need help for some intense bass improvement

[mrchief128]

ok, its spring break, i have two choices
A : play video games and watch futurama the whole time
or
B:do something costructive

while choice A is probably more fun, i'm gonna try to aim for choice B, and by constructive, i mean intense bass improvement....so tell me everything! little tips, links to lessons, practice methods, good songs to learn...seriously, any help is awesome, just to give you an idea of where i am, i've been playing for nearly 2 years now, but i really haven't improved too much...i can do some basic jamming with simple songs (and people), but i really want to make it into my school's chapel band at the end of the year, and at this point, i'm really not good enough, so please, please help me! i know i'm being very general, and it's a lot to ask, but if i can really improve these next weeks, that would just be great...otherwise i'll just play video games...

[Traver]

1. Get your metronome out and play a minor scale.
2. When you're comfortable with that speed, turn up the speed on your metronome.
3. When you can play your minor scale in 16ths at 200 bpm, go take a break and see if your fingers are still whole.

[mrchief128]

thanks...oh and by the way, i need alot of stuff that help with jamming, and improv...l need to be able to play nice bass lines with chord progressions...

[Earthday]

Learn tons of songs by ear. If it seems hard, that just means you could REALLY benefit from doing it. Go over everything you learn and find scales and arpeggios in them. Learn what the chords are to the song if it has them, and see how the bassline interacts with them.

[stuart clayton]

Here's one of my favourites:

Study the C major scale (If you don't know it already that is). It contains only natural notes. Using this knowledge, and combining it with excellent fretboard knowledge (which you need whatever you are doing), play the scale on one string, saying the notes as you play them. Do this on each of your strings.

Now play a two octave C major scale. Don't use any predefined patterns, just use your knowledge of the scale, and your knowledge of the instrument. Try starting at the 8th fret of the E string, the 3rd fret of the A string, and if you have it, the 1st fret of the B string.

Next, experiment with positions that will help you focus on areas of the neck that you feel less comfortable in: play the scale ascending and descending using only the E and A strings. Play it in first position as far as possible, using open strings.

For all these exercises, use sensible, finger-per-fret fingering.

This set of exercises will improve your fretboard knowledge, scale knowledge and general mobility on the instrument. It's a concept called 'content over patterns' and is a much more musical way of learning your scales than learning patterns.

One you have mastered the C major scale, move onto the next one, G. Just a little bit of practice every day will make a HUGE difference.

Ok, so after that, get a hold of Ed Friedland's 'Building Walking Basslines' book and read it cover to cover. Start at the beginning, and work through it. This will certainly take you longer than your spring break, but it would do you a lot of good just to make a start on it.

Finally, learn some cool songs. Try 'I Wish' and 'Sir Duke' by Stevie Wonder - anything with a groove basically.

Hope that's of some use to you.

Stu

[cowsgomoo]

ok, i'm going to take the lateral route here (and throw in some strange metaphors along the way):

find the best musicians possible that will let you play with them, and play with them as much as you can

the majority of what you'll need to get up to speed on will either be very obvious (probably your ear, possibly technique), and if it isn't, good musicians will be able to tell you

there's a place for woodshedding, but sometimes you just need to jump right into the pool and start splashing around.. you don't learn to ski by reading a book... you get up there and fall over until you get it (with a few pointers from knowledgable people along the way)

[BassChuck]

Originally Posted by mrchief128

ok, its spring break, i have two choices
A : play video games and watch futurama the whole time
or
B:do something costructive

while choice A is probably more fun, i'm gonna try to aim for choice B, and by constructive, i mean intense bass improvement..

One of the best things you could work on is making work and practice that is constructive feel like fun.

[stuart clayton]

Originally Posted by BassChuck

One of the best things you could work on is making work and practice that is constructive feel like fun.

Well said.

Stu

[mrchief128]

thanks alot for the help guys, keep'em coming...oh, and by the way, i do enjoy playing and practicing my bass.

[stuart clayton]

Originally Posted by mrchief128

thanks alot for the help guys, keep'em coming...oh, and by the way, i do enjoy playing and practicing my bass.

Good to hear - be sure to let us know how you get on!

Stu

[phillm47]

Originally Posted by mrchief128

thanks...oh and by the way, i need alot of stuff that help with jamming, and improv...l need to be able to play nice bass lines with chord progressions...

Go to MUSIC DOJO and take the Jazz Improv I class for bass, taught by Adam Nitti. This is an online class that deals with improv, and playing on top of chord changes. This class just started yesterday. Judging by your statement above, this is just what the doctor ordered. The material covered applies to all styles, not just jazz. I've taken this class and still keep referring back to material.

Worth checking out.

[gahpg]

Definitely learn some scales if you haven't already. Study how scales relate to each other on the fretboard. Learn songs by ear. Listen to a LOT of music; I listen to a lot of music and it's helped me develop pitch and rhythm a good deal, and i'm able to notice smaller details in music now that i've trained my ear more just by listening to music. So get an iPod or something and listen to music (preferably good, structured music with strong bass players) when you're on the go and what not.

A good song to learn is "Soul To Squeeze" by the Red Hot Chili Peppers.

One of the best ways to improve is to jam with someone knowledgeable and jam often! Doesn't have to be a bassist; guitarists can give some insight as well (i've learned a good bit from a guitarist I used to jam with)

Good luck!

[Jimmyplaysabass]

do the monster mash

[mikeyswood]

Practice music and practice musically.

[matthewbrown]

Aye aye to that mikeyswood!

[mikeyswood]

Originally Posted by matthewbrown

Aye aye to that mikeyswood!

Thanks. A great bassist named Matt Human taught me that and that is one of the best bits of advice that you can get.

Steve Bailey added to that by playing a really great groove once. When he was done I asked what that was and he told me that was the way he practiced the CM scale.

Man that is brilliant! Don't just go up and down the scale like its on paper, but use the whole neck and make it groove. Now THAT is practicing musically!

[BlackLake]

All of the above, and search here for "Spider Excercises"

[matthewbrown]

Mikeyswood, how come you got so many pointy, pointy basses?

[mikeyswood]

I LOVE my American BC Riches

If it helps, I am in the process of adding a Fender Jazz Plus V...

[mrchief128]

thanks guys! anything else?