“I want to learn this song that has an F#minor7 in it.”
Me on guitar: F#minor7??!! I don’t know how to do an F#minor, never mind a 7th!! I can barely form an F major. I’ll need to make my fingers learn new positions! And can I do a sharp just by sliding up a fret or do I need to fret other strings too? Gaaaaauuuugh!!!
When I think about how I humm along to music I find that what I produce is closer to what the bass is playing, even if I am improvising along- it is more a fundamental harmony that sits under the vocals and lead.
I tried to learn guitar years ago but never really progressed beyond rhythm guitar. When I pick up my Stratocaster now it feels like I’m holding a toy guitar. Compared to my j-bass the Strat is so light and tiny and the strings feel so delicate. I feel a genuine and irrational fear that I’m going to break it if I try playing it now.
I “played” guitar for years before trying bass. Played in quotes as I was self taught and mostly just trying to memorize favorite songs. Never really dove in hard, and after all those years all I have to show is a few memorized licks that I can barely play anyway.
Picked up a bass, and within a few weeks of self teaching was already miles ahead of where I was in guitar, and after starting B2B I’m lightyears ahead of my guitar skills. Messed around with my old Jackson the other day, felt like a toy and I still suck.
