Adjust the strap so the bass is comfortable when sitting - on a stool, chair anything with out arms. I use my computer chair. Then stand up - the bass should stay in the same place, if not tighten up on the strap. No it's not cool, but, it is correct. On how to hold it and see the fretboard, see what I say below about using Bass Guitar for Dummies. I bet your public library will have a copy.
With two months in the saddle you should still be working on fundamentals, i.e. scales and chord tones. Scales to get your fingers moving on the fretboard and knowing where the notes are - and being able to identify a good note (sound) from a bad one. Chord tones (R-5-8-5 or R-3-5-b7) as that is what we play 80 to 90% of the time. Scales and chord tones into muscle memory should occupy the first part of your practice for quite some time. Good warm up.
Quote:
Major Scale Box.
G|---2---|-------|---3---|---4---| 1st string
D|---6---|-------|---7---|---8---|
A|---3---|---4---|-------|---5---|
E|-------|---R---|-------|---2---|4th string
Basic Chords
Major Triad = R-3-5
Minor Triad = R-b3-5
Diminished Chord = R-b3-b5
7th Chords
Maj7 = R-3-5-7
Minor 7 = R-b3-5-b7
Dominant 7 = R-3-5-b7
½ diminished = R-b3-b5-b7
Full diminished = R-b3-b5-bb7
Scales
Major Scale = R-2-3-4-5-6-7
Major Pentatonic = R-2-3-5-6 Major scale without the 4 & 7
Natural Minor Scale = R-2-b3-4-5-b6-b7 Major scale with the 3, 6 & 7 flatted
Minor Pentatonic = R-b3-4-5-b7 Natural minor scale without the 2 & 6
Blues = R-b3-4-b5-5-b7 Minor pentatonic with the b5 blue note added
Harmonic Minor Scale = R-2-b3-4-5-b6-7 Natural minor scale with a natural 7
Melodic Minor Scale = R-2-b3-4-5-6-7 Major scale with a b3
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Leave some time at the end of your practice for a song. One per week. I do not use tabs, except to see how a specific phrase is done, but for an entire song I do not recommend tabs, instead fake chord and or lead sheet and follow the chords listed on the sheet music. I know you are asking why. I find tabs are great for melody and solo work, but of little use for chord tone work. If you already read SN use that. If not put that into your bag of tricks. Sooner or later standard notation must enter your life.
Going to send you to two places. Start on page one and progress from there.
1. Bass Guitar for Dummies. Will give you the how to stuff. How to hold the bass, how to tune it, how to get sound, how to mute the string rattle, things like that. The pattern graphs in this book are second to none. Well worth your time.
http://www.dummies.com/how-to/conten...-standing.html
2.
Online Bass Lessons at StudyBass.com. Be sure to spend some time here.
http://www.studybass.com/lessons/common-bass-patterns/
When you want to know more about composing your bass lines Ed's Building Walking Bass Lines is IMO the best book on that subject.
Use those books, sites, etc. as your guide. Start on page one and do not skip pages - yes, speed read, but, do not skip pages. About one hour at a time is plenty. Two 30 minutes sessions have value, up to you which works best for you. My point long sessions beyond an hour are not all that productive. Of course IMO.
Have fun.
