Should I Take Up Bass Guitar and Can I Sing Lead Vocals in a Band and Play Bass?
What’s this week’s lead guitar question? Let’s dive straight in…
Question: I can already play every main electric guitar chord and i can read guitar tab should I take up bass because I like the sound of bass better and it looks a lot easier to play also should i take lessons and If i was ever in a band will i be able to sing lead vocals and play bass ? Also is bass actually easier than electric guitar and if I play bass will I stand a better chance of getting in a band ?
Answer: Geddy Lee did all right playing bass and singing, but playing bass isn’t as easy as you might think. You don’t have to play chords, but playing a bass has challenges of its own. The strings are thicker, and the action is tougher than a guitar. You have to decide if you’re going to use a pick or use your fingers. If you play with your fingers, they will be sore for a while until you develop callouses.
You don’t need to repeat the same performance all the time, just stay within the parameters of the song. None of the greats ever play a song the same way twice.
why does it matter what’s easier or what will make you more popular or whatever? Just play the instrument you love to play because you enjoy it. If you keep thinking like this you will not be successful
there are alot of bands that have a lead singer play bass also bass looks easier but you have to be very good at keeping in time cos if your not it’s hard for the rest of the band to be, it’s easier to learn properly if you have a teacher as it means your learning the proper way and wont gaint any bad habbits
Jeez-one Q at a time,eh?
Right-no,bass is NOT easier. Yes,usually you have less strings-but for that reason,EVERY note you play has to be on the button.
With electric guitar,you can always cover any mistake or slight ‘miss’ with a power-chord…you can’t do that with a bass.
Also-a bass line stands out-it’s the only ‘deep’ instrument in the band,so it can be heard-and felt] above AND below other instruments.
However,having said that-I prefer to play bass.
I really get a huge kick out of laying down a bass line that is complex but has the steadiness the other members are following.
Plus,I like standing in front of a bass cab and feel the low chords hitting right in the chest.
Now-can you sing and play bass…well why not?
Sting
Phil Lynott
Lemmy
just a few of the great singer/bass-players.
Getting into a band…well,that depends on whether you can actually PLAY,as in repeat your performance note-for-note,chord-for-chord,each time every time.
Anyone can ‘play’ a bass or guitar-it’s being able to repeat the performance each and every time that makes you a PLAYER as opposed to someone who can PLAY.
You want to be in a band?-make yourself so good that THEY come to YOU.
First of all, there are so many bass players that are lead singers in a band. Look at Sir Paul McCartney!
Bass is slightly easier, because a regular bass has 4 strings, so it has less strings to play. But to play it very well is another thing. It is still hard to become a genius at the bass.
And bass players are sometimes hard to get for bands, so you may be able to get into a band as a bass player, and you can use your vocals.
if you play bass, it will be easier to get in a band, as most go straight for learning lead guitar. You can sing and play bass (just look at duff mckagan’s loaded) but it will take something away from the band, lead singers should be free to run around, connect with the audience, but you will be restricted. I’m not sayiing that you shouldn’t do it though
You should take up bass if that’s what you really want to play. And, yes you can play bass and sing. It’s not easy but people like Paul McCartney, Phil Lynott and Sting are examples of people who play bass and sing.
I wouldn’t say bass is easier than guitar – they play totally different roles within a band. Like anything else, it’s easy to play bass badly but difficult to do really well.
Good bass players are in short supply so if you are any good you should be able to get into a band. It’s always a good idea to take lessons, or at least take advice from somebody who knows what they are doing, so that you don’t pick up bad habits.
Best of luck to you.
If you prefer bass, play bass
If you want to do vocals and bass, do vocals and bass
Either way you can get in a band
Yes, you should. Think about Sting and the Police
There is a need for good bass players and sure you can sing while playing bass.Look at Blackie Lawless he played bass and sang lead vocals also Kip Winger did both too.