31 
I always wanted to be in a band.
Option 1: Buy a guitar, learn 3 chords and start a band
Option 2: Buy a bass and start a band
Whithout kidding? Guitar was never an option! Bass or nothing!
may the bass be with you
Wise(b)ass
I always wanted to be in a band.
Option 1: Buy a guitar, learn 3 chords and start a band
Option 2: Buy a bass and start a band
Whithout kidding? Guitar was never an option! Bass or nothing!
may the bass be with you
Wise(b)ass
When I was in my teens and twenties I played guitar but I was alway captured by the sound of Geddy Lee, Roger Waters and Paul McC, to name a few. At the time nothing came of that but (much) later on in life the penny finally dropped and now I am a bass player at heart (and also a guiter player at home). You will have to find out for yourself where your passion lies.
I'm comming from a drummer's perspective and have always locked on with a bass player. Asside from that, I have always admired a tasty bass line even for it's delicate and tastefull intracasies while not being "out front." I have also given the guitar a try many, many times and it I just can't seem to sync wtih it. And I don't like using a pick.
Smooth_bass88
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What exactly does the guitar have to do with anything? I chose bass, period. Guitar had absolutely NOTHING to do with my decision to learn how to play the bass.
Early 90 hanging out with buds and without knowing how to play or even owning an instrument we decided to start a band
Everyone raised their hands yelling their preferred instrument and was last
The bass was all that was left LOL
But I was a HUGE Joy Division and The Cure fab and loved the bass so I emulated them and now so happy to play bass
Even if I’m mediocre it’s a great passtime
Everyone raised their hands yelling their preferred instrument and was last
The bass was all that was left LOL
But I was a HUGE Joy Division and The Cure fab and loved the bass so I emulated them and now so happy to play bass
Even if I’m mediocre it’s a great passtime
Ancillary? The other instruments are the GARNISH!
Edit: Now that I've actually read the thread, I have a fuller answer.
The drums tell you when to dance, but the bass makes you want to. Except in bands where the musicians are not playing the right instruments (such as The Who. Townshend has the soul of a bass player, Entwistle was a diddler). When I play guitar, I channel Keith Richard, Townshend, Bo Diddley and NOT Richie Blackmore, or Clapton. When I listen to Deep Purple, my attention is on Glover. The guitar is really garnish for me.
You can see that my age is showing here!
But playing guitar in that vein is limited. And I switch off when listening to the Steve Howes, Claptons, Becks and what have you of this world. if you want to take that rhythmn, groove thing further and not die a slow death as somebody's rhythm player, how do you do it? The answer is bass.
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I was studying saxophone and the second I heard a funk bassline in a song I was learning I instantly said to myself "I wanna do THAT". I'm also just generally drawn to the low end. It's so rich and full and not at all harsh or shrill.
I picked up guitar not too long ago simply because I am fascinated with harmony and knew the chord shapes from bass. Its definitely fun, but not nearly the same satisfaction of laying down a solid groove.
I definitely echo what a previous poster said...learn piano! You get to do everything and anything. Plus, synths are fun as heck and can definitely satisfy the "groove" or "shred" urge equally.
I picked up guitar not too long ago simply because I am fascinated with harmony and knew the chord shapes from bass. Its definitely fun, but not nearly the same satisfaction of laying down a solid groove.
I definitely echo what a previous poster said...learn piano! You get to do everything and anything. Plus, synths are fun as heck and can definitely satisfy the "groove" or "shred" urge equally.
1. Grew up with older sisters in the 70's and they listened to alot of disco and funk stuff. The bass was always the best part of that stuff.
2. When I decided I wanted to play I also thought that there were already too many guitarists out there and if I played bass I would always be able to find a band.
3. I just love good bass lines.
2. When I decided I wanted to play I also thought that there were already too many guitarists out there and if I played bass I would always be able to find a band.
3. I just love good bass lines.
Webster's dictionary:
ancillary
adjective
an·cil·lary | \ ˈan(t)-sə-ˌler-ē , -ˌle-rē, especially British an-ˈsi-lə-rē\
Definition of ancillary
1: SUBORDINATE, SUBSIDIARYthe main factory and its ancillary plants
2: AUXILIARY, SUPPLEMENTARYthe need for ancillary evidenceancillary expensesancillary equipment
So it has come to mean "not that important". That is why I suggested bass really is very important.
Guitar is my woodshed instrument. This is where I practice approaches, theory, progressions, etc. Bass is almost always what I play when I play with other, though. It is there that I actually apply what I practice on guitar.
