Should I switch to bass?

[marty_the_westie]

I am thinking about switching to play bass instead of guitar. I play guitar now strictly as a hobby, but would like to get a little more serious about it. Problem is, I have a full time job, 2 small girls, mortgage, lawn to mow, softball team to coach, etc. etc. I've only been playing for a few years, but I feel that I am spinning my wheels and not getting very far. Also, I have another guitar player that I can play with, but my lack of skill kind of limits what we can do. I thought that switching to bass might rejuvinate my interest and open up more possibilities with the other guitar player, i.e. finding a drummer for a garage power trio kind of thing. So HONESTLY, please no disrespect to bass players, but is the bass a little easier to learn. It seems that I could do more in less time. I have no problems sitting back and keeping time while a guitar player does his thing, i just want to be a part of something cool, but feel that I don't have the time to move beyond beginner with guitar. I am not trying to insult any bass players out there so please do not take it as such. Any comments from guitar or bass players would be greatly appreciated.

 

[proxy]

Re: Should I switch to bass?

Albany NY, no kidding I live in Clifton Park.

I would stick with the guitar and find yourself a drummer and switch only when you find someone who plays guitar and maybe you'll find a bassist.

My advice is find some inspiring music and learn it. No offense but learning instrument to start a huge band/become famous is not whats its about. Find some fun music to play and a drummer. If you need to switch to bass, then switch, but I don't think you should be your spinning your wheels. What exactly is it that not being extremely talented right away will keep you from acheiving?

Just my 2 cents.

PS. My band started when my friends cousin played guitar and got us all excited. I had an old guitar that i used to play when i was first learning in 3rd grade, he inspired me to get playing, that Christmas my friend got a drum set because he was also stoked about starting a band. A mutual friend we both went back with we told to go buy a bass and learn and boy did he. A friend I had known for about 2 years also was first starting to pick up guitar I invited to join. We all were very bad but pushed each other to get better while having a good time. 3 years later (now) we are the most impressive band in my high school, we found a phenominal singer, and are about to start recording our songs into a demo.

 

[Ken]

Re: Should I switch to bass?

...Well, having played both, I can say that while bass and guitar are very similar and the fundamental switching is quite simple, they are VERY different instruments.

Honestly, anyone that can follow a beat/rhythm can play bass. It takes someone with groove, feeling, and a lot of knowledge to really be a bassist though.

I certainly don't want to discourage you from switching to bass...I got my start out of necessity just as you did. But there is a lot going on in that instrument...possibly more than on guitar, I think it depends on who is holding which instrument. But you will the cornerstone of the band, the link between the melodicism of guitar and the rhythm of the drums.

 

[kard2565]

Re: Should I switch to bass?

I went through the same thing your going through about 10 years ago. I sold off all my guitar gear and got a bass rig. No matter how much I tried to convince myself that I was now a bass player I still missed playing the guitar. So about 3 months later I was back in the guitar store getting a new guitar setup. I guess the moral of the story is go with what you love doing. Guitar was my first passion and always will be. So stick with your passion and don't look back.

 

[TwofacePimp]

Re: Should I switch to bass?

Just because you play bass, it doesn't mean you have to stop playing guitar. Playing with other musicians is always a good learning experience and is a lot of fun, no matter what you're playing.

 

[kard2565]

Re: Should I switch to bass?

That was going to be my next post. Try it out but don't do like I did.

 

[Mike M.]

Re: Should I switch to bass?

Hey, why not try it and find out? Look at Paul McCartney. He said playing bass was the last thing he wanted to do when the Beatles needed a bass player, and he's probably one of the best players out there.

 

[TwistedSoul]

Re: Should I switch to bass?

I think a lot of guitar players have gone through what you are going through. I know I did, but I just stuck it out and kept going. Don't get me wrong, if you want to give it try go for it just don't sell your guitar rig. The bass player in my band is good guitar player also and that helps when it comes time to write. Nothing like 3 guitar players bouncing ideas off each other.

 

[kmcguitars]

Re: Should I switch to bass?

I started out playing Bass Cuz' I just wanted to play in a band. In the
early 80's everyone wanted to be EVH or neil Peart. Every band was
hunting for a bassist. ( my 1st band imploded when it was discovered
that I was a better Guitarist than the other 2 guys ) I still
enjoy playing bass in my home studio. It's a common missconception
That bass playing is easy. It may be easier to learn than guitar,But
IMHO it's difficult to master ( that is keep the groove going and hold
everything together at the same time) Bassist are truly the unsung
hero's of the band. So I would say if you got a good sence of Rhytmn
and a feel for a Groove ?? Yeah, Go for it. Just don't sell your guitar
gear if you don't have to.

 

[Hellion]

Re: Should I switch to bass?

Learn to play bass and you'll never be without a music job. Good bass players are worth their weight in platinum. Guitar players and drummers are a dime a dozen. I play both. When my band is minus a bass player and I can't find a suitable replacement, I'll hire a guitar player and handle bass myself. I do this because in my band, which is a trio, they have to be treated as separate instruments and you can't just "one note" your way through the evening. It's possible to play both instruments well (look at Mike Rutherford), but you have to approach them differently.

 

[Number One]

Re: Should I switch to bass?

You could do it as something on the side. Switching from guitar to bass is much easier than the other way around. Here in California's public schools they prefer to have bassists that have prior guitar experience before they are accepted into music classes. More fundamentals.

 

[Norman_T]

Re: Should I switch to bass?

Learning to play bass (and keeping it simple) is not as easy as many people think. I started out playing guitar and then switched to playing bass and am playing both now. What bass playing will allow you to do is to understand theory and this will always be good for you.

Keeping a good groove and rhythm is very important as you and the drummer are the foundation for everyone else to do their thing. Quite a lot of guitarists are actually pretty poor time keepers and as a bass player you will bring that discipline. What you will find is that you will fill out the sound and start to play a lot more things that previously you did not. You will need to have that discipline and be able to sit in the groove but that is something which will come. What I would suggest is that get one of the active basses and a number of them are out in the market for not a lot of money - Ibanez, Yamaha, Aria etc do them - they are typically 24 frets have pretty thin necks and are easy for guitar players. Depending on your amp you might just get away with putting it in your amp but if not get at least an amp that has got 100W-100W and with a 12" speaker. Bass amps typically have to be 3 or 4 times normal amps because they require the clean headroom and bass sucks a lot of the power. This should do initially for what you want.

However keep on playing the guitar because you never know!!

 

[nuntius]

Re: Should I switch to bass?

get a cheapish bass, and a small bass amp and see if its for you.

i only went looking for a bass for something to put on home recordings, but i found a really nice bass, and i find i now play it as much as i play guitar, except i never intended to become a "proficient" bassist, just play pick bass on my own songs. but now i spend quite a bit getting my fingering technique even and can do a bit of slap.

!!!DON'T!!! sell your guitar rig. take getting a bass as the next step to becoming a more versatile musician, and expanding what you can do.

hey learn drums and your a one man band after that

 

[mr breaker]

Re: Should I switch to bass?

Hey albany people! (sorry to hijack the thread)


If you're in the mood for some live music, my band is playing this SATURDAY



Saturday, July 10 * 6pm * $10
Albany, NY @ Trinity Church (235 Lark St)
BIG D AND THE KIDS TABLE
third to none* streetlight manifesto * this time tomorrow * rory breaker
Tickets on sale through ticketmaster. $1 off at door w/can of food.

http://www.stepuppresents.com

 

[kill your scene]

Re: Should I switch to bass?

A quick question - If you're too busy (with kids and whatnot) to play and truly master guitar, why should bass be any different?

The biggest reason for a lack of great bass players is that too many bass players are guitarists who want "an easy way out". DO NOT FALL INTO THIS MENTALITY. If you want to play bass because you think it's a bigger, dumber version of the guitar, step away from the instrument and get a massive reality check.

Only play bass for pure reasons. Do it because bass is the aspect of the song you appreciate most. Good bass players are groove-oriented people and they only want to stay in the pocket. You have to BE a bass player in order to play the bass (if that makes any sense). If you're a guitarist stuck on bass, you'll never be happy and you'll grow to loathe your instrument.

Incidentally, I agree with whoever said you can play both. Expand yourself by learning more than one instrument. This will help you appreciate different aspects of music. However, you and I both know that deep down inside there's only one instrument you were made for. It always seems like the truest musicians have a calling and they don't betray it. Be true to yourself and NEVER pick up an instrument because you don't have enough time for a different instrument. You're cheating yourself out of a chance to become a great player.

Also, there's nothing wrong with being a casual player. Being a casual guitarist who knows himself and knows what he wants is MUCH better than being a one-instrument bassist who secretly loves guitar and is only playing bass because he can slack off.

 

[echofinger]

Re: Should I switch to bass?

Jack -of-all-trades, master-of-none.

 

[kill your scene]

Re: Should I switch to bass?

Jack -of-all-trades, master-of-none.

Who-are-you-talking-to?

 

[Pandemonium]

Re: Should I switch to bass?

I've played in a lot of bands and more often than not the bass player has been the best musician in the band. A good bass man is the heart and soul of a group. That's your foundation, and if the foundation's off the whole thing's off. They never get much credit, but they are generally one of the most if not the most fundamentally sound musicians in the band as far as theory goes and quite often the most creative.

 

[Panzer]

Re: Should I switch to bass?

I would definitely say Bass is alot easier to learn than guitar, to get to a "Jammable level" but alot harder to master. My brother is a very tallented Bass player, the guy has been playing since he got his first Bass at age 10(hes 21 now)
He plays alot like "Les Claypool" of primus in my opinion. Alot of really hardcore slap bass, improv solos all over the place, That kind of stuff cant be acheived solely through practicing. You really need to Have it in you to get to that level. Alot of guys dont really understand what I mean though. If your interested in becoming a bassist, try finding some videos of Les Claypool, or even listen to some of his work. It might give you an idea of how hard those guys can really rock out if you let them.
In my opinion though, if you want to jam with a band, and just dont have the time to do those chord and scale excercises for a couple hours every night, Picking up a Bass may just be what you need. But DO NOT get rid of your guitar gear. Keep at it, take your time, dont give it up. Well, I hope this helped a tiny bit Best of luck to you.

 

[joelap]

Re: Should I switch to bass?

You know, I see everyone saying "Guitarists and drummers are a dime a dozen." I don't know where you all are, but in my scene... ****, it took me 2 years to find a drummer. Singers are even harder... so hard in fact I'm being forced to sing for the band. I come across bassists everyday, and guitarists who suck just as regularly. Do you have any idea how many guitarists my band has tried out to be a second guitarist? Hmmm... maybe as time progresses I'll find it harder to find a bassist, but so far the hardest part seems to be finding a talented guitarist who understands some theory.

Maybe I'm just insane