Why Bass?

I have played guitar for a few years and am wondering to any bass players out there, why did you choose the 4 string and seemingly less capable version?
I'm not hating on bass, it just doesn't seem as much fun...

 

What one person hates, another loves.

 

I play guitar as well but I have played bass a little bit. Some styles of music (for me reggae) are a lot more fun on the bass.

I would rather play bass in a band then play guitar at home.

 

Its how one uses a tool that deems him a master.

Some genres of music wouldn't be what they are if it weren't for a skillful bassist.

Its what adds the funk to Darkie music from the 70-late 80s.

It adds the mellow groove to Reggae.

And a solid backbone to any other music.

 

Bass is sooo much fun... maybe it's just because I never got any good at guitar, but I love the way it sounds... love the thickness of the strings... slapping, popping, just wailing on the E string on heavier songs..

I dunno

 

Bass are fine fighters.

 

Hah, I play both bass and guitar and I must admit I have a secret love for the bass- although I play guitar in a few bands instead. You can just make a funk, and have a lot more fun on a bass than a guitar when jamming.

I think a good bass line drives any song, and if you get one down you really realise why people love the instrument so much - it's so important to a groups sound.

 

Plus some people find it easy, having chubby fingers 'n all

 

I'm the Weird Bassist that never started out on guitar. If you think that bass is so fucking Easy pick up a couple of Jaco Pastorious CD's, learn all of the songs then tell me how easy it is.

I hate it when guitarists tell me that they can play bass because they usually play 4-string guitar. There are some who actually do it well but very few. They don't understand the fundemental connection between the bass and drums.

I love bass because I have more control over the music than the guitarist does. I am every guitarists worst nightmare. I am a bass player who knows Harmony. I can reharmonize shit on the fly, throw in substititutions and chord inversions into the music with only one note where it takes most guitarists at least 3 notes to do the same thing. I play a 6-string bass with effects I've studied Jazz so I know more chords and voicings than most guitarists I know. In a trio I can hold down the bottom and the harmony while the guitarist solos so it doesn't sound like anything dropped out.

On top of that it is a sensory thing. I love standing in front of an amp and feeling my nuts vibrate.

Peace Out,
Rev J

 

Bass is my passion, not the guitar...from a speaker aspect.

 

As much as I agree with everything you said, a 6 string is just indulgent and mostly futile.

But I will agree, and further what you said, bass is not easy and in fact much harder than the guitar- as long as you are talking about technique and not simply playing a number of notes.

 

Bass is a lot of fun to play. I'm mainly a guitarist, but I love to rock the bass from time to time.

 

Is that facing the amp, or back to it, Both?

 

the bass iz a vibe like an ocean wave . i play the wash-tub bass with one string - i like to use a cello string - it's lively - and doesn't have to be loud to touch and vibe the bod . the chiks get up real close and wiggley .

 

Both. You can get the air moving through your legs. Vibrations downd through the floor and up your legs. If your speaker cabinet is the right heighth it'll Vibrate right through your body.

Peace Out,
Rev J

 

Yeah, low frequencies can travel hundreds of miles.

 

It depends on the player. You Tube Anthony Jackson. If you've ever heard the Ojay's hit "For the Love of Money" you've heard Anthony Jackson. I like the 6 because I'm kind of lazy. On the 6 I have 2 octaves and a perfect 4th in one position. I play the same way I played on the 4 or 5 just with less shifting.

Peace Out,
Rev J

 

i would love to learn how to play

 

Bass players are the Rodney Dangerfields of rock...

ZW

 

Yah that's true, I definitely have nowhere near the sense of rhythm of some of the better bass players i've played with.