Essentials of Bass??

[CaptGinyu]

Hey folks,

I'm a new bass player. But I'm not new to guitar (been playing for around 5 years)

My question is: What are some essentials to learn when getting serious about bass? I mean the really important stuff. Any help would be appreciated.


If it helps: I really like bands like Parkway Drive, Iron Maiden, and Between the Buried and Me....also Colin Greenwood from Radiohead is one of my favorite players.

[PatQ]

How to play with fingers instead of a pick, how to mute strings properly and the essentials of how to write a good bass line. That would be a good start...

[fearceol]

Originally Posted by PatQ

How to play with fingers instead of a pick

By no means "essential" IMO. OP, play with a pick or your fingers, whichever you think suits the music, and you are comfortable with. The ideal thing would be to master both.

The most basic and important essential when starting to learn bass, is good technique in both hands. Equally important is a good sense of timing.

[Elrend]

Originally Posted by PatQ

How to play with fingers instead of a pick, how to mute strings properly and the essentials of how to write a good bass line. That would be a good start...

>writing a good bassline
>in any way shape or form essential or basic

[Emilym80]

Originally Posted by fearceol

By no means "essential" IMO. OP, play with a pick or your fingers, whichever you think suits the music, and you are comfortable with. The ideal thing would be to master both.

The most basic and important essential when starting to learn bass, is good technique in both hands. Equally important is a good sense of timing.

I agree, as well as getting used to blending well (doesn't mean you have to play simplistic bass parts!) and playing "in the pocket"- having a good groove, feel, sense of timing and great rhythm.

[rodsnhawgs]

1. get friendly with a piano (if you're a guitarist, you're
probably already there)
2. lose the guitarist mentality and discover a bass player's
head
3. learn/master your way around the fretboard
4. learn the cycle of 4ths
5. learn how to make every song swing - even metal...if you
don't know what I mean...all the more important to learn it.
6. learn how to hear, recognize, and lock into the
pulse/essence/vibe of songs
7. learn to listen
8. discover how to make all your bass lines say the chords
9. discover the importance of your role to the band
10. develop proper left hand mechanics

[fearceol]

Just thought of another "essential"....drop the idea ( if you have one) of strutting your stuff in the spot light, as generally speaking, the bassist takes a behind the scenes roll, and along with the drummer, keeps the the whole shebang together.

[Ed Fuqua]

If you're really serious, get a teacher. In the meantime, there's this.

[Muttleybass]

Technique on both hands is a biggie. A lot of guitar players wind up with a "squinchy" left hand. Learn proper fingering and use your pinky.

Listen to the kick and learn to groove. You're there to hold it down, not float on top.

[5StringFool]

Originally Posted by rodsnhawgs

2. lose the guitarist mentality and discover a bass player's head

Very important thing here. I started playing keys first, then guitar, and finally bass (which is what I love the mostest ). The mental shift was the biggest ting for me, if you're already a competent guitarist then you have fretboard skills, and you have some picking skills which gives you a headstart. Below is a link that is a great free resource to help you get into the "head space" of a bass player. There's exercises for finger style technique as well, but like others have said don't limit yourself, use whatever technique gets the sound that you want.

Online Bass Lessons at StudyBass.com

Welcome to the world of groove.

[MalcolmAmos]

Originally Posted by CaptGinyu

Hey folks, I'm a new bass player. But I'm not new to guitar (been playing for around 5 years)

My question is: What are some essentials to learn when getting serious about bass? I mean the really important stuff. Any help would be appreciated..

Once you get beyond how to hold it, tune it and have good sound come from it. I feel the essentials move to .....

As an accompaniment instrument we accompany 90% of the time. If we stick with chord tones when accompanying and leave scales and modes for later - when we get some lead breaks - we tend to not step on any toes. So right at first, knowing which chord tones to use and which to leave out become important, i.e. how to build a bass line is essential.

See how much you can get into your bass line and still be able to keep up with the music, i.e. not have the music move on and leave you. It starts with roots.

Major Scale Box. 

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

At first - root on 1. After you've got that and you've got some time (space) then....
Add the 5 next.
Then comes the 3 (or b3).
Then walk to the next chord.

I use chromatic runs, find a way to walk that works best with the music you play. Scott's new video on How to develop and expand your bass lines (part 2) with Scott Devine goes into detail.

First octave is your basic stuff. R to 7.
Second octave gets more melodic.
Does the song call for basic or melodic bass lines?

Essentials will vary with the individual - at this point in my journey - nailing the chord changes and using a bass lines that fits the song are the essentials I'm working on.

[CaptGinyu]

Thank you, thank you, thank you.

Really appreciate the links and comments.

[KingRazor]

Play notes all over the fretboard and get familiar with how each one sounds.

When you start being able to figure out parts by ear, it is one of the coolest feelings, I've just recently started being able to do this and it's awesome.

[Already In Use]

What got me going was learning chord structure and the fretboard. Triads...major & minor for starters. Learn interval numbering.