Guitar Vs Bass Experiences.

[thorns12321]

Hey all, after going into the music scene for a few months and scraping only the surface of music, I am still kind of spoilt between the two stringed instrument; the Guitar and the Bass.

First off, this is not a thread to ask which is better blahblahblah. Just sharing viewpoints will do.

I research and listened to Funk, Rock, Metal, Punk and etc. Mostly Metal & Rock. Played as a bassist whenever i'm jamming with friends.

What i personally found out was the Bass is more of a happy instrument. What i meant by that is that i can't feel sad playing the bass; i'm always feeling upbeat and cheerful, blocking out the negative thoughts. Whereas the Guitar has a wider variety of tones which can portray more emotions; you can either feel very emotional or very upbeat and funky.

I'm still considering which instrument to focus on even till now; hope i can get it sorted out myself fast.

So, what are your experiences with choice of instruments? :twisted:

 

[1mband]

Why not do well in both? Or, major in one, while minor in another?

I started playing the guitar, then, I took on the bass after a while. And I had been playing both for quite some years now. I'm with two bands, plays the guitar in one, and bass in another. This had helped me to understand music a lot more than if i had stayed with only one of the instrument.

Bass plays more of a rhythmic role. It deals with chords, does the walking, and you becomes more aware of the song's structure and arrangement. Of course, it does leads, but not so often applied in songs. Then, there's the slap, pop, and tapping techniques, which adds to the fun of playing the bass. The bass also works closely with the drums, to create the backbone to the whole song. As for the guitar, it's more of a lead role. Its sound spectrum seems to be wider, and there'r all kinds of effects that could be used with it.

My frethand kind of grow stronger from the bass playing. When i go back to the guitar neck, i kind of feel it's easier to handle the narrower neck, frets, and the thinner strings. I never use pick in bass playing, as I do not like the idea. So, there's no added advantage with the pickhand.

It can be interesting listenning to a song, when i often find my ears actively seeking both the bass playing, and the guitar playing. Can be tiring too...

Well, i never got sorted out between the two. They are just equally fun.

 

[thorns12321]

Whenever i play the bass i would feel very happy and upbeat but once i put it down i immediately feel empty again.
Whenever i play the guitar i would feel emotional and have a wider range of emotions than when i play the bass. I would feel sastified after i play the guitar, well, more than the bass.

One more thing is about the genre Metal. It gives me the strong feeling that no other genre can provide; metal is more guitar orientated.

*When playing, i meant just improvising.

 

[EugeneSmasher]

Agree with 1mband. If you can play both, it would be an added advantage. Don't need to totally quit one for the other.

 

[thorns12321]

I think i'd sort it out myself thank you.

Still thinking which one to focus on more. Never considered dropping an instrument.

 

[shinobi]

4 strings are enough

especially now that effects are widely used among bassists

guitar has a wider tonal range. bass has a wider dynamic range. therefore they are applied differently in music. i think it's good that you play both because the skills you develop with each will complement the other.

music theory is the same between both instruments. the difference lies mainly in the technique.

whenever the physical nature of the instrument changes, so will the technique used to play it. it will also be tonally different, note for note and hence have different applications in music.

just like if you were to play a fretless bass, short-scale 6er etc. the greater the variance in the physical aspect of the instrument, the greater the difference in technique in playing them.

 

[xclef_Junjie]

Just my 2 cent worth.

I think you should played both instrument if you have the time to practice both. I myself is a bassist and I played guitar when I have the time, so I played guitar as a guide for my bass playing meaning I will play the guitar and think in the guitarist point of view how I would want my bassist to play if I am playing a certain lick, and I would apply my thinking when i play in my band. So I believe it could be apply to guitarist as well, play bass and think in bassist point of view.

 

[Heidon]

most bassist also play the guitar, for example my friend is a great Bass guitarist but when hes not playing in his band he also studies classical guitar and writes music for the electric guitar. Do both, that way you get to be happy and few the emotion as well =D

 

[ahkiatt]

Read my sig.

 

[thorns12321]

I didn't know the music theory are the same.
What i want to play on a guitar is Metal stuff, what i want to play on the bass is the funky stuff.
Metal on bass is just.. meh.
Funky basslines rocks my socks.

 

[thorns12321]

Okay, so i've decided.
I'm going to focus more on the bass.
At the same time, i will be trying all sorts of stuff that is supposed to be on the guitar onto the bass. Cause it sounds so much nicer. :O

 

[CrisisMoment]

guitar helped me pick better on bass :/

 

[thorns12321]

guitar helped me pick better on bass :/

I like my fingers more then a piece of plastic.

Playing with fingers brings out more fun and joy to the bass.

 

[kerplunk182]

I didn't know the music theory are the same.
What i want to play on a guitar is Metal stuff, what i want to play on the bass is the funky stuff.
Metal on bass is just.. meh.
Funky basslines rocks my socks.

Eh Metallica's bassist can slap pop also what. Hahaha.

Anyway, i play both guitar and bass. The only bad point i can think off is the double GAS.

 

[xclef_Junjie]

Anyway, i play both guitar and bass. The only bad point i can think off is the double GAS.

LOL! 100% agree!

 

[thorns12321]

LOL! 100% agree!

Whats GAS?