A new take on learning to play the bass.

[Yngwie 4String]

Maybe this isnt 100% new, but I dont know anyone who does this.

Im a rookie bass player (8months), and when I started playing the bass people always told me to look up tabs and play them. The problem with that is that I don't have the internet in my home. Im at college today, last day, wil be using public library CPU over this summer. Anyway I couldnt look up tabs so I taught myself a diferent way. I would look up noteworthy bassists and watch them play, occasionally I would look at their instructional videos. I would try to take what they were doing and work it into my playing. Ive looked up exactly 5 tabs in my time learning the bass, and I can play as well as people who have been playing for 2-4yrs. I have a basic knowledge of music theory and how things go together, so I can improv fairly well. I just would work each style into my practice. I think it makes me have more of a unique albeit unpolished style. I was wondering what you all think of that method of learning?

[Deacon_Blues]

It's good that you don't look up the tabs and just play them. You should find out the bass lines by yourself and thus develop your ear. Also learn to read music. (I can't do that properly and I hate that fact).

It's a good thing to look at instructional videos too. There's absolutely nothing wrong with that!

Rock on!

[K9Jay79]

I really think it's about what works for you. I'm new to bass. I've only owned a bass for 2 months. The approach I have taken is, I've been learning on my own, for the most part. I have a buddy that plays bass well, so I've asked for some of his advice. But what I did was, about 4 months before I bought my bass, I purchased an instructional book (The Complete Idiot's Guide to Bass). I've been very happy with the book. They get pretty deep into music theory, but also apply it very well. I started reading that right away and listening to the CD examples they provided with the book. Since I've gotten my bass, all I do is run drills for hours a night, and then spend a little time trying to play some of my favorite songs. I read the book seperate, though without playing along. I'm about 2/3 through the book right now. When I finish the book, I'm going to start it all over, but this time with my bass. When I start the book over, I'll understand what they want me to do right away. It will make more sense to me as I play, and I think it'll stick better. This is just one more approach. So far it's working well for me.