Les Posted April 18, 2011 Share Posted April 18, 2011 Have to admit I haven't read all six or seven pages of the thread but I'd be bolloxed if I couldn't look at what the guitarist is playing and know where he's at !! Don't get me wrong if it's something jazzy at the 10 fret I may struggle but playing at a bit of guitar does help me understand what's going on with the guitar. Thought we'd all play a bit of guitar to be honest. Could be wrong though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TomKent Posted April 18, 2011 Share Posted April 18, 2011 I play a lot of guitar - was hard to not 'over play' on bass when I started. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clauster Posted April 18, 2011 Share Posted April 18, 2011 I play a bit, not well enough to claim to be a guitarist, but I generally have more of a clue of what chords my band's guitarist is playing than he does. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lozz196 Posted April 18, 2011 Share Posted April 18, 2011 I play guitar - rhythm mainly, tho can play a few lead solos. I always say however, that I`m a bassist who can play the guitar. I never say I`m a guitarist - not proficient enough on the instrument. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doctor J Posted April 18, 2011 Share Posted April 18, 2011 I've been the guitarist in my band for 5 years now. Still don't like it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xgsjx Posted April 18, 2011 Share Posted April 18, 2011 Been playing guitar for @ 28 years & sometimes I actually enjoy it. I popped the acoustic thru my moog pedals last night & it sounded pretty funky. Still prefer bass by a long way tho!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomBassmonkey Posted April 18, 2011 Share Posted April 18, 2011 I started playing guitar 6 months after bass, I used to teach guitar lessons too so I know my way around a guitar. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
warwickhunt Posted April 18, 2011 Share Posted April 18, 2011 I HATE it when people say 'Oh you play guitar'... No, I play bass, that is not the same thing! However, I can play guitar and can happily strum through songs and know plenty stuff to get away with at a Busker's Night or at a BBQ etc. just don't ask me to start getting widdly. I think it's really useful to know a bit of guitar (keys and drums as well if possible) and if you learn a little theory about how a chord is constructed and the various chords that go together in a particular key, then it's beneficial to my playing especially when asked to play songs that I'm not massively familiar with. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doctor J Posted April 18, 2011 Share Posted April 18, 2011 [quote name='warwickhunt' post='1203180' date='Apr 18 2011, 08:11 AM']I think it's really useful to know a bit of guitar (keys and drums as well if possible) and if you learn a little theory about how a chord is constructed and the various chords that go together in a particular key, then it's beneficial to my playing especially when asked to play songs that I'm not massively familiar with.[/quote] I think that's a great point. My approach to bass playing has changed a lot as a result of playing drums and playing guitar. Learning other instruments should definitely help your musical understanding and, as a result, your bass playing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shawman Posted April 18, 2011 Share Posted April 18, 2011 yeah whn i was starting i was getting bass and guitar lessons from the same guy which was a great help. guitar lessons on the saturday then bass lessons on a tuesday which he stopped charging me for in the end as it began to just turn in to more of a jam session rather than a lesson Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arthurhenry Posted April 18, 2011 Share Posted April 18, 2011 Bass only, for 24 years. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Machines Posted April 18, 2011 Share Posted April 18, 2011 I have an old Vintage VP6 and regularly borrow whatever my Dad has bought recently (guitarists get GAS too). I'm not too bad, could probably play well enough to be in a predictable rock band, no fiddly solos though ! I do enjoy a bit of bluesy lead though... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigRedX Posted April 18, 2011 Share Posted April 18, 2011 I've been the guitarist in 4 of the bands I've been a member of over the last 35 years. Apart from my very first band where we all played everything, all the bands that I played guitar in, I originally joined as the bassist. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MacDaddy Posted April 18, 2011 Share Posted April 18, 2011 started off on classical guitar, and was quite good on electric in an 80's widdler sort of way. Trouble was by the time I could do the 80's widdling it was the 90's and no-one was interested in that sort of thing. It's not much fun been in a band where the guitarist(s) is not good enough to play the guitar parts you write. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bilbo Posted April 18, 2011 Share Posted April 18, 2011 I do play guitar (have more guitars than basses) and have gigged in a prog rock band and a Latin band as well as a running few pop tunes if the occasion warrants it. I know I could play better given time and work it up to a pro level but we can't do everything, can we? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigAlonBass Posted April 18, 2011 Share Posted April 18, 2011 Bass first, keyboards second, no guitar. I can more or less tell what chord shapes a guitarist is playing, so I can play along in Jam Sessions/Open Mic Nights etc., but for some reason, I've never wanted to play a guitar. I mustn't have a big enough ego. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
toneknob Posted April 18, 2011 Share Posted April 18, 2011 I started off a bassist, and still consider myself very much that, but noodled around badly on guitar as well. I ended up paying my dues as the Rutherford in various Genesis tribute bands, so had to do my share of 12-string fingerpicking and strumming too. It's definitely helped in knowing my way around the neck on both instruments. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Vader Posted April 18, 2011 Share Posted April 18, 2011 Have been a guitarist for 23 years. Sometimes I play bass, alright, pretty exclusively for the last 5 or 6 years. Still gig on guitar quite a bit though., is that an oxymoron? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
warwickhunt Posted April 18, 2011 Share Posted April 18, 2011 [quote name='BigAlonBass' post='1203231' date='Apr 18 2011, 09:12 AM']I mustn't have a big enough ego. [/quote] Just as well you put those smilies at the end Al... you geet big egotistical maniac you! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mcgraham Posted April 18, 2011 Share Posted April 18, 2011 Guilty as charged. I love both instruments, and regularly gig on both, but if I had to pick just one instrument for the rest of my life it would be bass. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
leonshelley01 Posted April 18, 2011 Share Posted April 18, 2011 I play enough guitar to play standard rock rhythm parts, which is useful for song writing and to understand how to construct complimentary lines within a band context. I have played guitar in a couple of bands, but never felt particularly comfortable doing so. I always felt I was on the edge of playing really badly so was staring at the neck frowning with a look of panic, whereas playing bass just feels natural and I usually play with an inane grin! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
geoffbyrne Posted April 18, 2011 Share Posted April 18, 2011 As above - played guitar from '59 to '79 & bass for last 8 years with a big gap in between. Pretty much prefer playing bass now, although I'd be OK a s a rhythm. G. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gust0o Posted April 18, 2011 Share Posted April 18, 2011 I always wanted to play guitar as a youth. My picking up bass was more driven by the fact that the cool kids had already monopolised the six-strings by the time I got round to it, and I didn't think I could convince my parents of the value of drums! I did pick up the guitar at the last rehearsal. The proximity of the strings did for me. I suspect it might be harder to convert in that direction, than the other. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rich Posted April 18, 2011 Share Posted April 18, 2011 I don't* but I bloody wish I did, and I doff my hat to those of you that do. * apart from a bit of noodling around on the obligatory pawn-shop acoustic. Everyone should have one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
janmaat Posted April 18, 2011 Share Posted April 18, 2011 I do, along with some drumming and some keys - the latter is what I really wish I'd be better at. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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