Playing Bass Guitar

Post by **olly** » Wed Jan 25, 2012 9:15 am

Years ago I bought a real cheap bass guitar for recording and I never played it. It really feels low quality.

So I decided to keep and eye out on eBay for something second hand less that £100.

So now have a bass guitar coming but I don't really know how to play bass.

I have been reading about whether to use a pick or not and there seems to be quite a wide debate about that.

Anyone play bass that could give me some tips on making the transition from guitarist to bass player?

alun · Post by **alun** » Wed Jan 25, 2012 6:57 pm

No transition to make Olly, just the same as normal guitar, just less strings, I love the bass for improvising great fun, and if you prefer to use a pick then use it,

don't read what other people do, Do what you want to do, dare to be different.

jamesd74 · Post by **jamesd74** » Wed Jan 25, 2012 10:21 pm

K i don't want this comment to down the wrong route.

White men can't play bass, they just stand there tapping there foot whereas the black man bounces away and gets right into the groove.

I am white so I never intend playing the bass.

Post by **olly** » Thu Jan 26, 2012 2:15 pm

Any ideas on string guage?

I have no clue and the strings on it currently seem to have passed their better days!

Thanks!

alun · Post by **alun** » Thu Jan 26, 2012 5:38 pm

Light strings = easier to play, but some would say they lose a bit of tone, I would say they just sound different, Heavier strings = good tone, but again I would say different, but certainly more power to the fingers needed to fret the heavier gauges, trust your fingers and ears, and go with whatever your happy with.

polyal · Post by **polyal** » Thu Jan 26, 2012 5:43 pm

http://www.stringbusters.com/Ko-Bespoke ... S%20ELITES

the s40 are a good choice

pick / fingers ...practice both.. plenty of info on youtube

Post by **olly** » Sun Jan 29, 2012 8:24 pm

Nice thanks

Here is a pic of my new bass:

arthur deree · Post by **arthur deree** » Sun Jun 03, 2012 8:03 pm

bass guitarist always gets the girl................

jamesd74 · Post by **jamesd74** » Wed Jun 06, 2012 4:02 pm

Strange that Arthur, my mate who has played in many band says "bass players are always the best looking ones who get the girls"

I need to start playing bass...

jamesd74 · Post by **jamesd74** » Wed Jun 06, 2012 4:07 pm

And have plastic surgery.

RickyB · Post by **RickyB** » Sat Jun 09, 2012 12:08 pm

jamesd74 wrote:Strange that Arthur, my mate who has played in many band says "bass players are always the best looking ones who get the girls"

I need to start playing bass...

I have played Guitar, Bass and Drums in bands, the girls have never flocked around me...or even given me the time of day......................perhaps i should have a shower.

jamesd74 · Post by **jamesd74** » Sun Jun 10, 2012 11:22 pm

I only have one once a year....Tight Yorkshire man

chainsawguitar · Post by **chainsawguitar** » Tue Jan 22, 2013 7:03 pm

alun wrote:No transition to make Olly, just the same as normal guitar, just less strings

I couldn't disagree more!

The bass is a unique instrument in it's own right, and is nothing like playing the guitar! Sure, you'll be able to quickly transition because the notes are on the same frets (but an octave lower, of course), but saying a bass is just the same as a guitar in anything other than design is just wrong!

It's a bit like saying a violin is the same thing as a banjo- they both have four strings, and are quite small, right?

...or that a piano is the same as a church organ because they both have keyboards...

In truth, they play very different roles within a band, and have very different sounds.

jamesd74 · Post by **jamesd74** » Tue Jan 22, 2013 10:39 pm

What we seem to be getting at here is Snooker and Pool....... Same method of game play different game.....

chainsawguitar · Post by **chainsawguitar** » Fri Jan 25, 2013 10:36 am

jamesd74 wrote:What we seem to be getting at here is Snooker and Pool....... Same method of game play different game.....

Exactly! One is not inherently easier than the other, they are just different

SteRocks · Post by **SteRocks** » Thu Feb 07, 2013 1:28 pm

I love playing my bass, i play with fingers only as i much prefer the warmer tone that fingers produce, plus its easier to throw in some slap when ever you want too.

At its basic level a guitar player can jump on a bass and jam along using root notes but it would sound kinda bland, a good bass player knows the make up of individual chords and can fill the bottom end with conecting notes to the chords etc, creating a whole different thing.

Hope i'm not teaching anyone how to 'suck eggs'

Ste

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