Who's more in demand: guitarists or bassists?

[Chris71]

Who do you think is more likely to be wanted in an amateur band?

I have a specific reason for asking. I used to be a fairly reasonable guitarist and I did the occasional open-mic type gig. Last year I started teaching myself the bass and progressed quite well before getting overtaken by events at the end of the spring and putting it away until, well, last night.

Now I'm thinking I'd like to get back into a band. It's intended mostly as a social thing, so, superficial as this sounds, I'm really not too fussed which instrument I play. Given a few months I can probably get either back up to basic pub band level - I only want to have a laugh - and I wondered which is more likely to be wanted?

[Z06George]

In my experience bassist are harder to find than guitarists, who seem to be everywhere at the minute. So I'd say go with bass

[Chris71]

I'm thinking bass for its 'new toy' value. I guess also bands tend to be formed by the people providing the melodies and/or the vocals. Unless they're also the singer bass players are more likely to be later additions to the line up perhaps?

[hman]

I play bass, I'm crap by all accounts but people still want me in their bands...

go figure????

[Asterix]

Good bass players, along with good drummers are rare beasts and are usually in high demand.

[Chris71]

hman said:

I play bass, I'm crap by all accounts but people still want me in their bands...

go figure????

Excellent! Sounds like much like myself (well the first bit anyway), so there's hope for me yet it seems.

[lockhart flawse]

drummers...

[Festive Ferg]

My brother is a bass player and he's always stepping into other bands.

[Bebee]

I've been in/out of bands since 1979, worked with some famous'ish folk. (just missed the getting the gig as drummer with The Charlatans in 1988)
In my experience (as a drummer, guitarist, keyboards and bassist, all done live) there is an abundance of ego maniac guitarist out there but good bassist are hard to come by. I get more work as a drummer first and as a bassist second.

There isn't that much more to learn on a bass if you're already a competent guitarist.

Edited by Bebee on Friday 17th December 17:18

[tank slapper]

Bebee said:

There isn't that much more to learn on a bass if you're already a competent guitarist.

That depends if you want to be a bass player, or a guitarist who plays bass.

[chevy-stu]

tank slapper said:

Bebee said:

There isn't that much more to learn on a bass if you're already a competent guitarist.

That depends if you want to be a bass player, or a guitarist who plays bass.

Haha... Definately..

[chevy-stu]

I'd play what you enjoy doing primarily....

Getting good on bass is a whole different skill and mindset to guitar....

[cartel]

tank slapper said:

Bebee said:

There isn't that much more to learn on a bass if you're already a competent guitarist.

That depends if you want to be a bass player, or a guitarist who plays bass.

Exactly. Most bass players are guitarists who are in a band with better guitarists so pick up the bass.

I would try to get really good at the bass.

[chevy-stu]

cartel said:

tank slapper said:

Bebee said:

There isn't that much more to learn on a bass if you're already a competent guitarist.

That depends if you want to be a bass player, or a guitarist who plays bass.

Exactly. Most bass players are guitarists who are in a band with better guitarists so pick up the bass.

I would try to get really good at the bass.

but the best players, (not the widley ones that bass magazines and music schools fawn over, but the one's that the rest of the band like) are usually proper bass player from the start. The ones who want to be supportive and lock in with the drummer to create that killer groove and pocket.

[chevy-stu]

cartel said:

tank slapper said:

Bebee said:

There isn't that much more to learn on a bass if you're already a competent guitarist.

That depends if you want to be a bass player, or a guitarist who plays bass.

Exactly. Most bass players are guitarists who are in a band with better guitarists so pick up the bass.

I would try to get really good at the bass.

but the best players, (not the widley ones that bass magazines and music schools fawn over, but the one's that the rest of the band like) are usually proper bass player from the start. The ones who want to be supportive and lock in with the drummer to create that killer groove and pocket.

[Mastodon2]

Guitarists who play bass are usually disasterously boring. My brother is excellent at bass and I couldn't even begin to fathom how to emulate what he does. I'm not a bad guitarist, but bass is completely different, despite looking superificially the same.

If your mindset is more bassist than guitarist anyway, I'd say go with bass. More opportunities for bands, and perhaps even more flexability to do your own thing in said bands.

[gbbird]

Bass players most definitely. Its a case of demand and supply, there are more wannabe guitarists than bass players

[Chris71]

How can I put this ... I am aiming to become a proper bassist and I'm making a point of learning things from first principles again, but it's strictly a hobby, so getting some enjoyable gigs is the main goal.

[timbob]

Be a proper bassist, learn to be a "feel" player - how to sit on a groove, and resist the desire of the guitarist in you to twiddle too much.

Also, learn to read music, and sight read well - you'll never be short of a job then.

[Mojooo]

bass

but then you'll be that boring one at the back wit the drummer

guitarist for the glory!