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Switching from Guitar to Bass - help

FrankieGFrankieG Abingdon MD Posts: 9,100
in Musicians and Gearheads
I somewhat play guitar. Not very often and not well, but I do pick it up occasionally to mess around. I know the basics and a couple songs.

My friend approached me, he needs a bass player. Anyone have experience switching from guitar to bass? I'm gonna be borrowing his bass over the weekend to mess around with and to see if I can get the hang of it.

Anyone have online resources for bass playing? Theory books specifically for bass? Tips? etc

Thanks!

2003: 7/14 NJ ... 2006: 6/1 NJ, 6/3 NJ ... 2007: 8/5 IL ... 2008: 6/24 NY, 6/25 NY, 8/7 EV NJ ... 2009: 10/27 PA, 10/28 PA, 10/30 PA, 10/31 PA
2010: 5/20 NY, 5/21 NY ... 2011: 6/21 EV NY, 9/3 WI, 9/4 WI ... 2012: 9/2 PA, 9/22 GA ... 2013: 10/18 NY, 10/19 NY, 10/21 PA, 10/22 PA, 10/27 MD
2015: 9/23 NY, 9/26 NY ... 2016: 4/28 PA, 4/29 PA, 5/1 NY, 5/2 NY, 6/11 TN, 8/7 MA, 11/4 TOTD PA, 11/5 TOTD PA ... 2018: 8/10 WA
2022: 9/14 NJ ... 2024: 5/28 WA, 9/7 PA, 9/9 PA ---- http://imgur.com/a/nk0s7
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Comments

  • gimmesometruth27gimmesometruth27 St. Fuckin Louis Posts: 23,303
    it is an easy switch from guitar to bass. when we shitcanned our original bass player i took over bass duty for some recording sessions. basically the bass is just a 4 string version of a guitar. the strings on a bass are the 4 low end strings on a guitar so all of the notes are the same. if you know what chords you are playing on guitar you can switch to bass and initially play the root notes and once you get better you can get a little more funky if you want to. good luck with the transition :)
    "You can tell the greatness of a man by what makes him angry."  - Lincoln

    "Well, you tell him that I don't talk to suckas."
  • MayDay10MayDay10 Posts: 11,738
    edited February 2014
    yeah, I am learning on both. I find the bass a bit easier, mainly due to 4 strings and for the most part less note density. (mind you, "easier", not "easy"). I also seems more fun. I love getting into a groove.

    It does cost my hands a little more fatigue with the longer neck and finger-style
  • FrankieGFrankieG Abingdon MD Posts: 9,100
    Thanks for the reassurance guys!

    I definitely need to get my caluses back..

    So chords on a bass are pretty much all power chords? I guess Im confused about playing open chords that would normally be on the last 2 strings of a guitar. D, A, F, etc. E makes sense. I thnk I need to do some googleing ha
    2003: 7/14 NJ ... 2006: 6/1 NJ, 6/3 NJ ... 2007: 8/5 IL ... 2008: 6/24 NY, 6/25 NY, 8/7 EV NJ ... 2009: 10/27 PA, 10/28 PA, 10/30 PA, 10/31 PA
    2010: 5/20 NY, 5/21 NY ... 2011: 6/21 EV NY, 9/3 WI, 9/4 WI ... 2012: 9/2 PA, 9/22 GA ... 2013: 10/18 NY, 10/19 NY, 10/21 PA, 10/22 PA, 10/27 MD
    2015: 9/23 NY, 9/26 NY ... 2016: 4/28 PA, 4/29 PA, 5/1 NY, 5/2 NY, 6/11 TN, 8/7 MA, 11/4 TOTD PA, 11/5 TOTD PA ... 2018: 8/10 WA
    2022: 9/14 NJ ... 2024: 5/28 WA, 9/7 PA, 9/9 PA ---- http://imgur.com/a/nk0s7
  • gimmesometruth27gimmesometruth27 St. Fuckin Louis Posts: 23,303
    the notes are all in the same place. F is 1st fret top string and 3rd fret on 3rd string. etc.
    "You can tell the greatness of a man by what makes him angry."  - Lincoln

    "Well, you tell him that I don't talk to suckas."
  • StarbassStarbass Posts: 11
    I made the switch a long time ago (hardly touching a normal guitar anymore :) )

    but "So chords on a bass are pretty much all power chords?" is not true, as a bass player you do not play the chords as on a guitar, but play with the chords. Most of the time you will play the 1th 5th and 7th tone, but you can also useany of the other notes in the chord.
    On the bass you have a different approach to the music then on the guitar, so you can usually pick out the guitarist who play bass to the dedicated bass players when you look at the playing style.
  • 2-feign-reluctance2-feign-reluctance TigerTown, USA Posts: 23,330
    Just pick the thing up, make some noise until it sounds good! Not really and approach, just lots of fun exploring a really awesome, and heavy fucking instrument!
    www.cluthelee.com
  • Dead Man WalkingDead Man Walking Toronto-ish Posts: 2,762
    I went from guitar to bass in College. It was an easy transition and I found myself enjoying playing bass more than guitar.


    ...And chicks dig it.
  • MayDay10MayDay10 Posts: 11,738
    I love playing the bass.
  • MaxGoldenrodMaxGoldenrod Posts: 1,341
    Everybody thinks that the singer or guitar players are the leaders of the band...but they are wrong...it's the bass player keepin the rhythm!
    "Then the Spirit of God hovered over the water, and God said, Let there be music, and there was Pearl Jam."

    Whose idea was it for the word "Lisp" to have an "S" in it?
  • i_lov_iti_lov_it Perth, Western Australia Posts: 4,007
    edited May 2014
    FrankieG said:

    I somewhat play guitar. Not very often and not well, but I do pick it up occasionally to mess around. I know the basics and a couple songs.

    My friend approached me, he needs a bass player. Anyone have experience switching from guitar to bass? I'm gonna be borrowing his bass over the weekend to mess around with and to see if I can get the hang of it.

    Anyone have online resources for bass playing? Theory books specifically for bass? Tips? etc

    Thanks!

    I first Started out on Guitar took about Three Months worth of Lessons then switched over to the Bass...Two less Strings for a Start I like the Sound better and it's a More Fun Instrument...Start with the Root notes and Scales then just Progress from there.

    Post edited by i_lov_it on
  • elisalenhardelisalenhard Posts: 7
    Hi guys,
    just started to play bass, it's very hard but super cool. a lot of exercise and my hands start to be
    hands of a man!!!!!
    so happy, let you know the next steps.
    btw, is everybody living in Italy and wants to sell a bass???
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