There are work-arounds, and ways to play that are most efficient for your abilities. If you really want to play, you can certainly make it happen. Steve from Brooklyn on February 16, 2019: I saw on your first blog a gentleman, Sam Chapman, near my age, who was having some similar issues as I. Guitarists are generally considered more musical than bassists, and in rock music, they tend to attract a great deal of attention. Hello,I am not planning to play for a band.So should i choose to learn a guitar or a bass? Guitar Gopher (author) on November 29, 2018: @Kya - I think it's great that you intend to continue with music even after school. What a great story you have! Have you ever heard of Om? But knowing the notes isn’t really important right now, as much as understanding how the guitar and bass are related. Thanks, Dan, and good luck. If you are trying to decide between guitar and bass, then you have a lot of thinking ahead of you. Thanks for the kind words, Jake. I'll admit, as a bassist i had it so easy starting off not needing to learn chords and fretting a million notes at once. Both approaches are unique and effective. If you would like to customize your carrot cake bars, feel free to: Add nuts: Feel free to stir 1/2 cup chopped nuts (such as pecans, walnuts, pepitas or hazelnuts) into the batter, and/or sprinkle extras on top of the frosting. It'll never be me. So I never got very good at it. With each, you'll earn some facts and information that will help you make the choice between two great instruments. Picking up up guitar can certainly help expand your horizons and get you out of this funk. They’re smaller than full-size bass guitars, but still a bit chunkier than electric guitars. Does the rhythm of the music move you more than the melody? Which feels more comfortable? You can use a low shelf filter at 40Hz or 150Hz depending on which area of the bass you want to boost. Check out our wiki first. The way you pluck the strings has a direct impact on your tone, so try experimenting with different hand positions and don't be afraid to use a little more hand strength as you pluck the strings. Be a musician. He is a great musician and a huge influence for me as a bassist. Alternatively, you can use a pick for a more aggressive sound. I think, like most people, I expected results way too quickly and I needed to learn perseverance. But I can't practice now because my fingers start blistering and hurt after playing for a while. You may also consider an instruction book, but I think new players can learn anything they need to know online for free. Good luck! There are also many online learning resources available, and there's even software available for your computer. I have an acoustic guitar but haven't done much with it. Of course, these guys both play the same instrument, but lead and rhythm guitarists play different roles in a band. I'm 53 now with grown children. Questions? Sound effects. (Hey, why start at the bottom.) Guitar lessons are not for everyone, but if you can find a good teacher and you learn well in that environment you will move along much faster on the instrument. I'm going to try to convince my friend to play bass (she hasn't ever played), so wish me luck! I had played a bit of acoustic guitar for about 5 years but because I was a singer, I couldn't play without singing, therefore I never concentrated on the playing part. But if your heart is set on the bass, don’t let this stop you. im having a proplem myself idk if i should play gutar or bass but the problem is that idk how to play any of them. ZDNet's technology experts deliver the best tech news and analysis on the latest issues and events in IT for business technology professionals, IT managers and tech-savvy business people. Of course they had backing bands behind them. In addition, it adds depth and low-end to the sound. I already knew that sooner or later I'd have a second instrument, I just didn't know where to start. Remember, this is all very general. Thanks for your positive article. Verse 1: D C Gonna catch a freight train,right down at the station Lord G I don't care which way it goes D D7 D7sus4 Gonna climb a mountain,the highest mountain G C If I jump off nobody gonna know Chorus D C Can't you see,oh can't you see G What that woman's been doing to me Dsus4 D Dsus2 C Dsus4 C Can't you see,whoah can't you see Dsus2 Dsus4 G D Dsus4 D What that woman she been doing to … Maven Media Brands, LLC and respective content providers to this website may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Bassists are often relegated to a utilitarian role in the band, but it doesn't have to be so. But after I learn bass, I'm gonna learn guitar 'cause of Frank Iero, but I'm not going to play on the floor. Percussion instruments are drums, xylophone, timpani, and similar. Is this a fair call? I'd bet there are a lot of introverts that love guitar. Whew. Guitar Gopher (author) on November 26, 2018: @Elston - Me too! Don’t let any of that worry you. The reason some people might feel bass is boring to play alone is because a bassline in a song is usually a repetitive, supportive part of the music. The bass guitar is a key part of the rhythm section of a band. I know a lot of players prefer the sound playing finger-style, but I do think getting used to playing with a pick gives a bassist one more useful skill in the bag of tricks. As a bassist, you need to be the driving force behind your band, and you’ll most likely be an unsung hero. Sure, I'm reading about people who became stars in bands - but can one be solo with a bass? Unfortunately, this advice still leaves some new musicians stumped. The tuning of a bass guitar is the same as the lowest four strings of a regular guitar, except one whole octave down in pitch. And after this, I know whom to ask for advice. It puts me on cloud nine! I hate it when You hear a song on the radio you really like but you find the bass tab and it is the same four notes being played 8 beats again and again. So your article was perfect because I recently learned that Royal Blood plays their main stuff on the bass. This can make it a bit daunting for new players, especially smaller people. As I get older (30's now) I am finding my love and appreciation of the bass guitar is growing very strong. She's so young, but plays with Beck and Herbie Hancock. I got a guitar about 10 years ago but never really had the motivation to stick with it. There are no wrong choices, as long as you commit yourself to improve and learn, whether it’s on guitar, or bass, or both. They drive the sound of the music. Joe Dart from Vulfpeck makes me want to learn bass. It never hurt to be versatile, either. Guitar Gopher (author) on August 31, 2016: "Bassists are just cooler guitarists" - I think that needs to be on a t-shirt, Felix! Those folks are used to helping newbies choose their first instrument, so there is no reason to feel embarrassed by any questions you might have. I am a lead singer and bass player along with another lead singer and bass player. Bass doesn't have to be boring! After all, bassists are just cooler guitarists. Guitar Gopher (author) on August 24, 2018: @George B - I think it is probably easier to go from guitar to bass. For this reason, bassists fret the same chords slightly differently than guitarists. It's not like if you choose bass now you can never, ever play guitar. I'm torn, please help. I mean, the main reason I chose to play violin instead of chello (my choice before I switched) was because I love playing the melody. This is such a good article, a mouthful sometimes but an good one. I played lead and rhythm guitar for a long time, but was always fascinated with bass. Who is really better, van Halen or BB King? I do my best to respond as soon as possible. Both rhythm and lead guitar players use regular guitars. I kinda wanna learn bass first 'cause um, I originally played trombone, so yeah...kind of know how to hold a long instrument. Thanks. So there is no reason to feel pressure or confusion. Now I’m 19 with a fender jbass I had to force myself to pay for as motivation to get good, and I’m loving it! My band agree that I play bass, but the problem is is that when I play, it is very quiet even if I put it at the loudest thing. Also, make sure to set the preamp to a bit higher than your highest boost so you don't get clipping (distortion). I know that I will continue playing (and singing) as long as I am able to...60..70..100? Also, make sure to set the preamp to a bit higher than your highest boost so you don't get clipping (distortion). 3 65 Super Easy Finger Foods to Make for Any Party From chips and dip to one-bite apps, finger foods are the perfect way to kick off a party. I appreciate comments like this so much. I always loved the versatility of bassoon, you really get to play everything from bass lines and harmonies to the melody and some great solos, so I'm still having some trouble deciding between bass and guitar. I would bet money that the most accomplished guitarists can't just switch to bass and do what these bassists do. I have one of those and its a pretty decent little practice amp. In metal and hard rock, it means supplying the meat of the guitar riff, that part of the sound that puts the audience through the back wall. It's the Squier Affinity P Bass Pack. Being that I have small hands, that presented a dilemma. In many rock bands, two guitar players share these duties, or one player takes on both roles. In my opinion there are some good instruments made overseas, especially for beginners and intermediate players. Should I be worried about starting the bass one day because of reaching the chords? You can practice both bass and guitar without an amp. The hum is possibly due to the bass, not the amp. The question is, which instrument is easier to transition from? The electric guitar is a six-stringed instrument, and standard tuning is E-A-D-G-B-E. That means the lowest string is tuned to the note E, the next to the note A, the next to D and so on. Hi graceepoc! It's is just boring to play that especially for someone like me who isn't in a band or planning on joining one. Good luck with your decision! I was planning on playing guitar anyways, but this made me sure. @Random Guy: I'd have a local guitar shop check out your rig. Hold an electric guitar on your lap, and then try a bass. In fact I want to make this my lesson in consistency and patience. Very informative and well written article...Thank you :-). The difference in size between guitar and bass is illustrated by a measurement called scale length. It's more fun that way anyway! After all, it’s their riffs and solos that are most memorable in many forms of modern music. They provide the backbone that holds up the other instruments. You don’t need an amp for that. You can do whatever you want. I think new and experienced players alike can learn from him. And thank you. Stevie Ray is clean. Always feel free to post a question in the comments section of any of my articles. Just about anyone can think they sound good on high gain, so clean it up, play the blues, play country. Maybe you’re picking up an instrument for the first time and you’re having a tough time choosing which to learn. I think that pack comes with a Rumble 15 amp, right? Guitar Gopher (author) on December 09, 2019: @singerwithabass - Thanks for the kind words. If you love Iron Maiden you might really enjoy starting on bass. I'm able to sing backup vocals while I play. Good luck with your decision. Once again, this is all generally speaking. I play guitar and have played bass, but don't know if I'm willing to buy a new electric guitar or electric bass. I loved that sound! The bass works closely with the drummer to help form the backbone of the music. Some bassists even learn classical music written for cello or other string instruments. Good luck on your journey to becoming whatever musician you are meant to be. Guitar Gopher (author) on November 28, 2016: Thanks rockbass. I wouldn't quit on bass just because gear is giving you headaches. That's one of the reasons I wrote this article. So bassists: don't be marginalized! In fact, most guitar instructors teach bass too. Maybe it will be guitar, or maybe it will be bass, and maybe you’ll switch in a few years. Played for 6 years but now that I've finished school I can't use theirs anymore and I definitely can't afford my own yet (hopefully one day!). The fretting and tunings of the two instruments and the fact that you must learn scales on both are about where the similarities between guitar and bass stop. Right now, make the best choice you can between guitar and bass, but don’t feel like you can’t change your mind later on. I really miss playing in a band though and want to play different genres of music, so hoping to start bass or guitar in the new year. Forgive my lack of social manners! It's my first attempt at actually showing a duet in the staff and notes, even though the tab doesn't attempt to play all of both parts - just the melody and some of the harmony. There is always more to learn. However, depending on what kinds of music you are interested it, you may be able to get into a band quicker as a bassist. If you are having trouble visualizing this, hop in a car and head on down to a local guitar store. This may take six months or a year, but many less, but it really depends on how fast you learn and how hard you work. After you have your instrument, you have to pick a path. Amazing! If you said “Yes!” more often in paragraph #1 you might be happier as a guitar player. So first play songs you like, instead of playing chords from paper. I consider myself a solid player with still so much learn and that's what I love about it, you can take the instrument as far as you want! No forks or spoons required, just easy-to-pick-up party foods, so you can clean up in no time.Read More Guitar Gopher (author) on January 03, 2017: Thanks to your article, I am sure that I want to pursue the bass! This would eat my singing routine time. If your goal is to switch to guitar why not start with guitar? The verdict? However, on live recordings they do sound somewhat thin, like a band without a bassist. Guitar Gopher (author) on January 19, 2016: You're right anony. Now I'm definitely not an acoustic girl. @Random Guy again: If you mean you are using an aux-in to play music through your bass amp then most likely no, it will not sound as good as through regular stereo speakers. Guitar Gopher (author) on February 16, 2019: @Steve - Good advice, and congrats on getting back into music! I like a challenge, and I'm not expecting to be performance ready any time soon. I WANTED to play the bass. Is this normal or am I doing something wrong? Are you willing to put in the necessary time it takes to learn music theory? Oh, I also returned to bass. Guitar Gopher (author) on September 14, 2018: Hi Lilli. In rock music the guitar often takes the stoplight, but some rock bassists are the primary songwriters and the best musicians in their bands. Guitar Gopher (author) on February 01, 2019: @Daniel - If you like bass you can certainly stick with it. Put as simply as possible, the scale length is the distance from the end of the fretboard on your left (if you are a right-handed guitarist) to where the strings meet the bridge. Do you want to be the major creative force in your band, and write the majority of the music? Do you consider yourself unconventional, even among other unconventional people? In the beginning, choose whichever instrument gets you the most excited! Played bass years ago and just pulled it out again. The same is true going from bass to guitar, but I think perhaps it won't be quite as clear. I play both but I have decided to give more attention to the bass. Any chord you play on the lowest four strings on a guitar you can play on a four-string bass. I really love Iron Maiden and they're the main reason why I want to pick up an instrument. Sorry to bother again, but I figured out the problem and gave the bass for repairing. I do everything I can to encourage people to get into music because for me it was one of the best choices I ever made. I like classical, but my school only does bass so I will also learn bass, but I already know how play classical, Andy bass and classical are not that different. You can do it if you put in the work. The secret is yo get a nice, bright, punchy bass tone. In the strictest sense, they are. I am going to take up Bass, because as much as I love hearing all the full on guitar solos from my heros, I've always really felt the basslines coming through. Does the enjoyment of working hard on something mean more to you than the accolades? Lastly, 2 Lobo songs – Don’t Expect me to be Your Friend and It sure took a long time. There are no "wrong" answers, and if you see a path on bass I highly encourage you to follow it. You’re going to start learning an instrument, and never regret it. By adels [CC-BY-2.0], via Wikimedia Commons. I think I'll learn both. Make it your own and break down some boundaries. But I cannot find a similar option on PC.Is there a simple way that I can increase the bass? I listened to Royal Blood, whom I had never heard of before. Guitar Gopher (author) on November 13, 2017: @Argonaut Octopus - I'm not familiar with that band, but I'll check them out if I get a chance. XYZ ! I really enjoyed it. (Chords & Tab) My Old Man (Was a Good Ol' Boy) (Chords & Tab) Back to Blue (Chords & Tab) Nosferatu (Chords & Tab) When the Rain Comes Pouring Down (Chords & Tab) Would You Go Downtown? I like to think that the deep, thunderous bass touches the body and soul, while the guitar provides the mind journey with facemelting solos. But really the choice is up to you. Have there ever been bassists who were solo and sung? This is the best site I’ve seen for acoustic guitar Really, its up to you. Hi Random Guy. It's often frustrating, but the rewards outweigh the pain of learning. I have a background in violin and guitar, and be background I mean "I played awfully for a year or two". It is WAY EASIER to join a band and make $$$ since bass players are in short supply and high demand just as drummers are. Maybe my experience could help him. Well I'm leaning toward Bass. Do you think it would be fair to say that it would be easier to learn guitar after learning bass? Even though I've been playing most of my life, I still consider myself a newbie and always learning. Physically, some newbies may find the guitar easier. On my samsung s8, I can open spotify and go to settings -> equalizer and increase the bass.This is great for the type of genre I am listening to. Thanks for answering me. Let the person at the guitar shop know you are trying to decide between guitar and bass. Fuck yeah ! But after I learn bass, I'm gonna learn guitar 'cause of Frank Iero, but I'm not going to play on the floor. Thanks for helping me choosing, I'm in love with the bass since my childhood, so I'm definitely going for BASS. Thanks. I'm 64 now and still learning. You’ll procrastinate. I missed it too much! Or, maybe you already play guitar and your buddies are bugging you to switch to bass and join their band. Lexxi Foxx. Guitar Gopher (author) on August 21, 2016: Good luck, Elizabeth! As a guitarist, your job is to write great riffs, play great solos, and know how to play rhythm when you need to. First of all, I love your articles and you've helped me a lot, but I still can't decide between bass and guitar. I took lessons years ago and can read music but I am out of practice and never really felt comfortable playing the regular guitar. Even the pros practice multiple instruments, but they definitely aren't easily interchangeable. I tried both the Jazz and Precision. Kinda worries me since i kinda like in a spotlight and kinda not an trying to be different than my friends who mostly played the guitar, need advice from you! What a great article! I wish I could play Bass. I suggest at least using a direct box or pedal so you have some control over your sound. I appreciate it! While I still love bass and thinks it's extremely fun to play, it's just not as satisfying as a six string. Obviously I’m still learning basically from scratch, but getting decent just from diligently playing at least an hour a day. Huge selection of 500,000 tabs. As for reaching chords, it's not something you should let deter you. I know I always did — until I became one. Eddie Van Halen played mind-blowing solos as well as held down rhythm guitar duties. My hands aren't necessarily small, but I have trouble reaching chords because I'm not quite used to it yet. Great article, thanks. Plenty of musicians, this author included, play guitar and bass, and it’s great to be versed on both instruments. I thought this article was misleading. :). As a new guitarist or bassist, your road is relatively easy (as opposed to learning the bassoon). I played lead guitar for fifteen years before ever joining a band as a bassist, and it was really a hard decision. Properties. Their past albums only had a drummer and a bassist, and the bass fills the role of the guitar with a very unique distorted tone. In my place most guys play guitar and piano and i tried to learn guitar and works quite nice. Good luck getting back to music! If you'd rather focus on bass first I suggest advancing beyond the beginner level before adding another instrument. Guitar Gopher (author) on January 10, 2016: Hi Jordan. I stuck to piano on and off over the last five years, but just for the sake of plonking chords to accompany my songwriting. Should give you better results than the Samsung fixed band one too. Learn to lay down a bass line that rules the band. Originally conceived to honor artists and track sound recording sales, Gold & Platinum Awards have come to stand as a benchmark of success for any artist—whether they’ve just released their first song or Greatest Hits album. The same scales, chords and music theory you might learn on one carries over to the other. I've been playing Guitar since January of this year. Add coconut: Or up to 1/4 cup of toasted shredded coconut. How can I prevent the pain and ''heal'' my fingers? :-). It's all a journey. Google Equalizer APO and Peace GUI for a parametric equaliser. I like bass because it is the first instrument I learnt to play on my own . You're welcome, Random Guy, and good luck! Theresa Howard. Bass is definitely my instrument. Jazz, rock, country, blues, metal if you must. Learn different styles, even ones you don't like. I donated to the public library. If that's not what you mean please clarify. I also bought an aux cable to play along with, but it doesn't sound really good and it doesn't catch some frequencies. Work with the drummer. Good luck! You have plenty of time ahead of you to learn any instrument you want. In those cases, you may wish to consider some of the practical aspects of guitar and bass. 03:47 pm. I just prefer strumming and... why are bassists COOLER. I wanna play bass 'cause of Mikey Way. Ultimately, you may want to make your decision after taking a hard look at your own personality. Good bassists are indeed very valuable, so if the bass is the path you decide on, then wear your choice proudly! Depending on what musical genre you’re interested in, and how hard you want to push yourself, both guitar and bass can be fairly easy or extremely hard. Whatever you choose, get started in music. Even if you only have a little bit of time to spend with the instrument every week, keep it up. Guitar Gopher (author) on December 11, 2017: @Ali - It sounds like you need to work on your right-hand technique (assuming you're a right-handed bassist). Learn the keyboard, learn theory, learn to read. However, if you really like bass there are many musicians and genres that go much further than those boring, repetitive basslines. That part is meant as food for thought. I spent about 30 min to an hour every day learning songs from tabs, cds, music books of songs I liked. And before you know it, you start playing better each day. The problem here is that I like getting attention but I also think bass is very interesting too. I will take that advice on board and use it to my advantage. And, don’t be afraid to learn both. Good luck! 2014/05/08. I only wish I would have started with it much sooner. Within 2 years I was going to blues jams with my husband and finding other women to jam with (that was actually pretty difficult to find). Lenny Kravitz tabs, chords, guitar, bass, ukulele chords, power tabs and guitar pro tabs including are you gonna go my way, always on the run, again, american woman, baptized You’ll put it off again next year. However, because the bass has such a deep sound, chords can often sound muddy and inarticulate. Guitar, bass and drum tabs & chords with free online tab player. : @Shelleyskydoe: Thanks for the kind words! Also remember that you can play more than one instrument. Hi Random Guy. Everybody here ROXXX. My husband and I are enjoying empty nest life playing in our band. Rest assured: Even though this might seem like the decision of a lifetime, if you take a step back and think things through you can make the best choice for your situation right now, and worry about everything else later. And have fun! You must have a combined karma of 40, & your reddit account must be at least 30 days old to post. Guitar Gopher (author) on October 31, 2016: Hi Wizard: Thanks for the kind woards! In many ways, the bass is exactly the same as the guitar, except with two fewer strings and lower tuning. About to change musical direction on October 11, 2016: Hi, thoroughly enjoyed your article and all the comments, too. Bass chords don't exactly mirror guitar chords, even though the theory is the same. If you want to learn bass or guitar, you'll have a lot of help. Up until this point this article has dealt with inspirational issues. I still love it. The Jazz was easier with its narrow neck, but what I was really after was more the sound of an upright bass and the P-bass fit the bill!