Bass vs. Electric Guitar?

Question:Well, right now I'm playing Classic Acoustic.
I was planning in the first place to move on, but I'm having trouble deciding which one to do.
What started all this was my love for the band Queen.
Brian May plays electric guitar, and I absolutely love his solos, but they are so insane, and watching him play them, I can't ever imagine being good enough to imitate them.
John Deacon plays bass, and although the tunes sound easier, and I love those also, I so wish I could play them, I feel like that would be really limited. Also, I don't know if this is normal, but John Deacon , instead of playing with his thumb, strumming downwards, he strums upwards, with his index and middle finger. It looks strange, but he's amazing, and I've tried it, but it didn't work out. Is this how you play bass? or is it just a John Deacon thing?

Is Bass very limited?
Is Electric too hard?
Is it possible to just learn both and be good at both?
Do you strum upwards for bass (thats hard...)?
Any other thoughts?

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker: Well, right now I'm playing Classic Acoustic.
I was planning in the first place to move on, but I'm having trouble deciding which one to do.
What started all this was my love for the band Queen.
Brian May plays electric guitar, and I absolutely love his solos, but they are so insane, and watching him play them, I can't ever imagine being good enough to imitate them.
John Deacon plays bass, and although the tunes sound easier, and I love those also, I so wish I could play them, I feel like that would be really limited. Also, I don't know if this is normal, but John Deacon , instead of playing with his thumb, strumming downwards, he strums upwards, with his index and middle finger. It looks strange, but he's amazing, and I've tried it, but it didn't work out. Is this how you play bass? or is it just a John Deacon thing?

Is Bass very limited?
Is Electric too hard?
Is it possible to just learn both and be good at both?
Do you strum upwards for bass (thats hard...)?
Any other thoughts?

I see questions like this all the time, and I usually dont answer because generally people are asking "which instrument is cooler." You seem to have a more intelligent take on the question, so here goes.

NEVER, and I mean NEVER bass your decision on how difficult an instrument is or isnt, or how great a guitarist is or isnt or anything like that. Choosing your instrument is a personal thing. How does it feel to you? What comes more naturally to you? By that I dont mean do you think you can play like Brian May. Trust me. I've been playing for over forty years and I'm here to tell you that there are not many people who can play like Brian May. So dont let that discourage you.

One of the posters mentioned it is important to "feel" the bass guitar. Bass is probably the easiest instrument on the planet to learn how to "play." Yet, it takes a lifetime to master. And it is almost entirely based upon feel. I contend that you cant teach someone how to feel bass. You can teach them how to play it. The rest comes from the player. If there is any truth to the word soul, it has a lot to do with bass playing. Because that's where it comes from in my opinion. A great bass player has to have a lot of soul. So if you find yourself sitting at Friendly's eating a burger and slugging down a chocolate Fribble and humming bass lines from your favorite songs to yourself, you just might be a bass player.

Lead playing is more "glam" of course. But dont kid yourself. Rhythm isnt bad either. Again, it's about the feel. I think both are more structured than bass in the sense that it's more up front. It's more easily copied, (assuming you have the tecnhical talent) and recognizable. If you are playing Classical Acoustic guitar, you probably already have the chops.

I suggest you spend less time trying to learn what a particular guitarist is playing, and try creating something of your own. Certainly, you are going to have influences, but when it comes to a "signature" chop by someone like Brian May, deviate from what he's doing and see where you take yourself. You may be surprised to find something you like even more.

To me, the key to learning how to play is not following any one artist, band or style. It is learning how to play. Dont learn songs. Learn what makes the song work. The structure, the chord patters, and how to use them in a general way. If you do that, you will find that the chord pattern you just learned actually fits into thousands of other songs. Too many young players learn a CAmFG progression in a song, and cant understand that the next song they try to learn is the same progression. LEARN THE THEORY. After that, the rest is just a matter of style.

And style my young friend, is what it's all about.

John Deacon plays bass in the classic way, plucking the strings with his fingers rather than strumming (you never strum a bass).
The finger position isn't that much different than the fingers playing classical, minus using the thumb, though a few bassists use their thumb too sometimes and many play with a pick.
It shouldn't be that hard for you if yuo've played classical!
To be a bass player you really have to be able to feel the bass lines. If guitar is really your thing, then pursue the guitar. It'll come faster than you think. To say that bass is limited is to not understand the purpose of the instrument, which is to provide the link between the drummer and the other instruments, and to lay down the beat. There are no limitations to that, or how funky and solid you can play. There are also bass players who are excellent soloists including Jaco Pastorius, Jeff Berlin, Billy Sheehan, and Jack Bruce. Do a youtube search for these guys to see what I"m talking about.
I'm a bassist who also plays guitar quite well including lead, but I'd never want to play guitar in a band - the strings are too damned small and I get cramps in my hands! I enjoy it much more for recording or in front of my PC.
Have fun.
PS: You're right, Brian May is a killer guitar player. There are several versions of his guitar you can buy these days too. Check ebay.

well, any instrument is OK and you can learn both if you have the money, and dont worry you'll be able to play Brian May solos if you practise, is not that he's the best, and the bass is not limited at all listen to some good bass players and you'll get it. billy sheehan from MR. Big i recommend you, and of course there are a lot more but as i am not a bass player i dont remember any. ohh and about the strum, it is called slap and is very common to use it

bass is boring guitar is fun
any instrument is hard
yes it is possible to be good at both

as you know from playing classical that most ranges of guitar playing are built around the major minor pentatonic and so on scales.if your accustomed to these scales i can not see why electric or base is not both possible.lead electric is maybe a bit more about interpretations of melody and really just going with the flow but is still based on and around the scales.base however follows more strictly to the scales.if you like to be upfront go lead but if you prefer to play in the comfort of the group choose base.