What's the best way to be a bassist and not be lazy?

Question

My daughter wants to play bass "because it's easy", but plays no other instruments. When I took theory and musicianship in college, we all had to play piano. I took guitar as well. She has no interest in anything but bass.

One way or another, I think you need a more traditional instrument to learn theory and to compose music. I also think that just because one can play the bass, it does not mean they can play guitar. Banjo, probably. But not guitar. If you can play guitar, you can play bass. Advantage=guitar.

Prove me wrong. Or prove me right. And if you have any words of wisdom/support for her opinion, do share.

Answer 1

"My daughter wants to play bass"

"When I..."

"we all had to..."

"I took... "

"I also think that just because one can play the bass, it does not mean they can play guitar. "

Thankfully, "She has no interest in anything but bass."

If you force it on her, she'll end up doing nothing just to spite you.

If she gets serious about it, she will eventually learn your wisdom.

She's expressed an interest in something you like as well.  Don't squash it because she's not doing EXACTLY as you did.

Answer 2

Around here, all serious & aspiring young musicians learn piano or violin.  Violin is bass to me.  My 10 year old daughter does it, and can play guitar.  My son started bass at 11, and went to guitar at 13;  plays both.

I see what you are saying.  You may have a child with a little lazy attitude, but in the real world, bass players must be agressive and very skilled;  most people in a band are now agreeing that they follow the bass as timekeeper, and not drums.  Bass is key, or crucial if studied properly.

Answer 3

bass is not easy. banjo is harder than bass and guitar.it is difficult to be good on the bass and it takes as much hard work as any other instruments. If you can play guitar, you theoretically can play bass, the problem is that bass guitar is a completely different approach, and technique, so you may be able to get by .but if you are good at the guitar that doesn't make you a good bassist.

Answer 4

Sure mediocre bass is easy.  There is a lot of theory in bass.  I learned bass and shortly after that guitar.  My bass experience made guitar easy to learn.  

If you want her to be challenged have her play some jazz bass.  If she's not into it some bands that play hard songs on bass are

Rush

Blink 182

Coldplay

Green Day

some hard songs:

Somebody told me-Killers

Reptilia-Strokes

Hammerhead-Offspring

Hope this helped.

If you do it right there is nothing all that easy about bass.

Answer 5

Play like Flea

Answer 6

I started on bass first (since I knew bass clef already) and then moved to guitar.  I will admit that I am better at bass than guitar because of the backwards way I approached the instruments.  It also taught me a lot about the backbone of music.

I think the bass was better for me because it is a very versatile instrument.  For example, I could mix funk rhythms into a country song, or jazz transitions into rock.

Sometimes I wish I would have done it the other way around, but I do feel I have a greater appreciation of all music due to my decision.