Hey guys, sorry for asking a few ignorant questions, but it's the only place I can ask without being faced with elitist attitudes.

Well first of all, my friend really wants me to join his band and I'm willing to, but he wants me to be a bass player. To get this straight, I know how to play bass, but I have never owned one, I've just learned over time with friends at church and elsewhere. I can get a cheap bass like nothing, but the problem would be getting an amp. This is where the questions kick in.

#1. Would playing a bass on a guitar amp damage the amp or make the bass sound extremely wrong?

#2. If playing a bass on a guitar amp would be a problem, what are some good bass amps that aren't extremely expensive.

#3. Is it generally frowned upon to use a pick with the bass?

Thank you so much guys

-Jorge Ricardo Trevino-Carranza

I'm a bass player myself and what I know I (mostly) learned from http://www.studybass.com/ (check it out even if you think you know the instrument well which I believe you don't, so def check it out.)

#1 Yes, and yes.

#2 Go to a shop and experiment. You'll need a small amp for practicing (like 15 watts) in your room and a bigger amp for when you're jamming with everyone. Or if you don't mind to move your amp a lot, just get a bigger one. Go to a local music shop and experiment. Try them. See what you like the most. If you're not comfortable going there alone, go with someone who knows bass well. Otherwise you might loose money on something of bad quality.

#3 Playing with fingers gives you more control over the tone of your bass. You can mute the strings with your right hand too, instead of left hand only if you use a pick. Elitists will think those who use picks are just guitarists playing bass, but generally, it's not exactly true. For fast riffs, it's easier without practice to go with a pick, but using a 3 finger technique is what I like most. Tho it takes a lot of practice to be consistent. Depending on how you play, playing with fingers gives you a warmer tone when compared to pick playing.

If you have other questions, ask them here or at http://www.studybass.com/ (the biggest bass guitar community worldwide)

Bass Players are usually better as finger pluckers, You will not want to use a regular guitar amp for anything other than practice. Get Bass Player Magazine for techniques and what is best in gear for bass players.

Thanks so much, guys

I can play with both pick and fingers, but my finger playing isn't fast enough to support metal riffs. I'll just practice more if I can hang out with my bassist friends or get a bass for myself.