There are a good number of people that don’t know the difference between a 6 string guitar and the 4, 5, or 6 string bass guitar. Those that are familiar know the vast differences in the function of each instrument. Bass guitar provides the link between rhythm and harmony that the guitar will follow with it’s chords and scales. There is a notion that one must first start with the standard guitar before graduating to the bass guitar. I’m not certain where this came from and I’m even less certain that there is any truth to that. I do think that there are more people drawn to the warmer, middle range of the guitar than are drawn to the boomier and lower sounds of the bass. I don’t know why that is. It’s the same as asking why there are more right-handed people than left-handed people in the world. I think it’s just nature. I won’t dare say that bass guitar is an easier instrument to play, but it certainly can easier to learn how to function in a musical ensemble (band) faster than it is for guitar players. In other words, players seem to get more instant gratification from playing the bass guitar than a guitar player does. I think that if you’ve thought about starting to play on the bass rather than the guitar you should go for it. Playing guitar is not a pre-requisate to playing bass guitar. If anything I would argue that it would the other way around. A four string Bass guitar contains the same 4 notes that strings 6 to 3 on a guitar have. The only difference is that they are tuned one octave lower. Notes will sound lower but all the note names will appear on all of the same frets as they do on the guitar. Playing guitar involves learning bass notes for each of it’s chords. Starting on bass will no doubt help make guitar easier to understand. The bottom line is that it is okay to start your musicianship playing bass or playing guitar. Bass players are fewer and further between than are guitar players. There is usually a need for 2-4 or more guitar players to every one bass player. Seldom does any type of music require the presence and function of more than one bass instrument. I studied guitar first and now I’m writing blogs. All the bass players I know are busy playing gigs, probably at this very moment!
by Musicguru
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