The Bottom Line (Bass Guitars in general)

Member Name: B0nfire

Product:	Bass Guitars in general
Date:	04/09/01 (893 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: You'll be cooler than a lead guitarist, You'll be less dull than a rhythm guitarist, You'll be less crazed than a drummer

Disadvantages: Some people reckon it's easy

One question that hasn't thus far been addressed (as far as I could see) is why on Earth anybody would really want to play the bass guitar anyway! Surely the bass player is just the guy who's too lazy to learn a proper guitar right?
Wrong. The bass player in a band acts as the bridge between the drums and the lead guitar. He can provide emphasis to certain parts of a melody and de-emphasise others. And he can crank out some cool-as bass lines.
Basically, the bass IS probably easier to learn, but not to master. I actually began to play the bass a few years ago because I thought that there were less of us around - making getting into a band easier. But now I can PLAY the instrument I find it a very rewarding pastime, and I'm glad I didn't bother going for a normal guitar.
If you want to learn to play the bass, go along to a music shop and make sure that you speak to somebody who knows about bass guitars. Try a few out and see which 'feels' best to play - we all have different styles and what's good for one person may not be so good for others. Once you've got the hang of playing some basic riffs (keep at it with those scales too - you need to build up muscle strength in some weird areas) try and find a guitarist or drummer to play along with - you'll find that having somebody to supply more of the piece you're playing will make it a far more rewarding experience. I hate playing basic bass lines so tend to veer more towards your Rage Against The Machine / Red Hot Chili Peppers stuff, but if there's a guitarist there to bring the music to life I could quite happily play off the root all day!
So to sum up, don't discount the bass guitar as an instrument just because it seems like an easier guitar. It's no less important to a band, and once you've learnt the basics you can play some damn cool stuff!

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