When I first decided to learn an instrument, choosing between bass or guitar felt so confusing as a newbie. I couldn’t tell which one matched my musical interests best.
Both seemed so slick up on stage! This fun little quiz will help you discover whether you’re destined to play singing guitar leads or rumbling basslines.
Play Bass or Guitar
Work through a few basic questions, and my personalized recommendations will reveal if guitar or bass is the best fit for you right now. Let’s get started!
Do You Want to Play Low or High Notes?
When I first started exploring different musical instruments, I had to decide whether I wanted to play low notes or high notes. As a beginner, I just realized there was little difference between the bass and the guitar in terms of pitch range.
The bass guitar actually plays much lower notes than the standard electric guitar. The bass has thicker strings that vibrate at lower frequencies, producing those deep, low notes.
The electric guitar’s strings are thinner and tighter, tuned to play higher notes. The lowest string on a guitar still plays higher than the highest string on a bass.
Here’s a comparison of how standard bass and guitar tunings differ in pitch range:
| Instrument | Lowest String | Highest String |
|---|---|---|
| Bass Guitar | E1 | G2 |
| Electric Guitar | E2 | E4 |
As you can see, an electric guitar is tuned an entire octave higher than a bass guitar. So, if you want to play high-screaming solos, go for the guitar.
If you love those deep, rumbling basslines, grab a bass! The choice is yours – your ears will know which pitch range speaks to your soul.
Do You Want to Play Lead or Supporting Role?
When starting, I just realized that bass and guitar often play different roles in a band.
As I began dreaming of up on stage, I had to decide – did I want to play lead guitar riffs and solos in the spotlight, or did I want to hold down the groove as a bassist?
- As the name suggests, the lead guitarist often plays out front, soloing and embellishing the songs with fancy riffs and textures. The audience really keys in on what the guitarist is playing.
- The bass guitarist generally plays a more supportive background role, locking in with the drums to provide songs with a solid rhythmic foundation.
- As an extrovert who loves being the center of attention, I was initially drawn to the electric guitar for the chance to play those sweet lead lines. I later realized that many introverts love playing bass precisely because they can hang back and not feel pressure to be in the spotlight.
- Of course, you don’t HAVE to play lead guitar just because you pick electric. I focused more on rhythm guitar in bands, which I enjoyed. Similarly, talented bass soloists can still capture the audience’s attention with thundering bass solos and advanced techniques!
Can You Handle the Weight of a Bass Guitar?
When I first tried holding bass guitars at the music shop, I realized they were much heavier than I expected. My skinny arms struggled to support the weight for more than a few minutes before getting fatigued.
In comparison, I could easily swing the lighter electric guitars around and strike rockstar poses all day long without any problem. For my smaller build, bass guitars felt too heavy to hold comfortably for an entire gig.
So when choosing between bass and guitar, make sure you honestly evaluate the weight and feel. Test different models at the store in a playing position to choose what your body type can handle best.
You want an instrument that feels ergonomic rather than tiring out your arms or back. Let your own strength and comfort guide whether bass or guitar is the right fit.
How Much Complexity Are You Seeking?
When deciding between bass or guitar, I had to ask myself – did I want an instrument with more complexity or something more straightforward to learn?
- The electric guitar, with its 6 strings and 20+ frets, offers incredible options for complex chords, scales, and solos. Mastering all those notes and fretboard positions represents a steep learning curve.
- Bass guitars only have 4 strings and longer fretboards suited for playing one note at a time. Bassists more commonly play relatively simpler basslines outlining the chord changes. Less complexity to wrap your head around.
Here’s how the initial learning process compares:
-
- Guitar: Memorize complex chord shapes, train fingers to form barre chords, and coordinate strumming patterns.
- Bass: Focus more on pitch, rhythm, and finding the root notes of chords. Less coordination is needed to sound decent.
I ultimately chose guitar because I loved the potential for complexity – so many notes to create interesting melodies and textures with!
However, some prefer keeping it simple and gravitate toward the bass as an easier starting point.
What Does Your Musical Quiz Result Suggest?
After reading through my guidance on choosing guitar vs bass, you may have taken the fun quiz I put together.
Let’s overview what your quiz result means!
The quiz asked you questions related to the key decision factors we covered:
- Desired pitch range
- Preferred role in a band
- Strength and comfort considerations
- Appetite for complexity
Your responses determine which instrument the quiz recommends.
Here is what each result means:
| Quiz Result | Suggestion | Reasons |
|---|---|---|
| Electric Guitar | Your answers indicate you likely prefer the higher register, lead sound, lighter weight, and intricate possibilities of the guitar. | Higher notes, frontperson mentality, handle lighter body, drawn to complexity |
| Bass Guitar | Your responses suggest the deeper tones, supportive role, heavier build, and simpler baseline concept of bass guitar appeals more. | Lower register, backline duty, physically handle weight, less complex |
| Either Guitar or Bass | You have an equal affinity for traits of both instruments. Consider secondary factors like versatility, cost, etc. | No strong preference signaling clear choice |
Hopefully, working through all my guidance gave you the confidence to go with what naturally speaks to your musical interests and tendencies! Trust the quiz’s suggestions – or override them if another element draws you more.
Choose the bass or guitar that ignites passion inside YOU – the instrument you’ll stick with and enjoy learning on a deeper level over many years to come! Let your musical journey begin!!
FAQ
Q: Is it easier to learn bass or guitar first?
For me, bass was easier to start on. With only 4 strings and simpler parts, I could pick up basic basslines faster. The guitar took more coordination with both hands to make decent-sounding chords.
Q: Can I learn both bass and guitar?
Absolutely! Once you learn the basics on one, many concepts transfer over. Focus on truly mastering one instrument first before splitting your practice time. Many musicians play both guitar and bass, either in bands or recording.
Q: Which makes more money – professional bass or guitar player?
Typically, lead guitarists earn more as musical stars and do solos. But top session bassists also make great living recording tracks for albums. For most non-famous players, guitar and bass pay is more comparable overall.
Q: What genre fits bass vs guitar best?
Bass is essential in almost every genre – pop, funk, blues, metal, etc. Standout lead guitar is very common in rock, blues, and metal. But again, both instruments contribute to virtually any style. Choose based on YOUR preferred genres.
