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I want to learn to play guitar.

I want to learn to play the bass guitar but....?

  • I reallllllllly want to learn to play the bass guitar but my parents (i'm 13) want me to learn guitar. I want to play guitar too, but I have always liked the bass more than guitar. They said no to the bass because you never hear them in bands and no one plays it by itself. They clearly don't know anything about music and I know the bass is a huge part of the band. I have musical experience since I play the violin and piano. How can I convince them to get me a bass?!

  • Answer:

    1) first explain that guitar pickers are a dime a dozen. "every mothers son plays guitar in Nashville" is even in a song. The ones that don't pick guitar play drums. Bass players (especially good ones) are hard to come by and always have work/gigs to play. 2) bass guitar plays just about the same as acoustic bass and bass viol (string bass) - that opens a lot more playing options including concert bands and orchestras. While guitar is found in most types of popular music - bass is found in almost all. 3) hit YouTube and look up Victor Wooten and Steve Bailey. That's what you can do with a bass by itself. It's not too shabby. Here's one with both. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_DbV2FI9y1c 4) you already play a melody/solo instrument (violin) and a self-accompanying instrument (piano); bass or drums just makes sense for the next addition to expand your musical knowledge and training. 5) bass and guitar are close enough related that there's no reason you can't do both. Decent student instruments are cheap. 6) this guy http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3uzC5KC_260 plays bass and he got pretty rich and famous.

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I'll yield best answer to CoachT since he hits most of the basses. Just chiming in to add motivation; the world is littered with people who used to play this or that instrument but don't any more because they weren't motivated as kids to practice and keep it up. If you're being made to play guitar against your will, I doubt you'll have the motivation you would have if you were playing the instrument of your choice. The role the bass player has in the band depends on the band and the bass player. Sure, there are lots of bands where the bass player sits in the background and no one notices them. But check out Chris Squire of Yes, Geddy Lee of Rush, Paul McCartney (of course), Jon Entwhistle of the Who, John Taylor of Duran Duran (have them listen to "Rio" if they're children of the 80s), Flea in the Red Hot Chili Peppers, etc etc. Motown would not have been Motown without James Jamerson. No one ever danced to electric guitar by itself. As for solo bassists - Victor Wooten, Jaco Pastorius, Billy Sheehan, Stu Hamm. Start youtubing and invite your parents to watch.

Jonathan

That's rough man. If I were you I'd just get the guitar since a lot of my musician friends say that if you play guitar, you can play bass. Since you're only 13 you have a lot of time to save money if you can't convince your parents. You can also try convincing them by showing them the bass in songs. Why would they be in the band getting paid if they were useless, right? It sucks that they think that, but maybe you'll be alright for now. In the long run it might be better since a lot of musicians who play bass in bands actually play guitar so if you ever want to join a band you can do either :) It's cool that you can play violin and piano though, I wish I could haha

Doe deer

I can't top coachT's answer. However, I gotta say in regard to vanilla ice's comment, there is no bass in seven nation army. It's actually Jack White's semi-acoustic guitar (a 1950s style Kay Hollowbody) through a DigiTech Whammy pedal set down an octave.

Diesel

you first gotta learn guitar and then bass so you know what your playing.

Michael Fernandez

Actually, if you learn to play the guitar it's the exact same way to play a bass, just two less strings and usually no pick. If you learn guitar you're technically learning a bit of bass. Maybe you should start saving money cuz theyz expensive

HurricaneNed

I agree with coach t bass guitar players are hard to find good ones a least. also if bass is so useless then why is here a bass player. bass is a huge part of the band. tell them you dont wanna be like every other person playing a main guitar.

Tylor Mckinney

listen to the white stripes- seven nation army , and see what the bass really can do maybe thatll wake your parent up, but besides that a guitar is more useful to learn especially since you can switch between acoustic, and electric

Senpai

Hit them over the head with a guitaur

geojoe

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