Bass guitar into guitar amp?

[DavidRavenMoon]

Bass guitar into guitar amp?

That's cool. One of the things that frustrates me about my bass playing, is that I tend to play guitar riffs on it. It's hard to figure out how the bass line is developed. How do you figure out what that harmony, or argument line is?

I play both bass and guitar. You have to think like a bass player when you play bass. I suppose that comes from learning bass lines and then imitating things you like in them.

Bass can be both rhythmic and melodic.

Funny thing is I had the opposite happen. I’ve mostly played bass in bands for the past 47 years, even though I played guitar first. And I mostly play guitar at home and on recordings I play everything.

So in my current “band” (it’s just me and the singer) I decided to play guitar live. It felt really foreign at first just because I lacked the stage time playing guitar.


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[Artie]

Re: Bass guitar into guitar amp?

Good info. The main reason I listen to Jamiroquai is for the bass line. That guy is amazing.

 

[treyhaislip]

Re: Bass guitar into guitar amp?

That's cool. One of the things that frustrates me about my bass playing, is that I tend to play guitar riffs on it. It's hard to figure out how the bass line is developed. How do you figure out what that harmony, or argument line is?

I tend to do the same. Playing the bass should be seen as more of a "drummer" than a guitarist–very important to keep time. Less is more, which is where my bass playing needs a lot more practice...I tend to try and play riffs like a guitar rather than help the song move in time.

There's a guy on YouTube who also has a whole website...lookup Scott's Bass Lessons. He has given some great free stuff out there on YouTube.

Another thing is to start small and slow–just play the root notes in time and develop the flow from one note/chord to the next. You can then build on a solid tempo and add in-time riffs to help spice up your bass playing. My $0.02

 

[Artie]

Re: Bass guitar into guitar amp?

Yup. I've been subscribed to his channel for a couple years now.

 

[Adieu]

Re: Bass guitar into guitar amp?

Amp itself? Doesn't matter whatsoever

Speakers? Matters somewhat, at higher volumes and wattages you MIGHT be able to blow some weaker speakers (so no quad 25watters with a 100w head)

 

[Artie]

Re: Bass guitar into guitar amp?

I went ahead and ordered the EHX Battalion. I'm going to try running it through my little Tubemeister 5 head into my 12" Celestion cab.

 

[DavidRavenMoon]

Re: Bass guitar into guitar amp?

True, but Lemmy cranked the piss out of his Marshalls to the point of being overdriven.

So did Jack Bruce. Only he was playing an EB-3.

Here’s a good example of his tone.

https://youtu.be/zXP_pr7np-o


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[DavidRavenMoon]

Re: Bass guitar into guitar amp?

And let’s not forget the great Felix Pappalardi

Really cranked up Sunn amps!

https://youtu.be/ZFUUtGVsEOE


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[DavidRavenMoon]

Re: Bass guitar into guitar amp?

And Tim Bogert.

He told me he used a small guitar practice amp cranked all the way up for this!

https://youtu.be/4m555n9q4Vk


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[Lake Placid Blues]

Re: Bass guitar into guitar amp?

My favorite Cream tune is Deserted Cities of the Heart. Incredible driving bass line under pinning that, decades before Iron Maiden.

 

[Artie]

Re: Bass guitar into guitar amp?

I'll have to "Google" that. The title doesn't ring a bell.

 

[PFDarkside]

Re: Bass guitar into guitar amp?

Watch the speaker. I’ve damaged a guitar speaker using it for bass. In the late 60’s, loads of greenbacks were blown being used with loud Marshalls and bass. If you’ve got a speaker that can handle it, no worries.

 

[Adieu]

Re: Bass guitar into guitar amp?

Yeah keep it to extra low wattage... or beefy stuff like k100's, v30's, classic lead 80s/mc90's

 

[Artie]

Re: Bass guitar into guitar amp?

Yup. I've had my eye on this Eminence WheelHouse 150 for awhile. At 150 watts, and driving it with less than 5, I should be good.

 

[zionstrat]

Re: Bass guitar into guitar amp?

That's cool. One of the things that frustrates me about my bass playing, is that I tend to play guitar riffs on it. It's hard to figure out how the bass line is developed. How do you figure out what that harmony, or argument line is?

Great post... Others have mentioned nailing the root and it usuall helps if you can synch up with the kick.

But that leaves a lot of room in between and thats where your guitar riffs come in handy.

Search "voice leading" and you will find a ton of theory that works in any instrument... I strarted off in trombone, so my ear was used to hearing the lines in between the root and melody, and for me that's where all the fun in bass comes in...

If you play keys or comp on guitar, you are used to seeing those interior melodies that connect cord tones... we all know the D/f# chord that resolves up to the G...

The cool thing on bass is you usually don't have to outline the chord, so you can hit a root, riff in between and use voice leading to "pull" you into the next root.

Also, hit lots and lots of "wrong" notes on purpose in between the roots and you will be surprised at how many of those weird notes augment your voice leading.

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[formula73]

Re: Bass guitar into guitar amp?

I play through a Metaltronix (modded plexi, basically)

 

[Silence Kid]

Re: Bass guitar into guitar amp?

I don't know- Bass and guitar are just very compartmentalized for me. There was a time when I mostly played bass, and I'll never wind up playing the same thing on bass as I would guitar for any given song. It helps that I use totally different technique for each; I have some schooling with the bass, whereas I'm totally self-taught guitar-wise. I only play bass finger-style; I never play guitar finger-style.

 

[formula73]

Re: Bass guitar into guitar amp?

I’m self-taught on both. I’ve played played guitar longer but always enjoyed bass, more. I finally had to admit to myself that when there’s a song stuck in my head, what I hum is the bassline.

Formal bass instruction? Never use a pick? Lol sounds pretty fancy, man.

 

[Silence Kid]

Re: Bass guitar into guitar amp?

Not really, I never practice bass since I choose to budget more time to practice on guitar. I own only one bass (Squier,) and haven't really tried to get better at bass in a long time. I can sight-read bass better than guitar but it doesn't really benefit my playing to do that much.

The flip side is when my old band asked me to record certain bass lines with a pick, I almost couldn't do it; came out really sloppy so those takes wouldn't get used. It isn't like picking a guitar since the dynamic response and feel are totally different. But my instructor was an old-school Jazz guy so I was pretty much told not to use one from the start.

 

[formula73]

Re: Bass guitar into guitar amp?

Isn’t that kind of limiting yourself? The attack from a pick sounds good in the mix, sometimes.

And yeah, I’ve played bass in a couple bands but only seriously picked it up again, recently. It’s more fun than guitar.