Guitarist subbing on bass

tomajoha

What are the forums thoughts on the pro's and con's of a guitarist doing a bit of bass work, one evening a week, to help out a local band - will this help or hinder my guitar playing?

The material isnt complex but still fun - 50's walking lines etc. Is the general consensus that any time not playing your main instrument is a distraction or that it will have a net positive effect?

Keefy

Go for it! It will make you a better, more rounded musician.

PhilW1

I think it can only help, you'll be playing /learning from a bassist perspective learning how it all fits together and as you
 said 'Its fun' which is all that matters really.

roberty

I've been learning bass as a second instrument and I think it helps in that you have to focus on your technique very carefully. So it brings you to an awareness of what your hands are doing. Also there are a lot of arpeggios and you'll have to think carefully about positioning them because efficiency becomes all the more crucial on a longer neck 

Fuengi

I just bought my first bass at the weekend and already it's had an effect on my guitar playing. Switching between the two I'm much more aware of rhythm than previously. 

I can't imagine it would do any harm whatsoever. 

fastonebaz

Everyone after playing bass when I go back to guitar I feel like I can play much faster and more accurately.   Maybe because the fretboard feuds so tiny or my fingers are more stretched out etc. 

bloodandtears

Been playing Bass for about 6 months, been playing guitar for 20+ years....

I'll echo whats been said already...  be more aware of a drummer and rhythmical timing, linear scales and walking lines, note relationships, breaking out of certain boxes etc... it's help me.

I play Bass in an originals hard rock band, and have just done my first full gig in an AC/DC tribute on Bass, great fun :-)

guitarfishbay

It'll probably help.  The only downside is that guitars feel tiny when you go back to them, especially anything Gibson scale.

Lestratcaster

I've been playing a bit of bass for a mate's metalcore band and I really appreciate the role now, you glue the band together in a way, by holding the groove and harmony. I just make sure any riffs are played tight and driving choruses with solid groove.

Bridgehouse

Bass is different. It’s role in the band is different. It seems simple on the surface, and getting a decent baseline going is relatively easy.

However, the skills you really seem to develop are quite different to guitar - rhythm, timing, locking in with the drummer, supporting the song, understanding when less is more and how to position fills, runs, accents etc to really help to emphasise other parts of a song.. 

But...

All of those things just improve your musicianship. It may have an impact on your guitar playing. It’ll help you understand the context of bass in a band. At the very least, it’ll help you to see when a guitarist is being bloody annoying and overplaying

monquixote

I found it a big help.

Playing drums even more so.

Bridgehouse

monquixote said:

I found it a big help.

Playing drums even more so.

So much truth in that second sentence there. Drums totally changed my musical outlook - so much value add with it!

thecolourbox

It's only like answering questions with one word answers instead of using full sentences  

Bridgehouse

thecolourbox said:

It's only like answering questions with one word answers instead of using full sentences  

No.

p90fool

It definitely makes you a better musician, just make sure you don't play like a frustrated guitarist!

Bridgehouse

p90fool said:

It definitely makes you a better musician, just make sure you don't play like a frustrated guitarist!

Yeah make sure you join all us frustrated bass players

Kebabkid

Do it. It gives you a different perspective on groove and what's going on in a song and is particularly nice, and important, too, when you lock in with a good drummer. You're forming the backbone of any band and don't have the looseness of a guitarist's role.

As has been said, try not to play or approach it like a guitarist.

I did this 5 years ago for band featuring quite a few mates. It's now become my regular gig. It helps that Madness and Specials' bass lines are little 'Works of Art' and interesting for a guitarist, but whatever the material, you just need to be solid and enjoy it.

ICBM

It also means you can buy an amp which has ten times the power .

Hahahahaha... puny guitar amplifiers.

Bridgehouse

ICBM said:

It also means you can buy an amp which has ten times the power .

Hahahahaha... puny guitar amplifiers.

Plus the fact you are far more likely to cause involuntary bowel movements

thecolourbox

Bridgehouse said:

ICBM said:

It also means you can buy an amp which has ten times the power .

Hahahahaha... puny guitar amplifiers.

Plus the fact you are far more likely to cause involuntary bowel movements

Only if you set up with a loose bottom end

merlin

Excellent plan. Enjoy thumping out the low end. You may find that you really enjoy holding the whole band in the pocket. 

And by the way, subbing is to valves as tubes are to depping.