Advise Appreciated - Beginer in need of help,

[David D]

I baught my bass about 3 moths ago just befor christmas , and since them i havnt realy played it much until now, I am currently trying to find a bass teacher in my area, I baught a Yamaha RBX170 Bass in a metalic blue and a 50Watt Marshall amp [MB|B] Series | 30,
Since then i baught a book "Bass Basics" and i kinda learned a little from it not much, I also learned how to play 7 Nations Army & Smoke On The Water , I am interested in learning alot more and to be more comforatable using all the strings of the bass and to be able to do this fluently, I cant read music notes but i can read tab so what im realy aiming towards is to learn to read music notes and to learn some scales and some songs that use atleast 3 strings of the bass (the bass is 4 stringed) I also would love for someone to explain me some teqhiques like "Slaping" & "Hammer On & Pull Off" i have watched some video's by a dalton guy on expert vilage but that didnt realy help me much

Please add me on msn - Davidpaulodwyer@hotmail.com
Or reply here

Thanks .

[mrchief128]

not sure, how much i can help you, but i'm pretty new to bass, just about a year and half, so since i'm just exiting the beginner phase, i think i can help....at your stage, i would advise just learning new simple bass lines...and if you don't end up getting lessons, and just plan on teaching yourself, you really ought to start yourself off with a good book...such as a hal leonard book...learn the bass lines in there until you start to get a feel for it, then move up to learning more complex bass lines...basically, first step: play simple stuff untill you get the hang of it. by the way a good beginners bass line that is some what simple, but sounds really cool, and is a good challenge is snow (hey oh) by red hot chilli peppers...oh yeah, and californication....but yeah, i'm probably not the best person to give advice, since i'm barely not a beginner myself...

[David D]

Thanks mate, Nah your perfect who best to learn off is some one who is just out of the stage im going into and has all the stuff fresh in his mind ! ill try get one of his books off ebay , Anyone on perticular you advise me to get ? Ill try learn snow (Hey Oh)

Is this the correct tab [LINK] If this fourm takes that as advertising i will remove it ,

And by "Bass line" is that what you mean

Source : Ultimate-Guitar

Song: Snow ((Hey Oh))
Artist: Red Hot Chili Peppers
Album:  Stadium Arcadium
Bassist: Flea
Tuning: EADG
Tabbed by: Markus (FI)


0:09
G------------------------|
D------------------------|
A----4-6-7-----6-7-9-----|
E--4---------7-----------|


0:37
G---------------------------|
D---------------------------|
A----4-6-7--6-4---6-7-9-----|
E--4------------7-------7-6-|

0:55
G------------------------|
D------------------------|
A----4-6-7-----6-7-9-----|
E--4---------7-----------|

1:14
G---------------------------|
D---------------------------|
A----4-6-7--6-4---6-7-9-----|
E--4------------7-------7-6-|

1:32
G--------------------------------------------------------|
D--------------------------------------------------------|
A--------------------------------------------------------|
E--12--12--12--/14--/16--16--16--14--12--12--12-12-12-12-|12

1:47
G--------------------------------------------------|
D--9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-|
A--------------------------------------------------|
E--------------------------------------------------|

G------------------|
D--6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-|
A------------------|
E------------------|

2:23
G------------------------|
D------------------------|
A----4-6-7-----6-7-9-----|
E--4---------7-----------|

2:50
G---------------------------|
D---------------------------|
A----4-6-7--6-4---6-7-9-----|
E--4------------7-------7-6-|

3:09
G--------------------------------------------------------|
D--------------------------------------------------------|
A--------------------------------------------------------|
E--12--12--12--/14--/16--16--16--14--12--12--12-12-12-12-|12

3:23
G--------------------------------------------------|
D--9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-|
A--------------------------------------------------|
E--------------------------------------------------|

G------------------|
D--6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-|
A------------------|
E------------------|

5:23
G--------|
D--6-----|
A--------|
E--------|

HOPE U ENJOY THIS GREAT SONG AND BASSLINE, MARKUS

[fearceol]

At this stage I would n't worry too much about hammer ons ect. You are right to seek out a good bass teacher. Until then I would concentrate on basic technique i.e. how to pluck and fret strings correctly and avoid physical problems later on. Also learn where all the notes are on the fretboard. That "Bass Basics" book you have should have a diagram of the 'board. Learn one string at a time, starting at the bottom and work your way up. Learn major and minor scales (again this book should have this) all over the neck. Develop your ear by listening to the bass lines in your favourite music and hear how the bass fits in. All this should keep you going 'till you find a teacher.

A good 'site to check out is : www.studybass.com

[chasfr]

Welcome aboard, David. I can recommend the book "Bass Guitar for Dummies," in spite of the title. It'll give you a good overview and get you started on fundamentals. That should hold you until you find a teacher you like.

Nothing wrong with using tabs, but I bet the people with more experience than either one of us will tell you to start learning to read music. It's not that hard, just takes some practice. The Dummies book can help with that, too.

And I always try to remember that if I'm not having fun, I'm not doing it right. ;-)

Enjoy!
Chas

[David D]

What im currently trying to do is spend 2-3 days and focusing on geting some money into a paypal and then ebaying some bass books and i seen a nice strap on there xD FearCeol are you from the south east of Ireland by any chance O.o cause im from kilkenny and i could do with a teacher any ware in that general area,

[Matthew Bryson]

Originally Posted by David D

I also learned how to play 7 Nations Army & Smoke On The Water , I am interested in learning alot more and to be more comforatable using all the strings of the bass and to be able to do this fluently, (snip) to learn some scales and some songs that use atleast 3 strings of the bass

Don't you use at least 3 strings on the bass to play Smoke On The Water? If not, how are you playing the verse and the solo section?

If by playing smoke on the water, you mean you know how to play the guitar riff on a bass, then I suggest learning the bass part. You'll need your E, A, and D strings (and you won't play the guitar riff)

[David D]

Matthew Bryson - Ill try learn that once im finished learning "Snow (Hey Oh)" And yes i ment the intro bit of smoke on the water,

[fearceol]

Originally Posted by David D

FearCeol are you from the south east of Ireland by any chance O.o cause im from kilkenny and i could do with a teacher any ware in that general area,

Hi David !! Nice to see a fellow Irishman on TB. I,ve sent you a P.M.