Hello I am a drummer who is interested in bass please help guide me.

[kennydakid]

Hello everybody. This is my first time on the board but I have been lurking for a while.

I am a 24 year old drummer who has dabbled in guitar and I want to work on playing bass guitar . My younger brother bought some gear a year ago and decided bass wasn't for him so I have gear.
Amp: Peavy Max 110
Bass: Ibanez SRX 2 EX 2 (not sure if that is the actual model name or not)

I am interested in what I should do when making the transition from drums to bass.

Thank you,
Kenny

[iplaybassguitar]

well the first step is to play the bass, and not the drums. that is the most basic element.
but seriously.
i think youre gonna need to be a little more specific with your request. if there was an answer we could give you that would automatically send you on the right path, then everyone would be a master bassist.
try and play stuff you hear on the radio, sit down and work it out by ear, play with other musicians as much as you can, get a beginner bass book and work through it cover to cover, learn how to read music, study theory, listen to great bassists, Jaco, Jack Bruce, Victor, Ron Carter, Paul Jackson, Flea, learn basslines to songs that you already know on drums, hang around talkbass and learn from others on here, ask specific questions, read about bass online.

but most of all just play the thing

[DudeistMonk]

Well I would buy a technique DVD to learn the proper way to play.

I would read EVERYTHING on http://studybass.com which is a great introduction to the instrument, it's role and how to begin building lines.

Then I would start by learning the major and minor scales then chords/arpeggios and then other scales and modes.

I assume your are pretty solid on rhythm and reading rhythm, but you might want to learn to read music, if nothing else it will get you familiar with the notes on the neck.

Also you should get some tabs or sheet music and start learning some songs to keep it exciting and see some real world application. When you are learning a new song pay attention to the chord progression and how the bass players note choices relate to it.

Also if you are really serious I would take at least a few months worth of lessons, so that you know that your technique is solid and so that you can learn basic music theory.

[kennydakid]

More specifically...

I know how to read music (including Bass clef) and I know tabliture. I have dabbled in guitar for about 4 years, never serious enough to really teach myself anything beyond basic theory. I know the fretboard and scales and what notes are in which keys etc... I can play roots along to most recordings but I really hit a snag when i try to be more creative. I guess that really goes to dexterity of the fingers.

I guess I was wondering what the next logical step is, should I spend some time really working on technique or should I try to get a group together to play some cover tunes.
I have 14 years experience behind the kit and I have played in many bands.

What are some good resources for free lessons? has anyone ever gone into bass through a similar path?

[rokkitt]

you said this.....

I guess that really goes to dexterity of the fingers.


----------

that is true!

build your dexterity here...

30 day bass workout


its a book and dvd, 23.95 at guitar center....



where are you located>?


maybe a lesson or two, and hanging with another bass player....

you have alot to offer, we as bass players are always trying to follow you/interact with you.

I am always chasing that dang kick drum! hehehehe



good luck!

Al

[dogbluedrummer]

Kenny, I also used to be a drummer. You already know to play the pocket, so rythm and locking with the drummer should be easy. All you need to know (to get started) are which notes to play. Don't think fancy, just try to lay down a good groove.

Here's what I did.

1. Get a bass, anything will do at first.
2. Start learning the fretboard, especially the first 5 frets.
3. Download Band-in-a-box. It's a play-along tuitorial....and it's free.

Practice playing right along with BiaB. It will tell you what note to play during each bar of the song. My favorite songs were: Pale Blues, Circumventor, Twenty-Twenty, Hard Fought Blues, Quick Groove, Lady in Green, Enchanted Again, Gift of Flowers, Work the Sax.

This training will focus you on playing root notes, and mastering the fretboard.

4. From there, I learned 5ths, major and minor 3rds, and octaves. Pretty easy.
5. I learned what a I IV V progression is...the chord progression (movement) of a song.
6. Learn about approach notes, both diatonic or chromatic...again, very easy.
7. Learn the major and minor scales. They can be used to make quick little runs/fills. Just learn the fingering pattern, don't obsess knowing which notes they are, focus on fingering the root, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th, and octave.

8. For practice today, I download chord sheets from www.iwillworship.com and play along with youtube.

I am still learning, but can hold my own with the band. Oh yeah, that's probably the single best thing you can do to ACCELERATE your learning. "Necessity is the mother of all invention!" After playing the bass for 4 weeks, there was an opening in my church's band. I got the nod, and was forced to improve very quickly. Yes, the first few Sundays were rough, but that's progress. The point is, get into a band soon. Even if you think you're not ready.

[beelzelboss]

Get a teacher who knows what he is doing... Smartest thing i SHOULD have done... i got one that didn't know to much about bass, great left hand (fretting) skills, could not teach me jack $h!# about the right hand though..

He always would say play with a pick, my response "NO YOU MOTHER PLUCKER!"

[kennydakid]

I have always been a go-it-yourself kinda guy. After being away all weekend I came home Sunday night and made a list of all the songs my band covers and went through that list. Sunday night and last night.
I am working on some pretty basic stuff.

Jack Johnson - Sitting Waiting Wishing
John Mayer - Your Body is a wonderland
Coldplay - In My Place
Eric Clapton - Cocaine
Johnny Cash - Folsom Prison Blues

And I found one of the bassist's old notebooks in my brothers gig bag (I guess I will have to return it) but I used that to figure out the chord progressions to some of my band's original songs.
Speaking of the bassist in my band he is thinking about taking bass lessons with Joe Holliday (some of you in Massachusetts/ New Hampshire may know him as the Bassist for "The Fools" and "Beatle Juice")

I am enjoying the bass thusfar, though i am not enjoying the blisters on my plucking fingers (I miss a pick already)

[eaaa410]

From a beginner's perspective, I have found that the bass and guitar far more different than they are similar. I find that immediate fun and satisfaction helps lead me to the more technical stuff. Playing along with root note pattern songs, like the Ramones and similar, helped my timing, finger strength, and coordination as well as just being fun. I have been practicing with both a pick and fingers depending on how the original song was performed. From there I have started trying to learn the notes on the fretboard, theory, and other techniques. I am kind of a late beginner with limited free time though.

[rokkitt]

Originally Posted by kennydakid

I have always been a go-it-yourself kinda guy. After being away all weekend I came home Sunday night and made a list of all the songs my band covers and went through that list. Sunday night and last night.
I am working on some pretty basic stuff.

Jack Johnson - Sitting Waiting Wishing
John Mayer - Your Body is a wonderland
Coldplay - In My Place
Eric Clapton - Cocaine
Johnny Cash - Folsom Prison Blues

And I found one of the bassist's old notebooks in my brothers gig bag (I guess I will have to return it) but I used that to figure out the chord progressions to some of my band's original songs.
Speaking of the bassist in my band he is thinking about taking bass lessons with Joe Holliday (some of you in Massachusetts/ New Hampshire may know him as the Bassist for "The Fools" and "Beatle Juice")

I am enjoying the bass thusfar, though i am not enjoying the blisters on my plucking fingers (I miss a pick already)

cool u are on your way!


u can use a pick, but that is another story all together!

[kennydakid]

I know I can use a pick but my picking skill is already far more developed than my plucking skill....

and by learning the bass part to "Cocaine" I figured out the part i was having so much trouble with on the drums. (going into the chorus)

[lemur821]

Originally Posted by kennydakid

I guess I was wondering what the next logical step is, should I spend some time really working on technique or should I try to get a group together to play some cover tunes.

Get a group together.