Problems

Foxtonry3 · #1 11-20-2005, 07:14 AM

Hi, I've been playing bass for about 8 months now, and I can read basic tabs and play quite a few songs but I think im really ****. I Don't seem to be improving, me and my mates have started jamming together (Guitarist, Keyboardist and Vocalist) and I find it really hard to come up with bass lines to go with the guitar. People have told me it's because we don't have a drummer and a drummer would help me out a lot because thats the main person I would work with. But we're looking for a drummer but not much luck at the minute, I really want to play bass good and I practice as much as possible but I don't really know a lot about bass and can't afford a teacher so I just find myself reading tabs and playing songs but like I said, I find it difficult to come up with my own bass lines. All help would be appreciated. Thanks.

Foxtonry3 · #2 11-20-2005, 07:15 AM

By the way, We play Punk/Ska type music. Cheers.

Mixmasta J · #3 11-20-2005, 07:28 AM

ok a few things:

If you can afford a theory book, get it. It will be your bible

Punk music is usually composed of a streaming eighth note guitar riff, with 3-4 chord changes, often times more. The key to punk bass, is to take the root of the chord, and pound it away following the guitar rythm. Unless your going for a rancidesque style of playing, following the guitar is always a good thing, and a drummer is not necessarily neccesary

Ska is a little bit different. In ska often times the bass has a crazy line that is hard to follow (evident in five iron frenzy, and Big D and the kids table) This is where a drummer is helpful because you could follow his rythms, or do something completely different. It is a lot of passing tones, and notes that will bring you through changes, so you may not be ready to make a complex one at this point in time.

keep working at it, watch other bands, and study ska basslines and it will come with time

Foxtonry3 · #4 11-20-2005, 08:11 AM

Thanks for your reply mate. Do you know where I can get hold of a theory book online? Cheers.

Foxtonry3 · #5 11-20-2005, 08:12 AM

Also do you think it's worth pushing my budget to the limits and getting myself a teacher?

Mixmasta J · #6 11-20-2005, 02:01 PM

yeah a teacher is definately going to help, but only if you are serious about music, because you can by all means get by on tabs and ear work

I suggest harmonic color, I cant remember the author, but it has a bass with a rainbow of colors on the front of it. It definately helped me a lot