New to bass, not music, what should my focus be on?

[CheeseNip]

Hello, I have recently started playing the bass. I am not new to music in general, I have been playing tuba since the 6th grade and I am starting my freshman year in college as a music major. But I came upon the realization I have no desire to make a living off the tuba. The rigors and demands of trying to get into a orchestra far exceeds my liking of the instrument, and it just seems soulless.

I have played here and there during my senior year in high school, being in a school jazz band but the requirements on my part were rather low as the music was simple. Another reason I wish to make this I guess my center of focus/home instrument is I have been watching a bassist who uploads videos to youtube called davidsinrocks since 2007, and it has always gave me a desire to play the instrument.

So, what should be my major focus for a rather unexperienced bassist. Practicing playing forms and getting muscle memory down? Major scales and being able to learn other bass lines by ear? Practing covers and learning/mastering the bassist roles in respect to certain music genres?

Any advice is greatly appreciated, thanks!

[J-B'ass]

I would recommend getting a teacher, partly to get your technique on the right track before any bad habits creep in, and partly to help you prioritize what you want to learn.

Transcribing basslines that you like will give you an idea of how the bassists approach the music, and what kinds of ideas are shared between artists of similar genres.

Learn the notes on the fretboard; take the scales you know from tuba and play them on the bass, saying each note out loud (and singing it too if you want) to cement it in your mind.

I would recommend the Jazz Theory Book by Mark Levine to anyone, theory from basics to more complex stuff, and a ton of recommended albums and artists.

When listening to music, pay special attention to what the bass is doing.

Not sure what else I can add to that. Hope it was helpful in some way.

[MalcolmAmos]

So, what should be my major focus for a rather unexperienced bassist. Practicing playing forms and getting muscle memory down? Major scales and being able to learn other bass lines by ear? Practing covers and learning/mastering the bassist roles in respect to certain music genres?

Yes, yes and yes. Go to www.studybass.com and read the first page. Speed read the lessons until you have to slow down. Ask specific questions here, someone will always help.

The bass is primarily an accompaniment instrument that rely upon the chord's tones to provide the necessary notes for our bass line. Being able to compose a bass line from the chords found in the song is our task. http://www.bing.com/videos/watch/vid...4A3D3E7688E4F6

That can be done in several ways. With Pop music this is most often accomplished with fake chord or lead sheet music - which does not have a bass cleft. But, does show the chords used by name. So the selection of the notes from the chord become an important task. http://www.smithfowler.org/music/Chord_Formulas.htm

Do this by any and all means possible, except don't fall into the dead end trap of using tabs. First know where the notes are on your fretboard. Understand how to find them in the three octaves our fretboard provides.

Recognizing the chord changes within the song and then knowing how to build a bass line that will augment the solo instrument's efforts is what we do. www.studybass.com is a good place to start. See what you can do with this backing track. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bUK5pE5x_6A

I think you will find that what you did with your tuba is going to fit with what you are going to do with your bass.

Have fun.

[sammyp]

in all honesty, if you are speaking of making a living gigging on bass then you should get right on standard stuff like blues, pop, country....60s - 80s ...

the type of bass lines that make giggers money decade after decade are :

Brown Eyed Girl
Sweet Home Alabama
Play That Funky Music
Stand By Me
Wild Nights
Folsom Prison Blues

99% of a working bass players notes will be played using one and two plucking fingers so get some solid two finger fluidity and then worry about slap and tap stuff after that....

[CheeseNip]

Originally Posted by J-B'ass

I would recommend getting a teacher, partly to get your technique on the right track before any bad habits creep in, and partly to help you prioritize what you want to learn.

Transcribing basslines that you like will give you an idea of how the bassists approach the music, and what kinds of ideas are shared between artists of similar genres.

Learn the notes on the fretboard; take the scales you know from tuba and play them on the bass, saying each note out loud (and singing it too if you want) to cement it in your mind.

I would recommend the Jazz Theory Book by Mark Levine to anyone, theory from basics to more complex stuff, and a ton of recommended albums and artists.

When listening to music, pay special attention to what the bass is doing.

Not sure what else I can add to that. Hope it was helpful in some way.

Thanks. My band director said he will help me via the school to look for qualified bass instructor in the area.

[Stumbo]

Take a look at the link in my sig. below for some great TB info.

Good luck.