I lost my job yesterday! Now I have six free months to conquer bass. Seeking advice.

paddyosullivan · #1 01-04-2011, 02:45 PM

I'm a 21 year old dude, been playing guitar and bass 50/50 for about a year. I was laid off from my job yesterday and I have no plans on finding a new one until the summer. I've been saving up my money as I kinda saw this one coming.

I just bought a Fender Jazz bass(lefty) for $200 last week, so I have a proper bass guitar now.

For the next six months I will not be working, just taking some classes at a nearby college. I want to get as good as possible in six months. I am willing to play all damn day, I'm not doing anything else!

Where I'm at currently: I know where the notes are mostly. I have a sense of rhythm. I can hold it down jamming the blues with a band. I don't have any real knowledge of music theory. I play rock and roll.

What do you think is the most efficient way to attack my goal? Any websites/books/videos you all could recommend?

This corporate Manhattan world ain't for me. I wanna rock and roll!

Mr wiggl3s · #2 01-04-2011, 07:36 PM

Your goal is to...be able to play the bass? if so, get a pick, and play it.

DeepCalls2Deep · #3 01-04-2011, 07:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr wiggl3s

Your goal is to...be able to play the bass? if so, get a pick, and play it.

or use your fingers

Blacksack · #4 01-04-2011, 07:42 PM

i've been out of a job for just over 2 months in that time i think i've probably put in an an extra 6 hours more than i usually would its amazing just how little time you actually have even when your not in work.... well that and the fact i've been streaming episodes of american dad and family guy not to mention all the naughty sites i've been veiwing while my mrs is at work

paddyosullivan · #5 01-04-2011, 07:58 PM

I'm not looking for a shortcut or anything. I finally have the time I need to really learn this instrument and I'd like some advice on the most efficient methods to improve. I should have at least 4 or 5 hours free every day.

mynewbaby · #6 01-04-2011, 08:00 PM

I can relate kind of. I broke my foot right after I got my first bass so I couldn't go to work. I took lessons for two months and played for hours every day. It did a world of good; I believe I got a year or twos experience just from those two months.

The lessons gave great direction and focus to what might have been time wasted doing my own thing. If you can find the cash I would definitely suggest taking a few lessons. The time you have right now will help you to get the most out of the instruction. You can get your fingers going on your own. The lessons should focus on the theory behind what you are doing.

www.studybass.com
is pretty awesome as well. I spent many hours there re-enforcing what I was learning at my lessons.

Use your time wisely and it will definitely pay off!

bolophonic · #7 01-04-2011, 08:11 PM

Take lessons and jam out on easy tunes with guitarists who are more advanced than you. Play by yourself whenever you have a chance, but always make sure that you are getting feedback from more advanced players.

ericw · #8 01-04-2011, 08:19 PM

Take lessons if possible. Study some basic music theory. Play with as many people/bands/genres/situations as possible. Study some more music theory. Learn to read music. Get a looper and write songs on your guitar and come up with bass lines/bass meolodies for them.

Stumbo · #9 01-04-2011, 09:57 PM

Here's a link to a TB thread "Bass in a year" where you might get some ideas.

Check out the link in my sig for some great TB info that may help you out.

Be sure to rest a bit if you have finger or wrist pain.

80'sRocker · #10 01-04-2011, 09:58 PM

get a new job!

monroe55 · #11 01-05-2011, 04:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by paddyosullivan

I'm a 21 year old dude, been playing guitar and bass 50/50 for about a year. I was laid off from my job yesterday and I have no plans on finding a new one until the summer. I've been saving up my money as I kinda saw this one coming.

I just bought a Fender Jazz bass(lefty) for $200 last week, so I have a proper bass guitar now.

For the next six months I will not be working, just taking some classes at a nearby college. I want to get as good as possible in six months. I am willing to play all damn day, I'm not doing anything else!

Where I'm at currently: I know where the notes are mostly. I have a sense of rhythm. I can hold it down jamming the blues with a band. I don't have any real knowledge of music theory. I play rock and roll.

What do you think is the most efficient way to attack my goal? Any websites/books/videos you all could recommend?

This corporate Manhattan world ain't for me. I wanna rock and roll!

I'm jealous. I to aspire to the same dream of becoming unemployed and having more time to invest in family and hobby. Good luck with your new adventure. Be careful, it's real easy to waste time when you have that much of it. Learn chord tones.

Plays_For_Dog · #12 01-05-2011, 04:55 AM

Ignore all the bah-humbuggers. You're only young once. Before you know it... you'll be married with children and bills that seem impossible to pay.

I've had several friends that set themselves up to take a hiatus, and I've always been jealous of that. Take the time, have fun, seek adventure, go wherever life presents opprotunity (clean opprotunity that is...) and wear that bass out. I've learned tremendous amounts just brousing on here and looking on youtube. A few lessons would be good too, but being unemployed... lessons are costly. Music theory is just that, a theory to explain music. It's not "music laws". Music originates from feeling and expression. The art will develope into a fine science over time, but it's important to find your expression first. Unless you want to become one of these "professional" musicians that feel the need to critize everything that isn't found in thier theory books, then just go and do your own thing.

Rock on dude. Keep clean and savor the moments.

fenderhutz · #13 01-05-2011, 04:59 AM

Practice to a metronome or a preconfigured drum track. One of the biggest issues I have seen with learning bassists is the "need for speed" and play things 20 beats per minute faster than when they started the riff. Once you have that click ingrained from practicing with it when you lock in with a drummer you can feel it.

paddyosullivan · #14 01-05-2011, 09:52 AM

Awesome! Thanks for the all the feedback guys.

I think I need to revisit the studybass.com lessons.

Stumbo, those links in your sig should keep me busy for a couple weeks eh? looks like a lot of good stuff!

**Pacman** · #15 01-05-2011, 02:27 PM

I'm sorry, but I have to be the one to ring in here with some reality.

You really didn't state a goal, only that you want to avoid corporate life, and that you have 6 months to do it. 6 months to start making your living as a musician? Possible. Full-time (in what I can only assume is NYC)? Not likely, given your stated background. I've been a full-time musician for a long time now, and the idea that you could build the skillset required to get from "knowing where the notes are mostly" to working professional in 6 months is, while not impossible, HIGHLY improbable.

I hope some of those classes you're taking will be for something that pays well....

paddyosullivan · #16 01-05-2011, 06:02 PM

No way, I don't plan to be a professional bassist in six months. My goal is to simply make the absolute most out of the free time I have, to get as good as I can.

My brother and I just recently found a drummer to join our new band. I'll be playing bass. I just wanna play rock and roll. I'm not chasing session work.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pacman

I'm sorry, but I have to be the one to ring in here with some reality.

You really didn't state a goal, only that you want to avoid corporate life, and that you have 6 months to do it. 6 months to start making your living as a musician? Possible. Full-time (in what I can only assume is NYC)? Not likely, given your stated background. I've been a full-time musician for a long time now, and the idea that you could build the skillset required to get from "knowing where the notes are mostly" to working professional in 6 months is, while not impossible, HIGHLY improbable.

I hope some of those classes you're taking will be for something that pays well....