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Is bass guitar easier to learn then normal guitar?


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A little surprised at the answers so far. It's a ton easier to learn bass than guitar. Chords are very rarely used and 2 less strings.

 

I use chords all the time for bass, I think lots of us do.

Les Claypool taught me how chords can sound really cool.

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Learning the basics is probably quicker on the bass. Learning to play well isn't easy. Developing a sense of time to be able to provide the foundation of the music takes a lot of practice and talent.

 

Oh Eagle, WOO has time for time??

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A little surprised at the answers so far. It's a ton easier to learn bass than guitar. Chords are very rarely used and 2 less strings.

 

I use chords all the time for bass, I think lots of us do.

Les Claypool taught me how chords can sound really cool.

My point is valid. Of the thousands of songs you've heard how many have featured the bass playing chords?

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A little surprised at the answers so far. It's a ton easier to learn bass than guitar. Chords are very rarely used and 2 less strings.

 

I use chords all the time for bass, I think lots of us do.

Les Claypool taught me how chords can sound really cool.

My point is valid. Of the thousands of songs you've heard how many have featured the bass playing chords?

 

You would be surprised. Lots of bass players use chords to fill out the music or to make a particular part sound extra big. Geddy has done it all along.

Edited by EagleMoon
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A little surprised at the answers so far. It's a ton easier to learn bass than guitar. Chords are very rarely used and 2 less strings.

 

I use chords all the time for bass, I think lots of us do.

Les Claypool taught me how chords can sound really cool.

My point is valid. Of the thousands of songs you've heard how many have featured the bass playing chords?

 

You would be surprised. Lots of bass players use chords to fill out the music or to make a particular part sound extra big. Geddy has done it all along.

Few well known songs have a lot of bass chords, cmon. I play the bass as well as guitar although I prefer guitar. There's no shame in admitting it's mainly a one note at a time instrument,

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A little surprised at the answers so far. It's a ton easier to learn bass than guitar. Chords are very rarely used and 2 less strings.

 

I use chords all the time for bass, I think lots of us do.

Les Claypool taught me how chords can sound really cool.

My point is valid. Of the thousands of songs you've heard how many have featured the bass playing chords?

 

You would be surprised. Lots of bass players use chords to fill out the music or to make a particular part sound extra big. Geddy has done it all along.

Few well known songs have a lot of bass chords, cmon. I play the bass as well as guitar although I prefer guitar. There's no shame in admitting it's mainly a one note at a time instrument,

 

Nobody said there was. Chords are nothing special. Maybe it's the type of music you play or something but I've used them a lot in the 40+ years I've been playing. It's just another tool in the arsenal.

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A little surprised at the answers so far. It's a ton easier to learn bass than guitar. Chords are very rarely used and 2 less strings.

 

I use chords all the time for bass, I think lots of us do.

Les Claypool taught me how chords can sound really cool.

My point is valid. Of the thousands of songs you've heard how many have featured the bass playing chords?

 

You would be surprised. Lots of bass players use chords to fill out the music or to make a particular part sound extra big. Geddy has done it all along.

Few well known songs have a lot of bass chords, cmon. I play the bass as well as guitar although I prefer guitar. There's no shame in admitting it's mainly a one note at a time instrument,

 

Nobody said there was. Chords are nothing special. Maybe it's the type of music you play or something but I've used them a lot in the 40+ years I've been playing. It's just another tool in the arsenal.

 

Prog and alt might use some bass chords, but even then it's only on occasion. Popular music is one note a time. The average listener can barely handle that! lol

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I would call myself a moderately decent guitar player, but I can't play bass for sh*t lol.

 

+1

 

I'll trade my sense of rhythm for your finger coordination anyday.

Edited by stoopid
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I would call myself a moderately decent guitar player, but I can't play bass for sh*t lol.

 

+1

 

I'll trade my sense of rhythm for your finger coordination anyday.

 

Your appraisal of my skill is waaaaaaay too high...but muchly appreciated.

Edited by JARG
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Well here is my dime and nickel for what it is worth. I am a lead guitar player

 

The bass guitar is much easier to learn if you wish to be 3 note plonk plonk

 

But it is an entirely different technique to play to a high standard, and takes a long time to get good.

 

To play the bass well you have to have a good understanding of rhythm and groove and be able to interact with the drummer following the bass drum and working off that.

 

That's it really

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Learning the basics is probably quicker on the bass. Learning to play well isn't easy. Developing a sense of time to be able to provide the foundation of the music takes a lot of practice and talent.

 

You really nailed it there sweet Eagle XXXXX

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Learning the basics is probably quicker on the bass. Learning to play well isn't easy. Developing a sense of time to be able to provide the foundation of the music takes a lot of practice and talent.

 

Its funny but when I hear a girl talk like this with a lot of knowledge about music it makes her more attractive!!! ha ha sorry Eagle

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The point is that the bass guitar does not always have to be melting the frets.

 

This band from my part of the world were just wonderful and the bass guitar player was superb but he just worked with the drummer and solid together to support the band so well.

 

 

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Most bass players I know could care less about chops. They like the groove and the ability to lock in with the drummer. Guys like billy Sheehan , with his solos, are chuckled at. Respected, sure. But no one needs to play the bass like that.

 

Geddy is a good balance. Melodic lines with just enough chops.

Edited by Xanadoood
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Most bass players I know could care less about chops. They like the groove and the ability to lock in with the drummer. Guys like billy Sheehan , with his solos, are chuckled at. Respected, sure. But no one needs to play the bass like that.

 

Geddy is a good balance. Melodic lines with just enough chops.

 

Billy Sheehan does nothing for me at all.

 

If I want to listen to mega bass virtuoso I'd pick John Myung all day. At least he has control and knows what fits a song when needed:

 

Edited by Del_Duio
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Most bass players I know could care less about chops. They like the groove and the ability to lock in with the drummer. Guys like billy Sheehan , with his solos, are chuckled at. Respected, sure. But no one needs to play the bass like that.

 

Geddy is a good balance. Melodic lines with just enough chops.

Most bass players I know could care less about chops. They like the groove and the ability to lock in with the drummer. Guys like billy Sheehan , with his solos, are chuckled at. Respected, sure. But no one needs to play the bass like that.

 

Geddy is a good balance. Melodic lines with just enough chops.

 

Billy Sheehan does nothing for me at all.

 

If I want to listen to mega bass virtuoso I'd pick John Myung all day. At least he has control and knows what fits a song when needed:

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sTHfGtaZb08

 

Internet hugs to both of you. :)

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Yes, but probably harder to master.

 

I think the physical layout of a 6 string electric is harder to play, simply because the strings are much closer together and pickups tend to reveal all your mistakes much easier. Mastering a 6 string at the level proficient enough to be considered 'master' is certainly not for slouches.

Indeed not. Maybe it's because of where my interest lies, but it seems there are far more guitar masters (the phrase "a dime a dozen" comes to mind) than bass masters.

 

It's definitely more popular, but I was speaking purely from a mechanics point of view. Guitar and what it takes to play it at that level IMO is more difficult due to mechanical challenges (assuming finger / hand size not being factored).

 

I think playing to a high standard they are both different disciplines. As a reasonably accomplished guitar player I would not argue with you, but I would also say that it would take me a long time and a lot of practise to play the bass to the same standard.

 

The six string guitar is such an idio syncratic instrument. The tuning for a start does not follow any traditional logic. Why tune it in 5th's then tune the 5th string as a 4th?

 

That is why it is almost impossible to learn to play music on guitar by the traditional musical staves.

 

That is why I preferred to learn piano to study musical theory at college.

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Most bass players I know could care less about chops. They like the groove and the ability to lock in with the drummer. Guys like billy Sheehan , with his solos, are chuckled at. Respected, sure. But no one needs to play the bass like that.

 

Geddy is a good balance. Melodic lines with just enough chops.

 

Billy Sheehan is considered to be a wanker. In this sense it means playing bass like a guitar. Too many worthless notes just trying to look cool.

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Most bass players I know could care less about chops. They like the groove and the ability to lock in with the drummer. Guys like billy Sheehan , with his solos, are chuckled at. Respected, sure. But no one needs to play the bass like that.

 

Geddy is a good balance. Melodic lines with just enough chops.

 

Billy Sheehan is considered to be a wanker. In this sense it means playing bass like a guitar. Too many worthless notes just trying to look cool.

 

Eagle I think that is a bit unfair

 

Billy Sheehan is a great player. He just did his own thing.

 

Why the f**k should a bass player not use the right hand finger taping technique playing like a guitarist?

 

The technique is not exclusive to 6 string you know?

 

So many different styles and techniques on the bass

 

Eddie Van Halen adapted the "slap bass" technique to work on guitar.

 

It is all just creativity and invention Eagle

 

My favourite all time bass guitar player is Jaco Pastorius and he never gave a shit about what was supposed to be "normal"

 

He did incredible stuff including harmonics on the bass which had not been tried before XXXXXX

 

https://youtu.be/Ae0nwSv6cTU

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Yes, but probably harder to master.

 

I think the physical layout of a 6 string electric is harder to play, simply because the strings are much closer together and pickups tend to reveal all your mistakes much easier. Mastering a 6 string at the level proficient enough to be considered 'master' is certainly not for slouches.

Indeed not. Maybe it's because of where my interest lies, but it seems there are far more guitar masters (the phrase "a dime a dozen" comes to mind) than bass masters.

 

It's definitely more popular, but I was speaking purely from a mechanics point of view. Guitar and what it takes to play it at that level IMO is more difficult due to mechanical challenges (assuming finger / hand size not being factored).

 

I think playing to a high standard they are both different disciplines. As a reasonably accomplished guitar player I would not argue with you, but I would also say that it would take me a long time and a lot of practise to play the bass to the same standard.

 

The six string guitar is such an idio syncratic instrument. The tuning for a start does not follow any traditional logic. Why tune it in 5th's then tune the 5th string as a 4th?

 

That is why it is almost impossible to learn to play music on guitar by the traditional musical staves.

 

That is why I preferred to learn piano to study musical theory at college.

 

Interesting point. My brother and his son both play keys, and they really don't " get" the guitar. My brother has said all guitar players play in the key of E... haha

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Yes, but probably harder to master.

 

I think the physical layout of a 6 string electric is harder to play, simply because the strings are much closer together and pickups tend to reveal all your mistakes much easier. Mastering a 6 string at the level proficient enough to be considered 'master' is certainly not for slouches.

Indeed not. Maybe it's because of where my interest lies, but it seems there are far more guitar masters (the phrase "a dime a dozen" comes to mind) than bass masters.

 

It's definitely more popular, but I was speaking purely from a mechanics point of view. Guitar and what it takes to play it at that level IMO is more difficult due to mechanical challenges (assuming finger / hand size not being factored).

 

I think playing to a high standard they are both different disciplines. As a reasonably accomplished guitar player I would not argue with you, but I would also say that it would take me a long time and a lot of practise to play the bass to the same standard.

 

The six string guitar is such an idio syncratic instrument. The tuning for a start does not follow any traditional logic. Why tune it in 5th's then tune the 5th string as a 4th?

 

That is why it is almost impossible to learn to play music on guitar by the traditional musical staves.

 

That is why I preferred to learn piano to study musical theory at college.

 

Interesting point. My brother and his son both play keys, and they really don't " get" the guitar. My brother has said all guitar players play in the key of E... haha

 

Brian May once said that working with Freddie made him so much better on guitar because he had to learn to play in all those piano keys that Freddie wrote in that were a complete f***ing bitch on guitar. Keys like A flat, E flat and D flat which are just a beast!!!! Brian never used a capo or de-tuned, he just had to learn the fretboard better XXXXXXX

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