Exact steps for an absolute beginner

[bassguy74]

I am a beginner and know barely anything about the bass. I don't really know any other instruments either, and have always been a huge procrastinator in a myriad of things, practicing not excluded. lol

Anyway, does anyone have some exact steps I can (or even should) take as a beginner, or advice on what the most important things I can do or learn are? Would be GREATLY appreciated! lol

Thanks guys!

[incident]

Step 1: Lessons from a qualified instructor.
Step 2: Practice
Step 3: Repeat step 2.

[bassguy74]

How did I know that would be said? LOL I should include that I currently can't afford an instructor. Let's see how that changes the answers. LOL

[Matvei]

I'm an absolute beginner too that just bought a bass and ordered an amp.

Currently reading bass guitar for dummies and making some noise through a guitar amp (low volume or headphones). Just trying to get a feel for the fingerboard and how notes are distributed around it.

[blanyo]

yes lots of step two at first you hands may hurt a little that is just your muscles getting used to being used in a new way take a short rest then practice more, i found one of the things that helped me practice more was setting my bass on a stand by my computer so i was compelled to pick it up more

[bassguy74]

Originally Posted by blanyo

yes lots of step two at first you hands may hurt a little that is just your muscles getting used to being used in a new way take a short rest then practice more, i found one of the things that helped me practice more was setting my bass on a stand by my computer so i was compelled to pick it up more

Cooll! Thanks for the tips guys.

[over_the_moon]

http://www.studybass.com

[Already In Use]

This site is awesome. Listen to what's said. Use these links. Study Bass has helped me a lot also. Another really big help is working with other musicians. That too has been a tremendous help for me. Its the practice thing. Progress will be made each time you pick up your bass.

Humans are at the top of the food chain for a reason.




Some noob from Alaska

Link credit to member Stumbo.

[MalcolmAmos]

Originally Posted by bassguy74

Anyway, does anyone have some exact steps I can (or even should) take as a beginner, or advice on what the most important things I can do or learn are? Would be GREATLY appreciated! lol

No music experience - right? And you want to play bass - right? Want some steps to take - right? Knee to knee instructor is out of the question - right? OK ....

Start with www.studybass.com. Start on screen one and do not skip around.

As you progress with Studybass.com you will have questions - ask them here. Be specific.

It will be a journey, best taken one step at a time. First step is go to www.studybass.com.

Good luck.

[CoffeeJanitor]

Get a GREAT teacher

Practice

When you're ready, jam with people. Maybe even become part of a band.

Practice.

EDIT: Scratch the teacher comments then, at least for now.

Definitely check out studybass.com. Fantastic website. Take your time and really try to get each lesson.

[chadhargis]

I'm was in the same boat about 6 weeks ago when I bought my bass and jumped in head first. No music education. No previous playing experience.

+1 on Talkbass.com. I had one instructor for about 5 weeks and just started with a new instructor last week. So far, I've learned more general music information and bass information from Talkbass.com.

That said, a good teacher does two really important things. 1) They can help make sure you are on the right track and working on the right things. 2) They hold you accountable for what they assign to you to practice.

Even if you can't afford weekly lessons, ponying up $50-70 per hour, even once a month, to meet with a good teacher is worth every dime. I look forward to my lesson each week.

One thing that I was told that has proven to be very valuable to me is how to practice. As new players, we want to PLAY. That's the point. But we also want to work on exercises and fundamentals. Here's what my teacher told me:

If you have an hour to practice, do the following:

15min - Work on exercises and fundamentals

15min - Work on ear training exercises

15min - Work on reading music

15min - Play something fun (without regard for technique...just play!)

If you can't play anything, a simple bass book will have some easy songs that you can learn in just a few minutes. I have to admit, sometimes I spend way more than 15 minutes jamming to tunes. I don't get every note right, but I enjoy trying to pick out the notes in some of my favorite songs.

[bassguy74]

Originally Posted by chadhargis

I'm was in the same boat about 6 weeks ago when I bought my bass and jumped in head first. No music education. No previous playing experience.

+1 on Talkbass.com. I had one instructor for about 5 weeks and just started with a new instructor last week. So far, I've learned more general music information and bass information from Talkbass.com.

That said, a good teacher does two really important things. 1) They can help make sure you are on the right track and working on the right things. 2) They hold you accountable for what they assign to you to practice.

Even if you can't afford weekly lessons, ponying up $50-70 per hour, even once a month, to meet with a good teacher is worth every dime. I look forward to my lesson each week.

One thing that I was told that has proven to be very valuable to me is how to practice. As new players, we want to PLAY. That's the point. But we also want to work on exercises and fundamentals. Here's what my teacher told me:

If you have an hour to practice, do the following:

15min - Work on exercises and fundamentals

15min - Work on ear training exercises

15min - Work on reading music

15min - Play something fun (without regard for technique...just play!)

If you can't play anything, a simple bass book will have some easy songs that you can learn in just a few minutes. I have to admit, sometimes I spend way more than 15 minutes jamming to tunes. I don't get every note right, but I enjoy trying to pick out the notes in some of my favorite songs.

Awesome! Very helpful post! I appreciate it very much! Will definitely try those steps out when I get my bass.

[bbmagic]

I've only had it a few days, but Roy Vogt's Teach Me Bass Guitar course would probably serve you really well. I'm not a beginner, but it covers the basics and has stuff for intermediate and advanced players as well. Check it out, and Roy is on here from time to time.

[Jools4001]

Originally Posted by bassguy74

Anyway, does anyone have some exact steps I can (or even should) take as a beginner, or advice on what the most important things I can do or learn are? Would be GREATLY appreciated! lol

Thanks guys!

A lot of guys have given you some good steps to get started, but...

Perhaps one of the things to learn is that there are no exact steps. Your road to bass playing Nirvana is going to be strewn with mistakes, both in your playing and in your choice of equipment. There are going to be obstacles to overcome, twists and turns, forks in the road and none of them have got an exact solution...but that's a good thing because it's how you'll learn from experience and how you will find your own musical voice.

It's also a good thing because if bass playing was an exact science we'd have been replaced by sequenced synth bass years ago.

[spideyjg]

All the above is great but invest $50 or so into getting your bass set up. One of the worst things for a beginner is fighting a poorly set instrument.

You will think it is hard to play until you develop you strength and conditioning. Let's just make sure it is just you and not the bass.

Jim

[fearceol]

All great advice so far, though I'm surprised that 15 posts in and the word "technique" has not been mentioned, especially when advising a complete beginner.


OP : Your technique is the foundation on which you will be putting all the above advice to use. Make sure you master good technique first. Getting it right from the start will pay dividends from a physical point of view as well as your general playing. A teacher is your best bet here, otherwise, check out You Tube for L/H and R/H technique.

[Minotauros]

Originally Posted by over_the_moon

http://www.studybass.com

Originally Posted by MalcolmAmos

No music experience - right? And you want to play bass - right? Want some steps to take - right? Knee to knee instructor is out of the question - right? OK ....

Start with www.studybass.com. Start on screen one and do not skip around.

As you progress with Studybass.com you will have questions - ask them here. Be specific.

It will be a journey, best taken one step at a time. First step is go to www.studybass.com.

Good luck.

^ What they said.

And perhaps Bass Guitar for Dummies and/or The Complete Idiot's Guide to Bass Playing (David Hodge).

[JTE]

OK, here's my take on this. But, it's also predicated on the idea that you learn good solid physical technique so you don't hurt yourself and you don't cause yourself problems down the road. No wrapping your thumb over the top of the neck, no big bends in your wrists, efficient and logical fingering, and you learn to play with your fingers and a pick.

Also, learn to stand before you try to walk- to walk before you start running, etc. Baby steps!!

---------------------------------------
THEORY PROGRESSION
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Theory can seem like a quagmire to those who are starting out, and it's often difficult to know just how important a particular aspect of it is. I will say that learning how chords are built from scales is the most important aspect of theory. It is far more useful to understand chord construction than to memorize all those "Scales A and B go with chord X" formulas.

I'd say the logical progression learning music theory is this:

1.) Learn the major scale, and how it's constructed
2.) Learn how basic chords are built from the major scale- e.g Major is 1,3,5, minor is 1,b3, 5, etc.
3.) Learn how to harmonize the notes of any diatonic major scale by building chords / stacking thirds.
4.) Learn arppegios/chord tones
5.) Learn to look at common chord progressions as "numerals" (eg, I-IV-V ect) to understand how the chords relate to the song's key.
6.) Learn the Natural Minor scale (a/k/a Aeolian mode) and the dominant scale (a/k/a Mixolydian); And learn how these relate to the major scale (i.e.; its the V and vi mode)
7.) Understand how other 4 modes of the major scale are derived (less important to memorize these other modes at first)
8.) Dive back into modes for more detailed ideas about what "goes" with what chord.

Bass playing is basically a matter of knowing what to play over various chords. It may seem daunting at first, but my practical experience (bass in pop/rock) has been that I mostly use Major, Minor, and Dominant 7 related bassline patterns, usually based on chord tones and pentatonics. Even if you're playing some guitar oriented riff-rock, each riff is going to imply a chord of some kind.

"BUT HOW DO I APPLY THIS THEORY TO MY PLAYING?"
85%+ of the time, you will be going from root note to root note as the chords change. The trick is learning how to do it with a groove and feel that is stylistically appropriate to the song. The best way to reach stylistic understanding is to learn songs you like and pick them apart to see how the bassline relates to the chords. I cannot emphasize this idea enough: The answer to this common question is to LEARN AND ANALYZE BASS LINES BY THE MASTERS. Once you undertand what Jamerson (for example) did with a particular set of changes, these ideas become added to your tool set, to use, change, blend and create your own voice.

[Rickett Customs]

Originally Posted by bassguy74

How did I know that would be said?

A sign of a beginner

[bassguy74]

Originally Posted by Rickett Customs

A sign of a beginner

LOL