First Impressions of Playing the Bass

[ratherdashing]

I spent the better part of the evening getting acquainted with my new P-Bass. I've been playing guitar for about 14 years now, but this is my first bass (other than renting one a year ago for a couple of days). Here is what I've observed so far:

- Anyone who tells you playing bass is easier than playing guitar is either stupid, or lying, or both.

- The position a note is played on matters far more on bass than it does on guitar. Example: a G played on the open G string sounds very different than the same G played on the 5th fret of the D, and COMPLETELY different than the same G played on the 10th fret of the A. Of course, this is noticeable on guitar as well, but it is much more subtle.

- I find that with one pickup I actually use the tone control a lot more, and that the tone control is far more useful on a bass than on a guitar. If I want a thick, bassy tone, I roll it back all the way. For a snappier, more agressive tone, I open it all the way up. There are also a lot of useful tones in between. I barely ever touch the tone controls on my guitars.

- I've never really wanted an active pickup for a guitar, but I can definitely see why they would be great to have in a bass. If I were to upgrade this thing, that would be what I'd do.

So far I really enjoy it. I've had a lot of fun jamming with the radio trying to figure out bass lines for songs that I know by heart on guitar. I like being able to just lay back into the groove of a song, rather than trying to fill up as much sonic space as I can (which seems to be my instinct on guitar). I think playing bass will make be a better guitarist, and a better musician overall.

 

[Bob Zombie]

Re: First Impressions of Playing the Bass

One of my friends used to play guitar since back in the poodle hair shredding days but realized that he was bass player 5 years ago...Go figure lol I definitly want to pick up a bass when my guitar wants are reasonably met lol...I always thought it would make me a better musician overall...I mean it can't do any harm. Another instrument that would help I thought was drums. Build up your right to left, left to right brain connection. Good luck with you new bass!

 

[The Golden Boy]

Re: First Impressions of Playing the Bass

- Anyone who tells you playing bass is easier than playing guitar is either stupid, or lying, or both.

Yup. I figured it out shortly after I learned to play guitar. It's an entirely different animal, and I found that I have two seperate rhythms in the way I think playing guitar and playing bass.

- The position a note is played on matters far more on bass than it does on guitar. Example: a G played on the open G string sounds very different than the same G played on the 5th fret of the D, and COMPLETELY different than the same G played on the 10th fret of the A. Of course, this is noticeable on guitar as well, but it is much more subtle.

Look at the simple difference in the diameter of the strings vs. on a guitar. You'll also notice, you'll be ballsier underneath the 7th fret. You'll hear old crusty guys say "ain't no money past the 5th fret." I push it to 7. If I'm trying to have balls, I do a lot of octave between the open E and 7th fret on the A, same with the other open strings. It doesn't quite work as well between two fretted notes- but it does work.

- I find that with one pickup I actually use the tone control a lot more, and that the tone control is far more useful on a bass than on a guitar. If I want a thick, bassy tone, I roll it back all the way. For a snappier, more agressive tone, I open it all the way up. There are also a lot of useful tones in between. I barely ever touch the tone controls on my guitars.

I don't find much of a use for them. Unlike the guitars, I rarely change pickups as often as I do on guitar. Besides, changing pickups quickly on the fly on a Jazz or the T-Bird is a challenge!

- I've never really wanted an active pickup for a guitar, but I can definitely see why they would be great to have in a bass. If I were to upgrade this thing, that would be what I'd do.

When I got my G&L I thought it to be useless- then once I got used to the active electronics, I find they work better in a live setting than passive pickups. However, I prefer the passive pickups when recording.

So far I really enjoy it. I've had a lot of fun jamming with the radio trying to figure out bass lines for songs that I know by heart on guitar. I like being able to just lay back into the groove of a song, rather than trying to fill up as much sonic space as I can (which seems to be my instinct on guitar). I think playing bass will make be a better guitarist, and a better musician overall.

Like I tell everybody that goes from guitar to bass, sit back- forget a lot of what you know- you don't need to be playing a lot of notes, but you don't want to just stick to the root, unless the song calls for it.

 

[fenderiarhs]

Re: First Impressions of Playing the Bass

- Anyone who tells you playing bass is easier than playing guitar is either stupid, or lying, or both.

You can imagine the shock i had when i tried to play the upright bass of our bassist (yes he also plays upright bass!!!!!!!!!!!! he is a very good musician.....) not only it is fretless.......the intervals on the fingerboard are ENORMOUS....going from E to F you need to do some SEEEEEEEEEEERIOUS finger stretching on the bass strings.....

I think playing bass will make be a better guitarist, and a better musician overall.

+1000000000000000000000000000

 

[The Golden Boy]

Re: First Impressions of Playing the Bass

You can imagine the shock i had when i tried to play the upright bass of our bassist (yes he also plays upright bass!!!!!!!!!!!! he is a very good musician.....) not only it is fretless.......the intervals on the fingerboard are ENORMOUS....going from E to F you need to do some SEEEEEEEEEEERIOUS finger stretching on the bass strings.....

Open E is like just North of the neck joint.

 

[ratherdashing]

Re: First Impressions of Playing the Bass

Yup. I figured it out shortly after I learned to play guitar. It's an entirely different animal, and I found that I have two seperate rhythms in the way I think playing guitar and playing bass.

Same here. There are many fundamental similarities, of course, but I am definitely approaching them as different instruments, not just the same thing tuned lower.

Look at the simple difference in the diameter of the strings vs. on a guitar. You'll also notice, you'll be ballsier underneath the 7th fret. You'll hear old crusty guys say "ain't no money past the 5th fret." I push it to 7. If I'm trying to have balls, I do a lot of octave between the open E and 7th fret on the A, same with the other open strings. It doesn't quite work as well between two fretted notes- but it does work.

Yeah, I noticed that there aren't many usable tones above the 7th fret, especially on the lower two strings.

I don't find much of a use for them. Unlike the guitars, I rarely change pickups as often as I do on guitar. Besides, changing pickups quickly on the fly on a Jazz or the T-Bird is a challenge!

Do you mean you don't have much use for tone controls, or extra pickups?

That's why I went with a Precision - I don't want to mess around with switching pickups, plus I like the tone. I'd like to try a Stingray someday.

When I got my G&L I thought it to be useless- then once I got used to the active electronics, I find they work better in a live setting than passive pickups. However, I prefer the passive pickups when recording.

The main reason I thought actives would be great for a bass is the wider frequency response and the increased dynamic range. Is that the case with your G&L? And why do you prefer the passives for recording?

Like I tell everybody that goes from guitar to bass, sit back- forget a lot of what you know- you don't need to be playing a lot of notes, but you don't want to just stick to the root, unless the song calls for it.

Good advice.

 

[ex-250]

Re: First Impressions of Playing the Bass

i really like active EQs and all that, but man....i just cant stand active (EMG) bass pickups. they always distort like crazy in my experience. i actually think the EMG bass passives sound really good though

 

[RGN]

Re: First Impressions of Playing the Bass

Glad you are digging it. I am in the same boat. I have had my bass 14 days tomorrow. I haven't had a lot of time to play it the last couple days but I am struggling with fingers versus pick. I played with only my fingers the first few days and got a nasty blister on my first finger. Now, it is no problem. I actually prefer the sound of a pick I think but it seems tha all "real" bass players use their fingers. I need an good online or DVD bass lesson I think. I can play a bunch of cool guitar licks on bass. (Check out the link to My Music, there are a couple mainly bass tunes I threw together the Sunday after I bought the bass)

 

[The Golden Boy]

Re: First Impressions of Playing the Bass

Do you mean you don't have much use for tone controls, or extra pickups?

That's why I went with a Precision - I don't want to mess around with switching pickups, plus I like the tone. I'd like to try a Stingray someday.

The main reason I thought actives would be great for a bass is the wider frequency response and the increased dynamic range. Is that the case with your G&L? And why do you prefer the passives for recording?

I don't use the tone controls. The bridge pickup comes in handy every once in a while. The G&L is cool because it's done with a switch- it's a 3 position stock, but I replaced it with a 2 position because I never use the bridge solo, and it's a pain in the ass to balance the switch on the fly. I don't really notice the extension on the bottom end but the bass is more present- and it really kicks a punch. I think my Jazz just sounds more even when recording. The only times I've used the G&L on record is for really aggressive sounds.

Glad you are digging it. I am in the same boat. I have had my bass 14 days tomorrow. I haven't had a lot of time to play it the last couple days but I am struggling with fingers versus pick. I played with only my fingers the first few days and got a nasty blister on my first finger. Now, it is no problem. I actually prefer the sound of a pick I think but it seems tha all "real" bass players use their fingers. I need an good online or DVD bass lesson I think. I can play a bunch of cool guitar licks on bass. (Check out the link to My Music, there are a couple mainly bass tunes I threw together the Sunday after I bought the bass)

There are plenty of purist bass players that'll tell you that using a pick is unforgivable. I'm like you, I prefer the sound of the pick- there's plenty of room for technique with a pick. However, I think if you're starting you probably should work on using your fingers- you might find it works for you- that you're just used to a pick from playing guitar.

 

[big_black]

Re: First Impressions of Playing the Bass

I played bass on and off in the beginning...until I realized I should have been playing guitar all along. I recently got back my very first guitar, and old Epi Jazz Bass copy (hey, it's got a string-though brass bridge!). Don't be afraid to use the pinky/ring finger combo in the first couple of positions ( to get the string down solid on the fret), it's considered proper form. I was taught to use this technique up to the 7th fret.

A pick has it's place in bass playing, there are tones you just can't get with the fingers, but I always played without one. It always felt more natural. The opposite happened when I switched to guitar. I seriously used to play it with my fingers if I wanted to learn the fingering of a song more quickly. I think you learn a greater apreciation for the bass as a different instrument if you can learn to play with your fingers.

 

[D-EJ915]

Re: First Impressions of Playing the Bass

As for the Active vs. Passive bass pickup debate...my friend has the Schecter 5-string one, (the best one whatever it is) and it has the EMG-Hz passives (or whatever they are haha) and the Mike Dirnt pbass has passives...

and they both sound amazing! Maybe they don't cut through as well or something like that, but they both gave me that thick low-down "rumble" that I was looking for.

 

[ratherdashing]

Re: First Impressions of Playing the Bass

I have very strong hands, so I don't have problems holding the strings down on the frets. I also don't mind strumming with my fingers ... yet. I haven't tried the pick yet.

 

[XSSIVE]

Re: First Impressions of Playing the Bass

cool to hear you like it. i started out as a bass player for years in several bands but to be very honest i just got a bit bored of it and the mighty guitar solo was calling my name lol. so i switched to guitar as my main instument but still play bass now and again. i keep saying i'm going to pick up a new bass but i never do and i keep using my drummers so-so samick p-bass he gave me for free. eventually i'll pick up a new one. well, enjoy it and don't quit guitar, keep them both up. oh and go learn the bass solo (anesthesia) off metallica's kill 'em all....i love playing that still to this day!

-Mike

 

[strat_master]

Re: First Impressions of Playing the Bass

bass was alot of fun when i first tried it. I oringally wanted to be abassist before i ended up learning guitar. I borrowed my friends bass for a while and it was fun, i rpefer guitar, but bass is a challenge indeed! unless your pumping out quarter notes follwing the root notes!

 

[RGN]

Re: First Impressions of Playing the Bass

My bass has a rotary knob (like a tone or volume pot) that controls the balance between the bridge and neck PU- I guess that is pretty common?? I have been using about a 50/50 combination for most stuff. Is that pretty typical? Using my fingers really isn't hard it is just weird. I have been using a pick for 28 years so I find myself using the nail of my first finger like a pick when I use my fingers. I bet that looks dumb!! I have been watching Bill Sheehan on the new Vai DVD, trying to pickup some bass techniques.