1st BIG decision

[killtelly]

Hi. I want to join a band. First i need to learn an instrument. i want to either learn rhythm, or lead, or bass guitar.

Although i am young, i am in a hurry. i am confident that i would get the same joy no matter which instrument i play. therefore, WHICH INSTRUMENT will get me to where i want to be quicker?????


i would really appreciate hearing opinions of musicians!

THANKS!!!!

[cyberfret]

kill your television/seize the day

Your signature is a very wise statement. A life of just sitting in front of the televisions is a very sad life indeed. The number of people that spend 6 hours every day in front of the thing is frightening. Kill your television/seize the day are words to live by :)

OK, back to guitar.....

First, you will never play lead guitar without knowing how to play rhythm, so really the question comes down to the choice between guitar or bass. The answer is eventually both. All good bass players know a little guitar, and all guitar players should know how to play bass. But if the question is which one will get you into a band quicker. Probably the bass. There are less bass players in the world than guitar players. So chances are there are bands in your area that are looking for a bass player. Bass can be an extremely simple instrument, or it can be more involved. If you have a good sense of time, then you could probably be playing a few bands in a short period of time.

The down side is that bass is really not a instrument that you can just sit around and play songs.....and have them sound like a song. The bass is an instrument that is a part of the band. So if you wanted to sit around in your room and jam on some songs.....and be able to have someone say.... hey that is Metallica, you better play guitar.

You are right, you will probably enjoy either one. But don't be in to much of a hurry, make your decision based on what your really feel is the instrument that is right for you. You also might consider your hand size. If you have really small hands, then playing bass will be more difficult to reach and play notes. If you have really big hands, then bass may be easier to play than guitar.

Let us know what you get.

--Shawn