Is there a difference between playing a Guitar and a BASS Guitar?

[erikiksaz]

I want to start playing an instrument, but i've never been sure what the difference is between a guitar and a bass guitar. I know there's a difference between the number of strings, but do you play the same way on both. What i mean is if i start out on acoustic, will i be able to switch from bass to guitar easily?

 

[StageLeft]

They are definitely different but much of the skills are the same so switching is easier than going from piano to a non bass guitar.

 

[Red Dawn]

Start with guitar. After yuou become proficient at that then switching to Bass shouldn't be much of a problem at all.

 

[rpc64]

I don't play bass but I believe the fingerings and such are done pretty much the same as on a regular guitar. It doesn't seem to me like switching from one to the other should be very hard at all.

 

[Siva]

You don't really play chords on bass, and they aren't the same thing at all. If you have rythmn and enjoy a beat more, you'll probably wanna play bass. If not you'd probalby have more fun with guitar. Just do what you want to do, have fun with it, you'll probably be able to switch back and forth without much trouble once you're good.

 

[mrCide]

both are fun, id start with guitar and move to bass if you enjoy it and stick to it.

whatever you do dont quit.. its going to take 6 months to a year before you become comfortable with playing/practicing, and longer to actually get good

 

[silverpig]

If you learn the bass first, you'll still have a lot of work to do when you switch to guitar; if you learn guitar first, switching to bass is easy.

 

[johneetrash]

Originally posted by: Siva
You don't really play chords on bass, and they aren't the same thing at all. If you have rythmn and enjoy a beat more, you'll probably wanna play bass. If not you'd probalby have more fun with guitar. Just do what you want to do, have fun with it, you'll probably be able to switch back and forth without much trouble once you're good.

you can play chords in bass though

after you go past the basic songs and start doing advanced stuff, that's where htey will stray.

if you start off playing basic 4 chord punk stuff, it's basiclaly the same as doing guitar stuff.

when you start getting 'flea' good (can anyone ever be as good as him though?) is hwen bass is dramatically different from guitar

 

[TrueBlueLS]

Flea's nothing special...

 

[Red Dawn]

Originally posted by: TrueBlueLS
Flea's nothing special...

According to well respected music critics such as yourself

 

[Siva]

victor wooten knows how to play his bass

 

[HamSupLo]

Flea is god!

 

[xSauronx]

Originally posted by: silverpig
If you learn the bass first, you'll still have a lot of work to do when you switch to guitar; if you learn guitar first, switching to bass is easy.

i dont play, but my brother does, and i enjoy watching/listening, fairly talented for his age

anyway, the guitar is much more...complicated, alot more to learn, chords and scales and such out the ass....tho id say at least learn to play guitar a little first, a friend of his played guitar, decided he didnt like it much, and picked up a bass

and damn is he awesome at it

 

[LethalWolfe]

Originally posted by: johneetrash

when you start getting 'flea' good (can anyone ever be as good as him though?) is hwen bass is dramatically different from guitar

Two words: Cliff Burton.


Lethal

 

[erikiksaz]

Okay, i'll start out with the geeetar first--acoustic, that is. I'll be heading off to college soon (this is my senior year), and i've heard that people have LOTS of free time. Since i have a love for music, i figgur that actually playing music would be the next step. Think it'll be a good plan?

 

[StinkyMeat]

Originally posted by: Siva
victor wooten knows how to play his bass

GOO!! I think Victor Wooten and his bass are one and the same...an entire entity.

 

[StinkyMeat]

Originally posted by: erikiksaz
Okay, i'll start out with the geeetar first--acoustic, that is. I'll be heading off to college soon (this is my senior year), and i've heard that people have LOTS of free time. Since i have a love for music, i figgur that actually playing music would be the next step. Think it'll be a good plan?

I think that sounds awesome. I play bass now, but this thread is actually pushing me to try the guitar for once...

 

[silverpig]

Put it this way:

Single guy playing a bass by himself - meh.

Single guy playing acoustic guitar by himself - welcome to chicksville.

 

[gopunk]

Originally posted by: silverpig
Put it this way:

Single guy playing a bass by himself - meh.

Single guy playing acoustic guitar by himself - welcome to chicksville.

yea but if you join a band, the bassist is always the coolest. he's always the quiet loner guy that the girls all think is cute.

 

[erikiksaz]

Originally posted by: gopunk

Originally posted by: silverpig
Put it this way:

Single guy playing a bass by himself - meh.

Single guy playing acoustic guitar by himself - welcome to chicksville.

yea but if you join a band, the bassist is always the coolest. he's always the quiet loner guy that the girls all think is cute.

That's kinda true. I'd have to say that Fieldy's (of Korn) bass definitely stands out from the other two guitarists.

Another question, i don't quite get it. Why is it that Fieldy (Korn's bassist) stands out from most other bassists? Is it his pedals or what? Most other bassists just seem to play secondary to the guitars, but his, he's right up there, if not leading them sometimes. Any other bassists that have that sound?

 

[BigJ]

Originally posted by: LethalWolfe

Originally posted by: johneetrash

when you start getting 'flea' good (can anyone ever be as good as him though?) is hwen bass is dramatically different from guitar

Two words: Cliff Burton.


Lethal

YEA!

 

[Lithium381]

Originally posted by: silverpig
If you learn the bass first, you'll still have a lot of work to do when you switch to guitar; if you learn guitar first, switching to bass is easy.

yeah, go with guitar first, then move to bass, the overall idea of it is the same, but there are differences...either way have fun with it!

 

[DiamondJ]

No they are exactly the same.....

 

[Atrail]

Les Claypool = King of Bass guitar

 

[hdeck]

Originally posted by: erikiksaz

Originally posted by: gopunk

Originally posted by: silverpig
Put it this way:

Single guy playing a bass by himself - meh.

Single guy playing acoustic guitar by himself - welcome to chicksville.

yea but if you join a band, the bassist is always the coolest. he's always the quiet loner guy that the girls all think is cute.

That's kinda true. I'd have to say that Fieldy's (of Korn) bass definitely stands out from the other two guitarists.

Another question, i don't quite get it. Why is it that Fieldy (Korn's bassist) stands out from most other bassists? Is it his pedals or what? Most other bassists just seem to play secondary to the guitars, but his, he's right up there, if not leading them sometimes. Any other bassists that have that sound?

in KoRn, the bass guitar is pretty much the equivilant to lead guitar in any other band. if you look at some of the stuff their guitarists play, its utter crap. they try and be "creative" but they end up playing weird chords high on the neck. fieldy saves them.

oh, and Cliff Burton wipes the floor with Flea.