this post was submitted on 26 Sep 2025
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Hi, I am hobbyist musician. I play keyboards and I know bit of music theory. I am thinking about playing bass guitar.

My question is do I have to learn to play regular guitar (6 strings) or can I jump straight into the bass guitar (4 strings)

TIA

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[–] Skua@kbin.earth 9 points 1 month ago

There are transferrable skills between the two but they aren't the same instrument. There's no need to learn one before the other

While you can play a guitar like a bass or vice versa, it normally just sounds kinda bad. The chords that work on a guitar are often muddy on a bass, whereas a lot of bass parts would be quite dull on a guitar because the guitar lacks the thickness of sound to carry monophonic parts as well

Besides the choices of notes, the mechanics of playing can be a bit different too. The left hand skills are basically the same for each, although bass requires larger movements so there's a little adjustment needed. If you're playing with a pick then the right hand is largely the same, but the common fingerpicking techniques on the two are quite different. If you like your funk then you might be taking a look at slap bass, which can work on guitar if done delicately but would be quite unusual

[–] SneakyWeasel@lemmy.ca 7 points 1 month ago (1 children)

Just go straight to bass. Also take your time and learn good techniques.

Btw your fingers will be in so much pain from the strings for the first couple of weeks. At least mine were when i first started to learn.

I played so much once with my buddies that my 2 plucking fingers started to bleed. Was an amazing night.

[–] datavoid@lemmy.ml 2 points 1 month ago

Can try flat wound strings if bleeding fingers aren't for you as well, they aren't as bright but are so much nicer to play.

[–] Ziggurat@jlai.lu 7 points 1 month ago

Bass guitar is a different instrument, the only similarity with guitar is that the notes have the same position. However, the instrument role, and the technique are pretty different.

[–] tomjuggler@lemmy.world 7 points 1 month ago (1 children)

I would say go straight to bass - and expect to be invited to join a band in 6 months. Bassists are rare.

At one point I was a semi professional guitarist, so answer based on experience

[–] janakadombawela@lemmy.world 5 points 4 weeks ago