Method of learning lines;

[Brass Nut]

What method do you use most for learning new bass line to the songs you do?

Sight reading music sheets - I find that more often than not they are near impossible to get for many styles of music like bluegrass, fusion, etc.

Tabs - Usually not all that reliable if available.

Pull it from a recording - Sometimes frustrating, but workable with a good ear.

Improvise following what sounds right - At the very least, fun(?).

Remember, not the preferred way, but used the most.

[steveb98]

I first try to pull the line off of the recording. If not sure or complicated then will look for sheet music. Then I try to avoid TAB as much as possible, it will use it if I can't come up with a good fingering, or think there has to be another way I'm not coming up with. What you are calling improvising is part of transcribing for me. I try to improvise something close, then refine it and refine it. Once I have a line down and then I will play around with it (improvise) so I can use the idea in something of my own later.

[markjazzbassist]

recordings. i can't read bass clef and i don't do tab. ever since i started learning from recordings my ear has improved, now my ear is excellent.

[Atoz]

I improvise more often than anything... a lot of the songs we cover are ones that I haven't heard very often, if at all. I'll just play what sounds good. No one has complained yet, so I'll probably keep doing it.

I do listen to recordings sometimes, though. I never use tab, but I will use chord charts at practice so I can improvise a line on the fly.

[Zebra]

All of the above. I don't use tab much anymore, but I use it where it's convenient. An hour ago I was just practicing some songs that I had never heard before with a couple guys, and I was just improvising all that. I read or learn from recordings when I'm on my own and have time to work it out.

[All_¥our_Bass]

I use carrots to learn music. It is the best way, and this is a non-debateable point (within the confines of TB of course).

[Bluesdog]

Originally Posted by All_¥our_Bass

I use carrots to learn music. It is the best way, and this is a non-debateable point (within the confines of TB of course).

+ 1

Carrots are also low in calories and don't leave you feeling all bloated after a really hot riff.

[ryco]

By ear or, every once in a blue moon, reading.

Tab and carrots don't help me at all.

[bassbully43]

I thought when i first started without tab i would be lost . I then got in a band where the guitarist drew me crude chord charts and i had to figure out timing what notes eighths,sixteenths etc were right...then i listened to the recordings. My ear improved so much i never look at tab and just prefer to know the chords of the song and they key and i get it from there. I can glance at tab now of a song i know and in a second see if it is half right or not..usally they are wrong from the recording offen really wrong. Using the ear and deveopling it has been huge to me as a player.

[Atoz]

Originally Posted by Bluesdog

+ 1

Carrots are also low in calories and don't leave you feeling all bloated after a really hot riff.

Wish I'd known that before I ate that whole box of mozzarella sticks about 10 minutes ago.

[All_¥our_Bass]

Originally Posted by ryco

Carrots don't help me at all.

I'm surprised.

Here on TB:
Carrots > Flying Spaghetti Monster

[yaniv]

usually by ear,if that doesnt work then i got 2 choices:
if i dont have much time,i just ask the guitarist what is the scale/key and improvise
if i have time,i look at the tab and if i got a little extra time i put some of my own stuff into the bassline

[spudmaster34]

I use sheet music whenever possible

[Chunk-O-Funk]

Usually be ear, but I'll also look for sheet music when I can.

[Descent2Cocytus]

i listen to what my guitar player does, and i do the same.

[WillPlay4Food]

I use my ear and if that doesn't work, I break out my Tascam bass trainer, slow down the song 50% and try my ear again. Usually after a few tries I can get it down, unless it's really complicated or one of those crazy finger bender type of songs (like a tongue twister for your fretting hand).

[Liten]

Ive always used my ears..
The way I look @ it, Tabs and Sheet music are tools.. The ear and brain sometimes need their help..
As I suffered from dyslexia.. reading notes and keeping up with the music was and still is a hasstle.. but.. over time you get better @ it.. still.. IMHO.. ears is the bassplayers best asset.. or so time have shown me..

[Pruitt]

Chord Charts and Ear.

Though I'm not adverse to using sheet music or TAB if I need to learn a bunch of tunes quickly. But that happens only rarely.