By: Ricky Sharples
The question of whether bass or guitar is harder to play often comes up in the minds of guitar beginners. Some even think that the bass must be easier to play because it has less strings than the guitar. Right at the beginning of guitar playing, instead of just trying to learn a chord or finding a course of guitar lessons on the internet, newbies always start looking for the easiest or the "best" way to learn guitar. So wondering about which is harder to play between guitar and bass is another question that holds up progress.
The guitar has six strings while the bass has only four but the thicker strings on the bass make it more difficult to play. The choice of which notes to play is harder for a ball player. Once the band has departed from simple chords, playing the root note is not enough for the bass player.
Playing bass needs a completely different frame of mind which needs to be learned and practiced. The bass player does not just stand there and play in the background. He is supporting the drummer and the rhythm guitar player.
There are certain musical styles that are less complex than others. Take punk rock, for instance. You learn a few power chords and you are almost there. For bass players pop rock is not too difficult. Hard rock is more challenging, and genres based on the blues tradition offer the new guitar player a little more background to absorb before he can consider himself a player.
Some musical genres feature the bass in the role of a lead instrument. Funk rock, jazz, groove metal, soul or reggae all demand alot from the bass guitar player.
The fact is playing bass guitar or regular guitar is as easy as you allow it to be. People say that bass is easier to play, but the guitar student's attitude can change that.
The main thing is your love for music and your wish to play and create music. If you can keep time, have some idea when to be a part of the group and when to be at the front, then you have a start to being a guitar or bass player. Once you start playing, how hard it is does not matter.
For the bass player who started out learning the guitar bass is usually easier to learn. That is because the guitar player already has a feel for the instrument, His body has already become used to fingering chords, playing scales and using a pick, so most bass players who started with the guitar will advise others to do the same.
The most practical approach to the question of whether bass or guitar is harder to play is to take a lesson or two in both. If you cannot afford lessons, check out the free guitar or bass lessons on the internet. Another way to decide is to watch guitar and bass players on YouTube. If your feelings go towards either the guitar or bass, then that is where the rest of you should go. Whether it is harder makes no difference.
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