With out a teacher I'll try and give you an overview of what lies ahead. For example:
Reading standard notation and your 5 string will go hand in hand. Reason? Most standard notation for Pop, Rock or Country songs will not be written for the bass. If you can find standard notation for those styles it will probably have been written for piano and our 4 strings only go to the low E note in first position thus have a problem with the low ledger notes. That B string will come in handy. Perhaps some of the 5 string players will chime in with some suggestions.
For the times you will be playing from fake chord or lead sheet, which have no bass clef, you will only have the chord name and have to come up with what you will play under that chord yourself. So -- you are going to have to build your own bass lines. We use chord tones for this and
Interval numbers instead of notes enter the picture. http://www.smithfowler.org/music/Chord_Formulas.htm- For example:
- C Chord = R-3-5
- Cm chord = R-b3-5
- Cmaj7 chord = R-3-5-7
- Cm7 chord = R-b3-5-b7
- C7 chord = R-3-5-b7
- Cm7b5 cord = R-b3-b5-b7.
So -- somewhere between just playing roots and R-b3-b5-b7 will lie your bass line.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R4x0u...eature=related I know - roots for now. Notice how effective roots can be.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=obFcsEtFIKA I thought you might like to see how Sir Paul does it. Yes singing along does help.
Generic bass lines enter the picture. For example:
A bass line
that will work over all the chords in the progression will come in handy. Why? Our job is to build a groove and if we can have a generic bass line
pattern that works over all the chords it becomes pretty easy to get in a groove. If I have to worry about what I'm going to play next I seem to never hit that groove.....
- Every chord has a root so roots are generic.
- Every basic chord has a 5 so 5's are generic.
- The 8 is generic as it is just a root on another octave.
- The 6 is neutral so it can be used in a generic bass line.
- The 4 makes a good passing note, so fits in a generic bass line if you use it as a passing note.
So any combination of those notes will give you a good selection of generic bass lines. Here are a few to start out with:
R-R-R-R or
R-5-R-5 or
R-5-8-5 or
R-5-6-8 you get the picture. Notice there are no 3's, 7's or 2's in my list of generic bass lines. Two is too close to the Root and the 3 and 7 have specific jobs to do; b3 works under minor cords, 3 works under major chords, and the three sevenths, maj7, m7 and dominant seven have specific jobs and only fit under certain chords.
Here is an example of a generic bass line being used through out the entire song.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g35zS1tVO3o See how "less is more" can be effective.
Here is your 5 string fretboard chart
http://www.5stringbassguitars.com/wp...fret-chart.jpg
So get some of those generic bass lines into muscle memory. Now with out a teacher you will have to figure out things like -- how to hold your bass, how to tune it, how to get good sound coming from it which means you will be deciding if a pick, thumb or fingers will be used and then the biggie, how to mute the beast..... I'd recommend the book Bass Guitar for Dummies, I've just finished re-reading that and was amazed at how much material was covered. I bet your public library will have it, and if not they will be able to "do a lone" from another library. So if you do not find it in the stacks ask at the desk.
Yes
www.studybass.com will be a friend.
The box patterns will be a friend. Here is my favorite cheat sheet.
http://www.dummies.com/how-to/conten...eat-sheet.html Sorry it's only for the 4 string, but of course you have those same four strings.
This will give an overview of how to use the patterns.
http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showth...67#post9372867
Every instrument has it's scales, the bass is no exception.
http://www.cyberfretbass.com/scales/basic/page2.php Gotta do our scales so our fingers know where the notes are and our ears know the good notes from the bad ones.
With out a teacher those sites should give you enough to get you started and of course ask questions here, someone will help.
Welcome and good luck.
