General Technique Help

[Gousgounis]

Ok....When I was a kid i used to play the saxophone for 3 years and then i quit..
After listening too much (too much hehe ) on Led Zeppelin, The Who and Pink Floyd I decided to start playing the Bass. I just loved its sound so I bought a nice Squier Fender Bass and a small amp . I started playing with a book with Led Zeppelin scores and I was going pretty well and then I bought a 300 page book with exercises and stuff. Then I found out the Guitar Pro and its files databases and now I can play all the songs I like . Well the thing is that although that book with exercises(which came with a CD btw),has helped me a LOT,after like 6 months I have kinda got bored of it and I am playing pretty much the songs I like only now. Also,I only play with my fingers and I dont have a teacher . I joined a band with some friends and we are gonna play live songs like Californication,Smoke on the water and some other ones... In a year,Ill start taking lessons,but till then what? How much will I have to study from my exercises book and how much the songs? Like 70 percent exercises and 30 percent songs? And how will I begin to start learning to play with a Pick? I have tried a few times, but I just or cant hit the right string with my pick (yeah its ridiculous ) and I cant mute while i have a pick! When I play with my fingers, I mute the strings easily with my other fingers, but with the pick, i cant...
Also, when I play standing up, I got my Bass really high...is this good?
Thx for the help .

[FoHBass]

You should still study out of the exercise book, but also work on songs, too, to keep it fun. How much you do either is up to you. I would recommend starting lessons sooner than a year. The earlier the better, as a good teacher will help make sure you don't start any bad habits in terms of technique.

As for pick playing, I personally just mute with my left hand. Just start slowly, even using a metronome if it helps, and concentrate on being accurate and consistent (every note should be a consistent volume). It's going to take a little time to get it right if you're not used to using a pick. Keep working at it, and don't give up. Before you know it, you'll have it down.

Welcome to TB, by the way.

[Gousgounis]

Thanks .
Also I would like to ask a question about solos.
When We play Smoke on The Water and our Lead Guiatrist plays the solo, I play a solo too while the Rhythm guy just sticks to the main riff.
The problem is that whenever I play a solo, it is like 15th 16th 17th fret on the one string then move up on the other string,not too far...14--16--13--14--15---16 then other string 0-1-2-3-4...If u guys know what Im talking about. And it is medium speed. Its basically like eharing a double bass in Jazz just a little faster. How will I make my solos/improvisations more complicated and fast? Will this come by itslef as I progress,or I need to do something?
Also,on the pick thing,what kind of pick shall I use? A big and fat pick or a thin one?
Thx again .

[magnusdeus123]

As far as the pick question is concerned , I had a load of picks from my guitaring days , and I couldnt use the thinner ones which actually produce better sounds on the guitar strings , on the bass . Had to go out and get a heavy plastic pick to get it working on the bass . Regardless , it produces a crappy sound :P . I dont know , I came from the guitarist side of things , and I came onto bass , and have used my fingers since , with no preference for picks . Maybe it was destined to happen...

[FoHBass]

Soloing will come with practice. It helps to know a little bit of theory, too. I'm still not a good soloist on bass, and I've been playing for about ten years.

As for the pick question, just go to a music store (if possible) and try out different picks and see which is more comfortable to you. I use the green Dunlop tortex picks on bass, which is completely different, as on the guitar, I use the little Jazz 3 picks, which don't work on bass for me whatsoever.

Oh, and your bass should be high enough that you're comfortable, but also keeping your wrists fairly straight. If your bass is so high that it puts your wrist at a sharp angle, it could damage the nerves and tendons in your wrists. Trust me, Carpal Tunnel Syndrome is not a bassist's friend and is VERY painful.

[groove pump]

I'm a reformed guitar noodler and I've never made much sense of a pick on my bass work - I find it restricting for me. You're definately not alone if it doesn't much work for you either, especially with JPJ's lines from Led Zep influencing you. There are most probably far fewer pick players than finger players, but take your time if you want to pick because I think the technique is a lot different from quitar. I've found that where I pluck a string - fingers toward the neck vs. the bridge - requires strict attention for managing my sound.

With several years in my rear view, my recommendation is to get at least one or two private lessons immediately if not sooner. It takes longer to improve the more you have to un-learn bad habits. When I got into some private studies, I got really lucky with the guy I found. He taught me theory, lots of songs, a basic chunk of reading, and gave me lots of guidance on gear and technique. We did one hour a week and I could barely keep up on my own time with all I was learning.

Strap height: not too high or too low for you so that both hands and wrists are comfortable. Easy access to your notes lets you concentrate on other things.

Try different styles, train both your ears and feel by playing in the dark, learn every single note on your fretboard, get scales and theory in your head so that you know where you're at as well as where you can go. You need to be the solid foundation or the song will go with you if you fall off a cliff.