"Smoke on the Water" (Deep Purple, 1972)
“Smoke on the Water” has enjoyed widespread popularity since 1972, when guitarist Ritchie Blackmore conjured what is possibly the world's most famous guitar riff ever.
The bass is typically played at a lower volume than a guitar, making it easier to hear the notes you are playing. A bass guitar is easier to learn than a guitar because it only has four strings rather than six. It is flexible, allowing for textures to be used to support melodic instruments such as the guitar.
After a number of part exchanges, he eventually ended up on what is now his iconic and signature instrument… a 1962 Fender Jazz bass. This guitar is deemed as John's number one instrument and has played a key part in his career both in his session work and throughout the glory years of Led Zeppelin.
Nirvana's Krist Novoselic is known for his love of the Gibson Ripper bass, a guitar made in the 1970s. He owned three of them during his Nirvana days, and still enjoys playing that particular model today.
Because it is a support instrument, the bass is underrated. There is no such thing as a “lead” instrument in this case. There is little melody in basses, they play solo instruments (usually without much fanfare), and they rarely get much attention. The bass is essential in driving the music, as well as the drum kit.
Fender's electric bass guitar was easier to play than the traditional upright, fretless bass — and much easier to transport. Electric bass guitars also produced a more substantial low-end rumble that filled the room. If you want to play rock and roll, electric bass guitars are the best choice for beginners.
In a band environment, empathy for both instruments is really useful. But is it easier to play bass than guitar? Well, probably – less strings and no chords. Remember though that both will require mastering the basic building blocks of left/right hand coordination and rhythm, plus technique and scales.
Basically, your brain picks up on the rhythms of lower, bassier music faster than it does high-pitched noises. Researchers theorize that this is why music from various ethnic origins around the world is largely designed with background rhythms made up of lower tones.
Fender Precision Bass
This iconic instrument has been a go-to choice not only for Metallica but also for countless other musicians across diverse genres due to its rich and powerful sound that fits perfectly in any mix.
Elvis posed with a Fender Precision Bass in his 1965 film, "Girl Happy". Elvis in the 1966 film "Spinout", with what appears to be his '62 Precision Bass behind him.
Paul played with a pick from his earliest days on the instrument, and continued this habit all throughout his career. It's rare to find a Beatles where he plays with his fingers instead. Using a pick has a number of tonal advantages, particularly with the violin-style basses that Paul liked to use.
The Beatles started out like most other rock and roll bands, employing a standard guitars/bass/drums instrumentation. As their touring days wound down, they became a full-time studio band.
The Höfner 500/1 Violin Bass (sometimes nicknamed the "Beatle Bass" or "Cavern Bass") is a model of electric bass manufactured by Höfner under several varieties. It was introduced in 1955 and gained celebrity status during the 1960s as the primary bass used by Beatles bassist Paul McCartney.
Yes, they absolutely do. The key thing to understand is that chord tones are the heart of a bassline. Other notes derived from scales, or chromatic notes, serve to complement and embellish the chord tones. Without properly emphasizing chord tones, you will end up with a weak bassline.
Playing the bass requires a different knowledge base and skill set, so to speak. So no, the bass isn't necessarily easier to play than the electric guitar. If you can't play the guitar, then just play bass. This is somewhat connected to the myth above.
Is It Hard to Go From Guitar to Bass? It isn't hard to go from guitar to bass because many of the techniques and skills you know apply to bass as well. There are new techniques and skills you need to learn when going from guitar to bass, but most guitarists find it an easy transition.