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Bass, easier or more difficult than guitar ?
| Message Board > Music Chitchat - Heavy > Bass, easier or more difficult than guitar ? |
| chunk User Info... | Just wondering...I have heard that Bass is harder to learn than guitar. Some say that the Bass is a physically demanding instrument and such, as well as there is a lot of practice needed with the proper fingering technique. I guess it also depends on the person, but in terms complexity and a technical standpoint, which is the more demanding instrument ? Im sure there are others wondering. The response seems varies, some say drums is the hardest, but I dont know for sure...what do you folks think? - Wed, 9 Feb 2005 8:40pm | ||
| Dr.DoomXXX User Info... | For guitar it all depends on how far you want to take it. It's one of the easiest instruments to learn but one of the most difficult to master. - Wed, 9 Feb 2005 8:47pm | ||
| Tdizzle User Info... | I think DR.DOom's sentiment is true for both bass and guitar... Both instruments can be picked up and played without much skill... look at the ramones... But to master takes serious time Each instrument suites a different role in the band, and genre of music must be factored in as well. One final thing is how big or small the persons fingers are. I have huge hands which helps with stretching on bass... on guitar i could not solo high up very easily, and its vica versa for small handed people... Lets hear what guitarists have ta say? - Wed, 9 Feb 2005 9:43pm | ||
| ROSS B AY User Info... | play the triangle. - Wed, 9 Feb 2005 9:52pm | ||
| Jaron Evil User Info... |  Yes, they are both stringed instruments, but in all reality, bass is a completely different animal than guitar. I'm not gonna say one is better than the other, it just depends what your looking to play. I started out with the bass because at the time I had a major Primus fixation and I wanted to play like Les Claypool. Well I reached that point and eventually got bored with it, so I picked up the guitar. Now I'm totally wrapped up in the world of sweep-picking arpeggios and heavy metal shredding. Like Tdizzle said, it all depends where you want to take it. If your looking to play funk, bass is gonna be more interesting for you. If you wanna play rock, guitar is where its at, if your into metal, both instruments are worthy to learn. But hey, why follow the trend? Be the first electric cello player in a metal band, or the first theremin player in bluegrass or something. \m/ - Wed, 9 Feb 2005 11:32pm | ||
| Nik Olaz User Info... | bass is the easiest. i still fucking suck at guitar. - Thu, 10 Feb 2005 12:32am | ||
| goofus User Info... | along with what tdizzle said, my fingers a sre short and im a small person, so ive had to move my hands along the fretboard more than my fingers on bass, then i switch to guitar and its alot easier. but then with guitar comes crazy solos, something bass players dont deal with unless your in a jazz band, and guitarist are usually required to sing, which can be distracting from playing right - Thu, 10 Feb 2005 9:19am | ||
| Dave 30078 User Info... | I have played in a few bands playing guitar bass and drums. The biggest diffrence I notice (which has been mentioned) is the different job the instruments have. If the drummer or the bass player flake out or screw up it is pretty obvious and if they are good they hold a band together. The guitar players have a little more room to mess around because of the frequency & stuff. Plus guitar players are a dime a dozzen. If you pick drums or bass you will likely be more in demand. & Jaron you were never as good as Les & got bored with it \m/ peace Dave - Thu, 10 Feb 2005 10:02am | ||
| jackass User Info... | I find one of the challenges with playing bass is consistency and sustain..when you miss a note, don't hit it as hard as the others and/or the note doesn't ring out long enough, you really notice it. On the geetar..if you don't hit a string as hard as the others, usually you don't notice in that big mess of distortion. knowwhatimsay-say-sayinnnn? - Thu, 10 Feb 2005 12:06pm | ||
| Isolation Ride User Info... | Play that fucker like a lead guitar! - Thu, 10 Feb 2005 12:33pm | ||
| Jaron Evil User Info... | Dave, I never pretended to be as good as Les, but you havent heard me play bass since I was in Grade 8. I've played bass all thru high-school and college as well. I reached the point where I could play all of Primus' material. I didnt wanna take it any farther, although I could have. Bass just got boring for me after a while. \m/ - Thu, 10 Feb 2005 1:56pm | ||
| Mister Luke User Info... | I initially picked up the bass because I thought it would be easier to get up to a decent level of competence. I think I was right - it's pretty easy to get to the point where you won't embarrass yourself. Ten years later, though, I'm still finding things I can do better, or new things I can do, or refinements to the simpler things I do, or getting rid of overly complicated bullshit I was throwing in just to sound more 'technical'. Funny thing is, the longer I play the bass, the more I respect the guy from AC/DC. It is hard as hell to hit those quarter notes dead fucking on every fucking time and on top of that make it groove. I couldn't do it all song, every song, but I'm definitely leaving a little more room in what I do now than I was a couple of years ago. In the end, though, I just like making the room fucking shake. Try that with a guitar. Cheers. - Thu, 10 Feb 2005 4:34pm | ||
| Onemosphere User Info... | Bass is easier to play, but harder to be really good at. - Thu, 10 Feb 2005 4:46pm | ||
| Dave 30078 User Info... | Hey Jaron, I'm yankin' yer chain man. (Although I was hoping for a more evil retort) It's true that was a long time ago. I will have to checkout your band next time you play. Good to see you man. Dave - Thu, 10 Feb 2005 5:03pm | ||
| kmac User Info... | I started playing bass because I wanted to be in a band without having to learn an instrument. It seemed to pretty much work out, too-within six months I was playing in bands, because it's a lot easier to learn one note than it is to learn a chord. I think the question of guitar vs. bass is more one of vocabulary than one of technique. Both instruments have their technical idiosyncrasies, but a guitar player is expected to be able to do a lot more than a bass player. If you have good rhythm and can find the root note of a chord you can be a competent bass player, but to be a competent guitar player requires more knowledge. As has been pointed out, different styles of music demand different things from the two instruments; my comments are directed more towards rock and pop. Hey Jaron Evil if you really can play Les Claypool licks I would like to see/hear you play sometime. I don't know many players who can pull that kind of stuff off. I certainly couldn't! - Thu, 10 Feb 2005 8:42pm | ||
| Tdizzle User Info... | You just wanted to say the word idosyncrasies didn't ya... Ya, you guys pretty much summed it up... Ill agree that for beginners you can be a basic bass player faster than guitar, but for both theres not stopping at how far you can take it... You can find a nice groove in any genre... except country... - Thu, 10 Feb 2005 9:19pm | ||
| KinChris User Info... | way easier - Thu, 10 Feb 2005 9:31pm | ||
| alain User Info... | Man, there's no such thing as what's easier, only what's allowed in bands. The only reason you can join a band early in your bass learnings is because people want a bassist who just plays along secondary to "the mind blowing guitar tallent". I'm in the same boat as Jaron though, if I think you are who you are. Teacher in Colwood? For anyone wondering, yeah, he is very good, easily up there for Victoria, if you need bass lessons, I've had one from him, and he can teach you a lot I'm sure. I'm changing to guitar for the reason of a departing guitarist, and the new guy, Ian Lougheed, doing loads of good. So, in that aspect, it's good to play what you want to play, but be able to do more and understand more about everything going on in your band. (But then again, bass is easy:P) - Thu, 10 Feb 2005 11:14pm | ||
| Jaron Evil User Info... | Yes, I am indeed who you are thinking of. I DO teach both bass and guitar up in Colwood at Heartbeat Music. Anyone wanting lessons should stop by. And Alain, I've never heard you play guitar, but I have no doubt bass is easy for you. You kick ass on it. And kmac, yes i can really play Claypool riffs. (I usually tab them out for some of my more advanced bass students.) I don't wanna sound egotistical or anything, but I graduated from Brentwood College High School with the award for Jazz Musician of the year, and a $1000 district scholarship for Jazz Music. I am a full graduate of Malaspina University's Jazz Music Program, and have been teaching privately since. I've played in numerous bands as a Claypool-esque bassist. If you wanna jam sometime let me know. Also, for those who didn't know, Death Metal Dave from ML7 is also a KILLER bassist as well as a drummer. And Dave30078, it HAS been a long time man. Who you playing with these dayz? I am actually playing guitar in SEASONS OF SORROW currently. (www.seasonsofsorrow.com) Our next gig is in Vancouver opeing for Infernal Majesty at The Brickyard on February 19th. If you can make it, you should come check it out. Cheers - Fri, 11 Feb 2005 2:01am | ||
| Deaner User Info... | anyone who plays bass should be shot...then shot again. - Fri, 11 Feb 2005 2:16am | ||
| alain User Info... | Thanks a lot Jaron. And how's it going Dean, former bassist for Ten Feet Between Us with Sirs Jacob Redlin and Jeff Lohr, current bassist for the set. Feeling masochistic? PS hope to hear your new recordings soon - Fri, 11 Feb 2005 10:34am | ||
| bobs party time User Info... | primus sucks.... les claypool is in pre school compared to trey gunn of king crimson. hey jaron is tyson playing with you guys? - Sun, 13 Feb 2005 3:00am | ||
| Jaron Evil User Info... | Ya totally man, King Crimson are the shit. I think the worlds best has to be Vic Wooten though. I saw him live with Bela Fleck. Holy shit, that was some crazy bass playing. IF you are referring to Tyson MacMillan, yes he plays violin for us. I'm not sure if he'll be playing at the vancouver show, but most definitely at the nanaimo show in March. \m/ - Sun, 13 Feb 2005 3:06pm | ||
| One Divided User Info... | I don't think one could ever be easier then the other.. There is no limitation to how well you can master an instrument. I think initially, bass can be easier to "pull off" and make it sound ok.. But it takes years, sometimes even a decade to develope great feel and touch.. - Sun, 13 Feb 2005 3:28pm | ||
| Dave Slaughter User Info... |  | ||
| Nat User Info... | i've been teaching myself accoustic for a while now and i dont think its hard really-just find a reliable online site and start by learning scales and chords ect. personally i like the sound of bass better but my neighbors are assholes and love to give me noise complaints every other day so i went for the accoustic, plus i swear to god everyone is playing bass these days.. - Mon, 14 Feb 2005 8:08am | ||
| Trican User Info... | here's our recordings fool... check our that sweet bass tone :) http://www.purevolume.com/theset - Wed, 16 Feb 2005 6:11pm | ||
| dooker User Info... |  | ||
| Kaitie Sly User Info... | i am a bassist so i can't say much about guitar but... fact: i've heard from a lot of musicians/people that bass is the hardest instrument to play and sing with (comparing with guitar and drums). it makes sense to me as a bass player and if you need more proof, look at how many lead singer/guitar players there are and then look at how many lead singer/bass players there are...guitar wins. as far as which instrument is harder to play overall, since i dont play guitar i can't compare. but i'd have to agree with what many people have posted already: they are easy to pick up and learn but hard to master, for both instruments and i think it probably goes the same for a lot of other instruments. sure you can PLAY the drums, but are you a drummer? you know what i mean.....? - Thu, 17 Feb 2005 10:12am | ||
| JOE90 User Info... | Bass players are just frustrated guitar players. Not my line, but a good'n. - Thu, 3 Mar 2005 2:32pm | ||
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