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#278414 - 17/07/10 09:40 AM I want to play Bass
mikemandolin mikemandolin Be Nice (I'm New!) Registered: 26/06/10 Posts: 24 Loc: Queensbury	I have just started with guitar and find chords difficult, my fingers do not stretch that Far! As none of my friends play bass I am thinking about changing to bass, are the chords going to be easier on Bass,How much are chords used rather than a Base line backing Mike _________________________ Mike
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#278449 - 18/07/10 11:58 AM Re: I want to play Bass [Re: mikemandolin]
Gilles C. Gilles C. Professional Forumite! Registered: 09/04/10 Posts: 409 Loc: Dunstable, UK	Whilst some songs may have more than one bass line, I have never heard of anybody playing chords on a bass. If you did, chords would be even harder to play than on a 6-string guitar, because of the string gauge, neck scale and the distance between frets. _________________________ Fender Telecaster Standard (MIM) Vintage V100HB (Les Paul style) £48 Squier SA-105 acoustic Behringer X V-Amp Marshall Valvestate 80V
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#278463 - 19/07/10 02:15 AM Re: I want to play Bass [Re: Gilles C.]
stickyfiddle stickyfiddle Spam Commander (Forum Council Member) Old Timer Registered: 22/04/04 Posts: 5874 Loc: London, UK	You do get some guys using more than one note at a time on bass- Jaco Pastorius, Flea and the chap from Rage Against the Machine spring to mind. But it's generally a fairly advanced technique as far as bass playing goes. I would suggest going and trying a bass in a shop- you might find you enjoy it more than guitar, in which case I'd say go for it, but doln't think it's a quick fix- in reality bass isn't really easier, just a different skill _________________________ PSN: stickyfiddle
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#278466 - 19/07/10 02:27 AM Re: I want to play Bass [Re: Gilles C.]
mikemandolin mikemandolin Be Nice (I'm New!) Registered: 26/06/10 Posts: 24 Loc: Queensbury	Thanks, Giles, one of the things that attracted me to Bass was, not playing chords, I am used to playing Bass lines on the organ (but with my Feet) _________________________ Mike
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#278467 - 19/07/10 02:33 AM Re: I want to play Bass [Re: stickyfiddle]
mikemandolin mikemandolin Be Nice (I'm New!) Registered: 26/06/10 Posts: 24 Loc: Queensbury	Thanks Old Timer, I will do that,and Try one out, The problem I have is just that not having very flexible fingers Chords are a problem, fretting notes is not I have also noticed that the tuning is like Mandolin but upside down, I find the mandolin notes and scales very logical and can play them instinctively _________________________ Mike
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#278471 - 19/07/10 03:51 AM Re: I want to play Bass [Re: mikemandolin]
DaveBass DaveBass Old Timer Registered: 30/10/02 Posts: 6424 Loc: The wilds of Surrey	I've been playing bass for decades and I've never played a chord! (I have however played two notes simultaneously, but this is exceptional.) Essentially most bass playing consists of runs (parts of scales) and arpeggios (notes from a chord played individually) fitted together. This is no different from organ basslines so you should be fine. Presumably you already think like a bass player in this respect! The usual four-string bass guitar is tuned the same as a double-bass, and an octave below the bottom four strings of a guitar. This means it's tuned in perfect fourths, a nice regular tuning. If like me you have short fingers, you may find it easier to play halfway up the neck (around the fifth fret) where the frets are closer together. Then you can drop down for the occasional low note on the E string. If you have a five-string bass (with an added low B string) then you don't even need to drop down, it all lies conveniently under the hand. Dave
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#278491 - 20/07/10 01:03 AM Re: I want to play Bass [Re: DaveBass]
mikemandolin mikemandolin Be Nice (I'm New!) Registered: 26/06/10 Posts: 24 Loc: Queensbury	Hi Dave, Your right, when I hear a tune I can hear the bass line on its own distinct from the rest of what's going on, as you say I have shortish fingers that aint so bendy as they were,having tried guitar fingering chords some I can do and some I never will, then I thought of the Bass and it occurred to me that was Ideal for me if you just play one or two notes at a time. Also as no one I know plays Bass, I thought it would be an ideal way of playing with others Thanks Mike _________________________ Mike
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#278496 - 20/07/10 05:20 AM Re: I want to play Bass [Re: mikemandolin]
Gilles C. Gilles C. Professional Forumite! Registered: 09/04/10 Posts: 409 Loc: Dunstable, UK	Bass is an underrated instrument imho. I realised this when I started paying attention to John Entwistle's playing. _________________________ Fender Telecaster Standard (MIM) Vintage V100HB (Les Paul style) £48 Squier SA-105 acoustic Behringer X V-Amp Marshall Valvestate 80V
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#278619 - 26/07/10 06:15 AM Re: I want to play Bass [Re: Gilles C.]
english_bob english_bob Unregistered	Originally Posted By: Gilles C. Bass is an underrated instrument imho. I realised this when I started paying attention to John Entwistle's playing. While I agree that bass is underrated, John Entwistle seems to be regarded by at least some as a lead guitarist who ended up with a bass by some sort of accident
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