Beginning bass questions

perdurabo · #1 01-09-2009, 01:55 AM

I've been practicing bass for about 3-4 months now and 2 of those months were with bass instruction from a teacher. My teacher was confused as to why I or anyone else would want to play bass (as if it were played out of necessity, not desire (poor guitarists)). I stopped having instruction due to the fact that I went to europe on vacation. Is it a wise choice to go back to this instructor or should I look for a new one?

Since I have no instruction as of late I spent most of my time playing around with tuning the bass and playing random songs on guitar pro. Is there something I want to add to this or is this style sufficient? I seem to be getting better I just feel at times that if I had to play the bass solo I wouldn't know what to do (if that makes any sense).

Is there anything I should add to my studies (I'm sure there is) and if so what?

Thanks

derelicte · #2 01-09-2009, 02:19 AM

your instructor sounds lame.

do you know all the notes on your fretboard? if not start there.
do you know scales? (ie. aeolian, pentatonic, etc) if not start there.
do you have steady rhythm? (1/2, 1/4, 1/8, 1/16 notes..) if not start there.

i'd say music theory is incredibly crucial to getting better. check out http://www.howmusicworks.org/
this site gives a very easy to understand approach to music

work on your chops, learn songs thru youtube, learn fills and octave jumps and improvisations while jamming solo to http://www.freejamtracks.com/index.html

lots of fun stuff there. you can learn by yourself.. and if all else fails jsut pick up Bass Guitar for Dummies.

Good luck!

phatbass · #3 01-09-2009, 02:29 AM

So your teacher isn't actually a "Bass" teacher? Sounds like they're a guitarist who is convinced they can teach bass 'coz "it's exactly the same except 2 strings are missing".

I'd find a real bass instructor.

notforrobots · #4 01-09-2009, 03:05 AM

bad teacher.

Stumbo · #5 01-10-2009, 12:30 AM

Bass for Dummies book. Good place to start.
Don't worry about soloing right now.
Get to the bassics and go from there.
It will come to you.

Here are a few links that I've collected along the way that I've found enlightening and hope you will as well.

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Must reads:
If only I knew then what I know now... If I only knew then...
Best musical advice you ever got Best musical advice
Things every bassist should know? Things every bassist should know
The 'feel' "Feel"

Newbies
Most common mistakes? Beginners common mistakes/where to start
http://www.google.com/custom?num=100...w.talkbass.com First "bass" advice
Tabs or music Tab or not to tab?
When Did You Get Off Tabs? Getting off tabs
http://www.thelibster.com/bass/ Introductory Bass Lesson (click on Beginners)
The 'feel' Developing musically
http://www.musictheory.net/index.html Xlnt visual Beginning Music Theory (Power Point lessons), ear trainer, chord calc.,
more
http://www.download.com/NoteCard/300...-10004005.html Downloadable program for learning the bass clef. (as recommended by AlphaMale)
http://www.playthebass.com print flashcards for learning bass clef, print staff paper

Learning stuff
Practice Practice Practice How to practice bass
Pacman's sure-fire scale practice method How to practice bass

http://www.talkbass.com/forum/f30/creating-bass-lines-8154/#post80043 Creating bass lines
Bass Line Construction: Target Approach Creating bass lines - Target Approach
http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showth...34#post6770334 Creating bass lines for a jam
what is in front of/behind the beat? Playing behind/ahead of the beat

Circle of Fifths Question Key signatures/Circle of 5ths/Cycle of 4ths
Reading Music Learn to read music
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Need help reading bass clef Read bass clef
Modes...How to use them practically in music. Using modes
Newbie learning modes! Learning modes

Introduction to Scale and Chord Theory Intro to scale and chord theory
I need basic music theory help... Learning Theory
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Free Jam tracks
http://www.freejamtracks.com/index.html

Teaching bass
Lesson Plan for Bass Teachers
To teach or not to teach

Finding a bass instructor
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History
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Styles
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Free online lessons
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http://www.musicdojo.com/index.asp Online bass course (5 day free trial)
http://www.cliffengel.com/ Free and paid lessons

Books and instructional materials
http://www.bassbooks.com/shopping/default.asp Books, DVDs, all styles and methods
looking for "the bass guitar bible!" Looking for the Bass "Bible"
http://playbassnow.com/recommended-learning-materials/ MarlowDK's recommended books
Best Theroy book "Best" theory/harmony book
Good books to learn walking bass? Walking bass lines
Looking for some Blues books Blues books

Online study of music theory/ear training.
http://www.teoria.com/ Check out the tutorials, exercises and reference dictionary
http://www.good-ear.com/ Ear training
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3...lineScreen.swf Test your ear

College music
Colleges? So you want to be a music major in college
Solfege - What's the Point? Solfege
http://www.music.vt.edu/musicdictionary/ Virginia Tech Multimedia Music Dictionary (great for music theory terms)

Going "pro"
Foundation Degree in Popular Music Practice does it mean anything? (help please) Becoming a session player

Funk it up
Old School funk song suggestions... Funk, groove and R&B bass players
Funk 101 Funk 101

Band stuff:
Aspiring band newbie seeks craigslist ad advice Advertising yourself
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Power Trio Playing in a 3 piece
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Bar Manager Refused to Pay Us! Now what? Being asked to turn down the volume
First gig ever tonight First gig
Anyone know of beginners books for live sound? Learning Live Sound mixing

Guitards

makanudo · #6 01-10-2009, 12:36 AM

Well i take lessons at a guitar class place, hes the best guitarist in town, but his attitude is just priceless, the most chill guy ive ever met, and he just loves music, and since im the best bassist there and judgin by how we get along i can honestly say im one of his favorite if not THE favorite student, but i mean, im going to take lessons, but in my opinion i think self teaching and making up ur own excercises and doing them at your own pace is better, you develop your own style and mentality.. thats just my opinion though, lessons deff help a lot.

And the guy doesnt have the bass is easy if u play guitar mentality, he really studies techniques to teach me, he sees the bass as a totally diff instrument and knows its role..

perdurabo · #7 01-10-2009, 05:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by phatbass

So your teacher isn't actually a "Bass" teacher? Sounds like they're a guitarist who is convinced they can teach bass 'coz "it's exactly the same except 2 strings are missing".

I'd find a real bass instructor.

Well technically 1 since I have a 5 string (I bought a schecter stilleto 5 for $400 couldn't pass that offer by (new)). Only problem is I think I might have to travel to find an actual bass instructor.

perdurabo · #8 01-10-2009, 05:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by derelicte

your instructor sounds lame.

do you know all the notes on your fretboard? if not start there.
do you know scales? (ie. aeolian, pentatonic, etc) if not start there.
do you have steady rhythm? (1/2, 1/4, 1/8, 1/16 notes..) if not start there.

i'd say music theory is incredibly crucial to getting better. check out http://www.howmusicworks.org/
this site gives a very easy to understand approach to music

work on your chops, learn songs thru youtube, learn fills and octave jumps and improvisations while jamming solo to http://www.freejamtracks.com/index.html

lots of fun stuff there. you can learn by yourself.. and if all else fails jsut pick up Bass Guitar for Dummies.

Good luck!

Yeah I guess I have to do what you stated. I've been just playing songs through guitarpro for the most part. What I do is learn a song enough to be able to play through it then I move onto another song that is harder for me. When i learn that harder song I go back to the easier one and try to get a feel for the song (seems to make the easier one much more easier).

Quick question. I've been learning tush (zz top) and the tab I have show a section where it will go 3 4 (on A) then jump to 0 (on D). Then the same section pops up again and instead of doing the same it will just go 3 4 5 (on A). I know the 5 is the same as 0 on the higher string but does it make any difference in sound? I'm guessing yes, but I can't notice much of a difference.

Thanks again for the responses.

SmilinBassPlaya · #9 01-10-2009, 10:23 AM

Totally run from that Teacher, the #1 thing a teacher should do is be supportive.

You have also realized that a bass solo is harder than a guitar solo....because
instead of playing "licks" that fit and color up the song easily.....a bassplayer
has to use a good understanding of scales/color notes/melody/....etc etc.......
You don't play guitar solos or speed licks alone on bass...you play bass solos.......

Like Jaco said on his video.....learn the melodies to songs you learn the bass to.....
Your solos will change dramatically. Ever tried singing a solo to a set of chords
and learning that on your bass? Thats a ball and quite eye opening.

Once you love bass......How can you really love anything else?

~~~~~~~~~~~~

As far as Tush goes.......if your fingers are in position, and the note is
available to one of them...grab it.....
Open strings are for certain moments and effects.

Smilin'

NoobOnRoad · #10 01-10-2009, 10:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SmilinBassPlaya

You have also realized that a bass solo is harder than a guitar solo....because
instead of playing "licks" that fit and color up the song easily.....a bassplayer
has to use a good understanding of scales/color notes/melody/....etc etc.......
You don't play guitar solos or speed licks alone on bass...you play bass solos.......

Like Jaco said on his video.....learn the melodies to songs you learn the bass to.....
Your solos will change dramatically. Ever tried singing a solo to a set of chords
and learning that on your bass? Thats a ball and quite eye opening.

That is harsh man. You are completly disrespecting guitars players with a stereotype.

Maybe you can do some Jaco like solo like this but sometime the ability to shred some fast lightning solo is important. So guitar and bass solo different... yes but not a lot.

(you know, sometime, a shredding guitarist and a shredding bassist are both amazing IMHO)

MadMan118 · #11 01-10-2009, 02:50 PM

I see Stumbo already left a copy of the Bassists Guide to the Galaxy .There's some good stuff in there. It should be made into a book.
Your bass 'teacher' should be hung and quartered.
I good teacher will be supportive and push you to improve, but more important than a good teacher, you, practice is just as important as lessons.
I taught my self and in retrospect I really wish i had a teacher. Don't worry about soloing it I'll come to you.

SmilinBassPlaya · #12 01-10-2009, 03:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NoobOnRoad

That is harsh man. You are completly disrespecting guitars players with a stereotype.

Maybe you can do some Jaco like solo like this but sometime the ability to shred some fast lightning solo is important. So guitar and bass solo different... yes but not a lot.

(you know, sometime, a shredding guitarist and a shredding bassist are both amazing IMHO)

C'Mon Man!

That wasn't my point at all.

I didn't cut shredders at all....

I respect all good musicians

I was saying that the guitar has licks and the bass doesn't lend itself that way, .....you know...the Hendrix type
typical licks you can do with the
g-b-& e strings.

Ive written answer here twice and it didn't show up.

I guess I'll just leave this one alone.

Aaah well

Steve