Having a little trouble progressing

[homercaholic]

Ive been playing for just under a year now (minus 2 months off when I worked at a camp in New York) and I feel as though im stuck. I can play some songs, im pretty sure I can hold down a beat but not having played with anyone other then my itunes library is one reason I think im stuck. My actual problem is I can get the basics down, ive been playing along with my "bass guitar for dummies" book and can pretty much master all but the most advanced beats but all the examples are grooves where the notes are all "in the box", meaning no real hand shifts. My problem is I almost panic when I have to shift my hands up and down the neck quickly.

For example im trying to master soul to squeeze by the chili peppers (minus the slap solo, one step at a time). I have the basic beat down but all the 'fillers' in between the main beats are giving me real problems because I find myself panicking, losing my place on the neck and the whole thing turns into a festival of bad noises and swear words...I know the main advice is going to be to slow down, speed will come in time and I agree with that however I was wondering if anyone else had any advice or tips, or even some excersizes that will help me increase speed and confidence in me moving up and down the fretboard. My main practice materials are learning songs but I really dont think that might be one thing holding me back?

[ElectrAcoustic]

learning your way around the fingerboard is your key..

start with the key of c and play the scale in all 5 positions..

1st position.. starting at low E and running up to the B on your G string..

2nd position (from F on your Estring to C on your Gstring)

3rd postion (from A on your Estring to E on your Gstring)

4th position (from B on your Estring to F on your Gstring)

5th position (from C on your Estring to G(octave) on your G string..

Once you get comfortable with each position start moving from one position to the next without hesitation... oh, a metronome/drum machine will help you immensely here...

Next: time to get a teacher...

[homercaholic]

I had a teacher before but he just gave me music and sat there for half an hour, he was a guitar player first and bass second....plus my schedule at the moment doesnt leave me a lot of free time (Job+University).

[ElectrAcoustic]

Originally Posted by homercaholic

I had a teacher before but he just gave me music and sat there for half an hour, he was a guitar player first and bass second....plus my schedule at the moment doesnt leave me a lot of free time (Job+University).

In that case.. after you get comfortable in all 5 positions in the key of C.. work on moving seamlessly from 1st position all the way to 5th.. after you're good with that, there's 11 other keys..

Happy thumpin'

[OBBP5]

Originally Posted by ElectrAcoustic

learning your way around the fingerboard is your key..

start with the key of c and play the scale in all 5 positions..

1st position.. starting at low E and running up to the B on your G string..

2nd position (from F on your Estring to C on your Gstring)

3rd postion (from A on your Estring to E on your Gstring)

4th position (from B on your Estring to F on your Gstring)

5th position (from C on your Estring to G(octave) on your G string..

Once you get comfortable with each position start moving from one position to the next without hesitation... oh, a metronome/drum machine will help you immensely here...

Next: time to get a teacher...

why is 3rd postion not starting at G on the E string.....?
hope that is not a dumb question. sorry

[goolimari]

I have the exact same problem as you.

( i realized this when i wanted to play With or without you by U2. It goes DDDD AAAA BBBB GGGG . simple riff, but all the notes are played on the E string, an you gotta keep sliding whenever you are going "low note to high note" (like from G back to D))


Here is something i started doing a week ago and it already seems to have brought some results. it is quite powerful because you are not trying to just move hands, but also learning the finger board at the same time.

YOu need to know your Circle of Fourths do do this ( of course, you can just do the notes of a scale, but i'd suggest you stick to fourths.)

Start with the C note on the G string. Then move to the C note of the D string. Then to the C note on A string. then to the C note on E string.

You move up a Fourth and do the same with F. I.e pluck F on G string, then F on D string, then F on A string, then F on E string..

then you move another fourth...You pluck Bb on G string.....


you get the idea!

keep going around the circle.

do not worry too much about what fingers to use..use either your index or pinky, but do throw in the ring and middle once in a while.

also, do it SLOW! it is quite frustrating in the beginining. you will be ashamed at how poor your knowledge of the fretboard is..

but within 2-3 weeks, you will be gliding all over the fretboard! believe me, i did!!!


keep trying to play the U2 song everyday, and the day you think you go it down cold, is the day you have mastered the shifts..

[tocoadog]

it's the journey.

Remember, Flea's been playing for 30 years and before that he played the trumpet. You've been playing for 1 year...don't get too frustrated.

My other advice would be to join a band. Nothing wrong with joining a band and saying "This is my first time". Everyone on here as done it at one time or another. And I don't mean a gig ready band. But sit in with some people, see if there is chemistry between you and the others, and actually feel the energy of the bass move through you. It really is a very cool thing. YOu'll be surprised how much you'll progress when y ou play with other people. Once you make that leap, it'll be hard to ever not play with others again. [chances are you'll want to quit that day job of yours...]

[BillMason]

Originally Posted by goolimari

I have the exact same problem as you.

( i realized this when i wanted to play With or without you by U2. It goes DDDD AAAA BBBB GGGG . simple riff, but all the notes are played on the E string, an you gotta keep sliding whenever you are going "low note to high note" (like from G back to D))

Just a tip: try playing this with your pinky on the D and the A (5th fret A and E strings), your index finger on the B (2nd fret A string), and your SCREW YOU finger on the G. You don't have to move your wrist at all!

[BillMason]

Originally Posted by homercaholic

Ive been playing for just under a year now (minus 2 months off when I worked at a camp in New York) and I feel as though im stuck. I can play some songs, im pretty sure I can hold down a beat but not having played with anyone other then my itunes library is one reason I think im stuck. My actual problem is I can get the basics down, ive been playing along with my "bass guitar for dummies" book and can pretty much master all but the most advanced beats but all the examples are grooves where the notes are all "in the box", meaning no real hand shifts. My problem is I almost panic when I have to shift my hands up and down the neck quickly.

For example im trying to master soul to squeeze by the chili peppers (minus the slap solo, one step at a time). I have the basic beat down but all the 'fillers' in between the main beats are giving me real problems because I find myself panicking, losing my place on the neck and the whole thing turns into a festival of bad noises and swear words...I know the main advice is going to be to slow down, speed will come in time and I agree with that however I was wondering if anyone else had any advice or tips, or even some excersizes that will help me increase speed and confidence in me moving up and down the fretboard. My main practice materials are learning songs but I really dont think that might be one thing holding me back?

Patience grasshopper... Flea's been at it a long time - you aren't expected to play his stuff note for note after playing for only 10 months...

But I know what you mean - I started playing EBG when I was 15, and dove head first into Iron Maiden. Just like you said, learn each tune slow first, and play it over and over again - with a metronome if you have one! - until you can play it at album speed.

Sigh... there was a time when I could play Phantom of the Opera and all of Master Of Puppets at album speed... now I don't even bother trying. Lazy or old, one or the other...