If you play guitar.. could you pick up bass without any trouble?

[ashakilee]

I'm a drummer.. recently i started guitar after having a long dilemma about whether to choose electric guitar or bass because i wanted to do both.
I've tried messing around on a bass, and the only difference seems to be the thickness of strings and the way you play..
Is it possible that if you're a fluent guitarist you could play bass without getting any real lessons or anything?
I told my parents this and they said they would get me a bass too..
ideas please.

:) thankies

[Caleb3221]

No, bass and guitar are totally different instruments and should be treated as such. Its extrememley obvious to anyone who knows thier stuff when they hear a bassist who is actually a guitarist. Guitar might help you a bit, but you shouldn't just assume since you can play guitar, you can play bass.

[SixnStones]

If you're a fluent guitar player i imagine you'll be able to play the bass fine if you play it like a guitarist. To be a good bassist would be a different matter, that's partly a musical thing, but there are also technical differences sometimes

EDIT: It's not as extreme as that (^) guy makes it seem

[apacherosepeacock]

If you're a fluent guitar player i imagine you'll be able to play the bass fine if you play it like a guitarist. To be a good bassist would be a different matter, that's partly a musical thing, but there are also technical differences sometimes

EDIT: It's not as extreme as that (^) guy makes it seem

exactly what i was about to say :thumb:

[Jamie]

With most guitarists, no. At my college alot of the guitarists have a go on my bass and most of them can hardly even fret yet play

[psychodelicmonkeyfromspace]

i learned too play both all along, I'd agree with sixnstones, guitar will definately help with bass just because of simple things like fretting and so on but overall there are differences between the two.

[Esp Griffyn]

No. There are huge differences between them.

[SixnStones]

^ useful post.... :rolleyes:

[Shy Ted]

How is it obvious whether a person playing a bass is a guitarist or not? Do they just try to shred or something?

[zink182]

my girlfreind has been in music school for 5 years and she's an awesome guitar player.. but she can't play bass.. or well she can but that's almost worse than mark hoppus..

[Mitchell Royce]

I don't know why you people make it seem so hard to start to play bass. The only real hurdle is the greater scale length and that bit more strength needed to fret. Everything else should come with a little time and practice, bass and guitar are pretty similar instruments after all. One can even be a good bassist from the start, lots of rock music needs that guitar approach to bass.

[Esp Griffyn]

^ useful post.... :rolleyes:

Id probably take more notice if it wasnt the jerk with the stolen avatar saying that.

[Riouken]

stolen avatar... lol.

[PaulR]

Of course, if you're willing to put time and effort into learning, then you could teach yourself - I'm currently teaching myself all my instruments.

The best place to start would be to watch videos of players you like, try and get the basic techniques, finger movement and such. You may have a good fretting technique because of guitar, although you need to put a little more pressure on bass strings to avoid fretbuzz.

[SixnStones]

Id probably take more notice if it wasnt the jerk with the stolen avatar saying that.

:lol: :evil: :naughty:

[deemo]

so i guess NO guitar players ever have picked up bass and been good? ok, sounds reasonable to me.

differences: scale length, gauge of strings, amount of strings, bass doesn't have good sounding chords (no one mention jaco or anyone else)

similarities: played the same way (fretting is the same, plucking is different if you don't use a pick), strings are tuned the same (EADG)

if you need to put alot of pressure on your strings, what the hell is wrong with your bass? is your action a few metres off the board?

so other than stretching your hand alittle (which will help immensely on guitar by the way), you shouldn't have any problems with a properly set up bass.

[Riouken]

so i guess NO guitar players ever have picked up bass and been good? ok, sounds reasonable to me.

differences: scale length, gauge of strings, amount of strings, bass doesn't have good sounding chords (no one mention jaco or anyone else)

similarities: played the same way (fretting is the same, plucking is different if you don't use a pick), strings are tuned the same (EADG)

if you need to put alot of pressure on your strings, what the hell is wrong with your bass? is your action a few metres off the board?

so other than stretching your hand alittle (which will help immensely on guitar by the way), you shouldn't have any problems with a properly set up bass.
Whether chords sound good or not are based on preferene. to me, they sound fantastic and to tohers thye do also.


But anyways, it's hwoever hard you want to make the nistrument, the array of thigns you can do on a bass will keep you etremely occupied and you won't jsut need to be able to fret and use a pletrum to do them.

[802.11-NGR]

Go for it man- at the very worst you will be decent.

Most bassists just don't like guitarists taking over their instrument.

Your biggest problem will be working up fretting hand strength.

[kilian]

:lol:

It's pretty much all the same.. I think you have an advantage as a guitarist becoming a bassist! I've did it myself and I just know from my own experience that it is an advantage.

If you want to bass in a band: it's pretty simple and you've got to remember that less is more. You aren't flea or wooten, so don't try to be like them. Develop your own style, I play roots/5th's and little fills.. Start the flaming right away, but I just fit into that band. :)

EDIT:
Go for it man- at the very worst you will be decent.
Most bassists just don't like guitarists taking over their instrument.
Your biggest problem will be working up fretting hand strength.
Couldn't agree more. I'm also starting the drums, but if I will be decent; I'm already a bit statisfied. I just want to know what my drummer is doing and not want to stare at him thinking: g0sh |-|3's t3h sh!t!!11!!!!11!!elevenz!!!!!!!!!!1

The second comment is SO true. I bet that everyone doesn't want guitarist taking over 'their instrument'. Especially if they know that guitarists can come so far as they are in a much shorter time ;)

[ashakilee]

thanks for that troops..
i told you men are useful at a lot of things.

[cAPS_lOCK]

You won't be able to play the bass as good as you play the guitar, but you will have a great headstart if you already know how to play guitar. Don't listen to most people in this thread, they're just scared of guitarists playing their instruments as good as they do. Bass and guitar is very technically similar. Like clarinet and saxophone, perhaps.

EDIT: 802.11-NGR and kilian said it the best.

[SixnStones]

You aren't flea or wooten, so don't try to be like them.



?? that's inspiring...

[Jabawanga]

Guitar and bass are two different instruments. However, if you play guitar then I'm sure you understand the general purpose of the bass guitar, but you probably don't listen to bass in a song like you do guitar. If you plan on switching to bass you should start listening to bands like RHCP, Rush, Mudvayne, Primus, Tool, Dream Theater, Incubus, Black Sabbath etc and make sure you focus on the bass. Since you play guitar it will obviously be easier for you to play bass with a pick, but you may want to at least attempt learning with your fingers. It will take time and lots of practice but it's worth it.

[muthafunkabass]

Id probably take more notice if it wasnt the jerk with the stolen avatar saying that.
:lol: sixnstones have just been OWNED


where''s pukeboy? he's the master of "owned/pwned". oh, thats right he never comes out of the casual.:upset:

[georgestrings]

It wasn't much of a problem for me to switch from guitar to bass after playing guitar for over 15 years, 2/3 of which were in bands - I merely picked up a bass, figured out the songs I wanted to play, and practiced them until I was able to play them proficiently.... I had a friend who could play ANY Jimmy Page riff EVER, so I learned a bunch of Zep songs, and off we went... I used to think that John Paul Jones was IT, until I started learning Black Sabbath songs - and Geezer is DEFINETLY IT!!!! Nowadays, I play in a band that plays covers by Sabbath, Metallica, Godsmack, Helmet, Tool, etc... - and originals... I STILL play quite a bit of guitar, and from a song writing viewpoint, I typically write a song on guitar, then write a bass line to it after the fact... IMO, a guitarist can learn to play the bass, as long as he keeps things in proper perspective - and plays bass in the band setting it's intended to be in - and doesn't try to play "lead bass"...

I'd say it won't be as difficult as some make it out to be(playing both bass and guitar) - and the experience will make you a more well rounded musician... Have at it, and good luck...



- georgestrings

[georgestrings]

:lol:

It's pretty much all the same.. I think you have an advantage as a guitarist becoming a bassist! I've did it myself and I just know from my own experience that it is an advantage.

If you want to bass in a band: it's pretty simple and you've got to remember that less is more. You aren't flea or wooten, so don't try to be like them. Develop your own style, I play roots/5th's and little fills.. Start the flaming right away, but I just fit into that band. :)

EDIT:

Couldn't agree more. I'm also starting the drums, but if I will be decent; I'm already a bit statisfied. I just want to know what my drummer is doing and not want to stare at him thinking: g0sh |-|3's t3h sh!t!!11!!!!11!!elevenz!!!!!!!!!!1

The second comment is SO true. I bet that everyone doesn't want guitarist taking over 'their instrument'. Especially if they know that guitarists can come so far as they are in a much shorter time ;)


Spot on, IMO....



- georgestrings

[muthafunkabass]

It wasn't much of a problem for me to switch from guitar to bass after playing guitar for over 15 years, 2/3 of which were in bands - I merely picked up a bass, figured out the songs I wanted to play, and practiced them until I was able to play them proficiently.... I had a friend who could play ANY Jimmy Page riff EVER, so I learned a bunch of Zep songs, and off we went... I used to think that John Paul Jones was IT, until I started learning Black Sabbath songs - and Geezer is DEFINETLY IT!!!! Nowadays, I play in a band that plays covers by Sabbath, Metallica, Godsmack, Helmet, Tool, etc... - and originals... I STILL play quite a bit of guitar, and from a song writing viewpoint, I typically write a song on guitar, then write a bass line to it after the fact... IMO, a guitarist can learn to play the bass, as long as he keeps things in proper perspective - and plays bass in the band setting it's intended to be in - and doesn't try to play "lead bass"...

I'd say it won't be as difficult as some make it out to be(playing both bass and guitar) - and the experience will make you a more well rounded musician... Have at it, and good luck...



- georgestrings
mmm......... good one:thumb:

[Akira]

EDIT: It's not as extreme as that (^) guy makes it seem
Yes and no. It is not necessarily obvious when a guitarist plays bass, but it IS obvious when a person plays bass like a guitar.

[kilian]

?? that's inspiring...
Read the rest of the post and you'll figure out that it's about the bandsituation ;)

[Akira]

One can even be a good bassist from the start, lots of rock music needs that guitar approach to bass.
Rock music in no way needs a guitar approach to bass, but most rock bassists approach it that way because playing rhythm guitar on bass is so easy.

[Riouken]

Read the rest of the post and you'll figure out that it's about the bandsituation ;)
Yeah I got confused for a second and the... oh I sitll am confused.

Both wooten and Flea play very well in a band situation. but, they play Bass melodically and a little bit different:amaze:. And here's me, under the impression that there is only one way to play the bass and that the bass should always be played in that one special way and if evolve into anything more will be blasphemy.

Play however you want in a band siuation, aslong as it fits.

Let there be "lead bass", let there be double thumbed runs, let there be tapping solos, let there be an entire intro made out of tapped harmonics and slapped rhythmns. Just use bass as a vehcile for MUSIC not for the backing of a band.

[SixnStones]

Read the rest of the post and you'll figure out that it's about the bandsituation ;)

*figures it out* aha!

[equinox]

Guitarists often think that. The fact is though that the bass is a different instrument with different requirements to play it. If you look at the history of the bass you will see that they are not as closely related as they look The bass guitar's father instrument is the double bass which is part of the orchestral string family of instruments.

Anyway, history aside, I found the guitar is a harder instrument to start with but it gets easier. The bass seems easy at first but as you get into it the instrument gets harder. Ignorant non-musicians often look down on bassists as they know nothing about the instrument. I was teased constantly at school for playing bass but I knew that the bass was a great instrument.

In fact, many experienced guitar players respect bassist for what they do. My guitarist in my Funk/metal band is absolutely brilliant at guitar but he told me that he find what I do on the bass for our songs really hard {I tried to teach him some of my lines}. So you see, bass is just as hard and easy as any other instrument. Every instrument has it's own hard points and easy points.

[kilian]

At riouken:

I was more for the 'new' bass players, that they shouldn't focus on that too much. Which would end worse for them. Flea and Wooten both do a good job in their bands! But if you try to copy it, it will mainly become noise instead of music. ;)


And ofcourse I agree the most with: play whatever fits the music!

[Riouken]

At riouken:

I was more for the 'new' bass players, that they shouldn't focus on that too much. Which would end worse for them. Flea and Wooten both do a good job in their bands! But if you try to copy it, it will mainly become noise instead of music. ;)


And ofcourse I agree the most with: play whatever fits the music!
No it won't.

If you try to copy Victor's groove in his band, that will come out as groove. If you try to copy Flea's groove in his band, that will come out as groove.

you just need to work on it. When I started bass I was learing chili pepper liens and it was music not noise. If you straight away start on the difficult stuff then yeah, it will start out as noise, but when you first learnt to do double thumb-double pop on one string, I'm sure it came out as clicks and clacks.

It's just work. In a band situation, do whatever you want, it will NEVER come out as random noise if it is made musical, and that is exactly what Wooten and Flea do.

[muthafunkabass]

^^^wow, how do i put that in lamen's terms?^^^
hmmm......... how about


OWNED!

[cAPS_lOCK]

^^^ Sorry, you're really not very good at it. ;)

[neal_672]

Either way it's pretty simple to pick anything up with enough practice, it's all down to dedicatrion, obviously playing guitar/bass before switching is bound to help you a bit because you'll be more used to hand positions etc either way do what you want and as long as you keep at it you'll be fine :thumb:

But playing guitar doesn't mean you'll be able to play bass well straight away mind, there are lots of different techniques etc to be taken into consideration when switching, but it will certainly help with the basics.

[tim_commerfordism]

With most guitarists, no. At my college alot of the guitarists have a go on my bass and most of them can hardly even fret yet play

what he said.

:wave: Hey Jamie.


(jaime) :p

[bleeding_fingers]

I'm sure anyone can pick up a bass without any experience. But play it, I don't know about that one.

[darrell]

I'm sure anyone can pick up a bass without any experience. But play it, I don't know about that one.

That was an intelligent post. :rolleyes:

[HaVIC5]

There are two aspects to the correct answer to this question. The first is the technical side of things. The fact is, skilled guitarists will have plenty of technical capacity to switch to bass without much trouble at all. They are extremely similar in design and have an identical tuning scheme for the first four strings. Guitar and electric bass are far, far more similar than electric bass and upright bass technique-wise. The guage difference is rarely a huge factor - normally it's the fret-width anyway, and even still, that quickly is gotten used to.

The other side of it is mentality, which many people in this conversation have gravitated towards. Guitar-playing and bass-playing have entirely different sensibilities about that, which is why people can tell if you're simply a guitar player-gone-bassist. The function of either instrument is different, and despite the fact that there is indeed some overlap between roles, in general, a guitarist making the switch will have to learn a lot about the bassist's job and how to do it.

[muthafunkabass]

That was an intelligent post. :rolleyes:
:lol:

[bassmancrv]

im kinda surprised no one has said anything about slapping.. ( if some one did say something and i missed it sorry :p )

just cause your good at guitar doesnt mean your gonna be good at bass, yes you can pick it up and play what you play on guitar on the bass.. but your just playing a guitar tuned down an octave.

IMO bass is a more rythm oriented instrument, so if your used to soloing and being in the spotlight with guitar, your gonna need to learn to step out of it at least for most of the time.

that all applys for root notes and most generic rock bands, in that case yes a guitarist probably can play bass. but try slapping.. haha no chance, i havent met a guitarist that can slap.. yea they can hit the strings and make a clank.. but thats not slapping. they would have to learn it from scratch, so the fact that they played guitar would be irrelevant

if your a guitarist and you wanna pick up a bass.. go for it, but dont think its gonna be any easier.. learning to fret and pick really doesnt take that long to learn you might get a couple days head start at best :D

but if you wanna do it more power to ya :thumb:

[I<3Bass]

for simple songs it should be easy such as blink 182 but the hardest parts are switching from pick to fingers and listening for the bass cause its not always the same as the guitar RHCP should help you as a beginner. At least this is how it was for me.

[EADG]

I find the main problem with guitarists playing bass is that they don't understand that bass requires more finesse and attention to detail. You can't just beat on the strings like you can do with a distorted guitar and expect it to sound good.

[d-basser]

the biggest prob IMO is the fact that guitarist don't have the same sense of rhythm, they don't have the required funk and groove. they don't have the same ability to just sit back and link in with the drummer.

[basgitarist]

^^^ Sorry, you're really not very good at it. ;)
I agree. Stop acting foolish.

[Sade]

If you do not allocate the strength to physically pick up an instrument, I highly doubt your ability to play it for any extended period of time.

[Munky_Jam]

well i guess what i was going to say has already been said so i'll keep it short. Yes it will help alot that you can play guitar, and also it will be noticable at first that you also play guitar but eventually your own bass style will develop.
Welcome to the world of the low end and have fun.

[Munky_Jam]

actually strength will be your biggest problem. Every guitarist i know complains about a guitar's action and how hard it is t play and a bass player will pick it up and it will be a dream. My brother inlaw destroyed the greatest sounding acoustic guitar (warped the fuc.k out of the neck) I have ever heard because it was too hard to play. I used to play that (it was his sisters - my girlfriends) all the time and had no problem. Played fast too.
Anyway i don't know what drumming will have done but you watch your forearms bulk up because of it.

[super_rad]

I'd say the best advice I can give you is...less is more. Some guitarists-turned-bassists (and a lot of bassists too) muck up songs by overplaying just because they can.

[georgestrings]

There are two aspects to the correct answer to this question. The first is the technical side of things. The fact is, skilled guitarists will have plenty of technical capacity to switch to bass without much trouble at all. They are extremely similar in design and have an identical tuning scheme for the first four strings. Guitar and electric bass are far, far more similar than electric bass and upright bass technique-wise. The guage difference is rarely a huge factor - normally it's the fret-width anyway, and even still, that quickly is gotten used to.

The other side of it is mentality, which many people in this conversation have gravitated towards. Guitar-playing and bass-playing have entirely different sensibilities about that, which is why people can tell if you're simply a guitar player-gone-bassist. The function of either instrument is different, and despite the fact that there is indeed some overlap between roles, in general, a guitarist making the switch will have to learn a lot about the bassist's job and how to do it.


Well said... Especially the last part is right on the money...



- georgestrings

[georgestrings]

If you do not allocate the strength to physically pick up an instrument, I highly doubt your ability to play it for any extended period of time.


I agree - I notice that if I'm playing alot of bass, strength-wise - the guitar seems easier... I DO notice that I *seem* to develop harder callouses by playing guitar - especially the 12 string... One thing's for sure: the musician that can play both well(and properly), has twice the opportunities for gigs...



- georgestrings

[life of a dog]

i started off playing the guitar two years before bass and im better on bass so

[AlmightyPancake]

I'm currently impressed by the fact that this forum is under the impression that guitarists have neither groove nor rhythmic ability...


There are funk and blues guitarists as well, you know...

[tim_commerfordism]

I'm currently impressed by the fact that this forum is under the impression that guitarists have neither groove nor rhythmic ability...


There are funk and blues guitarists as well, you know...

This guy knows what he's talking about.

Its a shame there arent many about :upset:

[Phalanx]

I'm currently impressed by the fact that this forum is under the impression that guitarists have neither groove nor rhythmic ability...


There are funk and blues guitarists as well, you know...

i've noticed this as well. Someone said "Guitarists aren't good at rhythm".

Guitarists aren't all complete solo players, they play melodies and rhythms just like bass players. Funk guitarists use a heck of a lot of rhythm changes and grooves to sound good.

[Sade]

I agree - I notice that if I'm playing alot of bass, strength-wise - the guitar seems easier... I DO notice that I *seem* to develop harder callouses by playing guitar - especially the 12 string... One thing's for sure: the musician that can play both well(and properly), has twice the opportunities for gigs...



- georgestrings

I was making a literal pun at the thread title, bucko.

[Bitchwax]

It really depends. I suck at ecerything

[AlmightyPancake]

It really depends. I suck at ecerything
Including spelling.

[muthafunkabass]

Including spelling.
:lol:

[Akira]

I'm currently impressed by the fact that this forum is under the impression that guitarists have neither groove nor rhythmic ability...
I was thinking that too.

[Jaded]

To answer the threadstarter's question, yes you can, if you are good. Bass is an easy instrument to pick up.

[Jaded]

Id probably take more notice if it wasnt the jerk with the stolen avatar saying that.
What? That was dumb.

[dragonzmad]

I don't know why you people make it seem so hard to start to play bass. The only real hurdle is the greater scale length and that bit more strength needed to fret. Everything else should come with a little time and practice, bass and guitar are pretty similar instruments after all. One can even be a good bassist from the start, lots of rock music needs that guitar approach to bass.

jeez I agree. quit trying to make it harder than it is. Lets face it, bass playing is not a very difficult instrument to play. Every instrument has its advanced techniques but generally speaking a guitar player can pickup bass playing relatively easy. Whether a guitar player will be good at bass playing depends on his understanding of the bass's role in a particular type of music. A guitar background isn't a substitute for practice

[Jaded]

jeez I agree. quit trying to make it harder than it is. Lets face it, bass playing is not a very difficult instrument to play. Every instrument has its advanced techniques but generally speaking a guitar player can pickup bass playing relatively easy. Whether a guitar player will be good at bass playing depends on his understanding of the bass's role in a particular type of music. A guitar background isn't a substitute for practice
Thank you.

[Sammy_L_D]

Once you get down the minor differences between a guitar and an electric bass (instrument size, fret size, string size, etc.), learning it shouldn't be a problem.

As you also have a drumming background, it shouldn't be a huge challenge, but like any instrument, you'll have to work at it.

Depending on what you play on guitar, the main difference in playing style will be that in guitar, you're playing the melodies, the lead, and so on. On bass, you're laying down the foundation of those melodies, and keeping the song steady.

Groove is a major factor of bass playing. Think about when you're playing drums, and you're establishing the groove and rhythm. Pay attention to what the bass drum is doing especially. In many styles of music, the bass will follow this.

If you need to start out with something simple for getting the idea of "groove" on a stringed instrument down, play with a drummer, and listen to the kick drum.

Pay attention the drummer's bass drum, and play notes EXACTLY when s/he plays the bass drum. That there would be the basics of locking in with the drummer.

As you get better at grooving on the bass, along the techniques bass is notorious for (slap bass, tap-style, etc.), you should be able to hear how you can improvise around the basic locking, and how to come up with some sweet basslines that aren't just following exactly what the kick drum is doing.

Other things you'll need to know if you want to get good include the scales, modes, triads, and so on.

Hope that's of some help.

[Bitchwax]

It really depends. I suck at ecerything
And that is what you get for leaving your post unposted while you go to the bathroom.

What I was going to say:

It depends on the person really. I have a friend that played guitarist who picked up bass recently and is turning into quite the badass. Granted he does play with a pick most of the time. Another friend of mine, my band mate, is mediocre at the bass.

Though some people suck pretty bad, like my rythm guitarist, can't play a damn thing..."if you're frets weren't so big I'd tear you up" is what I hear from him all the time.

I play both.

[6stringslinger]

the 1 thing that i had to get use to was the
wider s____t___r__e____t__c__h, on the bass frets...and after playing bass in the beggining the guitar strings seemed to be so damm close together!

[Bass Queen]

^
yeah...

i played guitar before i played bass.....so when i started playing bass i didnt play guitar for a while....and then when i picked up my guitar again the strings were so close togeather....and coz the neck is way small compared to bass it felt all squishy and weird....

it dosnt feel like that now though