Guitar to Bass Easier Than Bass to Guitar
The bass player supports the chords that the guitarist plays.
I have many students who have gone from guitar to bass, but the reverse is less common. It’s easier to go from guitar to bass than the other way around. The primary difference between the guitar and bass is the role of chords on the guitar.
The bass implies and supports chords, whereas the guitar executes full chords in its role as a rhythm instrument. This creates more work for the guitar.
The guitar is also primarily responsible for the featured solo work – the lead guitar. Bass has an equidistant perfect fourth tuning scheme while the guitar has a troublesome major third between its third and second string.
There are bass players that play more melodically than others but the fundamental role of the bass is to support chords and to drive the rhythmic feel of the song.
In recent years, with the development of virtuosic bass players, the bass has stepped out of its traditional role and assumed a more glamorous position in he band.
Ed. note: Read more about the bass here.
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4 comments
Posted 01/21/10 at 8:34 am
This may be true at the beginner to intermediate level but this type of thinking adds to long held belief that the Bass is an easy instrument to play. Often I’ve heard guitarists denigrate the Bass and Bassists as guys who were not good enough to play guitar. I’ve had to endure the newly transformed guitarist turned Bassist only to find that their concept of the instrument lacks a true understanding of time, feel and counterpoint and overall groove. The shred fest they are used to does not apply. Often they resort to the 1/5/1 on the beat approach and really do not do anything to further the instrument. One would think with their chord knowledge they would pursue the more subtle modalities of the instrument, oft times they fall into the mediocrity they accuse bassists of in general. It is on rare occasion I’ve found a guitarist turned bassist that embraces the true concept of bass playing.
Posted 01/21/10 at 11:35 am
That is correct.
Posted 01/26/10 at 2:10 pm
I agree with Ray. Guitar players may know chords but seldom know when to lay back and when to fill on bass and miss most of the rhythmic subtlety of playing bass. While the bass may have a fundamental role as described, really good bass players do this and fill to add style and nuance to a piece of music. As a bassist turned guitarist who still plays bass, I have always admired players like John Entwhistle who wasn’t afraid to make a statement on bass or the many jazz players who have elevated bass playing to a virtuoso art. Most guitar players I see on bass do not know how to use their thumb effectively for plucking and slapping.
Posted 08/22/10 at 2:52 am
I have to agree with Ray. The bass is a very nuanced instrument in that it not only sets the rhythm but also the melodic texture of a song. It sets the foundation for all other players and gives the soloist a home to come back too. Yes a good drummer can drive a band. But you get a good drummer and Bass player together and no matter what it always sounds good. But you can be the greatest singer/soloist there is doing the greatest song if the bass player doesn’t cut it it don’t work. Yes any player can change instruments, the key is can they understand the role of the instrument?
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