Try to play what the guitar isn't playing if you know what I mean. Don't just stick to major and minor runs, try to think outside the box. Also try not to play the root notes of the chords your playing under as it gets old very fast, it's good for the first few times you're trying to figure things out to jam with but don't over do it. Also if your a guitarist trying to play the bass I'm guessing you're using a pick aswell, don't, lose the pick and let your fingers do the work.



I'm the opposite of you, I'm a bassist you trys to play guitar, I think it's easier to do things that way.

Its hard to explain but there is just and inescapable feel that guitar players playing bass have. It's a little bit of a jumpier and less smooth feel. Pretty much starting off you are in charge of the harmonic motion of the song, not the soloist. This means that you must play boringly. Start off with a groove, a small riff, whatever and then slowly add fills. The fills are where you can show your musical aptitude, but they should not saturate the playing. In most genres you should always hit the chord tones solidly and cleanly. I have a friend who plays bass like guitar. He never quite gets a groove going, he pretty much is always soloing quietly under the music. I don't think i made sense here, so i will summarize. First off be very simple and tight with the drummer, second subtly put in interesting fills sporadically, and third follow the band to build with them. If the song is building then start playing more complex variations of the original riff. And finally if the song is ending and it will fit put in a nice harmonics chord to add a little flavor.

listen to the kick drum and listen to the rhythm of the song. i'm guessing you were playing a guitar solo a couple octaves low.

I'm a guitar player who also plays bass too, so here's a couple of tips.

1. To avoid being bored out of your mind playing root notes, try mixing it up with some octave notes or small fills. (I use the penatonic scale for most songs)
2. Try to get as comfortable with using your fingers as you can. Picks can really slow you down playing bass, especially when you've been playing with a pick on an instrument with strings that are way lighter gauged.
3. Do not be afraid to improvise a little bit. Trust me, if you're bass, you're playing more in the background than as a soloist, so if you play some wrong notes, not everyone will notice.
4. Remember that whatever you could normally do on guitar you can do on bass as well. Just because it's bass doesn't mean that everything has to be dumbed down.
5. If you forget how the song goes, just slowly turn your volume down until you're inaudiable. Don't worry, no one will care because you play bass.

Just kidding about the last one. Bass is pretty cool.

This is strictly my opinion but I like to think of the bass as sort of a bridge between the guitar and drums. Allow me to explain: you're keeping the beat with the drums but at the same time you're trying to keep a basal melody or tune going at the same time. I recommend you practice playing with a drummer to develop some "bass sense" if you understand what I'm talking about. The most important part is to keep the beat and sort of get into the groove of things. Fills are when you can show off a bit, but I wouldn't overdo it. Once you get some more practice time down it'll all come together and before you know it, you'll be swinging killer basslines and it'll be like second nature to you. Good luck and most importantly have fun! :)

You could listen to bands that revolve around bass in some songs, and grow off of their style. Primus has an insane bassist, as well as tool. Look around, if you can pick up a new style of beats you could grow more as a musician.

heh, I played an acoustic guitar and a bass with my feet today haha.


Bass is fun, it sounds great when played in semi-unison with the rythm... or different notes in the same scale and tempo.

When you play bass, it's more about your relationship with the drums than with the guitar in my opinion. Most guitarists playing bass make the mistake of trying to follow along with the guitar, sticking to the root notes. I did this too when I first started. But bass does not have to be boring! Think of it as a percussive instrument and really listen to the drums when you play. In fact tune out the guitar all together! The tighter you are with your drummer, the more awesome your bass playing will be :)

You've got to play more rytmhic and not heavily with a bass.
Try giving with warmness and a full tone, instead of a quick & melodic guitar scream. It'll work for sure. ^^

I've been playing guitar since 1972. However, in 1981 I was forced to perform 'cold-turkey' on a live gig when our bass player failed to show up. Talk about sweating bricks :). I did pull it off, but realized that I was playing guitar riffs on the bass; and not really keeping with the drummer's snare, bass drum and hi-hat.

Since that day, I've been gigging on either bass, guitar or vocals as the gig dictates. I believe that you are extremely lucky to have guitar skills under your belt, so to speak. That will help you a lot, idea-wise; in your bass playing; as opposed to someone who started out on bass without any prior guitaristic experience. After loads of live and recorded gigs, I can safely tell you that the 2 can co-exist in one being. Keep practicing both instruments daily; and you'll improve in leaps and bounds.

Take heart from famous guitar-bass players such as Daryl Stuermer; or even Paul McCartney. They've done it, so can you. The thing to remember is that although remarkably similar, the guitar and bass are two separate entities. On bass, one half of your brain has to be locked onto the drummer. As someone once said, 'when he moves, you move; when he breathes, you breathe." Work with your drummer on 'getting into the pocket,' and matching his snare and bass drum work.

There is a time and a place for riffs and cool grooves, but not at the expense of losing your 'synch' with the drummer; who is KING. Listen carefully to Nathan East. He's a groovacious player, full of ideas; but he never loses the 'groove' with his drummer. That's what you should aim for : laying a solid groove with the drummer; and then only branching out when you see fit. Keep on riffing, bro :)