Somebody inspired every musician to take up their instrument. Maybe your parents played the guitar and passed it down to you. Or, perhaps you saw your favourite band play live and were never the same.
Many guitarists and bassists experience this pull at an early age, and you may be one of them. But, many of these musicians struggle to choose between bass or guitar. They wonder whether bass or regular guitar is easier to learn first.
If you’re torn between these two instruments, keep reading! We’ll help you decide which instrument to learn in the guide below.
What Is a Bass Guitar?
People often refer to bass as a “bass guitar.” This term is a little misleading. While the electric bass is a member of the guitar family, its origins differ significantly from an acoustic guitar.
The horizontal bass so often seen in bands is a condensed version of the stand-up bass. Many orchestral ensembles use these instruments to form powerful basslines. This instrument also shows up in jazz and bluegrass music.
Manufacturers developed the first electric bass in the 1930s. It took the shape of a guitar, and its electrification helped it achieve a significant volume.
The electric bass seems similar in its design to an electric or acoustic guitar. However, both instruments have significant differences. We’ll discuss some of these in the next section. The electric bass has numerous of the same parts as an electric guitar. In any case, the bass guitar produces lower tones than the electric guitar.
Is a Bass or Guitar Bigger?
Starting musicians may have trouble distinguishing a bass and guitar. But, if you place them next to each other, you’ll notice the bass is often more prominent. At the very least, its scale length is longer. The bass guitar is regularly more significant than the standard electric or acoustic guitar. With four strings, it is very comparative to the guitar, but for the reality that its notes are approximately an octave lower than the guitar. Since of this, its normal part in a band is to act as a supporting instrument.
The scale length refers to the distance between the nut and bridge of an instrument. Generally, a bass guitar has a longer scale length.
The standard scale bass is 34 inches, while most six-string guitars have a scale length of 24-25.5 inches. This difference often makes guitars easier to “navigate.”
Finding the right length of guitar often depends on the brands you purchase. This article lists several of the best guitar brands, so check it out to find the best instrument for you!
Guitar and Bass Strings
Switching to guitar may be more challenging if you start as a bass player. This difficulty usually stems from guitars having more strings than bass guitars.
For example, most electric and acoustic guitars have six strings. The average bass has four.
Some guitars may have even more, such as twelve-string guitars. The difference in string numbers also affects how you play these instruments.
Bass strings are thicker than guitar strings. Bass players usually only pluck one note at a time to set the basslines for a song. Indeed even though there are regularly as it were four strings on a bass, bass strings are longer, thicker, and more costly than guitar strings. If you’re playing an electric guitar, steel or nickel strings are the way to go.
Guitars, however, rely much more on chords. One of the best ways to master the guitar is to memorize as many chords as possible.
Which to Learn First?
Choosing between a bass or guitar can be a challenge. Either option can be an excellent place to start your musical journey.
A bass guitar is more simplistic, making it an excellent place to begin your musical journey. However, starting with a regular guitar can build habits you can transfer to the bass. So, try handling either to see which one you prefer. Commit to whichever instrument you feel most drawn to for practising, and you’ll see advance.
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