Thinking of taking up Bass, couple of questins

bobington · #1 06-09-2009, 11:38 PM

Hi all, im new here and just have a couple of questions.

How hard is bass to pick up with lessons? Can you teach youself bass? Are there any other sites besides this one that may have self teach stuff on it?

Lastly what would be a good starter bass and amp to go for?

Any advice would be apperciated, and i'll see you around the forums

Dogbertday · #2 06-09-2009, 11:45 PM

Bass is about 13 carrots hard to pick up with lessons... 15 kiwis without...

seriously though it's worth it to get lessons. you'll learn a lot faster and you'll learn right. Make sure you get lessons with someone who plays bass... some guitar teachers can teach bass well and some can't... It's not an instrument to take lightly

studybass.com is a good site

As for starter gear... depending on your price range...

Squier Vintage Modified Series (either precision bass or jazz bass) is a good starting point. and Acoustic (brand name) amps have a good reputation and get loud for the price (with good tone)

bobington · #3 06-09-2009, 11:51 PM

Thanks Dogbertday, that site looks very good, i'll have a more thorough look soon

I'll also google your recomendations in a sec to see whats what.

Thanks.

ultrabass6 · #4 06-09-2009, 11:59 PM

The best thing about bass/music is that it takes a lifetime to master. You have to believe that the process of learning it is fun. Like a jigsaw puzzle, the fun happens as you are putting it all together. It's a great way to pass the time. Given all that...yeah it's pretty easy to pick up and you can teach yourself but a few basic lessons in the beginning really, really help.

bobington · #5 06-10-2009, 12:12 AM

Thank you ultrabass6, i've always loved music and bass has always looked very intersting to me, i'm 25 so i'm starting late but i dont think that should be a problem lol.

I looked up that bass you suggested Dogbertday, it looks good and is in my price range, so i'll see next week if my local music store stocks them.

So what are some key things you should learn about bass, eg, holding it, reading music, strumming ect.

Is the reading the music very hard to pick up also? it's been awhile since i've done anything musical (played violin for like 2 months when i was younger and just learnt basics both playing and reading music wise).

Is there anything else i should know about bass?

Thanks

Dogbertday · #6 06-10-2009, 12:19 AM

the most important thing to do is to get playing as quickly as possible and have fun.

Holding the Bass is similar to holding a guitar. everything else a teacher or friend who plays should be able to show you.

As far as reading music... like I said start playing first... reading music is like reading a new language. just like playing music is like speaking a language. If you are quick with symbols, etc you should pick up reading pretty quickly... but like anything else you just have to do it.

seriously, a few lessons with a good teacher should be enough to get you started... even if you go for 2 months you'll be given the method you'll need to learn more on your own

bobington · #7 06-10-2009, 03:10 AM

Cool thanks for all your advice

One last thing, get a 4 or 5 string to start?

Thanks again.

sound of bass · #8 06-10-2009, 03:23 AM

"Hard to learn" is subjective, if you put the time in and are really into it (anything in life) nothing seems hard. Ive never had a formal lesson, though I recommend it, and have been teaching myself bass for 22 yrs or so, knowing that I still have 20 some more years to go probably. But thats not really a factor, the bass guitar will be with me forever...no hurry....no end in sight...no matter. I learned an incredible amount of information from TB and Studybass.com alike, plus books, dvd's, friends,even videos of bands and techniques. Info. is limitless. On the high end Im a Fender man.....so what else would I endorse?, on the lower end Im a fan of Cort, Sx, but it depends on your budget and your ears, try as many as you can, same for amps. Good luck and I hope you're infected with the sound of bass as much as I am.....as much as we all are.

bobington · #9 06-10-2009, 03:34 AM

Thank you sound of bass, your right as long as you try and stick with anything it will get easier with time.

I'll ring a place tommorow that i think give bass lessons and see how much they are.

As for the bass and amp themselfs, i'll look around and i'm sure i'll find something, i'll also try them out if i can like you suggested to see what they sound like.

Sonicfrog · #10 06-10-2009, 03:53 AM

Bobington - that's cool that you're not starting till you're 25. I didn't start till I was 21 and look at how good I am now..... Oh, nevermind!!!! :-)

Seriously, the key to learning this, or any instrument for that matter is patience. My attitude when I first picked up the bass was "it's only got four strings, how hard can it be"? Then, when you start listening to your favorite songs, really listening, as a musician, you start hearing all these little things your favorite player does, and you try to play it.... and you stumble all over the place. It can be very hard not to give up and quit.

When I was a couple of months into trying to learn to play, I ran into that wall. Then the bass sat around for a couple of months. I almost gave up. The bass sat for a couple of months collecting dust. Since my bass was on loan from my older brother, I realized that i would have to either start playing it, or give it back. So I put the bass by the bedroom door and made a rule that whenever I entered or left the room, I would pick up the instrument and play something... anything. Just so long as I made playing a habit. Somewhere along the line I learned to play and more than that, learned to love to play - nothing like playing bass on stage and getting paid for it.... or getting free beer! :-)

Here I am 23 years later and still having fun. And I've had so many great experiences because of the fact that I play. Learning to play bass is one of the best decisions I ever made in my life.

PS. Another piece of advice - always be a student. Look up Victor Wooten some time. The guy is a freak on bass, yet still looks for new things to learn. Great attitude. If you think you're the top player in the world, well, there is only one way to go after that.... down.

Good luck, and let us know how things are going.

caeman · #11 06-10-2009, 06:38 AM

I am a drummer, and I have managed to learn how to play, though I am still in the beginner phase. If *I* can do it, pretty much anyone else can.

bobington · #12 06-10-2009, 04:53 PM

Thanks for your replys Sonicfrog, caeman.

Sonicfrog, i have ALOT of patience and when i want to be can be very determined.

Although i will admit, i also thought "it's only got 4 strings how hard could it be" but i was youtubing this morning and it looks very hard lol. But that won't deter me.

Thanks again

caeman · #13 06-10-2009, 04:59 PM

Just learn one string at a time.

BigOldHarry · #14 06-10-2009, 05:02 PM

Bass is not easy. If it was easy, it would hardly be worth doing.

If you decide to dive in, great - but know that it isn't just something you can do over night. It will take time, patience and most of all PRACTICE.

As for a beginner bass - if you are over 15, your hands are big enough for a 34" scale bass... If you have $$, get a used US fender - you can always sell it for what you paid for it if you give up. If you have less $$, get an SX at Rondo music. $99 gets you started with a decent axe.

madmaskbass · #15 06-10-2009, 05:06 PM

hey mate good luck with it mate...bass like all instruments takes time, effort and commitment but the like any learning once you start seeing progress and finding things that are enjoyable about it all you will take off..i suppose people think it is hard to start later because you simply just dont have the time to dedicate like you do when your say in high school...but mate just keep your bass close by you and find some songs to play that are easy but that you enjoy that is what got me started playing songs i love and slowly moving on to harder songs....self taught never had a lesson...but i would just copy the way my bass idols held it ..i am not recommending that you go down this path but that is what i did....

any way good luck with it and enjoy

Stumbo · #16 06-10-2009, 05:11 PM

You might want to check out the links in my sig. below for more info on learning.
Good luck.

bobington · #17 06-11-2009, 02:37 AM

Thank you all for your replys, your certainly are a friendly bunch

I'll be doing alot of reading and stuff over the next few weeks, i have alot of bills on my next pay, but after that i can go buy a bass and amp for up to $600Aust.

But i don't think i'll need to spend that much on them, especialy for a beginner.

I rang a place i know about lessons today, it's $40aust up front, then $20 a week, which is reasonble.

The man i spoke to said there will be opening later on in the month when VCE students drop out to focus on their schooling.

So i have a little time to wait yet, but i'll learn as much as i can from the net and bide my time

bobington · #18 06-11-2009, 06:21 AM

One other thing, what would be the most likely way i'll be taught how to play the bass, using a pick or using my fingers and thumb?

I like both sounds, but how does a begginer usally start out?

Thanks.

Lexicon · #19 06-11-2009, 06:45 AM

I started playing drums when I was a teenager and after about ten years off I finally got back into it in the last year or so. At the same time I thought, "What the hell. I should finally learn how to play that bass I bought 8 years ago." I've been playing for several months now and I love it. If you're really motivated to learn it the basics will come more quickly than you imagine.

I started out learning a few things on my own but once I started taking lessons my understanding of the instrument started to move much faster. That said, I still know almost nothing compared to some of the learned folk here on TB. I'm still very early in the learning process and at 35 I don't expect to be great. Just good enough that I'm having fun and making music.

Asher S · #20 06-11-2009, 07:18 AM

Welcome to TB

Just adding my "vote" for finding a bass teacher and taking lessons (not a guitar teacher who also teaches bass, but an actual professional bassist).

Looking through all the instructional links is fun and can be informative, but that will never substitute for having a pro bassist watch your hand position & technique and correct you on the spot before you spend years accumulating bad habits that will ultimately impede your progress via physical pain.

I'm in my 40s (played bass since I was a kid) and I still seek out lessons regularly. There's always more to learn, more ways to continually improve.