Tracks to get me started

[andyalfa]

Hi,
I play bass guitar in a covers band, but am I’m about to invest in an EUB. I would like to learn 3 or 4 easy numbers to play so it can start earning its keep quickly. I quite fancy doing “Fever” and “These Boots are Made for Walking”, both of which are new to me. I also want to try “Stray Cat Strut” and The Cure’s “Love cats”, both of which I already do on bass guitar. However, I was wondering if you guys had any suggestions as to what else would be good to get me started.

[ToneRanger]

I got Rufus Reid's book "The Evolving Bassist" and just worked through the exercises until I felt comfortable enough to play with other people. Then I invited a few friends to play jazz standards from the Real Book - we get together most Monday nights for 'music therapy' and I work on my fluency on the upright.
After 30+ year playing BG it's hard to make the transition - physically hard work - but I'm getting there, and now playing the upright for more than half my blues band's repertoire.

[abaguer]

A great record to work out to is the Oscar Peterson Trios' Night Train. It has a bunch of mid tempo bluesy numbers (as well as Georgia on My Mind and Volare) which are nice swinging tempos that will give you a good workout and you'll have Ray Brown's excellent example to get you coppin' the feel. I highly recommend this.
Another way to get used to playing upright is to get some good old country or bluegrass cds, the( type that actually use upright) and play along with those. Since most of them will be dominated by two feels on the Root and fifth with passing tones, you'll get another kind of feel workout than swing. Emmylou Harris and the Nash Ramblers Live at the Ryman is a very good example with lots of different types of songs (Bill Monroe, Stephen Foster, Bruce Springsteen, Creedence etc) and tempos. It has the late/great Roy Huskey Jr. on bass. Have fun.