Guitar Crossroads

Why Guitar Players Don’t Always Make Good Bass Players

  It has probably happened thousands of times in the history of modern music. The bass player either quits unexpectedly, or a new band just cannot find a bass player. So in comes a guitar player who may or may not already be in the band, and volunteers to play bass. Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn’t.

 There are several reasons why it is difficult for a guitar player to just switch to bass and do the job adequately. First of all, a guitar players job is to yes, play rhythm guitar parts at times, but also to play lead guitar parts. And guitar players with their inherent egos, would almost always rather play the lead parts because when they do, they are the center of attention. And we all love to be the center of attention. There are thousands of songs that have great guitar parts that people will remember forever. But when was the last time you heard someone whistling a bass part from some popular song? Bass players just get no respect.

 The role of the bass guitar player is to put the bottom in the music. He must work with the drummer in a structured way to lay a foundation for the other musicians. When the bass player and drummer are working together, the music feels good to them and listeners. When the other musicians put their parts on top of this foundation, the package is complete.

 Because guitar players are used to playing lead guitar, most have a difficult time playing the mostly simple bass lines required when they switch instruments. It is the rare disciplined musician who can make the change without weeks or months of practicing his new instrument.

 Bass guitar parts vary from the simple one and five Country Music bass lines, to the one, three, five lines of jazz and swing. There are bassists who play very busy bass lines but for the most part, bass players blend in and just do their job. Sometimes you don’t even notice the bass player, at least not until he drops out. Then you definitely notice him.

 There are and have been bass guitar players that have demanded notice and been stars in their own right, like the late Jaco Pastorious and Nashville Ace Victor Wooten. But most bass players are not and don’t try to be the stars of the show. Many guitar players have difficulty adjusting to this part of their new role.

 As a guitar player who made the switch to bass and then had the good fortune to work with some of the biggest names in the music business, my advice to any guitar players wanting or needing to become bass players is to take some time and really listen to what the bass is doing in some of the music you will be playing. Learn the bass lines to some of those songs, get a drum machine and play along with the songs using the drum machine. Tune your ear to the kick drum and train your fingers or pick if you use one, to strike the string just as the kick drum is hitting the head of the bass drum. It is the combination of the kick drum sound and the bass note together that gives the music that thud that hits you in the chest and makes you feel the music. If you are ahead of or behind the beat, the band will sound off and the music won’t sound right.

 Playing guitar and playing bass are like being in two different worlds and demands two different ways of thinking. If you find yourself at that crossroads where you have to make that decision, remember what a bass player is and what he does. If you are not comfortable playing second banana to the guitar player or keyboard player, if you can’t work in a controlled manner laying the foundation for the rest of the band, then admit it and stick to guitar. You have to love what you’re doing to be successful at it. Remember that.

About the Author

Joe Russ is a songwriter, singer, musician and Internet Marketer. You can read more of his articles on his blog Songwriting Nashville Style. He is also a featured writer on the new informative songwriting website Songwriters Marketplace.

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