Newbie. Stuck in 1st?

[bassinplace]

Hello. I've been playing about 6 mos and whenever I just jam-improvise-to CD's I don't seem to be able to leave the 1st position. Is this a bad thing? How do I get out of it?

[debassr]

Play where it's necessary to fit with the song, focus on playing cleanly, and don't worry about position.

[bThumper38]

I think you should learn how to play the same groove in multiple positions so you can pick up on different colors

[bassinplace]

Originally Posted by bThumper38

I think you should learn how to play the same groove in multiple positions so you can pick up on different colors

That's what I'm trying to figure out I guess, but I still have a lot to learn. How do you know what the "different colors" are?

[tom once dead]

you hear them, if I play 24th fret on the (low) B string it sounds "wooley" without much definition, but if I play that same note on the G string it will be more trebely and have a lot more definition.

I personally prefer to stay in the same position.

[funkybass4ever]

get a beginning bass book, mel bay, hal leonard, bass for dummies, all are good

[bassinplace]

I'm right in the middle of the Hal Leonard book now. Guess I'll just get there with time. I guess what I'm really wondering is is it possible to play any song-specifically American music: rock, jazz, gospel, blues-using only the first position?

[RiddimKing]

"I guess what I'm really wondering is is it possible to play any song-specifically American music: rock, jazz, gospel, blues-using only the first position?"

Absolutely. And you've just been playing 6 months: relax. The more you play, the better your ear will get, and you'll naturally start to experiment with "reaches" beyond first position to emulate things you hear.

[Stumbo]

Give it about 10,000 more hours of practice and you'll "get" pretty much everything.
Take your time. It's a life time project.

Keep at it. Persistence overcomes!