Short- or long-scale bass for beginner swapping between bass and guitar when recording

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  • Long scale will be fine. It's not really like a guitar. It's more about groove. If you are just plodding on the root it's a piece of cake.
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  • I really dislike short scale especially with low action on bass. When I play bass I like a bit of fight in the instrument as otherwise I feel like it's harder to get the range of expression you need.

    FWIW in some ways I think bass can be more expressive than guitar, certainly than rhythm guitar and tiny variations in how you mute and attack the string can really change the feel of the line.

    Also I really like  able to really dig in and spank the fuck out of the bottom string sometimes to get the phrasing I want.
    ဈǝᴉʇsɐoʇǝsǝǝɥɔဪቌ
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  • deano said:

    So, given that I will still be playing my regular guitars as well as the bass, I am wondering if a short-scale length will be better for me to learn on due to the scale-lengths being closer.

    I did what you’re doing, and I found I really liked playing a medium 32” scale p-bass - only problem is they are very hard to find. However due to the old GAS syndrome I soon started picking up full size p-basses and sold the medium scale. Go and try a few out and see what you think. Technique is very different to guitar, especially if you want to play with fingers.





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  • FunkfingersFunkfingers Frets: 14321
    tedmanzie said:
    Technique is very different to guitar, especially if you want to play with fingers.
    As Bridgehouse has already written, the mindset required is different. Bass is the part of the music to which people dance.

    Funkadelic once wrote a song titled "Free Your Mind And Your Ass Will Follow". For bass instrument playing, try that the other way around. Get yo' ass shaking and your brain will work out what to play to keep the groove going.
    Be seeing you.
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  • BridgehouseBridgehouse Frets: 24578
    tedmanzie said:
    Technique is very different to guitar, especially if you want to play with fingers.
    As Bridgehouse has already written, the mindset required is different. Bass is the part of the music to which people dance.

    Funkadelic once wrote a song titled "Free Your Mind And Your Ass Will Follow". For bass instrument playing, try that the other way around. Get yo' ass shaking and your brain will work out what to play to keep the groove going.
    You so need to change your name to @FunkBum
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  • deano said:
    Won't make a difference as bass and guitar are so different anyway. Get a regular scale length as they sound better 99% of the time. 

    Wow. That seems like a controversial statement. Is it true though? Surely some good sounds can be coaxed from a short-scale?
    Certainly can, check this guy out:
    https://youtu.be/LQsW96I1mbE
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