Do you bass players also know how to play guitar?

[Spudd]

Just wondering, cuz I sometimes play bass for my church's worship team, and I have only a limited knowledge of playing the guitar. I know a few chords here and there, but I know almost nothing about scales and stuff like that.

All I do is pick off notes, by looking at a chord sheet or playing by ear, and I only play one note at a time, no fancy things, really basic. :)

So, is it necessary to know how to play the guitar in order to play the bass well?

[Basszilla]

Originally posted by Spudd
So, is it necessary to know how to play the guitar in order to play the bass well?

No, definitely not. Some of the greatest bassists in the world (in my opinion), didn’t play guitar before learning bass. It couldn’t hurt, but being able to play guitar won’t make you a great bassist. Despite what most people think, they’re very different instruments that require different techniques, and even a different way of thinking.

[Brent]

Basszilla is right. :D You don't have to know how to play guitar to be a great bassist. BUT...knowing guitar is what helped me pick up bass 20 times faster because I already knew the fretboard/notes very well and I already knew what notes went together and what ones sounded like crap together. So yeah, I play both instruments. I picked up bass out of necessity and a little curiosity. Our 'praise band' had 2 acoustics and an electric already when I started on guitar. Adding my acoustic in with all that later started to get a bit muddy...so I bought a bass. Picked it up really quickly and I've been playing bass for that ever since. I still play guitar all the time in front of the church and for pleasure...also fill in when the acoustic guy is gone or working night shifts.

Brent

[groover]

I can play guitar, though not near as well as bass or keyboard. You don't need to learn guitar to be a good bass player but it certainly doesn't hurt to know the fret board and music theory from playing guitar previously. Bass is, however, a totally different approach and feel.

Like Brent, I also started playing bass out of nessecity and knowing how to play guitar and keyboard definately help a great deal. With me, however, I discovered that I really had a nack for playing electric bass (more so than with keys and guitar) and everyone I worked with liked my playing. I began to look forward to every opportunity I had to play bass and it quickly became my "main" instrument.

Peace!

[LWatford]

I was a "First Generation" bass player. I learned to play guitar about a year after I started playing bass. I find I can do everything I do on guitar on bass (except strumming chords). I still like playing guitar, because it is a different instrument, and I can be more "textural" with guitar (I guess "painting" with the guitar is a better desciption).

Lee

[Pick it up!]

i learned how to play guitar first, it helped me alot, i play both in my band, the only problem i have is adjusting from guitar frets to bass frets quickley, cause there is quite a difference.

[N.tm]

So, is it necessary to know how to play the guitar in order to play the bass well?

No.

Nothing worse than a guitarist who assumes they can play bass just because it is similar physically to a guitar. Musically, the role of the bass is very different.

N.™

[Young Twig]

I don't exactly know guitar. I know about 4 chords and it takes me around 3 seconds toget my hands from one chord to another... i don't play guitar... :)

[Spudd]

Originally posted by LittleMan
I don't exactly know guitar. I know about 4 chords and it takes me around 3 seconds toget my hands from one chord to another... i don't play guitar... :)
That's my problem too. It takes me forever to get my fingers in the right positions for a chord. :)

[Xkcer Man]

I played bass before I started guitar. I consider myself a guitar player now rather that a bassist. Sorry guys!

[Unregistered]

me too. i learned guitar after bass. im still better at playin bass because i know how its supposed to fit with the music. we have good, reliable, guitarist in our most excellent band so i have no need to play guitar. i learned it about a year or so after i learned bass so i already had dexterity and the most important thing: calouses!! yea!! but really, bass is such a better instrument. the whole way its played with the music is soooo fun. i like intricate (sp?) complicated things, so of course im gonna like bass cause it gives u the freedom to make a line as complicated as u want it. u cant do that with a guitar as much. i know u still can!! just not at the same level. and knowing guitar chords DOES help with bass playing. if the guys in ur band just say "lets play this praise song. we all know it right?" and u dont have A CLUE as to what the progression is, well, u just look at thier chords and follow along. if ur a fast thinker, then its the best way to go!!

inJa,

nathan

[Jzak]

I played the guitar (with lessons) for 10 years before I ever picked up a bass. I must admit I’ve never put it down. It’s my instrument of choice when playing with other musicians.

Knowing the guitar, chords and scales, helps a lot but is not really necessary. I do a lot of power chording on the bass, and that knowledge came from my guitar backgroun.

I still play and practice on the guitar, it sounds better than playing solo on the bass. Finger picking on the guitar has helped me develop fast fingering skills on the base.

One more thing, I agree with you that being a guitar player does not make you a bass player. There is definitely a difference between the two instruments.