I'm a brand new bassist! HELP!

Lucyyamaha · #1 07-11-2007, 11:12 AM

HELLO!

I just got my bass back at Christmas, ok so your all thinking thats seven months, but except at Christmas when i worked through a beginners bass learning book, i haven't had a lot of time to really sit down and learn.

I'm a drummer really, love drums! but i have always fancied my self as a bassist cos it looks easier than guitar (i have one of those as well, but i can play it to an alright ability).

Just wanting some tips really! one thing i have noticed is my right wrist gets really sore and i struggle to keep a rythm going cos my arm goes dead!

thats my main problem, other than that if anyone has any good suggestions that helped them when they first started to learn i would really appreciate it!

Lucy!

jonly · #2 07-11-2007, 11:17 AM

1. Get a bass. check
2. Post on a bassists' forum that bass is easier than guitar. check

3. ???

Lucyyamaha · #3 07-11-2007, 11:23 AM

ha, sorry, when i said i thought bass would be easier than guitar, i didnt mean it would take a smaller amount of effort or work to learn, i really struggle with guitar cos i have little hands (they are tiny) so i cant play some chords cos i cant physically reach! but i did try bass at a few of my bands practices and i found it easier to actually play. But now i have one i want to be as good on it as i am on the guitar if not better! I just need some help with technique stuff and general tips, like if a new drummer said im just got a drum kit any tips i would say make sure you practice your rudiments every day and that you stretch before playing!

Alvaro Martín Gómez A. · #4 07-11-2007, 12:05 PM

Welcome to TalkBass!

In all honesty, the best advice I think anyone can give you is: Get a good teacher that serves as a good influence for you. The electric bass has the "problem" (compared with old, classical instruments) that there are so many opinions about the "proper" way to play it (most of them absolutely valid, of course) and if you ask for "beginner tips" in a forum like this, that's what you'll receive: Lots of opinions. A good teacher can guide you and help you find the most suitable path for you.

TheButler · #5 07-11-2007, 12:58 PM

Hey and Welcome to TB

I second the advice above. I got a really good tutor, well he was actually a guitar tutor but did bass to a good enough level and knew his theory really well too! I just turned 17 a couple of days ago and having gave my lessons up 3 years ago due to the expense i am thinking about starting them again, probably with someone that is a dedicated bass teacher though or even better someone that teaches 6 string bass

Unfortuneatly when people get older they tend to think lessons aret ''cool'' but i'll show them, in fact i won't be telling my fellow band members

iceshaft07 · #6 07-11-2007, 05:38 PM

If you are like me and can't afford a teacher I recommend Active Bass, and scouring threads here. Learn about music theory too. Oh, a lot of important stuff I learned actually came from a guitar website, cyberfret. There you can learn a lot of basic theory.

I would say to try to just mess around on it for a little while, and then read an article or two. After a while of just doing that, your hand speed and musical knowledge will grow at the same rate. JUST MAKE SURE YOU PLAY CORRECTLY!

That means one finger per fret. Do not ignore that rule. I did, and now I realize why I shouldn't have.

Oh, and I forgot to say welcome!

Lucyyamaha · #7 07-12-2007, 06:35 AM

Thanks guys! I will probabaly get the bassist from my band to help me learn a bit, but i cant afford lessons, as if i had lessons for all the instruments i can play i wouldnt be able to eat! I shall check out the things you have suggested.

Yeah its hard to do one finger per fret but i try my hardest to! the book i worked through at Christmas got me to not get into bad habits! (like i did with drumming)

Thankyou again!

Scot · #8 07-12-2007, 05:21 PM

If you just started playing bass, you're not qualified to make the call that one book has kept you from developing bad habits. Not trying to be harsh but rather want to point out that you could have one lesson with a *qualified* bass instructor for the cost of a few books. That one lesson will go miles further towards keeping you from developing bad habits than a library of bass books, audio and video instructional materials. Not to mention, there's about a million other reasons to have, at the very least, a couple of lessons with someone qualified and one of those reasons might be to keep you from injuring your arm/wrist. It's going to be extremely difficult if not impossible for anyone on TalkBass to help you figure out what you're doing wrong to make that wrist get sore or that arm go numb and you won't know how to separate the good advice from the crappy advice anyway. As well-intentioned as he/she may be, the bassist in your band may not be qualified to help either. A good teacher will immediately recognize the problem and help you to correct it. Your arm shouldn't go numb, ever. Yes, it's impressive that you can play so many musical instruments but if you injure yourself playing any of them incorrectly you might have to lay off all of them for awhile.

PatTheAnchor · #9 07-12-2007, 08:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lucyyamaha

HELLO!

Just wanting some tips really! one thing i have noticed is my right wrist gets really sore and i struggle to keep a rythm going cos my arm goes dead!

Nothing I can say much but get a teacher and try to get used the pain. Basically what my teacher did. I'm a beginner sort of. (1-2 months began) I had left hand thumb hurting, but basically your muscles are getting worked up, so maybe you're not used to it. I'd recommend getting lessons, at LEAST 4. It's worth it.

capnsandwich · #10 07-12-2007, 08:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by iceshaft07

If you are like me and can't afford a teacher I recommend Active Bass, and scouring threads here. Learn about music theory too. Oh, a lot of important stuff I learned actually came from a guitar website, cyberfret. There you can learn a lot of basic theory.

I would say to try to just mess around on it for a little while, and then read an article or two. After a while of just doing that, your hand speed and musical knowledge will grow at the same rate. JUST MAKE SURE YOU PLAY CORRECTLY!

That means one finger per fret. Do not ignore that rule. I did, and now I realize why I shouldn't have.

Oh, and I forgot to say welcome!

+1 and also try out www.studybass.com. they have alot of theory and technique stuff on there. if you know any other bassists around town try and hit 'em up for a free lesson. I do that all the time for kids after church. they love it and their parents appreciate it too. get to know other bassists in your area and learn from them and don't be afraid to ask questions.

Welcome fellow thumper!

rockwarnick · #11 07-12-2007, 09:19 PM

...i think this may be the first time anyone has ever said that their hands were too small to play guitar so they picked up bass...

sully · #12 07-12-2007, 11:07 PM

Really listen. get that connection going between yourself and the drummer.

Zappstorius · #13 07-13-2007, 12:08 AM

[quote=Lucyyamaha;4416427] i really struggle with guitar cos i have little hands (they are tiny) so i cant play some chords cos i cant physically reach! QUOTE]

Uhhh, the guitar neck is thinner...frets are closer together...strings are closer together...and the overall instrument is smaller...how would it be easier to play bass with small hands again?

capnsandwich · #14 07-13-2007, 07:45 AM

[quote=Zappstorius;4422701]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lucyyamaha

i really struggle with guitar cos i have little hands (they are tiny) so i cant play some chords cos i cant physically reach! QUOTE]

Uhhh, the guitar neck is thinner...frets are closer together...strings are closer together...and the overall instrument is smaller...how would it be easier to play bass with small hands again?

I think she's talking about chording. When you have to hold down chords, especially on an acoustic, if you have smaller hands it does get difficult. Your fingers have to stretch out and hold down strings and it starts hurting after a while. On a bass, however, if you're just holding down single strings and playing root notes, like beginners do, it's easier since your fingers aren't all stretched out over the fretboard.

rockwarnick · #15 07-13-2007, 08:10 AM

i guess that makes sense. i have problems sometimes playing guitar cause my hands are too big. i wish i could get bucketheads guitar....

tswd · #16 07-13-2007, 02:00 PM

With your right hand problem, make sure you keep your wrist flat. You shouldn't be using your right wrist at all, really, so there's no reason for it to hurt. If you have it bent too far, though, it puts pressure on the tendons and can hurt. So don't do that. Keep it flat.

One way to achieve that is to lower your strap. Look at videos of how Trujillo from Metallica plays. If you set your strap the way he does and your right wrist still hurts, I'm not sure what could possibly be wrong. Another way to achieve it is to not rest your right arm on the bass. Use your shoulder muscles to keep your arm lifted.

And relax. Don't feel like you have to yank on the strings to play them. Play as lightly as you can. If you need to be louder, get a bigger amp.

shubball · #17 09-16-2008, 05:09 AM

if your arm is going dead alter the strap length. Some people can play very high up and others very low down. Find what is comfortable for you and you shouldn't have a dead arm, or hurting wrist.

BillMason · #18 09-16-2008, 06:51 AM

Best beginner advice I have is sit down with your bass and your music player and learn some songs by ear. If you have trouble, go ahead and get some tab, but jamming along with recordings will give you a good sense of how things work.

DudeistMonk · #19 09-16-2008, 01:20 PM

Quote:

Unfortuneatly when people get older they tend to think lessons aret ''cool'' but i'll show them, in fact i won't be telling my fellow band members

I find its the opposite, good players know there is always something to learn and know that you are dedicated by the fact that you are still trying to get better.

As for the OP... Are you fingering or picking?