Members gnr2391 Posted April 27, 2012 Members Share Posted April 27, 2012 Hey, so because I suck at hearing chords my teacher recommended me to start learning bass, since that will help. So I thought it would be good for all the guitar players to list some benefits of learning bass, even if you are a guitar player. 1. You will hear chords much better on the bandstand. You'll be able to hear the bass better which usually covers the root or fifth.2). It will help you groove immsenly.3) You will better understand what the bass player is doing, allowing you to be better responsive. If you guys got any other benefits. LIST THEM! Thanks y'all! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Huggy B Posted April 27, 2012 Members Share Posted April 27, 2012 It will help you write songs that bass players will want to play and not want to completely change the bass lines you write because they will be in tune with what bass players normally do. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members BydoEmpire Posted April 27, 2012 Members Share Posted April 27, 2012 First, it's fun as heck. If you're gigging on bass you darn sure better learn how to count. The bass has to be on the changes. It'll help that skill certainly. I was briefly learning standup bass (acoustic, fretless) to be a sub in with a band I was normally playing acoustic guitar in, and practicing that every day sure made my fingers stronger! Playing fretless was good for my ear, too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members DCurtis Posted April 27, 2012 Members Share Posted April 27, 2012 Transcribing bass lines (simpler lines, not Chris Squire etc)has helped me lock in all the basic, fundamental rhythmsso that reading them is no longer an issue. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members PigWings_v2.0 Posted April 27, 2012 Members Share Posted April 27, 2012 It should help you understand the importance of your rythm section. Solid bass and drums are a crucial foundation! Guitar is nothing without that! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members GreenAsJade Posted April 27, 2012 Members Share Posted April 27, 2012 You can get into bands. Guitar players are everywhere. Everyone needs a bass player... GaJ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members The-Enforcer Posted April 28, 2012 Members Share Posted April 28, 2012 I feel that my rhtyhm guitar chops got a lot tighter since I started messing around on bass. Most guitar players are all about shredding these days but rhythm is neglected until you pick up bass guitar lol Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members dimperdoo Posted April 28, 2012 Members Share Posted April 28, 2012 Bass seemed to help me to identify the structure of the song more (like how music theory pertains to why the song works) In a way I look @ guitar as sort of a frilly decoration on the framework the bass provides. Bass is a pretty good way to "get" fretboard mechanics. If you're having a hard time hearing chords, I would recommend practicing scales and singing the intervals -like the ah-ah-ah-ah-ah-ah-ah vox exercises except sing it like root - second - minor 3rd - etc (don't really sing etc.) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members electrochrisso Posted April 28, 2012 Members Share Posted April 28, 2012 You can get into bands. Guitar players are everywhere. Everyone needs a bass player... GaJ Right then, i'm off to get a bass. How is Adelaide going these days, havn't been back for 4 years, must get on down there and visit the oldies one day soon. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Lephty Posted April 28, 2012 Members Share Posted April 28, 2012 Something I've noticed is that on bass, you have to CONNECT the chords. Where the guitar player might just have to play a G chord and then a C chord, the bass has to anticipate that C chord, and connect the chords together. You have to think ahead a little more. Also, where the guitar player can get away with just knowing "I put my fingers here and it makes a G chord", the bass player needs to know where the chord tones actually are (at least if he/she wants to play anything other than the root note). And learning how to play in the pocket doesn't hurt either. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members girevik Posted April 28, 2012 Members Share Posted April 28, 2012 Something I've noticed is that on bass, you have to CONNECT the chords. Where the guitar player might just have to play a G chord and then a C chord, the bass has to anticipate that C chord, and connect the chords together. You have to think ahead a little more. Also, where the guitar player can get away with just knowing "I put my fingers here and it makes a G chord", the bass player needs to know where the chord tones actually are (at least if he/she wants to play anything other than the root note). And learning how to play in the pocket doesn't hurt either. All great points, and true in my experience. Working on connecting the chords smoothly, when I play bass lines, is how I familiarized myself with intervals other than just the root and 5th - didn't take long to find the 3rd, 7th, 9th, etc. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members jeremy_green Posted April 29, 2012 Members Share Posted April 29, 2012 I find the bass a riff writing machine! Whenever I am looking for a strong heavy riff I grab a bass and something always comes out. It's nice because it forces you to focus on rhythm - which is always a good thing Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members JonR Posted April 29, 2012 Members Share Posted April 29, 2012 I agree with all the comments about rhythm. Bass is a rhythm section instrument. Unlike guitar, it's not about melody or harmony. Yes, you can play bass melodically, and you can outline harmony with arpeggios - and your bass note can govern the perceived harmony too (eg put an A bass under someone's C chord and it becomes an Am7 - and there's nothing they can do about it... ... put an F under their Am and it's Fmaj7...tee hee) - but keeping the pulse, outlining the groove, is the number one thing the bass does. One of the common mistakes guitarists make when they take up bass is to underestimate the power of bass. You have to punch those notes out; and they have to be right on the button. (I used to play bass lazily - without realising - until I had lessons; my tutor made me turn my amp down a touch and get more volume from my attack; big improvement!) Needless to say - as the OP says - that lesson transfers to guitar, making you realise how important rhythm is: being tight, crisp and positive in your attack. As a long time bass player myself (I was bassist in my first band, because I couldn't play guitar then as well as their guitarist ), I wouldn't say it's helped me hear the low register better. Of course I'm conscious of its importance - and I know a wrong bass note when I hear one (and tend to be critical of bass players) - but when I transcribe bass I'm always raising it by an octave (into guitar register) so I can hear it clearly. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members GreenAsJade Posted April 29, 2012 Members Share Posted April 29, 2012 Right then, i'm off to get a bass. How is Adelaide going these days, havn't been back for 4 years, must get on down there and visit the oldies one day soon. Well, for one thing, the open mic scene has exploded. It's amazing the fantastic music you can hear for free at these things (as long as you like Blues/Classic Rock ) GaJ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members electrochrisso Posted April 30, 2012 Members Share Posted April 30, 2012 Well, for one thing, the open mic scene has exploded. It's amazing the fantastic music you can hear for free at these things (as long as you like Blues/Classic Rock ) GaJ Good to hear, love the blues and prog rock, just did a google and lots of items listed, there used to be too many wowser's complaining about noise and the such, when I were there, it will be well worth the trip then. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members chittypantz Posted May 1, 2012 Members Share Posted May 1, 2012 The bass plays mostly melodies and leads in one of my bands. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Lee Knight Posted May 1, 2012 Moderators Share Posted May 1, 2012 Something I've noticed is that on bass, you have to CONNECT the chords. Where the guitar player might just have to play a G chord and then a C chord, the bass has to anticipate that C chord, and connect the chords together. You have to think ahead a little more. Also, where the guitar player can get away with just knowing "I put my fingers here and it makes a G chord", the bass player needs to know where the chord tones actually are (at least if he/she wants to play anything other than the root note). And learning how to play in the pocket doesn't hurt either. "CONNECT the chords." Absolutely. Leading tones rule. It's not easy to miss the power of a leading tone in the bass. Or a 5th. To a guitarist, it's a simple chord tone. To a bassist, it is an all powerful coloring of the chord. A V/IV chord on the bass is magic. He's pedals the F while the band moves to G7... is it really going to resolve to C? The bassist, using a passing E note, then G, then B... and yes... we were going to C! But wait, the bassist hits a C/G. Hmmmm.... The bass gets muddy down there, so the choice have to be wise, but with that, comes HUGE power over the sound of any chord. The direction of any progression, the emotion of any arrangement. Bass rocks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members jeremy_green Posted May 1, 2012 Members Share Posted May 1, 2012 "CONNECT the chords." Absolutely. Leading tones rule. It's not easy to miss the power of a leading tone in the bass. Or a 5th. To a guitarist, it's a simple chord tone. To a bassist, it is an all powerful coloring of the chord. A V/IV chord on the bass is magic. He's pedals the F while the band moves to G7... is it really going to resolve to C? The bassist, using a passing E note, then G, then B... and yes... we were going to C! But wait, the bassist hits a C/G. Hmmmm....The bass gets muddy down there, so the choice have to be wise, but with that, comes HUGE power over the sound of any chord. The direction of any progression, the emotion of any arrangement. Bass rocks. 100% agree. The bass IS the root. He/she holds all the reins. I always laugh when people think bass is easy. I mean sure you can bumble your way around and play it like a guitar but you are fooling really nobody knowledgeable. I can hear a guitarist on bass a mile away. It's a completely different mindset. Everyone likes to put off that the guitar matters more ... and that you can get away with a weak bass player... I contend if you have a killer drummer and a killer bass player and a good vocalist - you have a band. The guitar is icing often. Showin some love for my 4 string brethren! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Virgman Posted May 2, 2012 Members Share Posted May 2, 2012 Who was the very good guitarist who played the bass a bit and it short-circuited his brain and he could no longer play the guitar? It was really tragic. Happened several years ago. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members GreenAsJade Posted May 2, 2012 Members Share Posted May 2, 2012 Me! (Well, that's my excuse, and I'm sticking to it!) GaJ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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