Electric guitarist learning to play bass

[ParanoidAndroid]

So I've been playing guitar for almost three years now. I was playing a bass a few weeks ago, and i discovered that I really like it. My sister has one, and I would like to learn. I can already play some stuff on it, but just with a pick and i'm not really that good. I have a decent knowledge of theory. I have the entire fretboard memorized on guitar (which means bass too obviously), and all the major and natural minor scales memorized as well. I can read music and tab.

So with this in mind, where should I start? I think I could probably skip a lot of the beginner things that most people start off with, but I don't know. I'm taking guitar lessons, so i won't be able to do bass lessons. I really want to start off right, because I wasn't very dedicated the first two or so years of guitar, and I really regret it.

edit: I forgot to mention, I like pretty much all styles of music apart from country and gangsta rap. So I'm not looking to learn any paticular style right now.

[MikeVQ]

Are you interested in learning finger picking as well?

[ParanoidAndroid]

Part of me wants to just stick with a pick, but I think if I am committed to becoming a good bass player I need to learn to use both. I was thinking of working on some chromatic and major scale exercises for like a half hour to an hour a day with finger picking until I get used to it.

[MikeVQ]

Originally Posted by ParanoidAndroid

Part of me wants to just stick with a pick, but I think if I am committed to becoming a good bass player I need to learn to use both. I was thinking of working on some chromatic and major scale exercises for like a half hour to an hour a day with finger picking until I get used to it.

That's probably a good start just so you can get used to the dimensions of the fretboard and such.

[Mr_Sore_Fingerz]

Originally Posted by ParanoidAndroid

So I've been playing guitar for almost three years now. I was playing a bass a few weeks ago, and i discovered that I really like it. My sister has one, and I would like to learn. I can already play some stuff on it, but just with a pick and i'm not really that good. I have a decent knowledge of theory. I have the entire fretboard memorized on guitar (which means bass too obviously), and all the major and natural minor scales memorized as well. I can read music and tab.

So with this in mind, where should I start? I think I could probably skip a lot of the beginner things that most people start off with, but I don't know. I'm taking guitar lessons, so i won't be able to do bass lessons. I really want to start off right, because I wasn't very dedicated the first two or so years of guitar, and I really regret it.

edit: I forgot to mention, I like pretty much all styles of music apart from country and gangsta rap. So I'm not looking to learn any paticular style right now.

The size and spacing differences WILL get to you if you don't become familiar with them so spend a decent amount of time getting used to and comfortable with the size differences.

Yes, learn finger at least...but shoot for learning slap/pop as well, it's a great technique to learn.

Other than that, keep in mind that while being SIMILAR, they are still very different in terms of technique. You can be a root-noter if you want to or you can go for something more abstract...try to get good at both (one will obviously take longer than the other lol). If not already, get into funk music and learn some lines, you won't regret that

[ParanoidAndroid]

Alright that sounds good I guess. Should I start learning songs after that? I've already gotten pretty decent at song writing, and though I haven't written that many bass parts, I don't imagine it being too difficult. I really want to work on my technical ability and make progress with that first.

EDIT: Yeah they're definitely different. Haha if I were going to be a "rooter", i would just not play. In my honest opinion, bassists who are content with that are really pointless, and give bass in general a bad name. I'll check some funk stuff out

[barbarbass]

I think the only trouble you'll have is restraining your guitarist's instincts. A guitarist may tend play more ahead of the beat (this is a generalization) or use a bunch of notes in a place where bassists might do the opposite.

You'll also have to realize that you've gone from being the most noticeable (and noticed) instrument in a rock or pop context, to the least. It's a bit like being a baseball catcher or a soccer goalie -- your role is critical, but few understand it or can do it well.

[ParanoidAndroid]

Yeah I get what you mean. I was honestly never able to play like really fast, so I've concentrated more on expression and targetting chord tones and things like that.

Lol I don't mind about not being the forefront. I've never been the "Angus Young" (Lead player for AC/DC) type of guy anyway. Besides, anyone who truly knows anything about music knows that the rhythm section is way more important than the lead.

[troyus]

Watch all these vids.

http://youtube.com/user/jamersonshook

[dbcandle]

I too went from a melody instrument (clarinet/sax) to bass. It may be hard for you to get out of the "melody" role, and into the "rhythm" role.

If you find yourself getting really high on the fretboard, bending strings, taking 4-8 beat "rests", and trying to make your bass "sing" (while the drummer is steadily hammering away), you may be over-doing that melody thing.


Depending on how much time you have, you may want to get an intro drummer's book, and bone-up on your rhythmic ideas. I was always pretty good with melodies (with non-trivial rhythms), but when I went to more simplistic scales as is required on bass, I found it harder to remember complex rhythms.

In music, everyone in the group (all the instruments) form a chord at each instant. If the bass is doing much more than root/fifth (with clever passing-tones), the chordal-structure of the group gets messed-up, and sounds "muddy".

[mambo4]

I play both bass and guitar. Two things that pop into my mind:

1.) Learn Good technique. Schedule a lesson or two with bass guitar teacher to evaluate your left hand fingering technique...since used to the smaller neck/fretspace/strings and lower tension, you may develop bad technique habits that could hurt you later on. On lesson with a good teacher will help you avoid this. Also get right hand pointers while your at it.

2.) Rhythm is kingThe most important musical difference between guitar and bass, IMHO, is the primacy of timing and rhythm. On guitar, you can get away with melodic variation and just playing strummy stuff without nailing th beats too precisely. So, Even if you feel like you know time, I'd bet some exercises with the Metronome will benefit your bassing greatly.

[Mike Shevlin]

You may want to get some slap bass videos - this will force you to put down the pick and get comfortable with your right hand. It's also fun as poop!

[MarkTAW]

+1 mambo4

You've got the basic theory down so it's technique (fingerpicking, getting to know the fingerboard, etc.) and the different role the bass plays in music. That is, defining the foundation & keeping the song moving.

The Duck Dunn book "What Duck Done" is chock full of solid basslines that do this very well, and more simply than the James Brown or James Jamerson books. Even better if you have the original tracks. You need to be able to, however slowly, read music, though, since there's no tab.

[professor_bills]

YOu have to change your face too... The concentrating bass face is much difffferent than the painful straining lead guitard face