by Is bass easier than guitar? I get this question a lot…
Sometimes, it’s absolute beginners wondering if they should play guitar or bass as their first instrument. Other times it’s people who are struggling with playing guitar and wonder if bass would be easier.
‘It’s only got 4 strings, right?’
Occasionally this ‘question’ isn’t phrased like a question at all! You’ll sometimes see people trying to pick fights or straight up trolling online, and few things irritate me more than these discussions.
It’s not because I believe that bass is easier than guitar, or that guitar is easier than bass. It’s irritating because it’s such a pointless and immature conversation.
Warning – This one gets a bit ‘ranty’. Check out the video here:
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In the end, I usually just walk away from these conversations before they get going. The people who think one is inherently more or less difficult already have their minds made up. There’s very little you can do to change their opinions.
Instead of worrying about these abstract conversations that don’t really benefit anyone, I’d rather be working on my own bass playing and developing that solid practice habit I talk about in the video.
Getting started on any instrument can be intimidating – especially if you’re learning your first instrument. If you have decided you want to play bass, then you might be wondering how to get started.
That’s why I put together my Beginner’s Starter Pack. It’s a collection of some of my best material for beginners that’s designed to jumpstart your playing. Inside, you’ll learn the 3 most important things to focus on as a beginner bass player, plus the order to learn it all.
You can get started by filling in the form above and I’ll send it straight to your inbox.
If you have any questions, let me know in the comments. I’d be more than happy to help out however I can. As long as the question isn’t, “Is bass easier than guitar…”
Good luck with the video and happy playing!
Cheers,
As a band director students would ask two questions a lot. 1) What is your favorite instrument? 2) What instrument is easier? My answer to the first questions was, “my favorite is any instrument played well. my answer to the 2nd questions is “each instrument has characteristics that make them easier than others and characteristics that make them more challenging than others. It depends what challenges your personality deals with well”. So I would not only look at physical fit, but personality based on the unique challenges the instrument offers and the role it plays in an ensemble. THX Luke for your respectful reminder that bass and guitar each have their unique benefits and challenges.
You sound like a great band director Nick! Fantastic answers to both of those questions. You’re totally right about personality as well.
Being a multi instrumentalist, is, without a doubt, the most difficult of all disciplines. I currently play flute, saxophone, clarinet, contrabass, bass guitar and cello.
Each instrument has its own signature key, and some are transposing instruments. To maintain a professional standard on each requires at least an hour practice on each a day plus whatever I’m playing that evening another 3 hours individually.
I did try at one point to cut down on the number but my peer groups objected.
But when people have asked me is the bass easier than guitar, I always ask which is easier the viol d’ gamba or cello they’re about the same size, same shape, roughly the same number of strings (and yes I own a six string cello).
But I absolutely agree with you, no one instrument is harder or easier than any other.
But when I’m asked how you get to be a good musician…… I always relate Danny Thompson’s words. When he started to learn double bass, and wanted to stop and go and play football with the other kids, he had one word in big red letters on his bedroom door, that word was PRACTICE.
Absolutely Ron. Practice is everything! You know better than most playing so many different instruments. Thanks for the insights.
I am a begginer
As a decades-long guitarist, I find guitar “easier” because I have spent so much time with it. I do play bass, but not at the same level. Although the bass generally plays fewer notes, the notes it does play are vital, outlining the rhythm and the chord movement and the “architecture ” of the song. I perform and jam casually with a couple of good bassists and I always try to lock in with them, in the pocket. And to keep tempo and not speed up, even if some other players “jump” the time. It makes us sound so much better, and it gives the other players a solid rhythmic foundation from which to work. I contin ue to work on my own bass playing, too. 🙂
I have always been drawn to the bass. As a kid, I had taken lessons in Middle school and played in the jazz band. Really didn’t learn anything though since I played sports year round.
I stopped playing after one year in jazz band.
Skip to the future and I am now 46 and trying to learn to play finally! I have never been more frustrated, yet still in love with the bass. I practice everyday and just don’t seem to be progressing.
Hopefully your beginner tutorial will get me jump started. Lol!
Sincerely,
Never to old to learn!
For me the bass much easier because I wear a size 2XL in gloves. It is literally impossible for me to play most chords on an electric guitar. In addition to the fact that my fingers are very thick not allowing my fingers to fit on the proper frets, they are also very long which, which causes you to play with side of your pinky finger because it overshoots the fret. I also have rheumatoid and osteoarthritis in every joint in my body especially my hands, which makes the size of the fret board on a bass much more conducive to my situation (also the larger distance between the strings helps me). On the other hand, the bass requires exponentially higher pressure on the frets, which doesn’t help my arthritis. I also found that when I play the bass my right hand cramps up after about 2-5 minutes. I don’t know if it’s because I’m not relaxing my hand properly or if it’s arthritis related. Also I think it’s harder to play fast songs on the bass because of the higher pressure required on the frets. I’ve only been playing 5-1/2 months, but I can play all or part of 33 songs and the only training I’ve had was watching your videos, My friend Brian Malone The lead guitarist for Diabolic taught me everything I know about playing the six string. Even with an extremely gifted professional musician tutoring me one on one, I was still limited as to what I can play because of the size of my hands. My opinion is if you have large hands or a hard memorizing notes the bass should be easier for you.If you have small hands or arthritis go with the electric. I also agree with you about all instruments being relatively equally difficult to play with the one exception being the drums because you have to develop an odd coordination with all 4 limbs doing different things simultaneously. I’ve been playing the drums for 3-1/2 years now and still occasionally find myself struggling to play or learn a song. I can’t speak for the average person since I don’t have very much experience on the bass but I hope this is helpful to others with severe arthritis or very large hands.
I just love the way the bass sounds. Just got one for my birthday and wanted learn to play.
I`m totally agree Luke.
I never heard this argument that bass is easier then guitar debunk so well and I never heard somebody explain so well why it isn`t.
I am whit you luke.
You are a great teacher also.
Keep it up.
Greetings.
Eddy