I have Bass, Amp, Desire to learn...Do I need anything else?

streetknight · #1 05-30-2011, 07:37 AM

Hey guys. Just wanted to throw this out there. I've recently been captivated by bass. Been dabbling with guitar for a while, but after going to a few King's X shows and watching Dug Pinnick play, I want to play bass.

I picked up a Jazz bass and an Acoustic B20 amp to practice with at home. I can use headphones if needed (and with 4 kids in the house it's a must sometimes) and plug in my ipod to jam along with.

I've been wearing out Studybass.com and this site to get me going.

Is there anything else I need that would benefit the time I have to practice, which sometimes isn't a lot lol.

A looper pedal, a way to record my progress, some way to get drum tracks, etc?

Thanks for any input

MalcolmAmos · #2 05-30-2011, 08:00 AM

You've got enough hardware, little time with how to make music with the hardware might be in order.

Yes studybass.com is a great site. If you can swing an instructor that is the quickest way. Beyond that yes play with others, DVD's, Internet videos, etc. It's the playing with others that will point you to what else you need to learn.

Finding the key those DVD's and Videos are using is the first step and it's quite simple. Listen to the Music and sound the first fret on your G string - keep going up the neck one fret at a time - when what you are hearing from the CD and what you are doing on your bass come into sync (sound good) you have found the tonal center, thus the key. Look down at what note that happened on, that's your key. OK armed with the key.......

From that assume a I IV V progression, play roots, and change chords when your ear tells you the song has moved on to another chord. So you miss it. I expect you will, just keep trying.

Get some fake chord sheet music. Google can help. Ask Google like this; {Guitar chords, "name of the song"} The comma and the quote marks help.

When just roots get old then add the fives. Roots, fives and the correct 3 and 7 will play a lot of bass.

Notes on the fretboard, cheaters?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=obFcsEtFIKA

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R4x0u...eature=related
On this one start out with just roots, see if you can keep up. When you can add some of the other chord tones.

Am7 = R-b3-5-b7
D7 = R-3-5-b7
Gmaj7 = R-3-5-7
Cmaj7 = R-3-5-7
F#m7b5 = R-b3-b5-b7
B7 = R-3-5-b7
Em = R-b3-5

I know that looks like a lot, but, look again, it's roots, fives and the correct 3 and 7. Minor chords get a b3, major chords get a natural 3, maj7 gets a 7 and dominant and minor seven gets a b7. Get your major, minor and diminished bass lines into muscle memory.

One last thing - the root, just by it self, will get you harmonization. The root and the five get a little more harmonization. With those two notes you've got harmonization, how much more harmonization do you need? More is just gravy, if you like gravy, pour it on.

That should give you enough to keep you busy for several months.

Have fun.

lomo · #3 05-30-2011, 08:01 AM

A good teacher is worth a thousand gadgets, especially when beginning.

Groove Master · #4 05-30-2011, 08:44 AM

A metronome

streetknight · #5 05-30-2011, 09:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MalcolmAmos

YouTube - ‪autumn leaves jam track‬&rlm;
On this one start out with just roots, see if you can keep up. When you can add some of the other chord tones.

Am7 = R-b3-5-b7
D7 = R-3-5-b7
Gmaj7 = R-3-5-7
Cmaj7 = R-3-5-7
F#m7b5 = R-b3-b5-b7
B7 = R-3-5-b7
Em = R-b3-5

To make sure I follow you correctly. On the track in this video I would start out playing the roots of each chords in 1/4 notes? Then after I get comfortable with that I can spice it up with some other tones from the chord?

MalcolmAmos · #6 05-30-2011, 09:19 AM

Yes the song is in 4/4 time so that could be all quarter note R-R-R-R or just 2 half note R's or one full note R per measure - which ever will fit the rhythm best. Notice the slash marks it is telling you to sound 4 notes. The root plus 3 more somethings. The 3 more somethings indicate a full chord tone could be used. Am7 = R-b3-5-b7. Notice later in the song one measure has two chords in one measure, i.e. Em/Eb7/ so you only have room for two notes for each chord. Which two - your choice. I'd probably do R-R for the Em then R-R for the Eb7.

Start out with R-R-R-R, then add the five, R-5-R-5 - then start adding other notes if needed.
R-5-8-5 is generic and will fit nicely. The 8 is another R just one octave higher. It's an easy pattern and adds a little something.

Getting to a full chord tone of say R-b3-5-b7 will frankly take some time. Start out with roots and take it from there. We want to eventually get to a groove. Can you lay down a groove using R-b3-5-b7 or will a groove develop right now with just the R-5-R-5. Probably the R-5-R-5. If we have to think about what we are doing getting a groove going is hard, it's when we do not have to spend a lot of time thinking that we can get a groove going. Yes, if your head is not moving you are not grooving.

Thus my comment about getting some generic bass lines into muscle memory - see a minor chord and your fingers automatically know what to do.

I seem to remember you are an ole rhythm guitar guy. Remember how you learned your scales and took them into all keys. Learn your chord tone patterns for the major R-3-5-X, minor R-b3-5-X and diminished R-b3-b5-X and then place those patterns on any root note - on your fretboard.

Why X? If you have a 7th chord the 7th becomes your X. If you do not have a 7th chord use the 8 or another 3 I like the neutral 6, give it a try. Or get real fancy and use the X as a lead into the next chord, i.e. make a walking bass lines. But, let's leave walking bass lines for later.....

Good luck.

o

MalcolmAmos · #7 05-30-2011, 10:18 AM

Some more stuff. Bookmark it for later.

Bass Patterns based upon the Major Scale box.

Major Scale Box.

G|---2---|-------|---3---|---4---| 1st string
D|---6---|-------|---7---|---8---|
A|---3---|---4---|-------|---5---|
E|-------|---R---|-------|---2---|4th string

Place the root (R) on the C note 4th string 8th fret and the C major scale await you.
Place the root (R) on the C note and play the R-3-5 and you have just played the notes of the C major chord aka C arpeggio. Chord progression for this song is G-C-D. Place your box root on a G on the 3rd string. Where is your C? Where is the D? The next song's progression is C-F-G. Place your box root on a C on the 3rd string. Where is your F? Where is your G? Yep, piece of cake.

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 Harmonic minor and melodic minor will use the full bb7

Scales
Major Pentatonic = R-2-3-5-6
Minor Pentatonic = R-b3-4-5-b7
Blues = R-b3-4-b5-5-b7
Major Scale = R-2-3-4-5-6-7
Natural Minor Scale = R-2-b3-4-5-b6-b7
Harmonic Minor Scale = R-2-b3-4-5-b6-7
Melodic Minor Scale = R-2-b3-4-5-6-7

Major modes
Ionian same as the Major Scale.
Lydian use the major scale and sharp the 4 - yes, it’s that simple.
Mixolydian use the major scale and flat the 7.

Minor Modes
Aeolian same as the Natural Minor scale.
Dorian use the Natural Minor scale and sharp the b6 back to a natural 6.
Phrygian use the Natural Minor scale and flat the 2.
Locrian use the Natural Minor scale and flat the 2 and the 5.

Generic Notes.
The root, five and eight are generic and fit most any chord. Remember the diminished has a flatted 5.
The 3 is generic to all major chords. See a major chord R-3-5-8 is a generic bass line that will work.
The b3 is generic to all minor chords. See a minor chord R-b3-5-8 is a generic bass line that will work.
The 7 is generic to all maj7 chords. R-3-5-7.
The b7 is generic to all dominant seventh and minor seventh chords. R-3-5-b7 or R-b3-5-b7.
The 6 is neutral and adds color, help yourself to 6’s. I like R-3-5-6 for major chords. Has a great sound.
The 2 and 4 make good passing notes. Don’t linger on them or stop on them, keep them passing.
In making your bass line help yourself to those notes, just use them correctly.
Remember roots, fives, eights and the correct 3 will play a lot of bass.

fearceol · #8 05-30-2011, 10:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by streetknight

Is there anything else I need that would benefit the time I have to practice

Yes...the particular technique required for bass guitar. This is quite different from that of guitar. If you get this right, not only will your playing be of a good quality, but you will avoid the possible wrist/hand/finger problems that bad technique contributes to. Look up You Tube or the stickies here on TB for R/H and L/H technique.

Before you get to grips with all the excellent advice you have received so far in this thread, make sure you have the wherewithall to apply it in the most beneficial and safe way.

Good luck with it.

Buslady7803 · #9 05-30-2011, 12:28 PM

Teacher. Metronome. A basic book can help. And everything these guys said. Dont let all the techy talk confuse you...it confuses me but don't give up.

and of course, practice, practice, practice....

**bassybill** · #10 05-30-2011, 01:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lomo

A good teacher is worth a thousand gadgets, especially when beginning.

That can very often be true, but not in every single case. Some people are capable of teaching themselves with whatever resources they have available.

streetknight · #11 05-30-2011, 04:08 PM

Thanks SO much for all the advice everyone and MalcomAmos, above and beyond brother.

The technique thing has been worrying me. I try to sit up straight in a chair and always use a strap. Also, after I get an exercise down or at least think I do, I practice it again standing till I feel I have it right.

I try to keep my thumb behind the center of the neck for the most part on the LH and the RH is where I have trouble. From the videos I've watched the "Floating Thumb" technique is what I've been trying. Kinda makes my shoulder hurt though. But it I keep my shoulder straight my wrist is bent and I think that's worse.

I'm pretty self conscious, but if I were to make a video of what I'm doing, think some of you guys could check it out and tell me if you see anything I'm doing wrong?

fearceol · #12 05-31-2011, 02:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by streetknight

I try to keep my thumb behind the center of the neck for the most part on the LH and the RH is where I have trouble. From the videos I've watched the "Floating Thumb" technique is what I've been trying. Kinda makes my shoulder hurt though. But it I keep my shoulder straight my wrist is bent and I think that's worse.

I'm pretty self conscious, but if I were to make a video of what I'm doing, think some of you guys could check it out and tell me if you see anything I'm doing wrong?

The "Floating Thumb" is a good technique to learn. Todd Johnson, in the clip below actually aknowledges that the shoulder can hurt for a couple of days until the muscles get used to it. Bear in mind though, that nothing is written in stone. If a technique is safe (i.e. the wrists are as straight as possible) and comfortable for you, then there is no reason not to use it.

A video of you playing would be a good idea.

YouTube - ‪Todd Johnson Bass Guitar : Floating thumb technique‬&rlm;

Popbumper · #13 05-31-2011, 09:48 AM

If I may add from a newbie perspective, and of course YMMV....

Having been a lifelong musician with woodwinds, my first impetus after picking up bass was to go the theory route. I jumped into a basic book (Hal Leonard) and went at it. After about a month, I grew tired of it, because I wanted to PLAY.

Since then, I have spent most of my time "reading" tab on Ultimate-Guitar.com, and playing along with Youtube. What this has done is:

1) Assisted me in developing dexterity, finger strength, and callouses.
2) Helped me with tempo - since I already "know" the songs, playing along with them strengthens timing and rhythm. Practicing "fast" parts over and over develops muscle memory.
3) Allowed me to recognize patterns of notes that are common to many different songs.
4) Cultivated the "feel" of the instrument. I find myself "gliding" up the neck far more easily than I first did.
I have also gained a good knowledge of the value of both palm and pick muting.

There are benefits to any approach - no method is perfect. Personally, I plan to migrate back to theory, to help "round out the education" as it were and help me understand WHAT I am playing and WHY.

I wish you luck as you persevere and accomplish. And, PLAY, PLAY, PLAY - like anything, you have to develop the relationship....

Chris