Should I learn bass or guitar first? If you are a complete beginner and you’re really determined to learn both of these instruments, we recommend learning the guitar first. You can play and sing along to numerous songs with this instrument, allowing you to develop your rhythm and accuracy in playing notes and chords.

If you are trying to begin your musical journey, the best option you have is the guitar. However, there are many different types of guitars. There’s the electric guitar, the acoustic, the classical, and the bass.

Of all these variations, the most distinctively different ones are the acoustic and the bass guitar. One has six strings, while the other has four. Additionally, each of them is also played differently.

So, the question now is, if you’ve just begun your journey, which among these two should you learn first? The acoustic or the bass guitar? Here’s a quick guide that might help you out.

Bass vs. Guitar

Before you decide whether to learn the bass or the guitar first, it’s important that you fully understand the differences between these two. This will help you gauge which instrument would be more impactful in your musical journey.

Strings

The first major difference between these two is also the most obvious; their number of strings. A traditional guitar has six strings with the standard tuning of E-A-D-G-B-E. On the other hand, a bass guitar, traditionally, has four strings with the standard tuning of E-A-D-G, which are the top(thickest) four strings of a regular guitar.

There are some bass guitars that have five or six strings, but their tuning would be different than a regular guitar. That’s because bass guitars follow the perfect fourth interval, which means the tuning would either be E-A-D-G-C, B-E-A-D-G, or B-E-A-D-G-C (for the six-stringed bass guitar).

Playing Style

The next major difference between these two instruments is the playing style. Traditionally, bass guitars play notes while regular guitars play chords, which are basically compilations of notes.

Because of this, playing a regular guitar requires you to fret multiple strings at once. On the other hand, bass guitars often require you to fret just one string on a certain fret to play a note. Nonetheless, regular guitars may also be played using notes only instead of chords.

Role

The last difference between these two is the role they play in a band. Bass guitars function as the foundation of the song. Without them, the band would fall apart. The songs would sound as if something was missing from it. They also tend to give the songs a certain groove.

On the other hand, regular guitars can either be the rhythm or lead of the band. Rhythm plays the main melody of the song, while the lead often plays notes that give the song flavor. Ergo, neither of them is superior. Both of them work hand-in-hand to make the band sound good.

Which One is Better to Learn First?

Now that you know the differences between these two, it’s time to find out which one is the best instrument to learn first. Ultimately, the answer depends on you. However, you might want to consider the following before making a decision.

Independence

Guitars are often standalone instruments, while basses are usually accompaniment instruments. What we mean is that the magnitude of songs you can play on the guitar alone is tremendously bigger than songs you can play on the bass alone.

This means that you have better chances of learning more songs on your own with a guitar and singing along to them as compared to playing the bass only. Because of this, you get to develop your rhythm in switching between chords, and you get to develop your skill in accurately positioning your hands and fingers along the fretboard.

Songwriting

Guitars have a wider range of notes and pitches. They are much more vibrant, bright, and exuberating than bass guitars, unless, of course, you’re an advanced bass player. Because of the versatility of sounds you can play on a guitar, you have better chances of coming up with an inspiration for a song.

Ergo, if you also wish to pursue songwriting in the near future, the guitar is perhaps the best instrument you can learn first.

Ease of Playing

When it comes to ease of playing, the bass guitar takes the victory. Of course, this is only true if you just wish to play the basics. Most music is written in 4/4 time signature. This means that most of the time, you only have to press one string on one fret for four beats.

On the other hand, in the same 4/4 time signature, playing the guitar means you have to press multiple strings in various frets for four beats. That’s because guitars play chords instead of notes.

Because of this, bass guitars tend to be easier to play than guitars. However, adding flavor or groove to your music would obviously require more.

Playing in a Band

If you don’t love being in the spotlight, the bass guitar is the better option. Bassists, except for a handful of people, don’t often capture the public eye. That’s because, as we’ve said, they are often the foundation of the band, unlike lead guitarists who sometimes play electrifying solos.

Additionally, and strictly speaking, there is a much higher demand for bassists than guitarists. That’s because there’s a significantly higher number of people who can play the guitar, but not a lot can play the bass. So, if you’re looking to be part of a band, learning the bass guitar could be your golden ticket.

On the other hand, if your long-term goal is to take people’s breaths away with your performance, learning everything you can from the guitar is a better option.

Conclusion

At the end of the day, what really matters most is what excites you. The passion and motivation to create music are still the driving forces necessary to be great at what we do, no matter what the instrument we choose is.

If the guitar excites you, go for it! If you feel a certain type of connection with the bass, learn that one first! Either way, excelling in one will help you understand the other better.

What’s the difference between bass amp vs guitar amp? The main differences between a bass and a guitar amp are the wattage requirement, size, frequency, and range. Nonetheless, you can still use a bass amp for your guitar, but using a guitar amp for your bass is not advisable for a number of reasons.

A bass and a traditional guitar produce somewhat different sounds. This means that they also tend to have different amp power requirements. While you can, theoretically, use their corresponding amplifiers interchangeably, we suggest that you don’t do it and just invest in a dedicated amp for your instrument.

That’s because there are a lot of differences between a bass amp and a guitar amp. Aside from reducing the quality of your sound, using the wrong amp may damage your gear. So, how exactly do these amps differ?

You’ve come to the right place. We’re going to show you the key dissimilarities between these two types of amps.

Bass Amp vs. Guitar Amp

If you’ve ever gone to band concerts or gigs, you might have noticed that some gig amps are bigger while some are smaller. Each amp is used for a specific instrument, and the two most common ones are bass and guitar amps. Here’s what you need to know about them.

Size

Their sizes are the first thing you’ll notice when comparing a bass and a guitar amp. While there are high-quality guitar amps that are rather large, common ones are relatively smaller than bass amps. Furthermore, a bass amp of the same high-end quality as a guitar amp will surely be bigger.

This is also because of the speaker inside the amp. Bass guitars often need larger speakers to play low notes, sometimes reaching more than 15 inches. This allows bass amps to move more air and produce low-frequency sounds. However, having these installed inside the amp will also cause it to be larger.

On the other hand, traditional guitars don’t often need large speakers. They often use speakers somewhere between eight to 12 inches. Using larger speakers is a waste of space and power since high frequencies don’t need more wattage. Because of this, guitar amps tend to be smaller.

Wattage Requirement

Because of their size and inner workings, bass amps have higher wattage requirements than guitar amps. Standard bass amps often operate somewhere between 150 to 500 watts. Some bigger models could even reach 700 watts or higher.

On the other hand, a guitar amp traditionally operates somewhere between 50 to 100 watts. Some higher-end models may reach up to 150 to 200 watts, but really, you could get decent sounds with just a 100-watt amp.

Frequency

Perhaps the most important difference between a bass and a guitar amp is the frequency at which they operate. This is also related to their wattage requirements. As you may have already known, bass guitars play bass notes, which are lower in frequencies. Low frequencies mean they have longer waveforms, which then means they need more power. Otherwise, the low power would make the amp and the speaker unable to produce clear low-frequency sounds.

Traditional guitars, on the other hand, produce relatively higher notes than bass guitars. Higher notes mean higher frequencies. High frequencies have shorter wavelengths, which means they also require less power.

Range

The bass and a traditional guitar have a number of differences, one of which is frequency. Bass guitars produce low frequencies, while traditional guitars produce high frequencies. However, the frequency range between their respective amps significantly differs. Traditionally, bass amps have a frequency range of 30 Hz to 400 Hz.

On the other hand, guitar amps have a frequency range of 80Hz to 1.2kHz, which includes the bass, treble, and mid. This is to ensure that each instrument can perform its necessary function properly.

Can You Use Bass Amp for Guitar?

Now that we know the differences between the two amps, perhaps the pressing question we need to answer is whether or not we can use a bass amp for guitar or a guitar amp for bass. First, let’s talk about using a bass amp for your guitar.

Power

When it comes to power, you don’t have to worry about your bass amp taking a beating. As we’ve said, bass amps are designed to take in more wattage, therefore, more power. Since a traditional guitar produces high frequencies, they use less power. This means your bass amp will do just fine when providing the necessary power to your guitar.

Sound Quality

However, power isn’t the only thing we have to worry about when using a bass amp for a traditional guitar. We also need to consider the sound quality it produces. As we’ve said, the highest frequency of most bass amps is at 400Hz. This means that they would have trouble producing clear sounds past their frequency range. It’s better to use a dedicated bass amp for a bass guitar.

Can You Use Guitar Amp for Bass?

The next question we need to answer is whether or not we can use a guitar amp for bass. Technically, yes, you can, the operative word there being “technically.” That’s because we can assure you that it will function. You just have to plug it the same way you do when using a bass amp. However, we suggest that you don’t do so for two major reasons.

Power

Let’s go back to the previous lesson; bass guitars produce lower frequencies, which means longer wavelengths, which in turn need more power. If you use your guitar amp for bass, you’d be driving a tremendous amount of power to the amp, sometimes more than it can handle. This can significantly damage your amplifier and cause it to overheat.

Sound Quality

Additionally, the sound quality produced by the guitar amp will definitely not be what you want to get out of your bass guitar. While frequencies above 80Hz will be tolerable, frequencies below it will cause distortions and warps in your sound.

Conclusion

Your skills will significantly influence your sound. Advanced skills mean better sound. However, skills aren’t always the only defining factor. Sometimes, you also have to consider your equipment.

If you want to make the most out of your instrument, it’s best to invest in a dedicated amplifier that enhances its sound. Additionally, this also lessens the risk of damaging your equipment. Having said that, be sure to get a bass amp for your bass or a guitar amp for your guitar.

Bassists are arguably the most underrated musicians in a band. People with a good understanding of music know that bassists provide the rhythms and grooves that hold up most tracks. However, few people understand the different types of bass guitars and their uses.

If you are interested in picking up the bass guitar, you may be wondering which kind to get. The question of “4 string vs 5 string bass?” has plagued aspiring bassists for many decades. Today we will break down each bass type and help you determine which is right for you.

The Main Difference Between the 4 String and 5 String Bass

If you have ever ventured into the bass guitar section at the music store, you may have marveled at the different types of bass guitars on-display. The store likely stocks Fender’s signature Jazz basses which are known for their stratocaster-like shape and punchy defined bass sound. They may also sell Rickenbacker’s iconic 4003 bass, known for its crested wave body shape and aggressive treble-rich sound.

If you take a closer look at the aforementioned bass guitars, you may notice that both types possess four strings each. Indeed, the four-string design is standard on most bass guitars. This is because these four strings provide a wide range of notes which are sufficient for playing most songs.

Spend a bit more time browsing the bass guitar section at the store, you may start to notice bass guitars with more strings. Five string, six string, or even seven string bass guitars are often stocked alongside their four string counterparts at music stores. However, the five string design is usually the most popular variety after the standard four string design.

As you may have guessed, the additional string is what differentiates this bass from a regular four string one. However, this single string can mean a world of a difference for some bassists. Let’s examine these two basses more closely and which areas each one excels in.

What Does the Extra String on a Five String Bass Do?

You may be inclined to believe that the fifth string on the bass guitar is always at the bottom, making it the thinnest one on the instrument. However, many five string bass guitars feature a fifth string that is at the top, making it thickest string on the instrument.

If the standard four string bass is tuned to E-A-D-G, the five string bass with the thin bottom fifth string will be tuned to E-A-D-G-C. If the five string bass has a thick top fifth string, its tuning will likely be B-E-A-D-G. Bassists should understand the differences between these two tunings before deciding which type of five string bass to purchase.

In either case, the added fifth string expands the range of notes that the bassist can play. For example, owning a five string bass with a bottom fifth string allows you to hit higher notes and without having to move to the higher frets on the G string.

Conversely, owning a five string bass with a lower fifth string allows bassists to play notes lower than E. This allows them to hit some truly deep notes that enter into sub-bass territory. Such a fifth string arrangement saves bassists from having to tune down their strings to lower pitches manually.

Should a Beginner Learn on a Four String Bass or a Five String Bass?

If you intend to start learning the bass guitar, you may be wondering if it is worth investing in a  five string bass. After all, why not start with a five string bass if you intend to upgrade to one in the future? This logic may seem sound at first. However, you should note that learning to play on a five string bass may be more challenging than learning on a four string one.

So why might this be the case? The five string bass typically has a wider neck than a four string bass. This added width is needed to accommodate the fifth string. Having such a wide neck may make it difficult for bassists with small hands to grip their instrument and press down on the frets properly.

In addition to this, the added note range from the fifth string may make it difficult for new bassist to navigate and find the right note to play. This can be especially confusing when they are attempting to play a song while looking at bass tabs made for a four string bass.

If you plan to get a five string bass with a low-B string, you will also need to learn to mute this string when you are not playing it. Failing to mute this string while playing will cause it to produce a rumbling drone, which can make your instrument sound muddy during performances. New bassists may struggle to keep up with this palm muting action as they learn the basics of their instrument, so they should hold off purchasing a five string bass until they are more comfortable with palm muting.

Where Does a Five String Bass Truly Shine?

If you’re a novice bassist that has spent many months or years understanding playing techniques, it may be worth upgrading to a five string bass at some point. As mentioned earlier, having a five string bass with a thick top fifth string allows you to hit notes on that low-B. Such notes may seem like unexplored territory, but they can provide some pleasing sub-bass frequencies that you would otherwise need an octave pedal or an alternate tuning to hit.

Songs that Use a Five String Bass

The five string bass may seem like an oddity if you are new to the bass guitar world. However, many famous songs have been recorded using a five string bass. This includes:

• Riding with the King – B.B. King and Eric Clapton
• It’s too Funky in Here – James Brown
• Fight for your mind – Ben Harper
• Red Rain – Peter Gabriel
• New State Of Mind – Yes

Consider picking up a five string bass if you want to learn to play the aforementioned songs, or if you would like to compose songs that utilize a similar note range.

Is a Five String Bass More Expensive Than a Four String Bass?

Price considerations should always be kept in mind when you are purchasing a new instrument. This is especially true if you are on a limited budget. You may be wondering if a five string bass is more expensive than a four string one.

In most cases, a five string bass will be more expensive than its four string counterpart. This is due to the extra wood needed for the wider neck as well as the cost of the additional string. Five string basses are also made in more limited quantities compared to four string basses. This makes them more expensive to produce due to economies of scale.

You should also note that your choice of basses will also be far more limited if you are looking at five string basses. Most large music stores will have a handful of five string bass models in stock. This is in contrast to the dozens of four string bass models that they likely sell.

Final Thoughts

As you can see, four string and five string basses differ in quite a few ways. Five string basses certainly do serve an important purpose for certain types of players and songs. However, you should definitely review the above guide before setting out to purchase your first bass.

The guitar and bass guitar are two of the most popular musical instruments to learn. Bass guitar is often ignored in favor of the more popular guitar, but it’s essential for tying a song together. It’s the bass guitar that brings melody and rhythm together. However, beginners to the bass guitar often wonder, “Is bass guitar easy to learn?”

All musical instruments require hard work, dedication, and practice, but most experts agree that the bass guitar is one of the easier instruments to learn. This article will delve into whether this is the case and why the bass guitar is perceived to be easy to learn.

Is Bass Guitar Easy to Learn and Master?

Bass guitar is an especially beginner-friendly musical instrument. Even individuals with no background in music and instruments can quickly pick up the bass guitar. Once they get used to the tabs, they can start holding a bass line. However, while starting as a bass guitarist may be easy, this gets more challenging as you start coming across more advanced techniques. To truly master the bass guitar, you don’t just have to master tabs and play well – you also need a sense of harmony and rhythm and complement other instruments.

How Is the Bass Guitar Easy to Start Learning?

Now that we have the answer to the question, “Is bass guitar easy to learn?” it’s time to move on to why starting out is easy. One of the reasons for this is that individuals can learn how to play the root note in the chords and start playing the bass easily. After practice, individuals become familiar with the fretboard and learn the scales and the notes.

The following are some reasons why the bass guitar is relatively easy to learn.

1. Fewer Strings Than the Guitar

While guitars usually have six strings, bass guitars only have four strings. The fact that they have fewer strings makes them much easier to manage. Because of the fewer strings, there are less notes to learn and fewer notes to keep in mind and manage when playing a song because of the fewer strings. As such, you can pick up the instrument faster than you would the guitar.

2. Bass Guitar Doesn’t Need as Much Dexterity

The bass guitar is by no means a piece of cake to master. It requires time and practice, just like any other musical instrument. However, it also doesn’t require as much dexterity as the guitar. In addition to larger strings, bass guitarists also have the advantage of larger distances on the fret. As such, you don’t require as much dexterity and accuracy. While learning songs isn’t necessarily easier, physically playing them on the bass guitar is.

3. Finger Plucking Is Easier Than Strumming

While this is debatable and varies from individual to individual, most people report that finger plucking is easier than strumming. Therefore, utilizing a plectrum to strum guitars is more difficult than simply finger strumming a bass guitar. While you can also use finger strumming on a guitar, it’s more common to do so with a bass guitar. Additionally, finger plucking is easier when all strokes are upwards instead of having to master both upwards and downwards strokes.

4. The Strings on the Bass Guitar Hurt Less

Since the bass guitar has fewer strings, these strings are also further apart and have a larger gauge. Guitar players know the discomfort that comes along with mastering their instrument. Playing the guitar requires sacrificing smooth hands and dealing with cuts and callouses. While the bass guitar also causes these issues, there’s less pain and discomfort, making the instrument easier overall.

5. One Note at a Time

While mastering when and how to play notes isn’t always easy, playing one note at a time is. This isn’t always the case but is generally what bass guitarists require. That being said, it’s essential to ensure you’re playing the night note at the right time, which can prove challenging for beginners.

6. No B String Offset to Worry About

One of the things guitarists have to worry about is the offset of the B string. There’s no such worry with the bass guitar, making patterns easier. Whether it’s bass lines, triads, arpeggios, or scales, you can easily replicate these.

7. You Can Master Notes Instead of Chords

Lots of bass guitarists master chords as well as notes. However, mastering chords isn’t essential to playing the bass guitar. Therefore, you can get away with playing single notes. Some argue that you can do this with guitars too, but this applies to very few songs. The truth is that if you want to play a variety of songs instead of being severely limited, you’ll need to learn chords. This is true even as a beginner to the guitar.

It’s easier to play songs with no such requirement for bass guitar beginners. Bass guitarists don’t have to master finger arrangements on the fretboard – something that many guitarists find complex.

Bass Guitar Isn’t Completely Straightforward

Despite many factors making the bass guitar an easier instrument than most, it can be complex. This is especially true when you start progressing and learn advanced techniques. Beginners to bass guitar may find it easy, but it takes dedication to master this instrument.

One of the major challenges of learning bass guitar is knowing music theory. The role of a bass guitarist is to tie together the melody and the drums. They’re there to support the rest of the instruments, including the guitar. As such, mastering music theory isn’t optional. To improvise and know how to tie the song together, a bass guitarist has to be well-versed in music theory and needs to know how to apply this knowledge in real-life situations.

Bass guitarists also have to master timing and tempo and have great rhythm. It’s essential to keep accurate timing with the drums and pay attention to the drummer at all times.

Final Thoughts

No instrument is completely straightforward. The answer to the question, “Is bass guitar easy to learn?” might be yes, but the instrument comes with its own set of challenges. To be an excellent bass guitarist, you have to focus on your craft, become an excellent listener, and practice frequently. We would also recommend investing in professional lessons and recording your playing so you can listen to it and improve upon it. If you keep these tips in mind, you’re sure to pick up the bass guitar fairly quickly.

How many strings are on a bass guitar? A traditional bass guitar has four strings, which are at the same note as the lower four strings of a traditional guitar. The only difference is that the bass guitar is one octave below when it comes to pitch.

The bass guitar is one of the most crucial elements of a band. Despite not always being under the spotlight, numerous songs would simply sound awkward and incomplete without a solid and interesting bassline.

Just imagine how different The Beatles’ songs would be without Paul McCartney playing his 1963 Höfner 500/1. If you wish to be the bassist of your band, or you want to be the next Paul McCartney, it’s important that you know all the things you need to know about the bass guitar.

To start off, let’s talk about the number of strings on this instrument, why it came to be, the tuning, and a whole lot more.

How Many Strings Are on a Bass Guitar?

As we mentioned above, a traditional bass guitar has four strings. The standard tuning for the bass guitar is E-A-D-G, which is the same as the four lowest strings on a guitar. It’s one octave lower than the standard guitar tuning, and all the strings are tuned in perfect fourths, which means there’s an interval of four notes between each string.

Why Does a Bass Guitar Only Have Four Strings?

The main reason for the bass guitar only having four strings is that its overall design was heavily influenced by its older counterpart, the upright bass. The upright bass is an even bigger instrument that you play by standing alongside it. The tuning is also an octave lower than the traditional bass guitar.

As rock-and-roll music grew, the demand for a bass guitar that you can bring anywhere and carry on your shoulder grew as well. This gave birth to the bass guitar that we know today. However, there are also other reasons why the bass guitar only has four strings.

One of the most prominent reasons for this is the relationship between string instruments. Most string instruments rose for symphony orchestras. Each instrument was then given a certain range of frequency for their tuning, and they were designed to overlap a bit but not too much.

For instance, the double bass initially only had three strings. However, as they were frequently used in orchestras that include violins, cellos, and other instruments, a fourth string was added. In this group of instruments, the bass has the lowest octave pitch.

Because of this arrangement, playing the bass with other instruments, whether it be violins, cellos, or electric guitars, complete the overall flavor of the music.

Other Types of Bass Guitars

Not all bass guitars have four strings, only the traditional ones. There are other models and brands that have additional strings to increase the frequency range of the instrument. Although you won’t often see them, there are three other “common” guitars in the world of basses. We’ll show them to you below.

Five-String

The five-string bass guitar either has a higher or lower frequency range than the traditional four-string bass guitar. That depends on where or what the additional string is. Adding an extra low string allows the bass guitar to reach lower pitch registers. On the other hand, adding an extra high string will allow it to reach a higher pitch register.

That’s because when you add strings to a bass guitar, you have to follow the perfect fourths interval instead of the standard guitar tuning. This means that a five-string bass guitar with a low string should be tuned B-E-A-D-G.

On the other hand, a five-string bass guitar with a high string should be tuned E-A-D-G-C. If you noticed, the high string is C, which is unlike the traditional guitar tuned at E-A-D-G-B-E.

Six-String

If you don’t want to compromise a low string for a high string or vice versa, don’t worry. There’s another type of bass guitar that has six strings. This combines the two types of five-string bass guitars by adding a lower and a higher additional string.

This puts the tuning of the six-string bass guitar at B-E-A-D-G-C.

Twelve-String

Going over to the extremes, we have an even rarer type of bass guitar that has 12 strings, otherwise known as the Colombian Tiple. The twelve strings are divided into four courses with three strings each. This means it’s almost like the traditional bass guitar, but instead of four strings, you have 12 in groups of four.

However, it’s significantly harder to play because instead of fretting one string to play one note, you have to push down three strings simultaneously. Additionally, the fingerboard is wider than the traditional bass guitar because of the number of strings.

The only advantage a 12-string bass guitar has is that it produces an enormous sound since it has strings that are tuned at higher octaves.

Should a Bass Guitar Stick to Four Strings?

There’s no rule that says a bass guitar should only have four strings. As you can see, there are other versions with five, six, or even 12 strings. These types of bass guitars are more common in electrics.

However, increasing the number of strings widens the frequency range of the instrument. This means that doing so would allow the bass guitar to reach higher octave registers. These types of bass guitars are a bit controversial since they overlap too much with the octaves of other instruments, and they don’t stay under the “bass frequency” any longer.

This kind of defeats the purpose of having and playing the bass guitar since the higher octaves can be played by other instruments instead.

Conclusion

The bass guitar is an integral instrument in the evolution of music. Without it, we probably wouldn’t enjoy the songs we listen to today. When it comes to the number of strings, having four on your instrument is probably enough.

However, if you want to cover a wider range, maybe because you’re a three-piece band, soloist, or you just want to experiment, you can try learning the other types of bass guitars. The five-, six-, or 12-string bass guitars are not that hard to find.

A lead guitar is not so much an instrument, like the bass guitar, as it is a role in a band. A bass guitarist uses a bass guitar that has four strings to play bass notes. On the other hand, a lead guitarist uses a traditional six-stringed guitar to play solos, melodies, and passages.

Learning a new instrument or starting a band is a challenging but exciting venture. To take a step into the world of music will invite struggles and difficulties in trying to achieve what you want. However, we can guarantee that all of it will be worth it in the process.

The question now is, what instrument should you learn or what role should you play in your band? Well, the two most popular options are bass and lead guitar. How do these two differ? Which one is more difficult? And which one should you choose?

In this article, we’ll show you the major differences between a bass and a lead guitar.

Bass vs. Lead Guitar

First, let’s talk about the instruments each of these uses. As we’ve mentioned, a bassist uses a bass guitar, while a lead guitarist uses an electric guitar. So, what are the differences and similarities between a bass and an electric guitar?

Strings and Tuning

The major difference between a bass and electric guitar is the number of strings, which also influence their tuning. An electric guitar has six strings and uses the standard tuning E-A-D-G-B-E.

On the other hand, a bass guitar only has four strings, and it’s significantly larger than the electric guitar. Its tuning is similar to the low four strings of the electric guitar, which means it’s E-A-D-G. However, the bass guitar is one octave lower in terms of pitch.

Playing Style

The next difference between the two is how they’re played. You’re probably familiar with the electric guitar, and you might already know that there’s a multitude of techniques to play it. First, you have the chords by which you fret. Then, you can pluck the strings, hammer on them, slide your fingers, and a whole lot more.

On the other hand, bass guitars don’t play chords. Instead, they play notes. More often than not, a guitar is played by fretting one note on one fret and plucking the string with the index finger. However, advanced bassists also have advanced skills that enhance their playing styles. These techniques may range from slapping, sliding, and muting, among others.

Role

This part is more about the role of the bassist and the lead guitarist rather than their instruments. Just like any other member of the band, each of these musicians plays a crucial role when performing songs.

• Bass

There are thousands of amateur musicians in the world who wonder why bands even need bassists. They seem to just stand in the background, and you don’t even hear them loudly compared to the other instruments like the drums or guitars.

However, believe it or not, the bassist is actually the one who carries the entire band. Without them, the entire structure of the other instruments will fall apart. Bassists function as the backbone of each performance, especially the jazz and blues genre.

Bassists need to work with the drummer to ensure that they deliver the right groove to their songs. On the other hand, they also play the foundation notes necessary when the lead guitarist is playing his/her solo. Without the bassist, the band’s music would sound empty, if not awkward, as if it’s missing something.

• Lead

If the bassist is the backbone of the music, lead guitarists are the wings of the band that allows it to fly. They provide flavor to the song by playing the melodic notes and energizing the crowd with their electrifying solos.

Additionally, lead guitarists tend to make the band’s music unique. They often define the overall quality of the band by providing extra sounds. That’s why lead guitarists have to be very creative but structured.

Even though the bass’s role as the band’s backbone is essential, the lead guitar is also indispensable because, without them, the band would lose character. While the bassist needs to be reliable throughout the whole song, the lead guitarist would often have a moment or two to shine out.

That’s why lead guitarists also need to have a lot of finger dexterity and smooth hand movements. They often have to spice up the song’s intro, outro, and bridge.

Which Instrument is Easier and More Important?

The bass guitar only has four strings, so it should be easier, right? Well, that’s not necessarily the case. It may be true if you want to be a basic bassist and just play the right notes, but even then, you must not mess up. Otherwise, one wrong note will surely stand out and ruin the band’s chord or note progression.

Additionally, playing the basic notes of the song is the bare minimum for bassists. In some bands and genres, they also have the responsibility of adding flavor to the music. You also need to consider that the bass guitar is heavier than a regular guitar.

On the other hand, the role of the lead guitar is undoubtedly just as important. Sure, bands can still produce songs and play music with just the drummer, bassist, and rhythm guitarist, but it wouldn’t have the character necessary to cement the band into people’s hearts.

Having said that, both of these instruments require a lot of patience, discipline, and practice to master. Furthermore, they can also be improved to be more versatile than just playing singular notes every beat.

Conclusion

Do you enjoy the spotlight? Then yes, maybe the role of lead guitar suits you. Are you a team player and like being in the background supporting the entire band? Then maybe being a bassist is a better fit.

Nonetheless, whether you’re planning to be a bassist or lead guitarist, what matters most is your dedication to your craft. After all, both of these instruments and roles have their own art style, and the most important thing is how you express yourself through them.

Although both guitars have the same purpose, acoustic and electric bass guitars are very different instruments. Some people will choose the electric bass over the acoustic bass by default because electric bass guitars are much more popular. Consider the major similarities and differences of both below. You might decide that an acoustic bass is more suited to your needs. Or you might seek out the versatility of an electric bass.

What is an Acoustic Bass?

An acoustic bass guitar is a little bit different from a classic acoustic guitar. You will usually find six strings on an acoustic guitar, but only four strings on an acoustic bass guitar. The notes available are in a lower octave than a regular acoustic guitar. The acoustic bass is not widely popular due to its soft sound.

Some musicians will choose an acoustic bass over an electric bass due to its richer tones. Country, jazz, and several other music genres blend well with the sound of an acoustic bass guitar. However, it can be difficult to hear an acoustic bass once backing vocals and other instruments are added into the mix.

Here’s a really good acoustic bass solo:

What is an Electric Bass?

An electric bass guitar is an instrument with four strings that need to be connected to an amplifier. The typical electric bass features the notes E-A-D-G, making it a full octave lower than a regular acoustic or electric guitar.

Most musicians who perform on stage opt for the loud volume of an electric bass guitar. They can practice quietly with an unplugged bass but experiment with louder sound and unique effects once they hit the stage.

Here’s what the electric bass guitar looks and sounds like:

Major Similarities

Both the acoustic bass and the electric bass guitar are similar instruments. They were created for the same purpose. You should understand the essential similarities between the two before you weigh their differences.

4-Stringed Instruments

Both of these instruments are stringed instruments, which means you play them by plucking at the strings with your fingers or a guitar pick. They only have four strings because these guitars play a lower register of notes than a regular guitar.

An acoustic bass creates sound from the vibrations of the strings, which a simple soundboard amplifies. The electric bass is slightly different and uses an amplifier to produce sound.

Maintenance Requirements

Both electric and acoustic bass guitars are delicate instruments that require maintenance. If you neglect to care for either type of guitar, you can cause significant damage. You need to store them away in a guitar case any time they are not being played. You should also protect them from extremely cold and extremely hot temperatures. Be careful about how you clean your bass guitar, too. Do not use harsh chemicals or rough tools that could damage the body, frets, or fretboard.

Major Differences

The acoustic bass and the electric bass are two instruments that feature more differences than similarities. These differences mean that they are significantly different instruments. You might find that one is better suited to your needs than the other.

Amp or No Amp

Perhaps the biggest difference between these guitars is power. With an acoustic bass, you do not need any power. However, some acoustic bass models give you the option to hook up an amplifier to boost sound. If you own an electric bass, you must have an amplifier to create sound.

Tone

Many people are attracted to the acoustic bass for its distinct tone. The rich, clear tone of an acoustic bass cannot be replicated with the electric bass. While you might be able to modify and enhance the sound and tone with the electric bass, you will not be able to achieve the fullness of an acoustic bass guitar. This tone is often associated with jazz and country music.

Volume

The volume of an electric bass guitar is superior to the acoustic bass. You can try to make it louder or softer through your playing, but it may be harder to hear an acoustic bass over the sound of other instruments.

With an electric bass, you can amplify the sound and increase the volume with ease. You can also modify and enhance the sound with various controls on an amplifier.

Versatility

The electric bass guitar should be at the top of your list if you are looking for versatility. Electric bass guitars are a popular instrument that works well in almost any genre of music. Rock, pop, hip hop, funk, and more are well-suited to the sound of an electric bass. Plus, you can use the amplifier to create a unique sound and tone to fit your music perfectly.

Acoustic bass guitars are seen more in a few select music genres. These instruments blend effortlessly with country and jazz music due to their distinct, rich tone. You are also not at liberty to play along with many other people or instruments due to the softer sound of an acoustic bass.

Cost

The extra components of an electric bass guitar mean that it is typically more expensive than an acoustic bass guitar. You can find acoustic bass options for as low as $150. However, there are more and more electric bass guitars on the market that do not cost too much more.

Ease for Beginners

For beginners, an acoustic bass is harder to learn. The strings are harder to press because they are made out of metal. The heavy strings are required to make more vibrations. Compared to an electric bass guitar, which does need to create as many vibrations with the strings to create sound.

You do not have to press too hard to pluck the thinner strings with the electric bass guitar. And the strings are set closer to the frets, making it easier to begin learning how to play the bass.

Potential Damage

Electric bass guitars are hardier instruments. When you play the bass, you will see that you constantly slap, tap, and strum to get the desired effect of the music. On an acoustic bass, you can more easily damage delicate components. Players who do not have much experience may be too aggressive with an acoustic bass. Electric bass guitars are designed to resist damage.

Which Option is Better for You?

The answer to this question is not simple cut-and-dry. You need to consider several different factors before you make a decision. If you are a beginner, you might be attracted to the ease of learning how to play an electric bass guitar. But if you are more focused on the type of sound, you could decide on the acoustic bass. Someone with enough prior experience and skills can find a lot of success with an acoustic bass guitar.

Remember to think about your budget, too. Acoustic bass guitars are less expensive, but they might not hold up to rigorous playing. You can actually find many affordable electric bass options on the market compared to several years ago.

For people who are just getting started with stringed instruments in general, learning the differences between a bass guitar and a regular guitar might seem daunting.

However, while these instruments look and feel quite similar in a few areas, they are different in many important ways as well.

Taking a look at these defining features can help you clearly understand how a bass and a guitar compare with one another so that you can decide which you’d rather start playing or studying in greater depth.

Is one harder to pick up than the other? What is the role of each instrument in a band? What about the price range of one versus the other?

How Do Guitars and Bass Instruments Differ?

Let’s start with the most apparent and practical differences between a regular guitar and a bass guitar. Being able to spot these differentiating traits right off the bat will help you immediately determine which instrument you’re dealing with. And, knowing how key differences actually affect the playability and sound of the instrument can help you determine which one might suit you better as a musician.

Strings and Sound

What you’ll immediately notice while comparing a guitar and a bass side by side is that a guitar usually has six strings and a bass generally only has four. Interestingly, the strings on a guitar vary in thickness much more than the strings on a bass do. This grade variation in the strings directly impacts the range of the instrument’s sound.

Since a guitar has more strings, and those strings have more grade variation than the strings of a bass, a guitar is solidly classified as a melodic instrument. A guitar has a much wider tonal range than a bass does, potentially allowing skilled musicians the opportunity to play more complicated melodic pieces with higher riffs than they’d be able to pull off with a bass.

The bass, with its four thick strings and their comparatively lower grade variation, creates a narrower sound range that rests at right around an octave lower than that of a guitar. This deeper pitch is perfect for accompanying other instruments to make a song sound more solid and complete.

If you’d like to practice getting familiar with the differences between basses and guitars, then trying to pick them out in music videos or on stage is a great way to do it. The quickest way to tell the two types of instruments apart is by looking at the headstock and checking out the number of tuning pins–there’s one for every string, and the tuning pegs are way easier to count quickly than the strings themselves are!

Take note: Occasionally, you will run into a bass that has five or six strings. However, these are uncommon and their range is still low, just like the range of a four-string bass.

While the range of a bass is admittedly more limited than that of a guitar, you can still build yourself some complex playing skills and carve out a personal style that can completely change how a song sounds. Some people fail to show the appreciation that the bass deserves–but they’d definitely feel like the music was missing something if it weren’t there! The bass truly does serve as the foundation of a band’s sound.

Speaking of strings and sound, here’s a short video (and funny in my opinion) of bass vs guitar:

Body Size, Playability, and Price

In both acoustic and electric varieties, guitars tend to run smaller than basses do. For an acoustic bass, the increased size offers greater resonance and projection for those deep tones. When you’re talking electric, a guitar and bass are more likely to be closer in size. Despite any size differences, both guitars and basses can usually be played either sitting down without a strap, or standing up with one.

So, what about the price of one instrument versus the other? Well, since basses tend to run a bit larger than guitars, you can probably already imagine that they’re bound to be a bit more expensive. A bass will run you an average of $50 more than a comparable guitar will, simply because the production of the bass requires more raw materials during production. Additionally, there’s a significantly higher demand for guitars than there is for bass instruments, so many stores will tack on a bit of additional cost to make the profitability of selling basses more worthwhile: Since they sell fewer bass instruments, they charge more for each one than they would for a guitar of similar size and quality.

In terms of playability, a lot of people get thrown off by the knowledge that the bass is restricted to a lower range, thinking that this means that it must be played much differently in order to sound good. However, basses and guitars are essentially played using the same methods. You can play scales, chords, and riffs on both instruments, and you can apply any music theory you’ve learned to either one as well. The biggest difference is that you simply have more of a pitch range to play those scales and chords on a guitar than you do on a bass: You can play most of the same riffs and notes on a bass that you can play on a guitar–the bass will just sound deeper.

In short: The deep range of the bass doesn’t restrict playability as much as some people might think. You will still have plenty of room for creativity and personal expression if you take up bass playing, and the instrument won’t hold you back in terms of playing with more complex methods as you progress your musical skills.

If you’re just starting out, the general consensus is that bass is easier to learn than guitar. Since many classic bass riffs are meant to support guitar melodies, they tend to be simpler to learn. Thanks to the availability of simplified versions of most bass songs, you’ll be able to master your favorites and start getting creative more quickly!

Role in a Band Setting

While a bass might look more like a guitar than most other instruments you’ll see in a band, bass players actually provide rhythm and depth that many musicians would compare more closely to a percussion instrument. You might play a bass the same way you play a guitar, but you apply your techniques very differently in a band setting.

If you’re interested in playing complex melodies that directly complement the vocalist in a band, then you’ll want to experiment more with the guitar. The same holds true if you want to shred at center stage and play fancy solos: A guitar will offer you a much greater range than a bass can in terms of tone.

If you play bass in a band, you’ll actually be working most closely with the drummer. You can sort of think of a bass as the instrument that bridges the gap between the sound of the drums and the sound of the guitar and other melodic instruments: Your bass accompaniment will add a rich layer of depth that reinforces the beat of the song, harmonizing and helping to form an amazing foundation for higher-pitched melodic instruments to build off of.

Remember:

A bass guitar and a regular guitar, either acoustic or electric, may look very similar at first glance. And, as a musician, you can apply many of the same techniques and snippets of musical theory to both–so don’t hesitate to branch out if you’ve already started playing either one. You’ll be able to reach high levels of complexity with either instrument in terms of technique as you build up your musical skills, too.

However, there are definitely key differences between guitars and basses, such as size, price, tone, pitch range, and the role that the instrument plays in a band’s sound. Each one of these things is important to consider so that you can determine which instrument will fit your musical personality best!