should i learn guitar before bass?

plastic sun · 10.13.2007, 01:04 PM

i want to pick up an instrument.

Savage Clone · 10.13.2007, 01:10 PM

You can start in either place.
Just decide whether you want to be a guitarist or a bassist and try to be the best on your chosen instrument. Lots of great guitarists are crappy bass players. Knowing the notes on the neck is only a tiny part of being a good instrumentalist.
Good bass players are extremely valuable to a band. It's not a glory instrument (and when people make it into one the results are usually horrible), but it is SO important.
Just decide which way to go, and go all the way.
And remember, just because the bass only has four strings doesn't mean it's any "easier" to learn and play well. It just happens to have four strings.

pbradley · 10.13.2007, 01:19 PM

When you play bass, all you really need is a drummer to get down. Guitar needs both the drums and bass to usually make sense.

Plus, I'd rather down to the foundation of the song to have a real gut connection with it instead of just playing on top of it with the guitar.

plastic sun · 10.13.2007, 02:32 PM

okay, thanks

i really like bass. i'm going to learn soon...

SpectralJulianIsNotDead · 10.13.2007, 02:49 PM

Bass is a lot of fun, but there are merits to learning both.

demonrail666 · 10.13.2007, 04:44 PM

I used to play bass but decided last year to learn guitar, which I've found extremely difficult. They really are two VERY different instruments.

Sheriff Rhys Chatham · 10.13.2007, 04:48 PM

To me I think if you've got a good sense of rhythm you can play any basic bass stuff. I'd start with guitar, but that's becuz I play it.

king_buzzo · 10.13.2007, 05:04 PM

hmm it may be easier to change from guitar to bass if you dislike guitar. but bass is cool.

i say, go with both.

MellySingsDoom · 10.13.2007, 06:14 PM

Both are great instruments to learn and play, and both take years to master. I've played both on and of since I was 18, and still haven't got the hang of 'em yet, but nonetheless enjoy bashing around on them a lot.

StevOK · 10.13.2007, 09:44 PM

A good bassist will have to know what chords a guitarist is playing when jamming, so you at least have to have a basic understanding of how to play a guitar to be a good bass player.

nomowish · 10.13.2007, 11:18 PM

Weeks ago I saw my next door neighbor playing guitar in his shed to a blues song at 9 in the morning. I think he's in his late 60's or early 70's. Weeks later I had a dream he was a real rock star. A rather raunchy rock star [in reality he's a church-going dude who sits on his porch nearly everyday - chillin'].

I have a feeling I'd be a great guitarist. I should learn how to play one too. What the fuck is getting in the way of me doing this?

PAULYBEE2656 · 10.14.2007, 05:21 AM

yeah, learn guitar properly (unlike me) and bass will fall into place in time. it did with me and im at a very sub magikmarker level of guitar technical ability....

plastic sun · 10.14.2007, 08:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pbradley

This there a reason why you neg repped me? Did my personal preference upset you that much?

i'm sorry!
i thought i gave you positive rep!

Savage Clone · 10.14.2007, 09:06 AM

Grey rep is neutral; it's just because you have less than 50 posts.
After that, your positive rep turns green.

LittlePuppetBoy · 10.14.2007, 09:21 PM

I love playing a bass, but you'll have to learn guitar separately.

pbradley · 10.17.2007, 04:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Savage Clone

Grey rep is neutral; it's just because you have less than 50 posts.
After that, your positive rep turns green.

Ha, I was wondering why it was grey. Nevemind then.

10.13.2007, 01:04 PM	#1
plastic sun little trouble girl Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: florida Posts: 33	i want to pick up an instrument. __________________ i'm runnin as fast as i can
	\|QUOTE AND REPLY\|

10.13.2007, 01:10 PM	#2
Savage Clone invito al cielo Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 11,290	You can start in either place. Just decide whether you want to be a guitarist or a bassist and try to be the best on your chosen instrument. Lots of great guitarists are crappy bass players. Knowing the notes on the neck is only a tiny part of being a good instrumentalist. Good bass players are extremely valuable to a band. It's not a glory instrument (and when people make it into one the results are usually horrible), but it is SO important. Just decide which way to go, and go all the way. And remember, just because the bass only has four strings doesn't mean it's any "easier" to learn and play well. It just happens to have four strings.
	\|QUOTE AND REPLY\|

10.13.2007, 01:19 PM	#3
pbradley invito al cielo Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: SoKo Posts: 10,621	When you play bass, all you really need is a drummer to get down. Guitar needs both the drums and bass to usually make sense. Plus, I'd rather down to the foundation of the song to have a real gut connection with it instead of just playing on top of it with the guitar.
	\|QUOTE AND REPLY\|

10.13.2007, 02:32 PM	#4
plastic sun little trouble girl Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: florida Posts: 33	okay, thanks i really like bass. i'm going to learn soon... __________________ i'm runnin as fast as i can
	\|QUOTE AND REPLY\|

10.13.2007, 02:49 PM	#5
SpectralJulianIsNotDead invito al cielo Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 7,409	Bass is a lot of fun, but there are merits to learning both.
	\|QUOTE AND REPLY\|

10.13.2007, 04:44 PM	#6
demonrail666 invito al cielo Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 18,510	I used to play bass but decided last year to learn guitar, which I've found extremely difficult. They really are two VERY different instruments.
	\|QUOTE AND REPLY\|

10.13.2007, 04:48 PM	#7
Sheriff Rhys Chatham invito al cielo Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: New England. Posts: 4,027	To me I think if you've got a good sense of rhythm you can play any basic bass stuff. I'd start with guitar, but that's becuz I play it. __________________ My Music(grunge rock) A part of this blue shit since June 24th, 2004
	\|QUOTE AND REPLY\|

10.13.2007, 05:04 PM	#8
king_buzzo invito al cielo Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 11,110	hmm it may be easier to change from guitar to bass if you dislike guitar. but bass is cool. i say, go with both.
	\|QUOTE AND REPLY\|

10.13.2007, 06:14 PM	#9
MellySingsDoom invito al cielo Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 8,662	Both are great instruments to learn and play, and both take years to master. I've played both on and of since I was 18, and still haven't got the hang of 'em yet, but nonetheless enjoy bashing around on them a lot. __________________ Snow on Easter Sunday - Jesus Christ in reverse.
	\|QUOTE AND REPLY\|

10.13.2007, 09:44 PM	#10
StevOK expwy. to yr skull Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Henrietta, TX Posts: 2,412	A good bassist will have to know what chords a guitarist is playing when jamming, so you at least have to have a basic understanding of how to play a guitar to be a good bass player. __________________ Follow me! Soundcloud Tumblr Facebook
	\|QUOTE AND REPLY\|

10.13.2007, 11:18 PM	#11
nomowish children of satan Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Miami Posts: 373	Weeks ago I saw my next door neighbor playing guitar in his shed to a blues song at 9 in the morning. I think he's in his late 60's or early 70's. Weeks later I had a dream he was a real rock star. A rather raunchy rock star [in reality he's a church-going dude who sits on his porch nearly everyday - chillin']. I have a feeling I'd be a great guitarist. I should learn how to play one too. What the fuck is getting in the way of me doing this?
	\|QUOTE AND REPLY\|

10.14.2007, 05:21 AM	#12
PAULYBEE2656 invito al cielo Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: wexford, rep of ireland Posts: 6,930	yeah, learn guitar properly (unlike me) and bass will fall into place in time. it did with me and im at a very sub magikmarker level of guitar technical ability.... __________________ myspace facebook *twitter*
	\|QUOTE AND REPLY\|

10.14.2007, 09:06 AM	#14
Savage Clone invito al cielo Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 11,290	Grey rep is neutral; it's just because you have less than 50 posts. After that, your positive rep turns green.
	\|QUOTE AND REPLY\|

10.14.2007, 09:21 PM	#15
LittlePuppetBoy expwy. to yr skull Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Aylmer(now Gatineau), Quebec Posts: 1,756	I love playing a bass, but you'll have to learn guitar separately. __________________
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