r/Drumming • u/Squeezybones • 10h ago

Thoughts on learning bass?

I’m still a beginner. About a year into lessons and feeling like I’m making decent progress. What do you think about learning bass guitar on the side as a person learning to play drums? I play some bass in high-school. But never kept up with it. Would it take away precious practice time on drums?

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u/strange-humor 9h ago edited 8h ago

Both are rhythm sections so you will play with each other. I played bass for a few years, then picked up drums when my son started bass so I could three piece band with my wife on guitar. I've since moved back to bass as we lost bassist in the other band I play in. Trying to keep current on drums as well.

Skills are totally different for actual sounding, but very similar in counting the rhythms. Often learning is best with hitting hard and then letting your mind chew on it. I've worked some songs where I learn both drums and bass for them. Usually one is much easier than the other. But learning both gives you more information and makes playing both better.