Switching 100% to bass...

UnclePsychosis · May 2022

Kind of thinking out loud here but aware there's a few folk here who have done this (given up "normal" guitar to focus on bass).

Looking for your thoughts and opinions. I've been playing both for a long time, and I'm definitely a better bass player than guitarist. I also think I enjoy it more---can't see myself ever playing guitar in a band, but I'd like to play bass with other people again in the future.

Been getting some guitar lessons to try and focus a bit but just don't feel like I enjoy it as much as the low end.

Not sure if I would 100% give up but I am sorely tempted to sell all but one guitar and "just" be a bass player.

Thoughts / comments very welcome.

fretmeister · May 2022

I did that 20 years ago.

I never looked back.

AntonHunter · May 2022

You'll get more gigs!

UnclePsychosis · May 2022

AntonHunter said:

You'll get more gigs!

Joking aside I've done loads of gigs on bass, and very, very few on guitar.

UnclePsychosis · May 2022

fretmeister said:

I did that 20 years ago.

I never looked back.

You still play guitar though, right?

octatonic · May 2022

I haven't switched to bass completely but I gig mostly as a drummer and then a bassist.
Guitar gigs are a distant third.

camf · May 2022

Wanna job?

camf · May 2022

If I could go right back, I wish I’d given playing bass a go. A great classic bass and a quality acoustic to write with and play at home would have been a pretty neat place to be.

Reggaebass · May 2022

I haven’t got any option, I can’t play guitar

UnclePsychosis · May 2022

camf said:

Wanna job?

@camf always!

Hit me up...

ICBM · May 2022

I’ve become almost exclusively a bass player now - in both of the band/‘project’ I currently play with I’m the bassist, despite a previous history of being the guitarist, including in the ‘project’.

I do still play guitar, especially acoustic, at home, but I don’t really need most of my guitar gear and I’m slowly cutting down on it. I’m more likely to buy more bass gear than guitar gear now.

I started on guitar, but originally started playing bass because I realised it would be a much better way to get into a band than as a guitarist, and nearly forty years later I’m still right! There are always more good guitarists than good bassists, and since I struggle with being a good guitarist, the solution is obvious

.

The key is to think like a bassist and not like a guitarist. I do, to the point that I think I play guitar like a bassist more than the other way round…

mid57 · May 2022

Same here I have been away from the bass for a while but the urge to return is coming back. I worked at Bass Merchants in Colchester as a guitar tech for around 5 years and switched sides back then as I was offered loads of gigs from bands dropping in asking if there was anyone interested in playing bass for them it was a very steep learning curve !

ICBM · May 2022

mid57 said:

I worked at Bass Merchants in Colchester as a guitar tech for around 5 years and switched sides back then as I was offered loads of gigs from bands dropping in asking if there was anyone interested in playing bass for them it was a very steep learning curve !

Apparently, Chas Chandler asked guitarist Noel Redding if he knew any bassists he could recommend to play in a band he was putting together with an amazing guitarist he was managing called Jimi Hendrix. Redding said “I play bass”. Chandler asked him to come back for an audition, so Redding went and bought his first bass!

fretmeister · May 2022

UnclePsychosis said:

fretmeister said:

I did that 20 years ago.

I never looked back.

You still play guitar though, right?

Only when I’m writing guitar parts.

Kristo · May 2022

I’ve pretty much switched completely now. Started on guitar about 25 years ago, and never really got great. Spent a lot of those years buying and selling loads of guitars/amps/pedals without ever really doing anything with them. Got a bass about 7 years ago to jam with friends, started a band, and haven’t looked back since. I love it and wish I’d got a bass originally 25 years ago. I find when I pick up the bass I get a lot more enjoyment from it and spend a lot of time learning stuff. I never really did that on guitar, just messed about with fuzzes and sounds. I still have an acoustic in the living room, but hardly pick it up. Too busy learning soul basslines.

Funkfingers · May 2022

I play both.

Some times, on a recording project, bassist me plays the backing part over which guitarist me can noodle ad nauseam.

Other times, I do the rhythm guitar chords first. What the bass part does afterwards can make a world of difference to how the chord changes are perceived.

I suspect that I would find playing either instrument to the exclusion of the other boring.

For a real challenge of your musical sensibilities, play fretless.

PhilKing · May 2022

I play both in my band, as does the other guitarist. We both have been in other bands on the opposite instrument too. Years ago, when working men's clubs were big gig venues, I played bass in a cover band and the singer/guitarist played bass in my rock band, where I was singer/guitarist. Through the years I've managed to be able to play bass and sing, but I still find it easier to sing when playing guitar. I really think differently about what I am playing though on each instrument and have to lock into the drums much more with the bass.

I actually enjoy playing both, but have had more gigs on bass than guitar through the recent years (when I was younger, it was many more on guitar).

slacker · May 2022

Having played acoustic guitar bass guitar and real guitar in various bands duos etc, my opinion is play what you want when you want to.

Ossyrocks · May 2022

I’ve recently picked up the bass after forty years of being a guitarist. Until a few months ago, I had never played a bass. I’m totally hooked. I’ve had to sell a few guitars and amps to keep up with my house renovation, but I’m resolved to keep a couple of guitars and amps just in case.

Bass wise, I now have two, a Precision and a Jazz, as well as a small practice amp, and a full fat Mark Bass rig. I may have an audition coming up for a pop/rock/soul covers band, and this will be the first time I will have played bass with other musicians. …..bit nervous, but looking forward to it.

I’m never going back to running/fronting/organising a band again. Just let me stand at the back next to the drummer and groove.

fretmeister · May 2022

Ossyrocks said:

I’ve recently picked up the bass after forty years of being a guitarist. Until a few months ago, I had never played a bass. I’m totally hooked. I’ve had to sell a few guitars and amps to keep up with my house renovation, but I’m resolved to keep a couple of guitars and amps just in case.

Bass wise, I now have two, a Precision and a Jazz, as well as a small practice amp, and a full fat Mark Bass rig. I may have an audition coming up for a pop/rock/soul covers band, and this will be the first time I will have played bass with other musicians. …..bit nervous, but looking forward to it.

I’m never going back to running/fronting/organising a band again. Just let me stand at the back next to the drummer and groove.

A small suggestion.

If you can - stand on the hi-hat side of the kit. You'll usually hear the kick drum everywhere, but if the sound is shocking then the hi-hat cuts through, and its movement can give you a visual indication of timing.

bloodandtears · May 2022

I've been "Angus" and "Cliff" in various ACDC tribute bands.. both equally rewarding and enjoyable... the latter being physically easier than the former mind you..

Adamski · May 2022

I don't see the point in drawing a defined line in the sand. I see myself as a Musician, whether that's guitar, bass, vocals or I decide I want to tap on the lid of Starbucks coffee cup to make sounds with my manhood.
If you want to focus on bass, absolutely do that. Hell, even call yourself a Bassist when people ask. I'd say just keep ONE guitar around, electric or acoustic, because there may come a time in your life when you want to play one again or you just fancy a strum here or there. I'd also make sure that's a relatively cheap one because if you have money tied up in it, you're probably more likely to be tempted to sell it down the road. A Yamaha Pacifica or one of those Jett guitars people are raving about, something of that ilk.

fretmeister · May 2022

Adamski said:

I don't see the point in drawing a defined line in the sand. I see myself as a Musician, whether that's guitar, bass, vocals or I decide I want to tap on the lid of Starbucks coffee cup to make sounds with my manhood.
If you want to focus on bass, absolutely do that. Hell, even call yourself a Bassist when people ask. I'd say just keep ONE guitar around, electric or acoustic, because there may come a time in your life when you want to play one again or you just fancy a strum here or there. I'd also make sure that's a relatively cheap one because if you have money tied up in it, you're probably more likely to be tempted to sell it down the road. A Yamaha Pacifica or one of those Jett guitars people are raving about, something of that ilk.

I agree with that really.

I describe myself as a bassist even though I'm a competent guitarist as well. I only play guitar when I'm writing or recording. I never just pick a guitar up to noodle on.

Musicman20 · May 2022

Doing both is so much fun! But I do get why bass has that draw to it...it has a feel and style all of its own.

ewal · May 2022

I started on bass but guess over the years I have mainly played guitar. As I write pretty much all the music I play, and very, very rarely have the opportunity to play it with anyone else, I play both out of necessity.

I have a very basic level of skill on both, but can do enough for the type of music I want to make.

I think it would be a lot cooler to be able to play drums.

fretmeister · June 2022

I'd love to be able to play drums.

I wanted to play when I was about 13 but my parents just didn't want a drum kit in the house.

Dave_Mc · June 2022

fretmeister said:

I'd love to be able to play drums.

I wanted to play when I was about 13 but my parents just didn't want a drum kit in the house.

I played drums at school. My parents are awesome in general, but they still didn't let me have a drumkit.

That kind of had mixed results... I still don't have a drumkit, but the less said about guitars/basses the better...

PolarityMan · June 2022

Tbh I don't understand how you could only play one of guitar and bass. Not just because they are such clearly overlapping skillsets but also because they make each other sound awesome.

Bork · June 2022

I play mainly bass but I started on drums when I was 14 and took up guitar about ten years ago. .. ironically to help my bass playing. Now I play guitar the most because it's more interesting.

For practice tracks I really like, I'll learn both bass and guitar parts. I would learn drums too but I don't own a kit any more.

Creed_Clicks · June 2022

Adamski said:

...or I decide I want to tap on the lid of Starbucks coffee cup to make sounds with my manhood.

I'd say if you look around online, there's some p0rn fetish video or subculture with a video of exactly that.

Adamski · June 2022

Creed_Clicks said:

Adamski said:

...or I decide I want to tap on the lid of Starbucks coffee cup to make sounds with my manhood.

I'd say if you look around online, there's some p0rn fetish video or subculture with a video of exactly that.

Who’d you think made it?

thinking of getting an OnlyFans going

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