Perhaps some one can "guide" me in the right direction for beginning bass. I've been playing/experimenting with a guitar for three months now and it's been fun, but I've always wanted to play bass. A co-worker suggested I learn guitar first, then move over to bass.
Lately, I've been itching to try bass, but unfortunately, I don't know anyone that has one or plays regularly. SO my questions are:
1) Should i stick with guitar for a while then move over to bass or would it be ok to practice and play both at the same time?
2) If I do get a bass, what recommendations would you give for buying one?
I've been playing the bass for about two years. I got a guitar for christmas in 2007, and then in March 08 I bought a cheap bass from ebay. Eventually I found that I preferred the bass, and these days I don't really touch my guitar now, preferring to play with my basses.
Perhaps it would be the same for you. I recommend getting a squire bass, or a yamaha RBX170 (which is cheap in price but still a good quality instrument) and experimenting with it. You're still new to the guitar, so I'd say it's good to try out the bass before you get too attached to the normal guitar to switch easily.
Many guitar skills can easily transfer to bass, such as basic fingerings for scales, some basic chord shapes (if you like playing chords on the bass), and the ability to use a plectrum (if you like playing the bass using a pick).
Bass requires more hand strength and stretching than normal guitar, though, so it's possible that you may find it difficult to play at first after being used to normal guitar. Heh! PENIS. I found when I first started with the bass that it was difficult to press the strings down onto the frets effectively, especially with the little (AKA pinky) finger. I even wondered if it was a problem with the instrument (since it was cheap and sold as part of a bass package on ebay), but now I know that it was mainly a problem of technique and hand strength.
My short answer is:
Yes, I think you should get a bass. Learning both guitar and bass might be hard, but it can certainly be done.
Let me give you a personal word of advice. This is something I would tell myself if I went back in time to when I was just starting.
Learning sensible, efficient and proper technique is very important. Think carefully about the way you do things, position in which you hold your hands and your arms, the way you press down on the frets with your fingers, the fingers you use and the way you use them. Learning proper fingering is vital, I think.
Also, watch this video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eXkxu_7Tn48
My comment on this video is: I agree with this man. The one finger per fret system is excellent, but not suited to everything.
Good luck, let us know how things go for you and which bass you decide to get (if you decide to get one).
OP here,
Ordered my bass and just got it yesterday. It's not one of the recommendations that >>2 posted. I read that post after purchasing it. http://bass-guitars.musiciansfriend.com/product/Ibanez-Artcore-Ser-Hollowbody-without-Tremolo?sku=519527
Been playing around with it all night and it's awesome. Got a cut on my strumming thumb and it really hurts to play with it.
(broke a string in 30 min while tuning it but fixed it)
This is my fifth year playing bass guitar, and I love it. I played two years of guitar before hand, and I still play both. A great way to learn is to take private lessons, at a local music store. I taught myself guitar and bass, and get a lot of practice time in by playing in my school Jazz band. We have two bass players this year, so I'm playing just normal guitar, but I find it easy to switch back and forth.
Personally, I don't have my own bass, but I use one from school, a Fender Jazz Bass, without the metal fret lines. Because of that, instead of normal electric bass guitar strings, you use classical double bass strings, which is smoother on your fingers, and slides very well.
Good luck to you, and I hope my comments helped!