Next song?

theramonesx914 · #1 07-26-2007, 09:04 PM

Ok, I just finished Money by Pink Floyd today, it wasnt really that hard, so I kinda learned it quick. But, I am not sure what song I should learn next. I have been playing for about 2 months, and I want to learn something challenging. Just to give you an idea of what I like, I will list some of my favorite bands.

The Ramones (the songs are easy, obv.)
Guns N' Roses
AC/DC
GWAR
The Clash

And so on. I am open to all suggestions!

plastik-bass[?] · #2 07-26-2007, 09:08 PM

rock the casbah by the clash might be good...just to go along with your favorite bands...and 1 other clash song cant remember though

either i fought the law or should i stay or should i go..i learned them both....fun songs....

off topic of favorite bands...Led Zeppelin...some of those are good beginner songs i started with them and RHCP

theramonesx914 · #3 07-26-2007, 09:12 PM

Yeah Should I Stay Or Should I Go might be fun, I will look into it. Thanks for the suggestions, anyone have any others?

Modulrob · #4 07-26-2007, 09:16 PM

more clash...I always dig The Magnificant Seven whenever I hear it. Cool to work on a smooth staccato to make it sound good

theramonesx914 · #5 07-26-2007, 09:18 PM

I was thinking London Calling, but Im not sure if thats challenging enough..

MirageBass · #6 07-27-2007, 02:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by theramonesx914

Ok, I just finished Money by Pink Floyd today, it wasnt really that hard, so I kinda learned it quick. But, I am not sure what song I should learn next. I have been playing for about 2 months, and I want to learn something challenging. Just to give you an idea of what I like, I will list some of my favorite bands.

The Ramones (the songs are easy, obv.)
Guns N' Roses
AC/DC
GWAR
The Clash

And so on. I am open to all suggestions!

Money isn't too hard, but it's a damn good lick. I'd say pretty good for two months!

Just to warn you, you might get assaulted by members who are going to bombard you with nuggets about how advanced lines mean nothing and that you need to learn this and that and blah blah blah. Sounds you're another fellow rocker, and you're playing because you love it, so don't be dissuaded. Playing lines you love and getting influence from that is a great way to grow as a fledgling musician. It worked for me.

Now, a lot of people might also tell you to study this or that obscure Jazz musician, which is great if you're into jazz, but just play what you feel like, when you feel like it. More power to you. I was fortunate enough to love Rush, which has some of the best basslines out there, so it was a great learning tool. (Of course, Jazz will probably provide the most challenge, but only learn something if you're trying to take away a specific technique or just feel up for the challenge. I never listened to Jaco, but the only reason I learned Portrait of Tracy was to pick it apart to learn about harmonics).

But, getting down to business - Probably no Ramones songs that are challening (but keep learning them if you love playing them). The Clash is pretty decent, they had a great bassist (London Calling springs to mind, but hey, I never really listened to the Clash). It's a bit hard to recommend anything really challenging, per se, but right off the top of my head, Sweet Child O' Mine. It has a great bass intro, and while not incredibly difficult, it's extremely melodic, and the whole song has some nice tricks to learn. I would recommend blazing a trail through the Guns N' Roses material, Duff is a great bass player. You could learn a lot from his lines.

But, as personal advice, go to Wikipedia and other sites like that to see the people that have been influenced by, or are influences of, your favorite artists. Loving Rush got me into Primus, etc.

Happy trails, and keep on playing!

iplaybassguitar · #7 07-27-2007, 07:36 AM

when i was just getting started, or a little bit after doing so, i found sweet child o mine to be a lot of fun, and also quite a challenge, its a great bass line for sure.

IAmTheDood · #8 07-27-2007, 07:57 AM

when I first started one of the songs I learned was Money.

Cream - Sunshine of Your Love,
STP - Plush
Van Morrison - Brown Eyed Girl

those are a few to keep you busy .. not overly difficult but good lines none the less.

Start listening to more Led Zeppelin .. the Led Zeppelin II almbum is pretty much a bass GOD album

rockwarnick · #9 07-27-2007, 08:16 AM

well you have to check out some of the who's songs. i dont know if it is a challenge for you or not but i learned "the real me" early on in my bass life. i say if it's a challenge, do it. get to know your fretboard. if it's not a challenge, learn it anyway. it's a kickass song. then i suggest improvising parts in songs like that and others(mainly from the 60s'/70's jam bands) for practice.

learn as many songs as you can. different styles, speeds, genres, whatever.

Shagula · #10 07-27-2007, 08:40 AM

Oooh I love these threads. Thank goodness I found this forum to help me learn!

I've been self-taught, playing for a couple weeks, and just finished playing Coma White. Easy song, gonna be really fun to cover with a couple of buddies who also are huge fans of MM.

I was debating to either learn RHCP, Metallica, Led Zeppelin (although, as much hassle as I get from it, I'm really not into classic rock bands) but The Clash is really starting to sound good from this thread.

Hopefully I'm progressing well enough, and the bands that I'm choosing and that have been mentioned here will take me further.

rockwarnick · #11 07-27-2007, 12:38 PM

i started the same way. RHCP, Zepp, sabbath, Cream, Who, and so on. I was self taught for years and i progressed very well. i surprised myself and fellow musicians how quickly i caught up to everyone else in such short time being self-taught.

Panda Licker · #12 07-27-2007, 04:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shagula

Oooh I love these threads. Thank goodness I found this forum to help me learn!

I've been self-taught, playing for a couple weeks, and just finished playing Coma White. Easy song, gonna be really fun to cover with a couple of buddies who also are huge fans of MM.

I was debating to either learn RHCP, Metallica, Led Zeppelin (although, as much hassle as I get from it, I'm really not into classic rock bands) but The Clash is really starting to sound good from this thread.

Hopefully I'm progressing well enough, and the bands that I'm choosing and that have been mentioned here will take me further.

WAll of the bands you chose might give you a bit of trouble with only a couple weeks under your belt. I'm not saying don't try their songs, but just be prepared to not get every lick

Try Dazed and Confused from Zeppelin. The bassline is just a chromatic walkdown, with a few quick little runs thrown in that should give you something to work on for a while.

Scot · #13 07-27-2007, 04:57 PM

Find some other musicians to play with if you haven't already. That might force you to learn and play some songs that you wouldn't have otherwise thought of and will be a great overall experience for you. Other than that, learn to play the basslines/songs that YOU are inspired to learn and play.

You should also learn some basslines performed by "obscure" jazz bassists like Ray Brown, Ron Carter and Oscar Pettiford.

MacNilly · #14 07-27-2007, 05:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by theramonesx914

Ok, I just finished Money by Pink Floyd today, it wasnt really that hard, so I kinda learned it quick.
And so on. I am open to all suggestions!

I'm not trying to be rude, but did you play along with the recording and play the entire song perfectly? If you did, then congrats... if not, well, you should try to do the entire song. The timing can be a tad tricky...

MirageBass · #15 07-27-2007, 06:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by IAmTheDood

when I first started one of the songs I learned was Money.

Cream - Sunshine of Your Love,
STP - Plush
Van Morrison - Brown Eyed Girl

those are a few to keep you busy .. not overly difficult but good lines none the less.

Start listening to more Led Zeppelin .. the Led Zeppelin II almbum is pretty much a bass GOD album

Oh! Try Trippin' On A Hole In A Paper Heart by STP, GREAT line! The scale climb in the chorus is awesome.

theramonesx914 · #16 07-28-2007, 12:28 AM

Alright, I think I am gunna go with Sweet Child O' Mine. Thanks for all the suggestions guys!

MirageBass · #17 07-28-2007, 12:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by theramonesx914

Alright, I think I am gunna go with Sweet Child O' Mine. Thanks for all the suggestions guys!

No prob. You might wanna try Welcome to the Jungle afterwards. Again, not too technical, but man, does it ever groove.