What should I be doing now?

[ClaytonMUSE]

I've been playing bass for not that long, about 3-4 months, and I've learned alot of stuff, I've been looking for new challenges and new things to learn, but alot of the stuff I look at is either too easy, or way past my skill level, at the moment I'm trying to perfect Hysteria by Muse, very hard, I can play it near enough in time with little mistakes but obviously that isn't good enough, can anyone recommend some songs/techniques/ things I should be doing?

[onlyclave]

Learn to read standard notation.

[ClaytonMUSE]

Originally Posted by onlyclave

Learn to read standard notation.

Any good websites or anything you could point me to?

Originally Posted by MalcolmAmos

What are you playing? The solo, or the bass line? If you are playing the melody or solo part who are you playing it to? Going to be awhile before you will be able to play a solo to anyone except your music room walls. However, if you are playing accompaniment, i.e. chord tones --- the bass line -- you stand a better chance of using that in public pretty soon.

Our bass is an accompaniment instrument, part of the rhythm section. Concentrate on playing rhythm section "stuff".

Now tell us specifically what you are doing and what you would like to do better. Some great talent here, someone will help.

I've been playing along with the track without bass and trying to keep up, I can pull it off sometimes but I can't seem to nail it.

And I've just been learning simple basslines and a few scales etc. What I would like to do better? Ehh, quickly switching between strings with my plucking hand, I'm OK if it's from one string to the one above or below, but say if I quickly want to go from the E string to the D string and back, I slip up there alot, if I'm playing something that quickly changes strings like that, I usually find myself playing with 1 finger on each string, which isn't a good habit to get into. And accurately moving around the fretboard, large jumps.

[MalcolmAmos]

Originally Posted by ClaytonMUSE

I've been playing along with the track without bass and trying to keep up, I can pull it off sometimes but I can't seem to nail it.

OK that's good. You are not expected to nail it in four months.

And I've just been learning simple basslines and a few scales etc. What I would like to do better? Ehh, quickly switching between strings with my plucking hand, I'm OK if it's from one string to the one above or below, but say if I quickly want to go from the E string to the D string and back, I slip up there alot, if I'm playing something that quickly changes strings like that, I usually find myself playing with 1 finger on each string, which isn't a good habit to get into. And accurately moving around the fretboard, large jumps.

Slow down bass lines aka chord tones. Are you anywhere close to playing over the chord changes? That's kinda important.

Scales - no matter what instrument we play we gotta do our scales till we can do them in our sleep. Scales get your fingers doing what they need to be doing, and in the process our ear is trained to hear the good notes from the bad ones.

That song you posted is too advanced. Slow down. When you can do your scales - in two octaves - with out your fingers getting lost in the shuffle then take on chord tones and work up your 5 go to riffs and use them with the chord changes. You gotta spend some time with the fundamentals.

[ClaytonMUSE]

Originally Posted by MalcolmAmos

Without bass? What are you playing?


Slow down bass lines aka chord tones. Are you anywhere close to playing over the chord changes? That's kinda important.

Scales - no matter what instrument we play we gotta do our scales till we can do them in our sleep. Scales get your fingers doing what they need to be doing, and in the process our ear is trained to hear the good notes from the bad ones.

That song you posted is too advanced. Slow down.

Ah sorry, I meant a bassless track
And I don't understand what you mean fully with "Slow down bass lines aka chord tones. Are you anywhere close to playing over the chord changes? That's kinda important." I never took music as a lesson in school, I'm kinda just picking things up as I go along with bass.

[MalcolmAmos]

Originally Posted by ClaytonMUSE

Ah sorry, I meant a bassless track
And I don't understand what you mean fully with "Slow down bass lines aka chord tones. Are you anywhere close to playing over the chord changes? That's kinda important." I never took music as a lesson in school, I'm kinda just picking things up as I go along with bass.

OK here goes.

Forget about playing the melody to the song. Our instrument is primarily an accompaniment instrument. We play in the rhythm section. Our job is to lay down a beat for the rest of the band to follow.

Here is what I meant to say; Slow down -- you should be playing bass lines, which are made of the chord tones.

I take it you do not know what a bass line is or what a chord tone is. No problem just slow down and go to:
www.studybass.com start on the first screen and do not skip around take it one screen at a time.

Ask specific questions here.

Leaving now taking the Wife out for our 54th anniversary. Will check back tomorrow.

[ClaytonMUSE]

Thank you, and also, happy anniversary.

[Atnum]

Start playing your own stuff, just sit down (or stand up) and mess around and try to write something that you think sounds cool.

Start playing with others, drummer would be the best. I am playing for about 3 months now and recently started playing with a friend of mine who is a professional drummer and it is a great way to get better time, and good experience because you will want to get into a band eventually and the main thing it is a lot of fun.

[tobie]

Originally Posted by Atnum

Start playing with others, drummer would be the best.

++1!

But before you do that - have you worked through studybass.com yet to get the basics nailed and to learn what a bassist's role is in a band?

[ClaytonMUSE]

Hey guys, I flicked through it the other day now I'm going through it fully, just got on to lesson block 8, this is a brilliant website!
Playing with a drummer could be a bit of a problem, I only know one drummer; he's a bit of a show off, and very patronising when behind a drum kit. I've played with him a few times though and it really does help.

One question though that I didn't get from this website, it mentions key, say I was playing a song in C major, if I played a note outside the scale of C major, would that sound "wrong"? And similarly, could I play any note within that scale and it would sound "right"?

[BrettTheThreat]

Originally Posted by ClaytonMUSE

One question though that I didn't get from this website, it mentions key, say I was playing a song in C major, if I played a note outside the scale of C major, would that sound "wrong"? And similarly, could I play any note within that scale and it would sound "right"?

Yes and no.. Technically if you're playing in C Major you could hit C D E F G A or B and be hitting a "right" note. But a "right" note doesn't always sound the best, so some notes are more right than others. Then sometimes you need to play a note that's not in the scale, it might be a "wrong" note but it might sound "right" given the context.

Music is art, and art doesn't follow all the rules all the time. They're just guidelines.

Obligatory Wooten quote : "You're never more than a half-step away from a "right" note." So even if you accidentally hit a C#, on either side you have C and D, which are "right" notes.

[bassy7]

"One question though that I didn't get from this website, it mentions key, say I was playing a song in C major, if I played a note outside the scale of C major, would that sound "wrong"? And similarly, could I play any note within that scale and it would sound "right"?"

I'm no theory buff (but working on it)- but I started playing 18 yrs ago, so I know some things. Some others may be able to embellish on some of these aspects a bit more.


Generally speaking- If you play a note that is not in the key then it will usually sound bad. The are exceptions, and "wrong" notes can be used as passing tones, are to produce an intentionally desired dissonance or tension. In rock music you will likely be playing mostly chord tones (1,3,5,7) so that you sound very "inside" of the chords of the moment, as well as (2,4,6) of the scale.

Songs are not always built within a single key. Jazz in particular may have many key changes within a song, so knowing the key center isn't always enough info to play "in" the song. The chords and their arrangement is more important.

I am not really familiar with the music of Muse (but I am listening to Hysteria on youtube right now) I like that song, the bass is definitely upfront and taking the lead there. This isn't always true- but a lot of times in rock, the bass and rythm guitar are very intertwined. Meaning the bass is playing the root of the guitar chord with some embillishments. This give the music a very cohesive sound that help create HEAVINESS.

When I was first starting out on bass, I decided to take the "KEY" aspect of music to heart on particular jam session. I was playing with musicians that were way more advanced than me, I just couldn't keep up with the chords that were playing, at least not on the spot. So I asked what key the were playing in. On the next take of the song I just played within the key. My 15 watt toaster sized amp got lost in the mix, so I wasn't really heard.... but as luck would have it, they were recording and my bass level recorded just fine. As we listened back to the recording together, I did not play a single wrong note- and I was playing in rhythm. But I was also playing my "own song", my bassline had nothing in common with what the other guys were playing. They said "your playing just doesn't fit" it was embarrasing, but at least they were nice guys. I learned that the key is a very small part of what makes a song. On the other hand if was playing a sweet bassline like the one in Hysteria- you can bet your bottom dollar they would have abandoned what they were playing to come up with something to fit my bassline.

These days, as a starting point in a rock jam session I make sure I know exactly how to mimic the rhythm guitar on bass using only the roots. Once I got it down, I began to embellish beyond that. If the rhythm guitar part is on the lighter side, that opens up more space for me branch out and create a completely new bass groove that works with whats already there.
If the jam is more of a "jam band" jam, then anything goes. For reggae or ska jams, anything goes- as long as it is within the style.

Different types of music have different rules or blueprints that are followed (are just happened to arise) in order to achieve a certain sound or feel. One cool thing about music is that while the "rules" are there you can go outside of them.

[ClaytonMUSE]

To be honest I wouldn't know where to begin in a jam session, I could probably come up with something that fits in with the drums, but it wouldn't sound good, it would just be a string of random notes. I know little about music in general, this website is really useful though. I should get myself a good teacher.

[MalcolmAmos]

At this point in your musical journey - yes - you need to be with a teacher. Being able to ask a question and get an instant answer, sit knee to knee and be shown as well as told is a great help.

Good luck.

[BrettTheThreat]

Originally Posted by ClaytonMUSE

To be honest I wouldn't know where to begin in a jam session, I could probably come up with something that fits in with the drums, but it wouldn't sound good, it would just be a string of random notes. I know little about music in general, this website is really useful though. I should get myself a good teacher.

Thats all music is, a bunch of different notes strung together. Just start slow, tap a beat out with your foot and play sometime along with it. If you know a scale, play around with those notes. If not just fool around. If a note sounds good to you, play it. If not, play the one next to it.

Plus I agree with MalcolmAmos, a teacher is invaluable. Its one thing for you to read about how to do it, but a teacher can just show you how easy it can be.