Guitar vs Bass
Many people aren’t sure which type to go for when it comes to learning guitar. Sure, there’s the standard guitar, which is good all round. But what about the bass? How does this larger, bulkier instrument compare to the lighter, more popular standard guitar? Let’s find out!
Guitar overview
Guitars are melodic instruments, meaning the range is the same as a human voice. A guitar has six strings, compared to a bass’s four, and thinner strings that hit high notes with aplomb but can’t reach the low notes of the bass. The guitar’s rich, mellow sound is what you first notice. Versatile, the guitar can “sing” or fade into the background to provide the body of the music.
Pros and cons
As a melodic instrument, the guitar is particularly useful. You can not only use a guitar to harmonise with the singer, but you also have the opportunity to get truly creative with the increased potential chord combinations.
In addition, the guitar is the smaller, more portable option of these two instruments.
That said, the standard guitar is also the more difficult option for beginners to learn. Guitar vs bass, the guitar requires solid and nimble fingers to carry out the precise finger movements needed. Prepare for callouses!
Read this article on whether it is easy to learn guitar or not.
Bass overview
The lower-pitched of the two, one difference between bass and guitar is that the bass guitar typically has just four strings. In addition, this large instrument is tuned precisely one octave lower than the standard guitar. As a result, a bass guitar plays more simple lines than a standard guitar.
Another critical difference between bass and guitar is a wider variety of basses. The “long-scale” bass, for example, has a 34” neck. “Short-scale” basses can have necks as low as 30”. They have thicker strings than a standard guitar, and some basses even have fretless necks. This doesn’t make them any more portable to carry around, though!
Pros and cons
Is bass easier than guitar? Generally, plucking with your fingers rather than strumming, and with fewer strings, the bass is more straightforward and quicker to learn.
On the other hand, this instrument is comparatively large, heavy, and has a limited functionality compared with the standard guitar.
Similarities and differences between guitar and bass
The guitar and bass guitar are both guitars. They both have strings, though different numbers, but the bass has thicker strings than the guitar, and together, the two instruments can harmonise to produce beautiful music.
Similarities
Yes, they are both guitars and stringed instruments. They can also harmonise by playing the same melody together at two different pitches to create a brilliant sound. You can play the same chords on both types of guitar, though you need to fret them on the bass.
Differences
The guitar has six strings, while a bass typically has four thicker strings and is a larger instrument with a lower range. The guitar is smaller and more portable than the bass, too.
Learning Curve (Pace of Improvement)
The deep, rhythmic bass is played by plucking, while guitars sound best when picked. As a result, you’ll master the plucking skills needed for the bass quickly, while the strumming required to play guitar can take a bit longer to get the hang of. However, you may have a shorter pace of improvement if you already play a stringed instrument - or, indeed, any instrument.
Difficulty
At first, the bass may seem like the more straightforward instrument of the two to learn. After all, there are fewer strings to deal with. But it’s also bigger than a typical guitar, which makes it much heavier. The bass has thicker strings, too, which makes it more difficult for beginners to get a note out at first. Once you master those four strings, though, you’ll be on a roll!
So, what about the standard guitar? This instrument indeed has two more strings for you to get the hang of. But these strings are thinner and easier to play as soon as your fingers recover. The six strings also mean there are more chords to pick up. This can pose a real workout for your fingers and can be a challenge to remember.
Check out this article on how long to practise guitar for some advice on learning.
Musical Parts (more possibilities with chords on guitar)
Usually played by plucking, the bass generally provides the rhythm for a band and is suitable for jazz, rock, metal, and more. However, the increased chord possibilities on a standard guitar mean it is suited to more genres and gives you more opportunities to get creative.
Why Guitar is Better
You aren’t sure whether to choose the guitar or bass? Ultimately, your choice should depend on your preferences and tastes. Of course, you’ll want to play music by your favourite artists, musicians or bands, but the guitar is the best choice if you can't decide.
Covers more styles
Who are your favourite artists? Do you like to listen to a little bit of everyone? You’ll probably prefer to learn the guitar if this is you. With more strings and a broader range, the traditional guitar can cover more genres and styles than the bass guitar, so you can do it with the guitar if you want to rock out and have a jam.
More sounds
As we mentioned earlier, the bass can only produce a lower sound, suitable for a range of genres but featuring mainly in the background of the music. However, the guitar can create a more fantastic range of sounds. This makes the guitar suitable for rock, jazz, and all sorts of genres.
Read about the different types of guitar and what they are best suited for.
Popularity
Listen to any radio station for an hour, and you’ll be hard-pressed to come across a song without a guitar in it! The ubiquitous guitar features in most genres, cultures, and music worldwide.
Final verdict
Ultimately, the choice of which instrument to learn is yours. Sure, the guitar may be easier to grasp, but bassists are more in-demand. And while guitars are simpler to pick up, the bass plays the fundamental supportive role and produces a unique sound that you won’t get with anything else.
Learn more about the benefits of playing guitar which may help you make a more informed decision.
Personal preference
Do you want to learn a rich, deep instrument that doesn’t overtly steal the show but holds the music together? Or would you rather play an instrument that can do more?
Lead by musical genre
Maybe you already appreciate a particular genre, or you have plans to play in a specific type of band. Think about the genre you want to play and let that help you decide what to learn.
Find a teacher
When you’ve decided what you want to play, find a teacher who specialises in that genre or instrument. Although there are many free resources online for the self-taught learners, weigh up the pros and cons of learning guitar by yourself vs having a private tutor. Our guitar teaching methods will have you up and flying in no time.
