Comments on: Guitar to Bass Easier Than Bass to Guitar

By: Cailyn

Cailyn — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 19:10:29 +0000

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.

By: Or Keynan

Or Keynan — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 16:35:31 +0000

That is correct.

By: Ray

Ray — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 13:34:24 +0000

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.