Any Tips for a Newbie?

[Survive]

Hi. I'm new to this whole bass thing...I'm learning how to play bass and I just bought one yesterday, but I'm just wondering if any of you guys have tips for someone who's just starting?

Thanks.

[pinebrookjohn]

play as much as possible as as many people as possible ohh have FUN thats thats number one rule.

[brekfustuvluzer]

learn to read tab, then look online or in magazines and learn songs you like. that will be rewarding to you so you will stay interested. worry about theory in a few months when you get your dexterity up, but dont wait too long. magazines are also a wealth of knowledge when it comes to gear or technique. and one other thing... TAKE LESSONS!

[Engine207]

As cool as TB is, don't spend too much time reading about Foderas and Bergantinos and not enough time practicing. Very few of us aren't guilty of that!

[NKUSigEp]

Originally Posted by Survive

Hi. I'm new to this whole bass thing...I'm learning how to play bass and I just bought one yesterday, but I'm just wondering if any of you guys have tips for someone who's just starting?

Thanks.

Don't peruse the classified ads for gear (you'll only want what you can't afford, like me).

Learn to play with your fingers as well as a pick.

Don't stop learning new material.

Record yourself practicing.

[Plays_For_Dog]

Play for fun, not for contest. Once your fingers are blistered and you can't physically play anymore, browse and read threads on here meant for beginers. No sense in everyone resubmitting their advice when it's already on here. Just do a search for whatever you want to learn more about, or simply type in beginer. Another good search to do is "bass in a year". That thread is loaded with good beginer info.

Keep it fun for you. As soon as you pressure yourself to be better then you are, you'll quit. Keep it fun and be patient (it takes a long time to get good and a lot of playing).

[mrjim123]

Play along with CD's. Lots of them.

More tips here: Your pearls of wisdom

Search for "tips", you'll probably find more useful threads.

[Engine207]

Usually, Stumbo jumps in and provides this link, but I'll go ahead and do it.

Brand new aspiring bassist...

/thread

[UncleFluffy]

Slow down until you've got it perfect, *then* speed up.

[groooooove]

Originally Posted by pinebrookjohn

play as much as possible as as many people as possible ohh have FUN thats thats number one rule.

yes.

billy sheehan once said in responce to someone asking what his "secret" was, "get a bass, and play your ass off."

thats really how it happens. be open minded about new types of music. play everything you can. enjoy it.

[Jim Campbell]

Originally Posted by Survive

Hi. I'm new to this whole bass thing...I'm learning how to play bass and I just bought one yesterday, but I'm just wondering if any of you guys have tips for someone who's just starting?

Thanks.

with all due respect i would disagree with learning tab....learn music......learn to read it,write it,and understand it....grab a method book and work through,with a teacher if you can swing it.....

[BrandonBass]

Before thinkin about what expensive bass you should get, buy a metronome and a tuner.

Always make sure what you play is clean and on time and clean before you try to speed it up.

^^^

These are rules I wish someone had enforced on me when I started playin bass. good luck.

[nukes_da_bass]

Originally Posted by Jim Campbell

with all due respect i would disagree with learning tab....learn music......learn to read it,write it,and understand it....grab a method book and work through,with a teacher if you can swing it.....

+100!
This is the difference in my life between the spotty part time career I've had and the full time career I could have had- many avenues are closed to me because I can't sight read.

[MalcolmAmos]

I don't think anyone mentioned know your fretboard, i.e. know where the notes are.
Tabs are OK to peek at, but, are a dead end if you have to rely upon them for everything you do. So I am going to point you to fake chord and or lead sheet music. Here you are given the chord name and the lyrics. If you sing the lyrics (under your breath is OK) you know what chord is coming up and you get a feel for the tempo of the song - two good things.

Just in case you do not already have these two charts"

The Major scale box pattern


The box, how to use it. Those numbers are the fingers you are to use in fretting the strings - to get the notes - 1 = index, 2 = middle, etc. Pattern takes place over four frets and you have four fingers. Yes, helps if you use the correct finger. Notice the red circle, that is your root note in the pattern. You place that red circle over the chord's name on your fretboard, i.e. want to play the C chord, find a C on the 3rd or 4th string and place that circle there, i.e. the 3rd string 3rd fret or the 4th string 8th fret.

Here is how to use those two charts http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showth...67#post9372867

Google can call up some fake chord or lead sheet music for you. Use these key words:
Chords, "name of the song" --- or Fake Chord, "name of the song". The comma and quote marks do help.

Fake chord:
(C) Happy birthday to (G) you,
happy birthday to (C) you,
happy birthday dear (F) ----------
happy (C) birthday (G) to (C) you.

Right at first just use roots later on you can add the other chord tones found in the chord, but, for right now roots will play a lot of bass. Sing the song under your breath and sound the C note (3rd string 3rd fret) one sound for every lyric word - yes hap-py takes two notes as will birth-day. When you get to the word "you" change over to the G note (4th string right below your C) and do the same until you get to the "you" again and this time change back to the C note. OK where is that F note you will be needing? Right above the C. Isn't that convenient. That was not an accident if you place your root on the 3rd string a I IV V chord progression will always be like that. It's going to be fun.

Check out the following I IV V chord progressions:
Key of C = C-F-G
Key of G = G-C-D
Key of A = A-D-E
Key of D = D-G-A
See how all of those line up on your fretboard. Piece of cake.

Play from fake chord or lead sheet and roots alone right now will let you get a feel for your instrument.
www.studybass.com is a friend.
Here is what you will be doing couple months from now. http://www.studybass.com/lessons/com...ths/exercises/ Exercise 1. Ever basic chord will have a root, a five and an eight. So that pattern is generic and the same pattern can be used over all the chords in that song. Yes, even a minor chord. Why? There is no 3 in that pattern it's like a generic power chord. Hint - get that pattern into muscle memory.

Three months from now. http://www.studybass.com/lessons/com...nth/exercises/ Time to move beyond generic patterns and pick up some non generic notes in your bass line.

Have fun.

[DJS]

All great advice. Get a teacher who pushes you, and stresses performing. Get a poster with your fretboard and learn it. Or print that out above on a large piece of paper.

[kenlacam]

Originally Posted by mrjim123

Play along with CD's. Lots of them.

More tips here: Your pearls of wisdom

Search for "tips", you'll probably find more useful threads.

This is a great tip! I've been playing for over 20 years, and I find this to be very helpful, keeps me on my toes and definitely improves your ability to improvise and develops your ear.

[dave64o]

The best tip I could give is the single most important thing I've ever learned - and it has nothing to do with bass.

There are NO shortcuts.

[UncleFluffy]

Originally Posted by dave64o

The best tip I could give is the single most important thing I've ever learned - and it has nothing to do with bass.

There are NO shortcuts.

... but there are a million ways of making things harder for yourself

[Stumbo]

Originally Posted by Engine207

Usually, Stumbo jumps in and provides this link, but I'll go ahead and do it.

Brand new aspiring bassist...

/thread

Thanks for your vote of confidence.

For your learning pleasure, please check out the link in my sig. for an updated version. It's on the TB Wiki as well "Links for Noobs".

Good luck.

[ugly_bassplayer]

Find a good teacher.