How good can you get just learning songs?

[beyondat]

Man.. I've been playing bass for 3 years now and all I do is learn songs, play them for a few weeks and forget them a few weeks later. Basically it seems that i'm getting nowhere! I want to play out but it hard to find people to do it with or their musical ideas are not in alignment with yours. Am I wasting my time learning how to play songs sitting in front of my computer? I just don't know where to focus my bass playin' energy. Anyone else ever feel stuck like this? I'm so not as good as I want to be or can be.

[jazznfusion]

I think the main issue is maybe a lack of theory ? when you learn some basic things like scales, triads and notation your understanding will skyrocket, you will play your own stuff as well. but i think youve gone way too long without playing with others, which is a major part of the music and beneficial in many ways. are you studying with someone ?

[beyondat]

I have no theory . I took lessons for about a month when I first started and then my teacher had to go on tour.

[90k]

I took one lesson when I was 14 and I went to one semester of college when I was 23.. I built a solid carrier on being able to play of the seat of my pants.. quick ear and good chops.. It helped that I have played with incredible solid drummers.

[prd004]

You can get better by learning songs, much better actually. Especially if you learn different songs of varied styles! Mix it up learn some Mowtown, some Reggae, some Metal, some Funk, some blues, etc.......... And if you're finding it too easy try harder material.

John Paul Jones said the best way to learn how to play bass is to turn on the radio and play along with whatever comes on.

You also said that you just learn a song and forget it right away? Sounds like you might be bored with your studies? Are you hitting the 420 while you learn these tunes?

But some theory will help immensly! Knowlege is power! And yes, find some people to play with!!!!!!!!

[elgecko]

Open jams?

[90k]

Originally Posted by prd004

You can get better by learning songs, much better actually. Especially if you learn different songs of varied styles! Mix it up learn some Mowtown, some Reggae, some Metal, some Funk, some blues, etc.......... And if you're finding it too easy try harder material.

John Paul Jones said the best way to learn how to play bass is to turn on the radio and play along with whatever comes on.

You also said that you just learn a song and forget it right away? Sounds like you might be bored with your studies? Are you hitting the 420 while you learn these tunes?

But some theory will help immensly! Knowlege is power! And yes, find some people to play with!!!!!!!!

+1

[beyondat]

420 ? is that haze? I don't smoke anymore but if I don't play a song for a few weeks and pickup my bass and try to play it I have to think about it. opens jams, I've never really played with anyone so my improv is what needs improving.

[elgecko]

No need to learn improv. Go to some open jams, figure what the "standard" tunes are for those particular open jams and learn those tunes.

Whether you're good or not is irrelevant if no one hears you IMO. It's like a tree falling in the forest.

[prd004]

Improv becomes a thousand times easeir with understanding basic theory. The good news is basic theory isn't difficult, it's pretty basic!

Learn the names of the notes on your fingerboard, say them in your head (or sing them if you can) as you play.

Learn the major scale and the minor scale.

These three simple things will get you a long, long way! Once you know them all of the sudden you'll feel so much more comfortable with improv!

Then remember my John Paul Jones quote, turn on the radio and play along.

[Vic Winters]

You can get quite good learning songs. I don't mean in the "I can sound like the recording" sense, but learning the actual notes being played, how they interact with each other, what intervals they are, and relearning them on different positions on the neck.

[MalcolmAmos]

Once you have learned your 10 songs the first one gets fuzzy...... That is why tabs are great to learn a riff, see how something is done, but, to rely upon them as your only way of playing is limiting.

Music is to be enjoyed. For me that is playing with others, now if "others" have to be backing tracks, play-a-longs, etc. so be it, but, you gotta play with others.

We enjoy discussing music, you are on this forum because of that. We learn from each other. Set some goals that will lead to playing with others:

• Join a group. It does not have to be a band. Find where people that play music hang. http://www.flickr.com/photos/kansase...128/139470664/ I can assure you this is the safest place in the county. I have never had anyone, in a jam circle, get upset with a newbie. Now you may have to play some "air bass" if you get lost, but, go for it.
• Study theory. Why? So you can move from tabs.
• Theory will get you ready for jamming with others. How? Well, you assume some things. Once you know the key you know what chords will probably be in the song. Once you know that you can call upon those bass lines you have stored in muscle memory. Jamming is following the chords, you assume are in the song. Jamming is like grenades and horse shoes, close enough works.
• Now find some live people to jamm with. http://travel.webshots.com/photo/212...01588646HPEhDx

Good luck.

[DarkArwen]

Craigslist is your friend. You may certainly have to weed through a few nutty responses and some matchups that are just no good, but it is a decent way to find jamming partners. If that creeps you out, do you know ANY other muscians? I hate open jams for finding jamming buddies because everyone there is trying to sell a CD or get you to come to their next show so you can help THEM make money by paying a cover or buying alcohol.. which is fine, but it doesn't necesarily get you what you want.. which is some other people to play with. Start looking. The sooner you look the sooner you find.

[rtslinger]

I think it depends on your goal if your goal is to play bass in a cover band and you learn the songs you want to play fine. But if your goal is to understand how the song is made and why the person is playing what they are playing, and maybe build your on own good bass lines then add theory to your goal.Notice the the theme here "GOAL" set goals that you want to achieve and work towards them. and lastly I agree with the statement you need to hook up with a live drummer, go to open mic nights get used to playing with a real drummer that is when you will learn to feel the energy in the room that is made when you a playing along with people and the crowd is digging it. A Computer is a good learning tool, but after you learn it get out there and play it! Two different animals! hope this helps RTS

[oldcatfish]

Here are my suggestions. The more of these that you do, the better the results:
--As everyone else is telling you...play with others This is the best thing that you can do. Even if it's not your favorite style of music, join a band.
--Use backing tracks...you can buy some, download some, or make your own with a computer program. As long as you are playing songs that you don't actually know the bassline to, it will work.
--Use a drum machine: find a chord chart to a song that you've never heard, and just make up the song as you go, trying to change the chord tones in time with the drum machine.
--Take lessons...you can take them from a teacher, online, or buy a method book.
Good luck.

[HeadyVan Halen]

Test yourself. Seriously. Learn new songs and then give yourself a test on the weekend to see how much you retained.

Of course joining a band and taking lessons is the best way, but until then I'd try this.
Go on youtube and search backing tracks for whatever style you like. Learn the bassline, then come back and improv over it.

Get yourself one of the many books that come with a CD. It is good at learning basic music theory, and the bass is usually isolated or way up in the mix so you can really hear what's going on.

[leegreenman]

I'd suggest that it's more important to understand why a specific line works in the context of a song than to be able to just copy it note for note. Ask yourself how the bassist's choice of notes melodically and rhythmically relates to what the other musicians are doing on the track.

[M0ses]

Whether or not you're learning from this excersize depends entirely upon how you're doing it. Are you figuring the song out by ear? If you are, then you're probably learning a lot of really valuable things. If you're using tabs, you're wasting your time.

[jpatt2]

I think learning certain songs will actually make you worse. (i.e. anything Fall Out Boy)

[huben94]

Check out local your Community College, some offer Rock Band classes.

Yes Craigslist took me about two years to find some good people to play with.