Noob Studies

[Jimmy Bones]

Hey guys.

Let's assume I am a complete noob, and know only the basics:

How to tune, the notes on the fretboard, the notes of the major scale, and a few other basic things.

I have no practice routine, and no money or time for lessons, being in a job that allows me maybe an hour of free time before bed (military).

What should I do to practice? I want to get better, to learn how to play scales in context, how to use them in writing, and how to not play like a total noob.

Given half an hour a day to have my hands on an instrument, can you direct me as a teacher would?


DISCLAIMER: I am better than this, but not by much. I taught the person asking me for this (my brother, a soldier) up to this point, but don't really know what to tell him from this point on. Help me out?

[progrmr]

Blues is a great way to include both theory/scales in a context. Sounds like a perfect fit for you and you just need a couple books to do it: Mel Bay Blues Bass Method and Hal Leonard Bass Method: Blues Bass.

Both books are cheap and will give you that push into making some real music.

[Jimmy Bones]

I hear both those names an awful lot. They really good?

[standupright]

learn theory. when you know theory, the note names almost become irrelevant.

[progrmr]

Originally Posted by Jimmy Bones

I hear both those names an awful lot. They really good?

I have both, but going through Mel Bay right now - its a great book, introduction to the major scale, major triads, dominant 7th, etc showing you how to construct a bass line using those tid-bits of information and then having you do the bass lines in both quarter note and 8th note shuffle patters. Really a good good book so far and I'm not very far into it yet.

EDIT: Forgot about chord progressions as well - I-V-IV with 1-3-5-3, 1-3-5-6, quick change, ii VI (I think) - a wealth of information.

[mambo4]

Yes learn enough theory to understand what I-VI-V or Iv-vi-ii-V ect chord progressions mean. To me, supporting teh chord progression is close to the heart of what bass lines are meant to do.

For functional application of scales, pick basslines to learn from songs where you can get hold of the chords being used. spend a week with a single song. Learn to play the bass line along with the recording , then go through the,song one chord at a time (having a chord chart/ sheet music will be helpful) and ask you self "what is the bass line doing to support this chord?"

sometime sit will be obvious (the chord is A major, this bass line is parts of an A major scale), sometimes it will confound yet stretch our understanding.

[tool_fan420]

Originally Posted by standupright

learn theory. when you know theory, the note names almost become irrelevant.

HALLELUJAH!!!

[TheFrogPrince]

Originally Posted by Jimmy Bones

Hey guys.

Let's assume I am a complete noob, and know only the basics:

How to tune, the notes on the fretboard, the notes of the major scale, and a few other basic things.

I have no practice routine, and no money or time for lessons, being in a job that allows me maybe an hour of free time before bed (military).

What should I do to practice? I want to get better, to learn how to play scales in context, how to use them in writing, and how to not play like a total noob.

Given half an hour a day to have my hands on an instrument, can you direct me as a teacher would?


DISCLAIMER: I am better than this, but not by much. I taught the person asking me for this (my brother, a soldier) up to this point, but don't really know what to tell him from this point on. Help me out?

Your goals will determine what to work on most. One thing to remember is that you have a half-hour, so you will have to split up what you do on different days.

On the first day, read and play-along with the examples from that Hal Leonard Blues book, for example, and then spend time working on the exercises from let's say the Bass Fitness book. The second day might have you working on learning the changes to Autumn Leaves and so on.

Another thing is working on singing scales and arpeggios without your instrument. Visualize the shapes and 'playing' them in the air while tapping your foot to keep time. Sing along with stuff on the radio, hum melodies and solos.

Lastly, if you're in the military, you probably have a regimental band kicking around somewhere. Talk to their bass player. Get tips, talk shop and see if you can get some freebie lessons.

[Stumbo]

Some books come with CDs to practice along with. That may be useful as well.

[scrunks11]

keep working on your finger fitness for about 5/10 minutes each day before you practise and this should improve your finger dexterity.