Piano player looking for bass info...

[basetard]

Hi, new guy...just bought a used base (IBANEZ GSR BASS) and will be buying an amp and other essentials soon.

I've been playing piano for about 6 years with instruction and want to be able to lay some base tracks on some of my piano recordings. And love the sound of the bass in general.

I have never played bass, but can read music at about an intermediate level. I've read threads suggesting Friedland series which seems like a good way to start. Do you guys think this is the way to go or would it be a waste since I can read music? I like the idea of a slow but progressive approach to learning, building as you go. Again I know nothing of the bass itself, so that will be totally new territory. And finally, do people with other musical training do well on the bass, as in transfer of some ability?

Thanks for an info...Mark

[carl h.]

Find a real bass playing bass teacher and get some lessons.

It's your best investment at this point if you want your playing to be functional.

[basetard]

Originally Posted by carl h.

Find a real bass playing bass teacher and get some lessons.

It's your best investment at this point if you want your playing to be functional.

I know you are right on getting a teacher, but I'm still taking piano lessons. Time and money would make this impossible right now. Looking for a self teaching method and will see where it takes me.

Thanks for the reply...Mark

[DiabolusInMusic]

Find a bass player on CL who will trade a handful of lessons for lessons. All you really need is a couple solid technique lessons and you should be fine by yourself with your theory knowledge already. The first lessons are key though, proper technique from the start goes a long way, bad technique from the start is hard to fix.

[mbeall]

If you can't afford lessons refer to this page for technique:

http://www.adamnitti.com/lessons.shtml

And get the Friedland/Hal Leonard bass method books and follow it up with a walking bass method book. And when it come time to record with the piano, cut off your left hand. :-)

[MalcolmAmos]

If you already understand the theory around what your left hand is doing on the keyboard - that is also what we do on the bass. Both of us provide a harmony line for the melody line. So yes, sometime we get in each other's way.

You probably think frozen hand and R+4+3 sounded all together equal a major chord. We play Root, 3rd and 5th degree of the scale one note at a time - with the beat - for that same major chord. Same thing, we just go about it differently. Both of us are harmonizing the melody line; we being in the rhythm section do it in time with the beat.

Keys and bass need to be aware what the other is doing and leave room for each other.

There is an active thread on this subject going right now. A few hours with www.studybass.com should get you going. I personally like the book Bass Guitar for Dummies as it will go into all the gotta know stuff like how to hold the bass, how to tune it, how to mute the strings, all those gotta know things. Plus the fretboard diagrams are second to none. http://www.dummies.com/how-to/conten...eat-sheet.html

Good luck.

[Luv2Pla4U]

IMO, although you may have a musical background to draw from, it's good to keep in mind that the piano and bass themselves are completely different in technical approach and execution. That's the reason why you see so many comments urging you to team up with an actual bass teacher. It's always better to start off with proper instruction instead of unlearning bad methods and habits after the fact.

Here's hoping that your bass journey will be a long and enjoyable one!

[carl h.]

A few lessons at the beginning from a good teacher are a better investment than a year or two of lessons spent unlearning bad habits.

So much so, I'd recommend a buying cheaper bass and spending the difference on lessons.

[guroove]

You don't need bass lessons. Jaco, Jerry Jemmott, John Paul Jones, etc. never had bass lessons. Sure it will help, but no, you don't need them. Check out the Ed Friedland stuff if it interests you. Everyone learns things differently. IMO, If you can't afford the lessons, there's nothing wrong with learning from books, DVDs, etc.

[carl h.]

Originally Posted by guroove

You don't need bass lessons. Jaco, Jerry Jemmott, John Paul Jones, etc. never had bass lessons. Sure it will help, but no, you don't need them. Check out the Ed Friedland stuff if it interests you. Everyone learns things differently. IMO, If you can't afford the lessons, there's nothing wrong with learning from books, DVDs, etc.

BOGUS BS!!
Maybe they didn't sit in a room with a teacher on a regular basis, but they surely studied bass players.

They are the exception, not the norm. List me 500 bass players who never studied and are decent, I can give you 50 who never studied and who SUCK at bass for every one who is passable.

Go with the odds, take the lessons.

[basetard]

Thanks for all the great opinions, I will get the Friedland series and I will look at getting a few hours of starter lessons. But that would be about all I could do since I still do the piano lessons. Any other ideas please keep them coming...

[Luv2Pla4U]

Lots of useful info here for a beginner such as yourself, and the best part is it's free!... A LOT of Free Lessons, how to's and other stuff from me!

[dhsierra1]

Originally Posted by basetard

I will get the Friedland series and I will look at getting a few hours of starter lessons. But that would be about all I could do since I still do the piano lessons.

+1, I was originally a pianist for a number of years and switched to bass, only took a few beginner lessons (back then, have talen more over the years since) and that worked out well for me as it got me started on the right foot. Enjoy the journey

[bassybill]

I took piano lessons for years as a youngster, but then moved to bass later on at the age of 15 or 16. I never had formal bass lessons, but being "self-taught" is not the same thing as being "untaught". It really depends on how you like to learn.

[Woodstockz]

Originally Posted by basetard

Thanks for all the great opinions, I will get the Friedland series and I will look at getting a few hours of starter lessons. But that would be about all I could do since I still do the piano lessons. Any other ideas please keep them coming...

Some of the best Bass books that I have are: my piano books! If you play something on the piano, also play it on the bass. Play any bassline, chords, melodies, whatever on both instruments. Think music first, instrument second.

Don't just think that the bass is just for cool basslines. On the bass, think music on the bass. I started on the piano, and until I realized this, I was going nowhere. Then I got out the piano books, started doing my piano exercises on the bass, and everything clicked. I envision a piano when I play the bass.

Do a major scale along each string, starting up at the nut. Whole step- whole step-half step...

Then learn to box the major scale into one finger per fret. Keep switching from piano to bass and you are on your way.

***You will still need an instructor or an experienced player to help you with technique, but that is execution. Some times a slight adjustment will make something a whole lot easier to play. ***

[uethanian]

i don't think you'll have much trouble, considering your piano experience. bass is 5% physical and 95% mental...that means if you understand harmony and voice leading you are already most of the way there. it's very important that you start with a well set-up instrument though, and it's worthwhile to take a lesson for that alone. i'm a big believer in transcription as a method of learning. that is

pick a song you like
listen to the bass part
learn to play it from memory
then write it down
analyze what the bassist is doing

this is ultimately where you pick up style and learn what's appropriate for each genre, from listening to other bassists. it will be difficult at first to hear the bass clearly but your ear/mind will get better with time.

[73maverick]

Originally Posted by dhsierra1

+1, I was originally a pianist for a number of years and switched to bass, only took a few beginner lessons (back then, have talen more over the years since) and that worked out well for me as it got me started on the right foot. Enjoy the journey

+1 x 2. I played piano from childhood as well as trombone in high school & college band. At some point it stopped being fun and fell by the wayside.

I have no idea what possessed me to buy myself a bass for my 44th birthday, but after a month of lessons it feels like parts of my brain are lighting up that I forgot were even there

I've had to dig deep for good lessons and am not sure how long I can keep them up, but after five weeks it has been well worth it. It's impossible for me NOT to mentally refer to my other instruments when playing bass -- it's kind of cool the way it all starts to fit together.

My piano books have been a huge help in playing and practicing ... reading bass tab is major challenge because I'm just so much more comfortable with bass clef.

[Woodstockz]

Originally Posted by 73maverick

it's kind of cool the way it all starts to fit together.

My piano books have been a huge help in playing and practicing ... reading bass tab is major challenge because I'm just so much more comfortable with bass clef.

+100 That is my point - It all fits together. Stay with the bass clef, and stay away from tabs. I played around with tabs for almost a year, then realized that I wasn't learning anything. Piano books are where it's at because you not only learn the bass part, but also how it fits in with the rest of the music. Tabs are a last resort.