AMD8806 Posted March 3, 2020 Share Posted March 3, 2020 I have spent around 5 years playing bass as my first instrument i have really enjoyed but have been attracted to guitar and cannot decide if i want to stay with bass and invest into more gear or go the other route and go to guitar. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PatrickJ Posted March 3, 2020 Share Posted March 3, 2020 Do both 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Horse Murphy Posted March 3, 2020 Share Posted March 3, 2020 Or neither. Try the cello. They're addictive Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mep Posted March 3, 2020 Share Posted March 3, 2020 Do both if you have the time. Bass is where it's at though😎 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
itu Posted March 3, 2020 Share Posted March 3, 2020 Please try piccolo strings on your instrument. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dannybuoy Posted March 3, 2020 Share Posted March 3, 2020 Do both. Just get a cheap used Squier etc to start with and you won't have to worry too much about investing in gear. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PaulWarning Posted March 3, 2020 Share Posted March 3, 2020 I find Bass on it's own is fairly boring, great in a band, but I play acoustic guitar when I want to just play and sing on my own 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PatrickJ Posted March 3, 2020 Share Posted March 3, 2020 9 minutes ago, PJ-Bassist said: Do both I meant at the same time. I saw Charley Hunter supporting Snarky Puppy. He plays an eight string multi-scale guitar that he uses to play both Bass and Guitar parts on at the same time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jean-Luc Pickguard Posted March 3, 2020 Share Posted March 3, 2020 get a ukulele - they're fantastic fun and great for annoying people 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reggaebass Posted March 3, 2020 Share Posted March 3, 2020 Maybe try a 6 string bass Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
upside downer Posted March 3, 2020 Share Posted March 3, 2020 Bass. And guitar. And mandolin. And bouzouki. And saz. And oud. And so on and so on. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MikanHannille Posted March 3, 2020 Share Posted March 3, 2020 I say do both if you can afford it. It gives you different perspective on how you play either. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crawford13 Posted March 3, 2020 Share Posted March 3, 2020 Nothing wrong with playing guitar & bass. If you only have enough practice time for one, then go with the one that calls you. I can play guitar but I always prefer playing bass. I wouldn’t know this if I hadn’t learned guitar. Good luck. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bassassin Posted March 3, 2020 Share Posted March 3, 2020 Not either/or. Bass was my first instrument and is still the only thing I'm remotely proficient on, but I started messing around with guitar after a couple of years of just bass. Understanding the instrument definitely made me a better bass player, and made my lines more varied and (imo) creative. Never wanted to be "a guitarist", and I'm absolutely not good enough to get on stage with one - but it's 99% of what I play when composing, and I'm good enough (with enough takes!) to get down what I hear in my head when recording demos. I'm developing a substantial piece of music at the moment, so far entirely using guitar, and have probably played bass for about 15 minutes in total this year! Lots of bass ideas in my head, though. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
madshadows Posted March 3, 2020 Share Posted March 3, 2020 Play both, I do and enjoy bass and guitar John 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SH73 Posted March 3, 2020 Share Posted March 3, 2020 Both, I play more guitar but better at bass IMHO. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cato Posted March 3, 2020 Share Posted March 3, 2020 (edited) As everyone else says do both. If you've never played skinny string guitar before it'll take a while* to get the hang of chords, but the dexterity in your fretting hand should give you a bit of a head start. *when I say a 'while' I've been playing guitar for over 20 years and every now and then I still come across a chord shape I've never seen before. Edited March 3, 2020 by Cato Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sammybee Posted March 3, 2020 Share Posted March 3, 2020 Give the guitar a try, you might love it. If you don't you'll regret not trying it. And as everyone else suggests, there is no law against playing both. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cato Posted March 3, 2020 Share Posted March 3, 2020 (edited) You can probably get a Harley Benton skinny stringer plus a Zoom G1-4 multi effects unit, all brand new for around £200, maybe £150 depending on the guitar. You can either run them through headphones or even through your bass amp and it'll sound decent enough while you decide if you want to take it further. Edited March 3, 2020 by Cato Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doctor J Posted March 4, 2020 Share Posted March 4, 2020 Another vote for both, but don’t stop there. Every instrument you learn will give you a better understanding of music as a whole and improve your bass playing too. I play guitar and drums as well as bass and have gigged on all. I’m starting to learn piano. Why restrict yourself? Spread your wings, fella. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ricky 4000 Posted March 4, 2020 Share Posted March 4, 2020 “If you end your bass training now — if you choose the quick and easy guitar path (as Vader did) — you will become an agent of evil.” – Yoda 4 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
odysseus Posted March 4, 2020 Share Posted March 4, 2020 I started on guitar then moved to bass. I still play guitar for writing purposes. It's good to have that extra perspective. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BrunoBass Posted March 4, 2020 Share Posted March 4, 2020 I do both. Bass in the covers band and acoustic guitar on my solo original stuff. It’s no problem switching between the two. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skybone Posted March 4, 2020 Share Posted March 4, 2020 Started on bass, moved to guitar for a wee while, back to bass. Definitely my happy place. Still have guitars & actually pick them up now and again. Still prefer bass. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bassfinger Posted March 4, 2020 Share Posted March 4, 2020 Have you considered the mandolin? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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