What's next after Hal Leanord Bass Method 1-3

[bassista6]

I started playing the bass about a year ago just playing songs on the radio and so forth. Then I decided that I wanted to learn the right way. I got some help from my dad who used to play some and my technique is pretty good. I brought the Hal Leonard Complete Bass method with cd's and I'm almost finished it. I want to know what should come next.

I guess after finishing the book I'll be at about an advanced beginner level. I can play most songs by ear and I can read tab and notation, but for some reason even after going through it pretty slowly and trying to implement it all practicing on average about three hours a day I still don't really know how to create my own basslines. The theory and music reading came easily because I've played piano for 11 years, but I'm having a really hard time implementing everything else I've learned. I can play other peoples stuff easily, but I don't even know where to start when it comes to playing on my own. I mean I can come up with little riffs, but I haven't been able to put together a full song that really sounded decent to me.

I also have the Bass Guitar for Dummies book which helped a little, but I still feel stuck. Is there something I'm missing or is what I need just not in these two books? I don't know if I should try to go through the Hal Leonard book again and see if I can get anything more out of it or what. Is there another course out there that might be more helpful? Does anyone have any ideas on what I should buy next? Should I go with another book or buy a dvd. I'm hoping that soon I'll get the opportunity to play out and that might help me. I'm really not sure what I need. If anyone can help me I'd really appreciate it. Thanks in advance for your answers.

[AMp'D.2play]

Originally Posted by bassista6

... I still don't really know how to create my own basslines. ...

Building Walking Bass Lines by Ed Friedland. After finishing Hal Leonard's Bass Method, it's the book I went to next.

Here's the current thread/group participation on the BWBL book, and Ed Friedland chimes in from time to time:

Building Walking Basslines Lesson 1

[ahsbass6]

Rufus Ried's " The Evolving Bassist" It is great for reading and technique. You could also get the Simandle "Double Bass Method"... it is also good for reading and learning the positions. Enjoy! Michael

[johnboy65]

I think it depends on what kind of stuff you want to write. Mike Watt said that writing songs on bass is like writing a song on cymbals. I agree to an extent. I personally like to use chords and write around that. It helps to have the medolic inferences.

[Staccato]

Perhaps a thread will start at some point focusing on Hal Leanord Bass Method 1-3 w/ CD's.

[bassista6]

Thanks for the responses everyone. My technique and reading abilities are pretty good. I just don't know what to play when I get in a situation with other musicians. I feel like I've learned a lot from the books, but somehow I just don't know what to play. Maybe I'm overthinking. I will definitely check out all of the books you mentioned especially the one by Ed Friedland I really like his teaching method and it makes sense to me, so I'm not sure why I'm still a little lost. I know everything gets easier with practice, but I'm a little nervous to play with other musicians because sometimes I don't know what to play. I have been experimenting with chords a little and am seeing little improvements so I know I need to keep working and get a course that goes more in depth on certain subjects. I wish Ed had books 5,6 and 7 of the bass method that would be great.

[MalcolmAmos]

Making your own bass lines -- Couple of ways to go. 1) forget tabs. 2.) standard notation is good, however, can you find bass cleft sheet music on the type of music you play? That leaves fake chord and lead sheet music, but neither one of them have the bass cleft. So you are left with seeing the note name and then making your own bass line.

Chord is C7. What bass line would work under that chord?

Well the notes or intervals of the C7 chord would be;
R-3-5-b7. But the song (groove) may only give you room for just some roots, R-R-R-R or perhaps R-R-8-8 for a little more interest. Or R-5-R-5 with some chromatic runs to the next chord may fit THIS song. Kinda left up to you. So --- you gotta get your go to bass line riffs into muscle memory so you can call upon them as needed. I've run across an interesting item - from another bass player - Jazz likes the 3rd interval be on the 3rd beat. Rock likes the 5th interval be on the 3rd beat. Country likes the Root and the 5th with runs to the next chord (R-5-R-5). So.... find what works best with your style of music, some of the books try to give you a little of everything, I found that confusing - I really do not need everything.

Yes Ed's book is good - full of everything. Bass Lines in Minutes by Kris Berg is perhaps a little less advanced, thus easier and will only take you a couple of days to grasp the concept outlined in this book. I do recommend you sooner or later spend some time with Ed's Building Walking Bass Lines.

Good luck.

[piano fighter]

Originally Posted by ahsbass6

Rufus Ried's " The Evolving Bassist" It is great for reading and technique.

This is an excellent book, I've been taking lessons for 6 and a half years and was in a real slump. I was past just the stuff in my previous books (I used Mueller-Rusch before that and made it through three of those) and Rufus Reid's book has made me love it again. Part of this is my teacher too, but the exercises help, the scales for some reason I actually enjoy which is good. It's also got a lot of good reading material and explanations about writing a walking bass line that are a lot of fun to work on. Since you play piano, like someone else suggested, use the chords you like and go from there. I don't play piano, so I've just picking songs out my Real Book that I like and writing bass lines using the chord progressions and Evolving Bassist, and I really feel like it has helped to put me on the next level, I hope it does for you too.

[Crazyeelboy]

Bassista6: I think you need to start playing music with other people if you want to learn how to apply what you are learning. By all means continue your studies, but nothing compares to putting it together with other players.

[pnut166]

Originally Posted by johnboy65

I think it depends on what kind of stuff you want to write. Mike Watt said that writing songs on bass is like writing a song on cymbals. I agree to an extent. I personally like to use chords and write around that. It helps to have the medolic inferences.

+1. I`m no good just sitting down with a bass and writing a tune. Can`t do it to save my life. But give me a beat and guitar riff, and I can lay a line down quickly. Just me.

[Volk99]

Originally Posted by Crazyeelboy

Bassista6: I think you need to start playing music with other people if you want to learn how to apply what you are learning. By all means continue your studies, but nothing compares to putting it together with other players.

+1

It sounds like you're ready to play with people. If you don't know what to play at first, you can stick to the roots of chords.

You might also find it helpful to practice creating your own bass lines over simple songs or chord progressions. Maybe start out with just roots, then try playing roots, 3rds, and 5ths. Later, try adding other scale tones.

[puddin tame]

You might want to also look at 'bass grooves' by the same Ed Friedland. It gives you a look at a whole lot of different styles of bass and the ultimate goal is to you give you an intuitive sense that will allow you to feel the groove of any song. You will want a drum machine, though, as the book is based around that. He goes through how to programme it for different stuff and practicing with it.

If you can't spare the cash on one, you can always... errr... acquire software based ones on the internet. A drum machine with good programmed tracks is a *seriously* valuable practice tool

[lookiel]

James Jamerson
Standing in the shadows of Motown

[bassista6]

Thanks everyone for your responses. You've all been very helpful. I guess now I'll just do some research on all of the books mentioned and decide on one. I'm leaning towards Building Walking bass lines, but The Evolving bassist sounds pretty good too. I'll make my decision soon. I also might want to purchase a DVD to further my learning soon any suggestions?

[MalcolmAmos]

Originally Posted by bassista6

Thanks everyone for your responses. You've all been very helpful. I guess now I'll just do some research on all of the books mentioned and decide on one. I'm leaning towards Building Walking bass lines, but The Evolving bassist sounds pretty good too. I'll make my decision soon. I also might want to purchase a DVD to further my learning soon any suggestions?

Building Walking Bass Lines come with a CD.
You can lower the volume on the piano and hear just the bass if you like. Audacity is free software that lets you do things like this if you are listening through your laptop.

Lot of backing tracks free on the Internet. Google -- Video, bass line backing track

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bUK5pE5x_6A
Look on the right hand side of the screen. Have fun.

[speedbump]

I'm pretty much where you are learning wise but rather then trying to teach myself any more I came up with this idea.I'm trying to find a garage band that is at the same level of incompetence as I am and ask to join them.I may be entirely wrong but I think there is a lot to be learned by playing with others.I've tried Craigslist to find a band but so far no luck.Maybe word got out about exactly how incompetent I really am

[bassista6]

Originally Posted by MalcolmAmos

Building Walking Bass Lines come with a CD.
You can lower the volume on the piano and hear just the bass if you like. Audacity is free software that lets you do things like this if you are listening through your laptop.

Lot of backing tracks free on the Internet. Google -- Video, bass line backing track

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bUK5pE5x_6A
Look on the right hand side of the screen. Have fun.

Thanks for the link. I've been looking for something like that where I can see the chords being played and come up with my own basslines. I downloaded a few backing tracks months ago, but my ear isn't good enough to hear all the chords without seeing them yet. This should be very helpful.

[MalcolmAmos]

Backing tracks http://www.ralphpatt.com/Backing.html
Sound quality is not the best, but, its OK to practice with. Notice in the tool bar - Song Index - this will have the chord progressions for the songs on the backing tracks.

Have fun.

[bassista6]

Originally Posted by MalcolmAmos

Backing tracks http://www.ralphpatt.com/Backing.html
Sound quality is not the best, but, its OK to practice with. Notice in the tool bar - Song Index - this will have the chord progressions for the songs on the backing tracks.

Have fun.

Thanks this site seems like it will be very useful. The only thing I don't understand is it says "All backing tracks have 4 bar introductions. Piano is on left channel, bass and drums are on the right channel." I don't know what it means by channel. How would I go about muting the bass, so that I can play it myself? If you don't know that's fine, but if you do can you tell me? Thanks again.

[MalcolmAmos]

Originally Posted by bassista6

Thanks this site seems like it will be very useful. The only thing I don't understand is it says "All backing tracks have 4 bar introductions. Piano is on left channel, bass and drums are on the right channel." I don't know what it means by channel. How would I go about muting the bass, so that I can play it myself? If you don't know that's fine, but if you do can you tell me? Thanks again.

The first 4 measures are the introduction, then the song starts.

Piano on the left channel, bass and drums are on the right channel. OK if you were running this through your audio system you could lower the left speaker and get the piano out of the picture so you could hear the bass line. Or lower the right channel and you furnish the bass line.

Doing this on a computer or a laptop is a chore, however, you can down load Audacity.com free software that lets you lower the left hand or right hand volume and do all kinds of neat stuff. http://www.google.com/search?sourcei...y.com+download Learning curve for Audacity is a little steep but if you know your way around electronic games, phones, etc you should get it with out a lot of trouble. Rip the song to your computer hard drive (using WAV or AIFF format - this has been edited and inserted). Open Audacity, ask for the song, click on View, and choose Mixer Board. Once at the mixer board click solo, then move the slider bar all the way to the left. Click play.