Slipknot guitarist Mick Thomson said every guitarist should also master the bass, explaining to Music Radar:
“Using different tools helps you break out of the mould.
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“After playing for a number of years, you fall into a certain pattern that’s just you. You become you more and more over time, and it gets hard to strip back and see other things. Writing on bass is such a different approach, plus it’s good for your fingers!
“It’s exercise for your fingers: you have to stretch more because of the scale length. Simply for the athletics, playing bass is great for guitar players, and offers a different perspective musically.
“With a bass in my hands, I tend to think more rhythmically or more sludgey. On a guitar, I might start throwing in little sweep arpeggios and have to force myself not to. On a bass, it’s a whole other thing, with physical strengthening that’s good for any player.
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“Your head will be in a different place, and I think that’s important. People don’t realize they probably repeat themselves more often than they think they do.
“If you feel stuck in a rut writing things or a certain part isn’t coming up for a song that needs something cool, play the fuckin’ bass!
“You’ll come up with something you wouldn’t have standing there with your guitar in the basement. Different ways of thinking are good; they keep your mind open.”