i'm kind of a beginning bassist, any advice for me?

Pete528 · #1 10-29-2007, 09:22 PM

i'm a beginning bassist as the topic title says. i've just recently started to take bass seriously.

pretty much all i do now is play scales, do exercises from a book (like warm ups for speed and accuracy) and play tabs for some simple songs i like.

but i want to get better. i want to learn some things, specifically how to do walking bass, and how to improvise. i am very, very into that. lessons are out of the picture, however.

so, how can i get started, and how should i start learning stuff? also, i have another playing question: when i play (I use my fingers) i always end up slapping the strings against the frets, making a buzzing which really sucks. how should i play to avoid this noise?

also, on an unrelated but still related note: right now i use a high-end-for-its-price-but-still-lousy fender squier bass, with some little amp that came in a value pack. the guitar is decent, i guess, but i don't think the sound is so great, especially if i play with other people and stuff. and the amp... it's garbage. i want a new amp, but don't want to spend much money at all. i'd prefer an amp that's a little big so i can be heard above a guitar and drums.

and i was looking at new basses, just for sound, it's something to consider. i've played a lot of warwick basses and i love them... they have a nice neck that's really smooth, the strings feel well spaced, the sound is nice, and i love the lightweight and small body. i saw this bass:

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/produ...ass?sku=519086

what do you guys think?

anyway, thanks for any help i get! i really appreciate it

jefkritz · #2 10-29-2007, 09:49 PM

as for walking bass, here's a good start: http://www.talkbass.com/wiki/index.p...arget_Approach
Some general tips on getting past scales: sing a melody/bass line and then play it. and most importantly, play with other people as much as possible - its the best way to get better
and imho always buy used

Gintaras · #3 10-29-2007, 09:58 PM

find a teacher who inspires you. You should walk out of each lesson as if your concept of bass playing has been rewritten again.

Also read 'Zen Guitar'

cowsgomoo · #4 10-30-2007, 07:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pete528

i'm a beginning bassist as the topic title says. i've just recently started to take bass seriously.

pretty much all i do now is play scales, do exercises from a book (like warm ups for speed and accuracy) and play tabs for some simple songs i like.

but i want to get better. i want to learn some things, specifically how to do walking bass, and how to improvise. i am very, very into that. lessons are out of the picture, however.

so, how can i get started, and how should i start learning stuff? also, i have another playing question: when i play (I use my fingers) i always end up slapping the strings against the frets, making a buzzing which really sucks. how should i play to avoid this noise?

also, on an unrelated but still related note: right now i use a high-end-for-its-price-but-still-lousy fender squier bass, with some little amp that came in a value pack. the guitar is decent, i guess, but i don't think the sound is so great, especially if i play with other people and stuff. and the amp... it's garbage. i want a new amp, but don't want to spend much money at all. i'd prefer an amp that's a little big so i can be heard above a guitar and drums.

and i was looking at new basses, just for sound, it's something to consider. i've played a lot of warwick basses and i love them... they have a nice neck that's really smooth, the strings feel well spaced, the sound is nice, and i love the lightweight and small body. i saw this bass:

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/produ...ass?sku=519086

what do you guys think?

anyway, thanks for any help i get! i really appreciate it

I'd recommend spending your Warwick money on a decent amp instead... your Squier bass, while not being amazing, is probably not as awful as your amp makes it sound

a good player (and a good amp) could make your Squier sound great... if your sound sucks right now, it's probably not the bass at fault... a Warwick through your value pack amp would probably sound almost as crappy as a Squier

anyway... about playing the thing

there are guys here who can advise you on the stylistic things you need to know about walking jazz bass, but the principle of pretty much any bass playing is the same:

your job is to outline the fundamental harmony and rhythm of the piece

very broadly, for walking bass, you're providing a consistent quarter-note pulse that defines the tempo and provides a fundamental constant pulse for the other players to drive syncopated notes against.. you're also outlining the harmony of the piece by emphasising chord tones and leading the listener through the changes by scalar & chromatic movement

obviously the great jazz bass masters take it far beyond just that, but those are the meat & potatoes of walking bass...

so to outline the fundamental harmony & rhythm of a piece, you have to know the piece really well, you have to understand how chords are constructed, how the melody fits over the chords... you have to understand the norms of the style... which means lots of listening and emulating

I recommend you stop thinking about scales for the minute and spend some time learning about chords, arpeggios and chord changes...

oh, and spend time working on your ear... if you have a fantastic ear you can play with anyone

Dave R · #5 10-30-2007, 10:40 PM

Quote:

oh, and spend time working on your ear... if you have a fantastic ear you can play with anyone

Right on. That's also a good way to learn walking bass. Find some walking bass lines you like, and figure out how to play them by ear.

When you can play one, take a look at the chord progression it is played over, and you'll see how it uses scales, passing tones, etc.

bottomzone · #6 10-31-2007, 10:41 AM

Practice, listen, practice, listen, practice, listen........Really get to know your instrument and learn how to groove! Some very good books and instructional videos are:

-Bass Guitar for Dummies by Patrick Pfeiffer (Don't let the title fool you!!). Also his book Improve Your Groove:The Ultimate Guide for Bass

-Norm Stockton's Grooving for Heaven DVD's

-Fingerboard Harmony for Bass by Gary Willis

-Complete Electric Bass DVD's by John Patitucci

-Bunny Brunel's books, Extreme Bass Ideas & Exercises to Unlock Your Creativity and Bunny Brunel's Power Bass:Soloing Secrets

This should keep you busy for a while!

A Groove is a Terrible Thing to Waste!

nig · #7 10-31-2007, 11:08 AM

apart from the pearls of wisdom already written, I also think you should get into listening to drummers and also learn a melodic and chord structured instrument, even basically, like guitar or piano, it helps with the understanding of counterpoint, harmony, melody and chord building. enjoy.

Dave R · #8 10-31-2007, 05:58 PM

Gotta add one more thing. The more you know about music theory, even the basics of chords and scales, the easier things get.

For example, when you know scales, you only have to remember/think about one thing--the scale--instead of 7 things--the individual notes.

When you know chord structure: I-IV-V and I-vi-ii-V, you think of fewer things. The pattern instead of the individual chords, scales, and notes. That frees up a lot of brainpower to do things like blend, following the singer, etc.