Poll for Guitarists only...

[rw2003]

This poll/quesion is for folks that consider themselves guitar players, not for guitarists/bassists or bassits/guitarists or any other multi-instrumentalist. If you're a guitar player that "dabbles" with other instruments, that's okay.

 

I don't know what the ratio really is, but I would assume, at least from my experience, that there are significantly more guitar players out there as compared to bass players. So therefore, with the laws of supply and demand in your favor along with less competion from other players, I would tend to believe that it may be "somewhat" easier for an average bass player to land a spot in a commercially successful band.

 

That being said, would you, as a guitar player with aspirations of playing lead in your own band, give up playing the guitar in favor of becoming a bass player in someone else's commercially successful band?

 

Please note that I have much respect for bass players and by no means is this question meant to imply that playing guitar is "better" than the bass nor that playing the bass well is any easier than playing the guitar.

[Tone Taster]

I believe that this has always been the case.

 

Wasn't Noel redding really a mediocre bass player who was really a guitarist- but no where near as good as Hendrix?

[AeroG33k]

I while ago back in high school i was asked to play bass for my friends band, which are now pretty successful (shameless plug: http://www.purevolume.com/gynkst ), but I declined because I didn't have the time and devotion for such a serious band, simply not skilled enough on guitar, much less bass because I have very small hands. It's nearly impossible for me to cover 4 frets with my fingers on the upper part of a bass while exerting enough pressure to keep the strings down. Regardless, while I think guitar is more suited towards me (I'll just say this...there's no "classical bass") I certainly wouldn't mind picking up bass for a change, with or without a band, if it wouldn't be a pain on my hands.

[Tone Taster]

Wow, it looks like I'm 1 of the 2 "Gig Whores" so far

[AeroG33k]

Originally posted by yZeCounsel:

Wow, it looks like I'm 1 of the 2 "Gig Whores" so far

?

[Tone Taster]

Only 2 had voted for the bass gig

[A String]

I switched to bass in the band on was on the road with. For around five of the seven years I was with them, I played bass. It just made sense. The Bass Player left and the Lead Guitarist was ten times better then I was on guitar. So I made the switch. I had already been playing bass for fun, so I made the switch fairly easily. We played all cover tunes, so I just learned all of the bass lines and was ready to go.

 

It really turned out to be a good thing because now I can effectively play both instruments. I'm not a guitar player who fools around on bass, I'm a Guitar/Bass player. It made getting a teaching job easier as well because I could teach both instruments.

[Hardtail]

I could fake my way through the bass if necessary. After all, I spent 6 years playing the tuba in my jr. high/high school band so I'm well aware of what it's like to "hold the bottom".

 

But... as far as bass guitar goes, I'm one of those guys who sounds like a guitar player on the bass.

 

My younger brother plays bass (and plays it very well) so I always had a bass player to jam with. He did it better than me so I just let him handle it.

[Tedster]

The more recording I do (putting down everything except keys and drums) the more I realize what an art playing bass is.

 

One of my all-time favorite guitarists who gave up guitar to become a famous bassist is McCartney. In an interview, he mentioned that he took up bass because he became enamored with the way that the bass line could define the song...and he was right. It's something many folks don't consciously notice, but if it was missing, they sure would.

[A String]

Originally posted by Tedster:

One of my all-time favorite guitarists who gave up guitar to become a famous bassist is McCartney. In an interview, he mentioned that he took up bass because he became enamored with the way that the bass line could define the song...and he was right. It's something many folks don't consciously notice, but if it was missing, they sure would.

I'm with you 100% on this one Tedster. Paul is the reason I picked up a bass in the first place. I was already a guitar player, but I loved the Beatles bass lines. I had to learn them!

 

A lot of my studio work is done on the bass. I find that, when I'm given an open ticket, I can totally change the feel of a song. Make it funky or laid back. Make it stroll or fly. It's a great instrument.

[doctorx]

I play guitar because I want to play guitar. I have a bass and can noodle around on one, I own it because I have a studio and sometimes want to layer a song when no one else is around.

 

There maybe should have been another poll choice, too. Something like: "I'm not worrying about making it, so I don't need to switch to bass."

 

There are a lot of guitarists that do not do music for a living or have given it up, like me, but that does not mean it is any less important. So, "Making It" doesn't really apply.

[Tone Taster]

Originally posted by doctorx:

There are a lot of guitarists that do not do music for a living or have given it up, like me, but that does not mean it is any less important. So, "Making It" doesn't really apply.

[skipclone 1]

I voted but I don`t see how playing bass would compel one to `give up` playing guitar. To look at it from the opposite side, didn`t Mike Rutherford play guitar and bass in Mike and the Mechanics? if one could get good enough to gain some recognition as a bass player, how much sweeter it would be to then have some great guitar chops as a `secret weapon`, if the chance arises to record some work in another context.

With me it`s been more the guitar/vocal dichotomy. On numerous occasions I`ve played and sang, and someone comes up and compliments my singing. Er, well thanks-did you notice that I was playing with my shirt buttons the whole time? jeez...

[doctorx]

This is a little off topic but it's a peeve of mine: Somebody comes up to you at a gig and sez:

"You have a great voice"

"Did you notice I play guitar?"

"I guess, but I like the singing."

 

Or:

"That was a great solo in song xxx"

"I didn't do a solo in that song"

"Yes you did, you sang solo the whole song!!"

 

I am a guitarist who sings, not a singer who plays guitar. I didn't spend 30 years perfecting my chops to augment my vocals.

[Big Red 67]

Originally posted by skipclone 1:

I voted but I don`t see how playing bass would compel one to `give up` playing guitar. To look at it from the opposite side, didn`t Mike Rutherford play guitar and bass in Mike and the Mechanics? if one could get good enough to gain some recognition as a bass player, how much sweeter it would be to then have some great guitar chops as a `secret weapon`, if the chance arises to record some work in another context.

With me it`s been more the guitar/vocal dichotomy. On numerous occasions I`ve played and sang, and someone comes up and compliments my singing. Er, well thanks-did you notice that I was playing with my shirt buttons the whole time? jeez...

I am a MUSICIAN! I play anything I can. I was a bass player that played like a guitar player on a bass. Playing the guitar makes it easier to be a bass player when I play bass. I play keys too (not that well) and love the sounds and construction of that instrument too.

[A String]

This is true Red. I have a thirst to play musical instruments as well. I also play drums, keys, sax and am learning the flute. I want to play the Cello and the violin and I'd love to have a few others under my belt as well. As long as there are instruments out there that I don't know how to play, I want to learn them.

[Big Red 67]

I suck on drums (kit). hehe I am pretty good on hand drums though. Still trying to get bowing down!

[pollock]

I didn't vote because I would love to play bass in a band someday, but I wouldn't take it up merely for the fame and fortune, although those would be good add-ons.

 

I'm also kind of like A-String in the fact that there are a lot of instruments I still want to learn to play.

[musicalhair]

I think the poll choices are phrased in a biased manner. I also think there is another way to look at this.

 

I started on bass in 1980 but from like 1986 to 1996 or '97 never touched a bass and only played guitar which I started in at the end of 1984. I studied classical guitar in college and both classical and jazz (solo, chord melody style) guitar privately. I didn't think about bass until a guy I knew playing Tambora and Trombone in merengue bands said "you should play bass, you'll get a lotta gigs". As soon as I said "I'm thinking about buying a bass", I had to bands that wanted me to play with them. One songwriter drove me over to pick out one.

 

You can learn a lot about music from playing bass guitar. You can gain insights into guitar playing and into song construction and chord progressions and counterpoint and melody and rhythm that you'll not get just playing guitar. If you study music theory and classical music, or latin music, or anything, bass playing will give you experience you'll not get on guitar.

 

There will be no loss of anything, and only more gigs played, more bands played in, more jams jammed in, more locking in with drummers, more matching the line to the singer, more of everything that music has to offer. More than if you didn't take the oppurtunity. More club owners to meet and guys that book the clubs, more soundmen to get to know, more changes to play with more people.

 

If you do it and you work hard at it and still work on your guitar then you'll be a better musician and still a better guitarist. If time constraints get tight and you have not enough time to tend to "life", bass, the bands, and guitar, then that is often how life goes.

 

I think you should do it, but if you're concerned about your guitar playing than be serious about commiting the time to both and don't let "life" grow into something that will take the guitar (or bass) away. If you practice (not rehearse with bands) four hours a day you can get very good at both guitar and bass and be useful to plenty of bands in either role.