Just picked up a new bass. It's like an old friend.

[projectsplat]

Hey,

I'm Alister. I have joined tonight (Australian time) as I have just bought a new bass, and have started playing again after about 10 years.

I played bass for a while in high school and a bit afterwards. Nothing serious. Mostly stuffing about. In 98 I lost the use of my left index finger and thumb after smashing myself on a mountain bike, so had to hang up the bass for a while.

Anyway, 10 years on, the fingers work again and on the weekend I went out and laid down some folding to buy a Yamaha RBX270. (My previous bass was a Yamaha RBX as well).

During high school, I listened to every Primus album I could buy on repeat for about 5 years, so I guess you could say that Les Claypool is an influence.

A few years back, I was working with a bloke called Bob Daisley who really inspired me to get back into playing bass, although it took a few years....

So now I am back playing the bass, trying to get back into the swing of things and see where it goes from there....

Cheers

Al

edit- I am going to use this thread kinda like a blog of what I am up to, and to track my progress with the bass. If it looks like no one else is talking in here, you are most likely right. It's just me talking to myself...

edit- yes the photo is LAME... I had to get the mrs to take a shot of me with the bass in the back carpark of the music shop where I bought it. I was like a kid at christmas...

9640937.jpg

[projectsplat]

well, I have sorted out some lessons starting this week. I figure best to start with that and avoid any bad habits. Also going to try and buy a case this week to save it getting damaged going to and from.

For some reason I was awake at 3.30 this morning. About half an hour of jamming with my headphones on was enough to chill me out so I could get some sleep.

I found a little Altoid Mint Headphone amp on eBay that works a treat, although listening to it through the Sennheisers made me realise how noisy the front pickup is on the RBX270. I'd been told to expect a bit of a hum from the front pickup, but I might get a second opinion on this one. Just a bit too noisy for my liking. In the meantime, I have dialled in just the rear pickup, which works just fine.

Well, guess I should stop talking to myself.... Got work to do.

[WhisperAPrayer]

Haha,

Where'd you get that, it kinda looks like the back of Cranbourne Music, lol.

[projectsplat]

oh that was good. seriously.

so, do you spend much time hanging out in the carparks behind music stores??

"pssst. buddy. over here. wanna buy a sweet bass? how 'bout a 5 string? maybe fretless?"

yeah, guilty as charged. picked it up at Cranbourne Music on the weekend. drove down on Saturday morning to pick it up. great shop, good crew there. worth the drive - although found out about the city store when I got there... (i live in preston)

[WhisperAPrayer]

Haha, Skillled,

I was there just today at lessons actually.

[projectsplat]

yeah nice one. I would love to do lesson there, but unfortunately it is an hour each way to get out there. I signed up for some lessons in Brunswick starting Thursday night. Cant wait. It will be good to get someone to slap me across the head and point me in the right direction!!

though I am still having fun stuffing about in the meantime.

[Stumbo]

Welcome to TB!

You might want to check out the links in my sig. for some great TB bass info.

Good luck. Let us know how it's going.

Best,
Stumbo

[projectsplat]

Cheers Stumbo,

I actually found your links last night whilst trolling through the site. Nice work there bloke. They are a fantastic resource for a noob like me. I really appreciate the effort that you and others have put into making it easier for us newcomers to get past the initial stumbles that can occur when learning a new instrument.

Al

- Just bought a flight case for the bass so that it doesn't get trashed going to and from lessons. niiiice.

[projectsplat]

urgh. I just spotted a 5 string RBX on eBay. Brand new going cheap. Can't justify a second bass when still learning to use the first. torture....

[projectsplat]

I did my first lesson tonight. it was great. My tutor Jeremy pointed out some bad habits, gave me some good tips on getting around the fretboard more cleanly and started me off on some scales and a sweet Led Zepplin riff to stuff about with.

Spent the three hours since practising and jamming away with tunes on my laptop. I seriously havent been this excited since I was about 10, and that was quite a while ago.... My forearms hurt, my fingers hurt, and I am happy. Time for sleep.

[Stumbo]

I suggest you take some breaks while practicing so you don't hurt as much. Just work your way gradually into it. If you hurt, you can damage your nerves that may take awhile to go away. Like carpal tunnel.

[projectsplat]

Originally Posted by Stumbo

I suggest you take some breaks while practicing so you don't hurt as much. Just work your way gradually into it. If you hurt, you can damage your nerves that may take awhile to go away. Like carpal tunnel.

Thanks again. I managed to get tendonitis when I was rock climbing years ago, so i am trying to avoid doing any damage. At this stage, it seems like just the muscles and finger tips just getting used to a bit of work for once... I also picked myself up one of the gripmaster hand trainers (I feel so 80's) which is helping just to build a bit of finger strength. After only a few days, it already feels like it is helping.

I have my second lesson tomorrow. Rather stoked. Been banging out (or attempting to) on the basslines for Day Tripper (Beatles) and Black Dog (Led Zepplin) for a week now - plus some scales. Keen to see how I am progressing and bash some of the bad habits back into their box.

I have also been diving through my music collection just getting a feel for what kind of tunes I really like, rather than what I think I like - and getting an idea of what kind of bass I want to be playing. I am a bit surprised in the difference. Whilst I like Primus & Korn etc, I am actually keen to get into playing tunes more in the direction of Cake, Pixies, Breeders, Porno for Pyros, Gorillaz and Peeping Tom, although I don't think I will be anywhere near ready for the walking basslines of Cake for a long while yet.

Still, the bass is loads of fun, and keeping me sane through the long hours I am spending editing this TV series. Definitely loving my bass.

Seriously thinking about buying a second bass to sit in the edit suite... shhhh don't tell the mrs....

[MonetBass]

Welcome back to bass, man. Enjoy! Yeah, stay away from the TB classifieds unless you want you wallet seriously lightened.

[two fingers]

Welcome!

[WhisperAPrayer]

Try some excursuses.

My favorite hand warmer uperer. lol.

Is the spider.

It's goes like:

The tabs will be waaaaay out of line but just stick 'em on a work document and change the font to courier new.

The numbers bellow are fingers used.

G|-------7--------8--------5-------------6----------------
D|-5--------6---------7-----------8-------------------

1 3 2 4 3 1 5 2


Try to get that going, And then try it as octaves, basically move the d string
stuff upto the A.

[Muusers]

Welcome back to the lowside! And yes, stay away from the classifieds, it will only make your wallet burn in your pocket.