The Guitar Player's Resource
Hello there, guitar slingers!
The guitar and the bass are two relatively similar instruments, without many differences. So, is it possible to learn bass and guitar at the same time?
Simple answer, yes! There is no problem with that - you can study and practice both at the same time. Τhere is no reason why your development in the guitar can prevent you from playing bass or vice versa. Having said that, let me go through some specific points that will help you, in order to get better in both instruments.
1. Υou need to plan your daily guitar and bass practice schedule carefully.
Planning your practice schedule means that when you have two different instruments, you need to be a more organized with your schedule.
2. You must take care of your hands - watch out for any kind of pain.
Playing bass and guitar at the same time will give you difficulties with both of the instruments. The wide stretches of bass and the speed and flexibility of the guitar. This means more overwork and fatigue on the hands, so you need to be extra careful because even a relatively small injury can keep you off your practice for a long time (3–6 months on average).
3. Practice theory only on the guitar.
The guitar has six or more strings and therefore it is more conducive to practicing music theory on the guitar than on the bass. When it comes to theory, the piano is better than both instruments, but between guitar and bass, the guitar is the better option overall.
4. At first, start practicing the technique on the guitar.
Because of its significantly smaller scale, the guitar is a better instrument to start practicing your technique on. That means you are better off starting to learn techniques like hammer-ons, pull-offs, or the chord shapes on the guitar and then, slowly, moving on and applying most of them to the bass. This will give you a much smoother transition between guitar and bass and will minimize the chances of any injuries.
I hope this was helpful. You can watch this video, where I explain this topic in more detail.
If you're interested in developing your guitar skills and reaching your music goals please check the different packages of Elite Guitar Coaching Academy and how you can get private coaching from me.
Ioannis Anastassakis is a guitarist from Greece who has produced recordings in a variety of moods and styles, including flamenco and fusion.
His CD is entitled "Suspension Of Disbelief", his long-awaited rock/fusion instrumental album.
