Bass or Guitar: Choosing Your Instrument

| Posted: 24-06-2008 | Comments: 0 | Views: 61 | Rating: (81)

(?)

In music, as with many things, there are rivalries. One of the biggest of these rivalries involves bass players and guitar players. Though both instruments seem rather similar, there are deep differences between them, and even deeper differences in their roles in the band. Guitarists often view bass players as failed guitar players who migrated over to an "easier" instrument. Bass players often view guitar players as egotistical prima donnas, who can't play well with the rest of the band. An epic struggle, to be sure.

In all seriousness, though, both bass and guitar are essential in much of today's music. Additionally, both instruments are as challenging as you could ever wish them to be. There are many technically excellent bass players, and many guitarists with superb rhythm skills. Both instruments would make a great choice for a budding musician to start out with. The question becomes, which one is right for you?

As it turns out, there are several factors you need to be considering when choosing which instrument is best for you. Specifically, you need to consider your own unique skills and interests, in terms of where you feel you fit into the band role. Additionally, there are also some physical considerations to take into account that will affect which instrument is right for you. We will discuss all of these in the upcoming paragraphs.

The most important factor in choosing between guitar and bass is, by far, where you see yourself sitting in the band. Do you want to be out in front, carrying the melodies, and performing solos? Guitar is the instrument for you, then. Do you like to get in tight with the rhythm and fill out the song from the bottom up? Do you want to create the "groove" that gets people dancing? Then you should play the bass. If you're expecting to get a lot of flashy solos as the bass player, you'll most likely be disappointed. Conversely, if you want to provide a solid rhythmic base for the band, the guitarist role won't quite cut it all the time. It's your decision as to which one you prefer doing.

Another factor to consider is the physical size of the instrument. Simply put, the bass is much larger than the guitar. if you have really small hands, you might find the bass a little difficult to play. Conversely, if you have extremely large hands, you might find them getting a little cramped on the guitar fretboard. This shouldn't be your only deciding factor, but its something to think about none the less.

One other thing to consider is supply and demand. There are many, many guitar players out there, and a much smaller number of bass players. Therefore, in any given region, a good bass player will be in high demand. If your goal is to be able to play in as many bands as possible, taking up the bass might be a good choice. However, don't let this difference lead you to choose an instrument thats just flat-out wrong for your needs. You're going to want to choose based on what you like to play, not on what others want. However, it is something good to think about.

One advantage that the guitar clearly has over the bass, however, is its suitability for self accompaniment. You can't really bring a bass to strum by the campfire while you lead a sing-a-long. You can sing and play bass at the same time, for sure, but its not the same as singing with a guitar by a long-shot. Many bass players are OK with this, or simply have an acoustic guitar on the side to play for those spontaneous musical moments.

So, I hope this has helped give you a little insight into what the differences are between guitar and bass players, as well as helped you see where you fit in. Remember, there are many people who play both, and do well at both, so its not like you're making a decision that you'll be locked into for life. Both are wonderful instruments with critical roles in modern music, and you'll certainly have a great time playing either of them.

Rate this Article:

Current: 0 / 5 stars - 0 vote(s).

Article Tags: Musician, Music, Band, Guitar, Bass, Rock, Electric Guitar, Bass Guitar

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/music-articles/bass-or-guitar-choosing-your-instrument-460780.html

Print article

Send to friend

Publish this Article

Author feedback

About the Author:

David Wilson enjoys playing both bass and guitar. He invites you to shop for bass gear at Bass Gear Online. Alternatively, if guitar is more your thing, check out my effects pedals shop or my Fender guitar store.

Submitting articles has become one of the most popular means of generating quality backlinks and targeted traffic to your website. Join us today - It's Free!

Article Comments

Add new Comment

How to pick the right musicians for a band
By: Kenny Auyoung | 05/07/2006 | Music
Ready to start your own band? There are plenty of musicians out there willing to pursue a career in music with you, but how do you choose the right musician? Different musicians contribute different sounds to a band depending on their technical skills, innovations, and music diversity.

Greatest Underrated Guitar Players
By: Kenny Auyoung | 10/10/2006 | Music
Ask anybody who the greatest guitar players in the history of rock music are, and you'll likely get the standard answers. The big three, Clapton, Beck and Page; certainly Eddie Van Halen; maybe Stevie Ray Vaughn. The metal-heads will cite Randy Rhodes and George Lynch. These are all valid answers, but if you would put forth names like Elliot Easton and Andy Summers, you might be likely to get a blank stare in return.

Local Metal Band Chaindriven Wins the Los Angeles' 95.5 Klos Mark and Brian Show's "webstock: Battle of the Fans Contest"
By: Eric de Fontenay | 26/06/2008 | Music
CHAINDRIVEN to Open for Lynyrd Skynyrd & Hank Williams, Jr. at the Rowdy Frynds Tour

Guitar - What Guitar Should I Buy?
By: Peter Edvinsson | 11/03/2006 | Music
If you have come to the conclusion that you want to play guitar the next step will be to choose a guitar to buy. There is a variety of instruments out there at different prices. Let's look at your choices.

Learning The Guitar Fretboard
By: Peter Jones | 21/09/2005 | Music
So many guitar players do not know the names of the notes on their fretboard. This article explains why it is important to learn your guitar fretboard inside and out...

Learn The Top 2 Secrets That Will Keep Your Audience Returning For More
By: Lionel Wayne | 17/03/2008 | Music
This article discusses methods for musicians and entertainers to keep their audiences engaged and entertained in order to ensure that they continue to return for future performances

Songwriters: Collaborate for Success
By: Lathum | 06/09/2007 | Music
While there is no shortage of successful songwriters who prefer to work alone, the caliber of music that's been created by collaboration suggests that two heads are better than one when it comes to songwriting.

Blink 182
By: Ankit Talwar | 11/10/2006 | Art and Entertainment
Blink 182 (pronounced "blink one eighty two") is a punk band from San Diego, California, U.S. formed in 1992 by Mark Hoppus, Tom DeLonge, and Scott Raynor in the northern San Diego suburb of Poway.

Got a Question? Ask.

Ask the community a question about this article:

Q&A Powered by:

Latest Music Articles

No Business Mind,no Record Deal
By: Daniel Medeiros | 16/10/2008
A mechanic would never attempt to fix a car's engine without the right set of tools. Similarly, a band or artist who feels that they are ready to approach a record label in the interest of getting signed better be prepared. With literally thousands of unsigned bands looking for love, the competition is fierce...Jazz-a-likes

What are the Beckhams Up To?
By: Mr Paparazzi | 16/10/2008
Wondering what the Beckhams are up to? Well dont worry, we'll tell you everything theyve been doing right here! Keep on reading to read the latest articles from Mr Paparazzi himself

Britney Spears Back on Form
By: Mr Paparazzi | 16/10/2008
Yes thats right, Britney Spears is back and on form. Read more here for her latest antics!

Lilys Latest Antics
By: Mr Paparazzi | 16/10/2008
Read all about Lily Allens latest antics in this article.

Madonnas Divorce
By: Mr Paparazzi | 16/10/2008
Read all about Madonnas Divorce

Get Up Ringtone - 50 Cent - Get Up Ringtone
By: Daniel Sitar | 16/10/2008
The Get Up Ringtone by 50 Cent is one of the hottest ringtones in North America right now! If you are looking for a new ringtone for your phone, the Get Up Ringtone is the perfect choice. Get Up is the official first single by rapper 50 Cent from his upcoming fourth album, Before I Self Destruct. The track was produced by Scott Storch and was first released to 50 Cent's official MySpace as well as his personal internet community, ThisIs50.com, on October 14th.

Freeze Ringtone - T Pain Ft. Chris Brown - Freeze Ringtone
By: Daniel Sitar | 16/10/2008
The Freeze Ringtone by T-Pain is one of the hottest ringtones in North America right now! If you are looking for a new ringtone for your phone, the Freeze Ringtone is the perfect choice. Thr33 Ringz is the third studio album from T-Pain. It is set to release on November 11, 2008. Freeze is the third single from this album and features Chris Brown. After being released on October 14th, Freeze shot up the iTunes Top Songs Chart and has peaked at #11 so far.

Fearless Ringtone - Taylor Swift - Fearless Ringtone
By: Daniel Sitar | 16/10/2008
The Fearless Ringtone by Taylor Swift is one of the hottest ringtones in North America right now! If you are looking for a new ringtone for your phone, the Fearless Ringtone is the perfect choice. Fearless is the second single from Taylor Swift's second studio album of the same name. The single was released on October 14th and has already reached #1 on the iTunes Top Songs Chart. It is expected to debut on the Billboard Hot 100 next week. The album is slated for release on November 11th, 2008.

More from David Wilson

Garage Floor Covering: Tips For Choosing The Perfect Garage Floor
By: David Wilson | 09/10/2008 | Home Improvement
Looking to spruce up a garage floor? Read on to learn more about your options.

About Electric Radiant Floor Heating
By: David Wilson | 19/09/2008 | Home Improvement
Electric radiant floor heating could change your life. Read on to learn how.

Bad Credit Mortgage: Get Out of Your Bind
By: David Wilson | 16/09/2008 | Mortgage
In a bad credit bind? Read on to learn how you can still get a mortgage.

Denver Mortgage Rates: How to Get An Awesome Deal
By: David Wilson | 15/09/2008 | Mortgage
Looking to get a mortgage in Denver or another city? Don't miss this article!

The Advantages of Radiant Floor Heating
By: David Wilson | 12/09/2008 | Home Improvement
Find out why these systems are so catching attention all over the country.

Radiant Floor Heating Systems
By: David Wilson | 10/09/2008 | Home Improvement
Considering a radiant floor heating system? Read on to learn why you want one.

Garage Floor Coating Tips
By: David Wilson | 08/09/2008 | Home Improvement
Getting your garage floor redone? Read this first.

Online Home Insurance Quotes
By: David Wilson | 05/09/2008 | Insurance
Looking to get home owners insurance? Read this first to get the best rate.

Article Categories

Article Marketing

Article Notepad

Stop Duplicate Content

Term Papers

Need Help?

Sign up for our email newsletter

Receive updates, enter your email below

Use of this web site constitutes acceptance of the Terms Of Use and Privacy Policy | User published content is licensed under a Creative Commons License.
Copyright © 2005-2008 Free Articles by ArticlesBase.com, All rights reserved. (0.47, 17)

Bass or Guitar: Choosing Your Instrument

Article Comments

Related Articles

Got a Question? Ask.

Latest Music Articles

More from David Wilson

Need Help?

Site Links

Webmasters

Business Info

Sign up for our email newsletter