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Mastering bass is as difficult as mastering guitar IMHO, but if you're going to join a simple basines kind of band it is totally doable with not too much transition time.
What others have said about timing is crucial.
You might start by playing roots but don't limit it to that. Play arpeggios, or join roots up with scale fragments. Counterpoint the melody and don't be afraid to play a chord tone which isn't a root in pursuit of that - the 3rd of a chord and be quite effective.
Watch your technique. Playing bass is physically demanding, and can be the cause (or in my case the trigger for the recurrence) of RSI.
EDIT
@Koneguitarist is right - to a point - it will not only improve your guitar playing but it will enhance your enjoyment of music and make yo a better musician.
Seriously: If you value it, take/fetch it yourself
I remember watching @Phil_aka_Pip at one of the Suffolk gatherings, room full of guitarists trying to jam and he laid down a good clear solid bassline and controlled the whole thing in a good way.
I personally think the transition from guitar to bass comes when you fear to venture beyond the 5th fret or onto the G string. Your time is spent making the right clunks and clicks, removing the others, shaping the note and spending a lot of time listening to the music you're in.
And 4 strings are easily enough, your job is to groove 8)
1. Both. See what suits you best, but be willing to try the other in pursuit of the "right" tone quality
2. bass can be DI'd but IMO that per se puts extra demands on your FoH and monitoring. Playing small gigs off the backline is fine
@frankus thank you for those kind words
I rather like the 5th string because in the 5th position you can find on it the notes that you would otherwise have to go to the 1st position on the [edited] 4th string to get - and in the 5th position the frets are closer together
Seriously: If you value it, take/fetch it yourself
electric proddy probe machine
My trading feedback thread
pick: Dunlop Jazz-III
instrument: Yamaha RBX375
amplifier: Selmer Treble'n'Bass 50SV
cab: Rokk 1x15 or Marshall 4x15 (with 2 drivers replaced on new baffle with 10" Celestion BG80s)
btw I like fingers, but playing bass rips my nails, which I need for fingerstyle guitar
Seriously: If you value it, take/fetch it yourself
technique wise it's not a prob.. of course everything is bigger and further apart so it's like running in wellies..
the tougher and more important part of the transition is playing and thinking like a bassist.. cos it ain't the same as being a guitarist with more low notes... also.. as a bassist, your relationship with what the drummer plays is far closer.. a good bassist really listens to the drums and creates parts that work with and compliment them.. and likewise, a good drummer should be listening to and complimenting the bass.. it's a strange kinda telepathy they have going on... but when it happens it really makes a difference to just having a bassist and drummer that are playing at the same time.. hmm.. not sure I'm explaining this well...
I always love the Guy Pratt story about tracking down Aston Barrett ( as in Bob Marley and the Wailers) for a lesson in reggae bass. Guy paid him the huge fee ( I don't know how accurately I'm remembering this but you get the gist) and sat down opposite Aston. Now, Aston had a reputation as a hard and difficult man and not to be messed with. So, he took Guy's money, stated 'nothing above the fifth fret' and walked out the room.