Doing more than just dicking around

[atoner]

I did a bit of searching but didn't immediately see something covers this, so...

I've been basically dicking around with bass for about 20 years, since I picked it up in high school. Back then I tried to learn a lot of hard rock songs, played with a guitarist friend, and took a few lessons but never played in a band or anything serious. I'm definitely a bass guy and have always been. I played piano pretty well as a kid and used to read music, but most of that useful musical knowledge has been pushed out by engineering education.

Now that I'm 33 and have kids and a job, I pick up my bass for maybe an hour a day for a few days whenever I hear a cool song I want to learn. After I get some enjoyment out of playing it, the bass sits for a while.

I've also been dicking around with my old piano lately, trying to get the kids into it when they're young and painfully reminding myself that I used to be able to read music. Painful.

Let's say that ultimately I want to be good enough to jam with some friends or play in a cover band. What should I do?
Learn and practice songs more?
Re-learn to read music?
Take lessons (unlikely)?
Study theory?
Play piano?
Find some more experienced bassists to hang around?

The bass is also worth questioning. It is a mid-90's Ibanez TR, a 200 I believe. 4-string passive. It was maybe the 2nd cheapest thing (new) at the store. I'm not thrilled with the action and would at least like a 5th string. I'm thinking to come up with a test repertoire, go to a store, and see if I find something I like better.

Thanks,
Adam

[Tim C.]

Learn more chords, learn more scales, learn more songs, jam to an online drum track. Just play, but play for real. And go to open mic nights, they're always fun.

[Chef FourString]

Just get comfortable with your skills, your style and your bass. Find out what you like to play then find some dudes who feel the same way about music.

[R. Laevinus]

Originally Posted by atoner

...Let's say that ultimately I want to be good enough to jam with some friends or play in a cover band. What should I do?
Learn and practice songs more?
Re-learn to read music?
Take lessons (unlikely)?
Study theory?
Play piano?
Find some more experienced bassists to hang around?

All of the above. You're on the right track, dude.

Some of those will be more useful than others, depending on what you actually end up wanting to do. Were I you, I'd start by working on each, and eventually focusing on what I really need.

But you can't go wrong with any of the ideas you listed.

[MuzikMan]

I think the most important thing would be to get in a band, even if you don't think you're ready yet. IMO nothing compares to the lessons learned from playing with other people.

[MalcolmAmos]

Originally Posted by atoner

...... Let's say that ultimately I want to be good enough to jam with some friends or play in a cover band. What should I do?

• Learn and practice songs more?
• Re-learn to read music?
• Take lessons (unlikely)?
• Study theory?
• Play piano?
• Find some more experienced bassists to hang around?
• The bass is also worth questioning. It is a mid-90's Ibanez TR, a 200 I believe. 4-string passive. It was maybe the 2nd cheapest thing (new) at the store. I'm not thrilled with the action and would at least like a 5th string. I'm thinking to come up with a test repertoire, go to a store, and see if I find something I like better.

Playing in a cover band the guys will probably pass around fake chord sheet music on the songs they will be playing. Brush up on playing from fake chord.

Playing in a jamming band the guys will call a song and you will be expected to remember or wing the progression.

So -- coming up with the bass lines is on you in all of that. Get some generic bass lines in muscle memory.
See a chord name and be able to pull up your favorite bass lines for that chord.

Generic lines -- Roots, fives and eights are generic. The 3 and 7 are not generic but are predictable. Roots, fives, eights and the correct 3 and 7 will play a bunch of bass. Secret is knowing when just roots is what the song needs. That comes from practice.

Major Scale Box.

G|---2---|-------|---3---|---4---| 1st string
D|---6---|-------|---7---|---8---|
A|---3---|---4---|-------|---5---|
E|-------|---R---|-------|---2---|4th string

Generic lines:
R-R-R-R
R-5-R-5
R-5-8-5

Predictable lines:
R-3-5-X for major chords
R-b3-5-X for minor chords
R-b3-b5-X for diminished chords

Full tone four note chords:
R-3-5-b7 for dominant sevenths
R-b3-5-b7 for minor sevenths
R-3-5-7 for major sevenths

What's X? Song in 4/4 time you need four beats - help yourself to another chord or scale tone , I like R-3-5-6 or R-3-5-8 for major chords or a chromatic lead to the next chord. Chromatic lead - target the next chord's root - miss it by one fret then be on it for the chord change. Try missing the next chords' root by 1, 2 or 3 frets and then walk to the target for the chord change - now that is a blast. Just takes practice to pull off the timing.


So -- grab some fake chord sheet music and start practicing. Finding a band to play with is a must. Word of mouth is the best way. Let it be known that you are looking.

Gear - I bet the gear you already have will do what you need. If you will be playing from standard notation, yes look at the 5 string. Why? A lot of the standard notation you will find will have been written for piano and have ledger notes lower than our low E. So without doing some mental gymnastics your 5th string will come in handy. However, that old 4 string will play a lot of bass.

Welcome back to the bottom end, have fun.

[Russell L]

Whatever you do, learn basic theory and your progress will go at light speed.

Go hear some bands that play a style you like and write down what songs they played. You'll soon see a pattern. Then, learn those.

[mambo4]

Originally Posted by MuzikMan

I think the most important thing would be to get in a band, even if you don't think you're ready yet. IMO nothing compares to the lessons learned from playing with other people.

^This.

If you can find the root note and the rhythm, you can join a band. All of the other things you listed are worthwhile but can be done in parallel. One of the drawbacks to learning in a vacuum is you don't know which lessons are practical and useful in a real gigging situation. Playing with other musicians will give you that wisdom. Seek the most advanced players who will take you, and be a sponge.

As for the bass:
Action -is adjustable almost any bass. take it to a shop, tell em how you want the action, and and have a setup done.

5th string-I say wait.
Story: I'm 19, taking a lesson from Dad's bassist:
Me: "do you ever play a 5 string?"
Him: "I've been playing for years, and I'm not done learning these four."

When I first started out, I had the impulse to go lower, deeper, tune lower, crank the bass knob and be MORE BASS,
but over time I have come to appreciate that that's not really where the musicality or fun of bass is.

Much more important is a bass & rig that cuts in the mix, which you can't judge without playing in a group.

[atoner]

Thanks for the replies, everyone.

[Stumbo]

I suggest having your bass setup by a local tech. Maybe put some new strings on it. If it's easier/more comfortable to play, so much the better.

Check out the link in my sig. below for some great TB info to help you along your bass journey.

Good luck.

PS. Keyboards are your friend. Learn some tunes so the family can sing along. The more passionate your are about it and the more fun it is for everyone, IME, the more likely they'll get interested in it. At least they'll be able to sing some songs and have fun!