Hmm. I am not sure how to respond to this without
seeming rude, but I will give it a shot, and I
will ask for your understanding. If I fail at not
seeming rude, please understand it is not for lack
of trying. Also, in the interest of brevity, I
will be giving some rather sweeping
generalizations here. I certainly don't mean to
suggest that there are no exceptions.

That said...

I think the biggest problem most guitarists face
in regard to playing bass is, well, they sound
like guitarists who have decided to play bass.

While there are a few techniques that are used on
bass that are not often used on guitar, like ghost
notes, I think the biggest hurdle is often a
change of attitude, and I can't think of any books
out there that will help with that.

Case in point, the "really stand out from the
crowd" bit. I know you probably meant it as in
standing out from the crowd of other bass players,
but most seasoned bass players don't really think
of it this way. Certainly many of us know other
bass players who can do things that we can't, but
we don't tend to think of it as a competition, as
many guitar players seem to. I think most of us,
for instance, are happy to let another player sit
in and play a few tunes at a gig, and we don't
tend to worry so much about being shown up. I know
other bass players who can do things I can't, and,
I can do things that they can't, and the end
result is that we admire each-other for our
respective strengths. Many guitar players, in my
experience, at least, tend to be more competitive
about such things.

This, I think, is because our roles are so
different. A guitar player is the star, at least
for a few bars, while he plays a solo in almost
every tune. A bass player, on the other hand, is
the foundation, and is usually not meant to stand
out, except for perhaps one or two solos during
the whole night.

And, that is the way many of us like it. I would
even go so far as to say that those one or two
solos make a lot of us uncomfortable. At least
regarding our instruments, we have what is
basically a background role, and that's fine with
us. Our job is to provide the foundation for the
stand-out people to dance across.

I think for many guitarists, changing to bass is
as foreign a concept as suddenly being pulled off
stage and being told that henceforth their job
will be to run lights. It is a paradigm shift, and
most guitar players don't seem to be able to make
it.

So, the short answer is, there really are no books
for your situation, and the biggest hurdle you
face is a change of attitude. Probably. :)

Again, I don't mean to be rude, and I sincerely
hope you will take this in the spirit in which it
is intended. You asked, and I gave you an answer
that was as honest and objective as I was able to
give.

Kelly

Kelly, you answer was in no way taken as being rude. I know exactly what you mean and agree with you. I am not changing to bass but rather trying to add it to my list of instruments played for recording. At this stage I think practice and then some more practice is possible the best way to go.

The biggest change I have noticed is the way a guitarist and a bass player frets the note. The guitarist with the tip of the finger and the bass player with the pad.

Playing guitar really does not include a lot of pop, slap or ghost notes and I had thought about trying to get these down pat asap.

I know I am a guitarist who is trying to play a bass and will not be a bass player unless I put in a lot of hard yards to get there and at age 40 and committed to guitar dont think I will manage it.

I appreciate your input and honest answer. At least I will be able to play the bass for my own home recordings and feel good that I have done all the instruments I suppose.

The reason I posted this thread was from your thread about listening to music. I laid down some bass stuff today and was not really happy with it as other than a deeper tone, I could not really tell the difference between the bass line and the guitar line, while playing the riff for 'Heard It Through The Grapevine' by CCR.

All the books I looked at were far too basic so I ventured to ask the question and got a honest answer. Cool.

There really isn't too much difference between the bass line and guitar line in that song. The bass line is a little less note-happy than the guitar, but it's quite close.

Warren,

I'm glad you took it the way I meant it. One
thing, though, regarding "The guitarist with the
tip of the finger and the bass player with the
pad."

Ideally, notes on the bass are also fretted with
the tips of the fingers. However, the reach
involved often necessitates a little fudging in
this regard. Also, the players who insist upon
wrapping their thumbs over the neck will usually
find it impossible to play with anything
but the pads, again because of the greater
reach needed.

Also, of course, there are various things
involving economy of motion, like with the
stereotypical "country" bass line that goes I-V,
I-V, and so on. Often players will fret the note
on the lower string with the tip, then flop their
finger down to play the one on the higher string.

So, yeah, we do tend to use the pad, but sometimes
it's not on purpose, sometimes it is with a proper
technique that requires it, and sometimes it's
because we just have poor technique.

But, when running scales and so on, it is best to
try to fret with the tips, just as on guitar.

Kelly

Kelly Your tip about the pads verses the tips of the fingers makes me feel better as I find I am using the tips more than the pads.

Warren,
Glad to hear it. :) You've started off in the right
direction.

Kelly

Well put my friend!

yfMo

I second AND third that...

Thanks, my friends:)

Yo Warren,
You can go to this web site www.Bass Remedies.com.
It is run by Patrick Pfieffer, he wrote the Bass Guitar for Dummies book. Check it out!! :^D
Black Hawk