Geetardation-based irrationality complex

[deathpanda]

I just passed the first year studying music at college, and on the last day we had a look at applying to universities, which would happen after the next and final year of college. After some research, I've decided my favourite option is [url="http://www.icmp.co.uk/"]The Institute[/url] in London, but I've come to a massive headache of a situation; I'm originally a guitard, I love the instrument. I also love bass, pretty much equally. Flame me all you want (or don't) but I cannot for the life of me decide which path I want to take... there are different sections of the uni dedicated to certain instruments, so it's either one or the other. I've spoken to a few of my friends, they say you can't be a jack of all trades and master of none in the music industry. I also know personally that I don't have the mental capacity to keep both instruments up to a high standard. It's either one or the other and just the thought of it makes me feel sick. I'm wondering why I don't have a gut feeling of what I like the most.

Maybe it would help if I knew the pros and cons of both instruments in the music industry? What instrument am I most likely to be able to get work playing? Any advice would be appreciated so much...

[Mr. Foxen]

Which one is less subscribed? The student teacher ration might be better, and there will be less competing people.

[thisnameistaken]

Just pick one. It doesn't mean you have to stop playing the other one.

[MIJ-VI]

So you like guitar and bass [i]equally[/i] well?



[url="http://www.burnsguitars.com/barracuda.php"]http://www.burnsguitars.com/barracuda.php[/url]

A more well known example:



(Currently out of production.)

There are a number of others as well whose prices range from being reasonable to [i][u]WHAT?!![/u][/i]

The samples in this thread show the Fender VI being used for a variety of styles ranging from surf guitar to reggae bass:

the Bass VI video thread
[url="http://www.offsetguitars.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=41&t=30043"]http://www.offsetguitars.com/forums/viewto...=41&t=30043[/url]

Where to learn more about them:

The Short-Scale Six-String Club—for the original six-string basses!
[url="http://talkbass.com/forum/showthread.php?t=391343"]http://talkbass.com/forum/showthread.php?t=391343[/url]

The Short-Scale Six-String Club Part 2- for the original six-string basses!
[url="http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showthread.php?t=599414"]http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showthread.php?t=599414[/url]

The Short-Scale Six-String Club Part 3 - for the original six-string basses!
[url="http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showthread.php?t=658449"]http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showthread.php?t=658449[/url]

Three Facebook groups:

Burns Barracuda Players
[url="http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=2205498133#!/group.php?gid=120993031271052"]http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=2205...120993031271052[/url]

Schecter Hellcat VI Players
[url="http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=2205498133#!/group.php?gid=153636914012"]http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=2205...id=153636914012[/url]

Bass VI players.
[url="http://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/group.php?gid=34542190945"]http://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/gro...gid=34542190945[/url]

[beardybass]

[quote name='thisnameistaken' post='877902' date='Jun 26 2010, 12:46 AM']Just pick one. It doesn't mean you have to stop playing the other one.[/quote]

This.

Just because you specialise in one, doesn't mean the other one will disappear from your life, I went to college and Uni with lots of people who played more than one instrument, the emphasis in any course should be on being a MUSICIAN not a bass or guitar holder. I think you're getting yourself wound up over nowt to be honest with you. Pick the one you think you'll do best at.

[Toddy54]

My son started music college last year ( he is a guitarist ) in his year there were 4 drummers, 7 guitarist, 3 singers, 3 dj's no bassist and no keyboardist. He got himself a bass and amp, I gave him some lessons, and through the whole year he was very much in demand, playing in 3 bands. When he goes back next year as there are 2 bassist starting he is going to go back and play guitar and also bass as he really enjoys it. He practices in his room, one night guitar, next night bass. So as has been stated in this thread by others, if you enjoy both, play both.

[The Burpster]

[quote name='beardybass' post='877912' date='Jun 26 2010, 04:52 AM']This.

Just because you specialise in one, doesn't mean the other one will disappear from your life, I went to college and Uni with lots of people who played more than one instrument, the emphasis in any course should be on being a MUSICIAN not a bass or guitar holder. I think you're getting yourself wound up over nowt to be honest with you. Pick the one you think you'll do best at.[/quote]

That is really good advice.

[risingson]

I play both, although I play bass much more competently because I focused on it and honed my skills. Play both still, you should never be short of work as a good bassist or a good guitarist, but the great thing is that good bass players really can get a lot of work. Get your reading down and your ear together and you can be a versatile musician... anything from Big Band work through to side work in a band, or whatever.

One piece of advice I learned from going to study Music at uni is that on popular music courses, it matters if you get a good mark at the end of it, but it's way more important making contact with everyone on your course and in the college. Usually your fellow students and sometimes tutors are the ones that will get you work in future, make every connection you can and play for as many different people as possible. It will ensure that you become known as a reliable and accessible musician.

[martindupras]

I was exactly in the same situation as you twenty years ago. I wanted to apply to a music college course which was a three-year "vocational course." I was equally torn between bass and guitar.

In the end I chose guitar over bass. My reasoning, after much advice from friends, was this:

- the guitar being a more chordal instrument, I would likely get more theoretical knowledge from a harmony and composition point of view
- there would be more work for a guitar player, in the long run

[b]As it turns out, neither was particularly true. [/b]

With what I know now, would I make a different choice? Maybe, but then again maybe not.

In my view, the most important thing is that you choose something you'll be happy practicing every day diligently for several years.

And I agree with everyone else: ultimately, what plank you spank is irrelevant; what is relevant is being a well-rounded musician, being professional, and playing as much as you can.

- martin

[aznbass]

Im in the sameish place, with drums and bass.

If you think you have the capacity to do both, do them. but you have been a guitarist longer, so i think you should do that, your going to get a Bmus either way. and if you want to prove you can play to others, i guess you could just grade in both instruments. Youll learn the same theory from what ive heard.

[Jean-Luc Pickguard]

[quote name='Toddy54' post='877918' date='Jun 26 2010, 07:23 AM']My son started music college last year ( he is a guitarist ) in his year there were 4 drummers, 7 guitarist, 3 singers, 3 dj's no bassist and no keyboardist. He got himself a bass and amp, I gave him some lessons, and through the whole year he was very much in demand, playing in 3 bands. When he goes back next year as there are 2 bassist starting he is going to go back and play guitar and also bass as he really enjoys it. He practices in his room, one night guitar, next night bass. So as has been stated in this thread by others, if you enjoy both, play both.[/quote]
Couldn't put it better than this.

Guitarists are ten a penny. Carry on playing both, but if you specialise as a bass player, you're going to probably find you're more in demand, so you'll probably get more experience. You'll also probably be better at playing tastefully & leaving space for others .

[Faithless]

Take bass. It's such unexplored instrument yet, that it's just crazy.

Playing guitar is cool, it will help you in harmonical/chordal issues on bass, and you can apply lots of stuff from guitar to bass (harmonical, technical..)

It's good to play few instruments - I play some EUB and piano, though, electric bass is my main thing.

why EUB? Just out of interest, and, as I'm a reader, maybe because for a lil' more work, you know

why piano? Cuz there isn't a better instrument to understand harmony and analize stuff, than it.

[burno70]

[quote]I went to college and Uni with lots of people who played more than one instrument, the emphasis in any course should be on being a MUSICIAN not a bass or guitar holder. I think you're getting yourself wound up over nowt to be honest with you.[/quote]


I disagree with this. In the 3rd year of my degree I was playing my bass for between 3-5 hours every day in preparation for a 40 minute solo recital. You really have to live and breath the instrument of choice.


[quote]In my view, the most important thing is that you choose something you'll be happy practicing every day diligently for several years.[/quote]

Spot on.

[deathpanda]

[quote name='Mr. Foxen' post='877898' date='Jun 26 2010, 01:34 AM']Which one is less subscribed? The student teacher ration might be better, and there will be less competing people.[/quote]

According to the website, "generally no more than 12 students per class". It's also first come first serve.

[quote name='thisnameistaken' post='877902' date='Jun 26 2010, 01:46 AM']Just pick one. It doesn't mean you have to stop playing the other one.[/quote]

That's where the headache comes in, I have to chose one to dedicate myself to.

[quote name='MIJ-VI' post='877905' date='Jun 26 2010, 02:11 AM']So you like guitar and bass [i]equally[/i] well?



[url="http://www.burnsguitars.com/barracuda.php"]http://www.burnsguitars.com/barracuda.php[/url]

A more well known example:



(Currently out of production.)

There are a number of others as well whose prices range from being reasonable to [i][u]WHAT?!![/u][/i]

The samples in this thread show the Fender VI being used for a variety of styles ranging from surf guitar to reggae bass:

the Bass VI video thread
[url="http://www.offsetguitars.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=41&t=30043"]http://www.offsetguitars.com/forums/viewto...=41&t=30043[/url]

Where to learn more about them:

The Short-Scale Six-String Club—for the original six-string basses!
[url="http://talkbass.com/forum/showthread.php?t=391343"]http://talkbass.com/forum/showthread.php?t=391343[/url]

The Short-Scale Six-String Club Part 2- for the original six-string basses!
[url="http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showthread.php?t=599414"]http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showthread.php?t=599414[/url]

The Short-Scale Six-String Club Part 3 - for the original six-string basses!
[url="http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showthread.php?t=658449"]http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showthread.php?t=658449[/url]

Three Facebook groups:

Burns Barracuda Players
[url="http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=2205498133#!/group.php?gid=120993031271052"]http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=2205...120993031271052[/url]

Schecter Hellcat VI Players
[url="http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=2205498133#!/group.php?gid=153636914012"]http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=2205...id=153636914012[/url]

Bass VI players.
[url="http://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/group.php?gid=34542190945"]http://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/gro...gid=34542190945[/url][/quote]

That's... pretty damn awesome. Not sure if I can see myself playing one of these, but I will definitely look further into it. Thanks for all the info.

[quote name='martindupras' post='878225' date='Jun 26 2010, 04:01 PM']In my view, the most important thing is that you choose something you'll be happy practicing every day diligently for several years.[/quote]

I'm torn ):

[quote name='Faithless' post='878243' date='Jun 26 2010, 04:21 PM']Take bass. It's such unexplored instrument yet, that it's just crazy.

Playing guitar is cool, it will help you in harmonical/chordal issues on bass, and you can apply lots of stuff from guitar to bass (harmonical, technical..)

It's good to play few instruments - I play some EUB and piano, though, electric bass is my main thing.

why EUB? Just out of interest, and, as I'm a reader, maybe because for a lil' more work, you know

why piano? Cuz there isn't a better instrument to understand harmony and analize stuff, than it.[/quote]

That kind of sells it to me to be honest...

Over the last few days I've been coming closer to choosing the bass, but as soon as I pick up my guitar and start creating some cool licks and chord progressions, it just instantly reminds me of why I picked it up in the first place. Another problem is that my college guitar tutor is insanely good, like a god-tier musician, and I dropped bass lessons (but still playing bass in college bands) because I wasn't learning nearly as much as I was in guitar lesson.

Am I just being an awkward twat? I think I will throw caution to the wind and choose bass, because lets face it; at the end of the day there are enough guitarists. If I want to make a living as a musician, bass will probably get me further.

Thanks for all the advice, even the posts I didn't reply to, I still took it all on board.

Case closed.

*throws caution to the wind*