How To Play Bass Guitar?

Do you need to know how to play guitar to learn how to play bass guitar?

• Just something I've been wondering. I don't know how to play any instrument at all and I've been thinking that perhaps I should give it a go. I've always liked the song of bass guitars so that is why it popped to my mind. I don't want to learn to play so I can be part of a band or anything, I dont even care if I never get any good at it. It is more just a sit and home and feel proud of myself for learning something. Is it easier to learn guitar and then move onto bass or is it just as easy to just start off with bass?

• Answer:

  Actually, playing guitar or bass guitar requires both dexterity and rhythm. The only difference is on your standard bass guitar you have four strings and on your standard guitar there are two more strings. You can play chords on either, but only the guitar is "designed" to play chords. If you're just wanting to play for your own edification, then get an inexpensive "starter" bass kit (you can find one at Wal-Mart or Costco for around $120 complete with a small amp, and chord and a book) But buy an Ernie Ball Beginning Bass Book, (about $5) if it's not included with the kit and have at it. You don't need to learn play guitar, in fact although the two instruments are extremely similar the theory behind them is very different. Guitar is a rhythm section Axe, but only when it's comping. Bass and drums are THE rhythm section. So in a typical sense the bass plays differently than the guitar. Look at your typical sheet music and you'll see it's broken down into treble (G) clef or right hand piano, and bass (F) clef or left hand piano. Learning to play any instrument takes some effort but if you're clear from the start about where it is you want to go with your playing, which you seem to be, it can be fun and rewarding.