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I played bass first.  Bass and guitar are very different.  I find it more difficult to play a good solid bass line and make it sound OK than it is to strum or pick a pattern over a set of chords and make it sound OK.  But that's just me.  Your mileage may vary. 

When you play guitar, you are playing in support of the lyrics and voice.  Usually, you emphasize the chords when you emphasize voice and vice versa.  Sometimes you add in a little fill, but mostly guitar and voice work together.

With bass, you are often playing a counterpointed rhythm and working fills.  You MUST maintain a rock steady beat.  Mess up timing with guitar and it's jazz.  Mess up timing with bass and it's wrong. 

So, while you are playing few notes at a time with bass, bass requires a very different mindset to play it well. 

I find it completely natural to sing and play guitar.  I cannot sing while playing bass to save myself. 

When playing chords on a guitar, you are often working shapes with muscle memory on your fingers.  You CAN play chords on bass, but usually it's two notes of the chord at once or arpeggios.  You've got to know your relative positions well.  It's possible to play guitar without knowing where the second of the root, or the fifth of the root is so long as you know what shape to put your fingers in.  With bass, you better know where the second or the fifth is.  In fact, it helps to know where two or three seconds or fifths (or thirds or fourths or sevenths) are.  You have to remember which notes to flat when playing minor chords, etc.

None of this is to say it's harder or easier to play bass, but it IS different. 

I found learning guitar easier because of the (limited) theory and scale work I've done on bass.  I tried playing guitar many times before, but after having worked theory and scale exercises to play my bass better, and THEN trying guitar, I found it pretty easy.  So there is definitely some overlap.

Hope that's not too long-winded and contradictory.

- Zurf

Thanks. Had five of them that size that day.  Plus I lost count of how many I had that were just a couple inches shorter.  At least a dozen.  Good day on the river with an excellent guide. 

- Zurf

Nature did that to me.

http://picasaweb.google.com/HalfFastPad … 3482807970

- Zurf

Popdevil -

I can't give advice on the action as I don't have the foggiest about how to go about making that correction.

However, on changing the nut, probably not necessary.  BUT if you feel like it, you shouldn't worry about high end tires on a low end car.  Despite the mis-matched appearance, those tires still perform better than low-end tires.  So, if you like the sound of bone nuts, put on a bone nut.  I don't know that it makes much of a difference to me, but it's not my guitar now is it? 

But before the expense of changing the nut, something that you may like to do is play around with different string types, sizes, and such.  The strings make the biggest difference in sound and they're relatively inexpensive.  So, you get a lot of bang for the buck when trying out strings.  My two cents worth on it anyway. 

- Zurf

So I've got the Scots to blame for my poor geometry grades...

You really should try partying with some of those Buckeyes.  They're a fun crowd.  Just keep your barnyard animals locked up when they're about.  (Buckeye is the term for folks from Ohio.  The folks in Ohio think that it refers to a kind of tree that grows very large all around the state, but most everyone else recognizes that it's talking about the fruit of the tree, which is a worthless nut.)  (Simmer down, Buckeyes.  I kid because I care.) 

- Zurf

You'll get there.  Take it easy with yourself.  You NEVER stop learning guitar or music.  Last year I was at a campfire with some buddies and one of the guys there was new.  The old traditionals were playing guitar and swapping songs.  They invited me to play a couple songs, which I did, even after only eight months of playing and things were VERY rough  but they were kind.  One fellow was kind enough to say, "You stick with it D.  It's working out for you." 
But then the new fellow was asked to play a song.  He went into what I can only describe as rock and roll jazz metal acoustic riffs and licks and everyone, including the two fellows who have kept everyone entertained for years, sat slack jawed.  Then one of them got up and moved to the other side of the campfire.  He had been sitting next to the new guy.  Someone asked if he was jealous.  He said, "Heck no!  I just want to see how he's doing this!"  This was said by a fellow with three albums and immeasurable pub gigs to his name. 

Anyway, you're certainly in the hardest part of it.  Stick to your practice, especially the theory and scales.  I wish that I had stuck to them earlier on (I'm only into guitar a year and a quarter at this point).  Those who have have accelerated past me rapidly.  Russell Harding and Jerome ONeill are FANTASTIC theory coaches.  They are willing to share, and that makes this forum a better place.  Then there's other folks who are great with strumming and how to read tabs and all sorts of things.  The folks on this forum have helped me along in ways I find hard to fathom. 

Anyway, it's worthwhile.  Stick with it.  Take time at each breakthrough to stop and have a celebration moment.  If you're by yourself, what the heck high five yourself.  If you like, come on here and tell us.  Lots of folks just taking up guitar on the forum.  We can commiserate and share what we've learned and be a support net for one another. 

- Zurf

Wild Turkey.  Yum. 

Since Jack Daniels went to 80 proof, I have been checking out other bourbons.  For years I was a JD fan.  When they went from 90 proof to 86 proof, I stuck with them.  When they went from 86 proof to 80 proof, I didn't see the point of continued loyalty.  So I've been trying some alternatives.  Jim Beam, not so much.  OK for mixing with ginger ale but not a sipping whiskey to me.  Wild Turkey is good.  Good either mixed or straight.  I tried the 101 proof and didn't care for it.  Too much kick, not enough flavor.  Anyway, good old-fashioned Wild Turkey has a strong flavor that stands up to mixers well.  I particularly like it with a little Coke (the drink, not the powder).  I tried Southern Comfort, which is really a whiskey based liquor (or however you spell lick-core).  Good on ice, but very, very sweet.  Then I found some Elijah Craig 12 year aged on sale and have a new favorite.  It's even 87 proof and less expensive than JD.  On ice, I prefer to put just a little tiny splash of ginger ale or lime juice or Triple Sec in it.   Very nice to sip on slllllloooooowwwwwwlllllllllyyyyyy.  It'll put a hurt on you if you go too fast and while some chordians seem to prefer that, I'm not in favor of it for myself. 

Burning stuff is good too.  We should do that in the Spring, which is getting awful close.  Beat some songs out on our flat-tops, sing loud, sip bourbon, and burn stuff.  Now that sounds like a party!

- Zurf

When asked why Mexico has such poverty, President Fox replied, "A hundred years ago your country took the half of our country that had roads." 

- Zurf

Am.  I have no reason for liking it.  I just do.

- Zurf

Russell - 

Thanks for bringing a smile to my face.  Great story.

- Zurf

You should sing what you know other people like hearing you play.  Plus you should play and sing what you enjoy playing and singing, because if it puts a smile on your face it will come through and put a smile on other people's faces too.

Some I like:

Peaceful Easy Feeling

Wreck of the Old 97

Boy Named Sue

Changes in Lattitudes, Changes in Attitudes
(but if you play that, someone will want Margaritaville as surely as night follows day)

Everybody's Talking

Walking Man (I can't play it right, but it's a good song that everyone knows, more or less everyone anyway)

Jim Croce cut his musical teeth in bars and cafe's so his music works real well in that environment.  Some upbeat favorites:

Rapid Roy the Stockcar Boy
Roller Derby Queen
Carwash Blues 
Don't Mess Around With Jim

My $0.02 worth, if even that.

- Zurf