Need general playing guidance

blankstare77 · #1 05-24-2006, 01:02 PM

Alright, I've played piano for years, so my fingers are moderately strong already. I just recently picked up bass (as in 2 months ago) and I LOVE IT!

Anyway, being classically trained, I am on a race to technical ability so that my creativity can come through the instrument as I already imagine it. I need to learn the instrument (not literally, but figuratively, if you follow).

I've been playing my major scales, relative minor scales, and blues scales 4x each, up a half step, 4x, up a halfstep, so on. I do this on both the E and A strings until I hit the octave mark. Then I do the same thing down from the octave mark on the A string -- 4x each, down a half step, 4x, and so on.

I believe it is working, but obviously I can't just keep doing this. I wish to know what sort of workbooks I can use to make the note-connection, as I have played trombone and piano for many years and already know the notes.

So what things should I do to build my technique? I can use all the help I can get. I'm determined, and the only way I am truly hindered is through my technical ability.

The BurgerMeister · #2 05-24-2006, 01:08 PM

get a book called "serious electric bass" by joel di bartolo.
also, get some jam-along cds, ones that let you play along to tunes recorded without bass. or join a band A.S.A.P.

what kind of music do you want to play? do you want to slap, play fingerstyle, with a pick?

and.... welcome to the family!

lilboo77 · #3 05-24-2006, 01:09 PM

Arpeggios (spelling?) - Jaco's Modern Electric Bass Video - He has a unique way of playing them.

blankstare77 · #4 05-24-2006, 01:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jetpackbassist

get a book called "serious electric bass" by joel di bartolo.
also, get some jam-along cds, ones that let you play along to tunes recorded without bass. or join a band A.S.A.P.

what kind of music do you want to play? do you want to slap, play fingerstyle, with a pick?

and.... welcome to the family!

Fingerstyle.

Thanks for the welcome lol.

jwl · #5 05-24-2006, 01:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blankstare77

Alright, I've played piano for years, so my fingers are moderately strong already. I just recently picked up bass (as in 2 months ago) and I LOVE IT!

Anyway, being classically trained, I am on a race to technical ability so that my creativity can come through the instrument as I already imagine it. I need to learn the instrument (not literally, but figuratively, if you follow).

I've been playing my major scales, relative minor scales, and blues scales 4x each, up a half step, 4x, up a halfstep, so on. I do this on both the E and A strings until I hit the octave mark. Then I do the same thing down from the octave mark on the A string -- 4x each, down a half step, 4x, and so on.

I believe it is working, but obviously I can't just keep doing this. I wish to know what sort of workbooks I can use to make the note-connection, as I have played trombone and piano for many years and already know the notes.

So what things should I do to build my technique? I can use all the help I can get. I'm determined, and the only way I am truly hindered is through my technical ability.

this is my daily practice routine for technique: set metronome at 100bpm and run 1-4-5 blues scales at 8th notes (two notes per click) and then the same using 16th's(4 notes per click). i then move up to 108bpm and do the same thing and i repeat this going to 116bpm, 126bpm, then i lower the increases in bpm. starting at 132bpm, 138bpm increasing by 6bpm. i then go back to 100bpm and play single note 16th's for five minutes without stopping. then move to 104bpm for five without stopping ect. this process takes about 45 minutes. i sometimes skip a day doing the five minute single note 16th thing to let my hand recover. but i do the 1-4-5 exercise everyday. rest for your hand muscles is as important as practice. if you feel pain-STOP. again, rest for your hand is very important. it is no different than running or any other execise. then for fun after the above drill, i play along with cd's. i had my son make me a compilation of various types of music to play along with: tower of power-3-4 songs, some country, martina mcbride, leann rymes, zeppelin, swing out sister, motown, u2, kelly clarkson, rush, sort of like playing a set of very different music at a gig. to start since you are a beginner, you may want to set your metronome at a slower setting and go from there. you will increase your speed, but the end result should be to play slower tempos with total authority. this is not an over night process. have fun, jeff