Where to begin.

[Chief2112]

First of all let me say that I have learned quite a bit by searching these forums and other internet resources. I have an idea of what things to work on but I'm just looking for a little more focus.

Now that that's out of the way, a little about me...

I'm 42 years old. About 6 years ago I picked up the guitar and learned it a little. When I say I learned it a little I mean that I know some chords and can play them but not extremely proficiently. I just wasn't feeling it in the long run.

I then switched to drums and have been playing them for almost 3 years. I took to them pretty quick and could play some stuff pretty quickly. I always had been more attracted to a song's rhythm section so I think this was a good move on my part. However, due to practice restrictions (driving the neighbors and family crazy) I stopped playing as much.

That got me thinking about the bass. Even though I've never played I've always been a huge fan of bass players like Geddy Lee, Colin Edwin, John Paul Jones, etc. If a song has a good bass line I'm pretty much hooked.

Soooo...I'm about to buy my first bass and have a few questions.

First of all, what kind of bass? I'll be honest right now that I'm not going out and buying an expensive one. I just want to get a solid decent one to see if I'm really going to enjoy it. I know the differences between the P and J bass guitars. I'm kind of leaning towards the Jazz bass guitar because of the slimmer neck but I'm not sure. The Fenders, for instance, you know right away what's what because it actually tells you but I've noticed some of the "cheaper" bass guitars don't specify what kind of bass they are. Is it safe to go by the type of pickup on the bass to determine what kind it is??

Secondly, where do I start? I mean when I first sit down and get this thing tuned up what should I be focused on for practicing purposes? I'm NOT getting a teacher right away so I'm doing this on my own.

Any thoughts, opinions or personal experiences you'd be willing to share would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

[fearceol]

For the bass itself, if you give a budget estimate, people can give recommendations. Generally it is a good idea to just go into shops and try out as many basses as you can. See which one sounds good to you ( always keeping in mind that the amp and speakers can make a difference), and feels good in your hands. If it passes these tests, chances are this is "your" bass.

The very first thing I would work on is good technique for both hands. No good learning lots of songs, theory etc if you cant execute them in the best and safest way possible. I have posted some links on R/H and L/H technique to get you started. Bear in mind that there are no "rules" and nothing is written in stone. It is up to you to find the safest and most comfortable technique that suits you.

Next thing would be to learn the different fingerings for scales, and chords. The latter is very important as this is what a bassist plays 95% of the time, not scales. A great all round site is Online Bass Lessons at StudyBass.com



R/H technique :

Todd Johnson Bass Guitar : Floating thumb technique - YouTube


Developing Safe Right Hand Technique for Bass Guitar - YouTube

The two clips above, convey basically the same message.



L/H :

Beginner Bass Guitar Lesson: Left Hand Technique - YouTube



Developing Safe Left Hand Technique for Bass Guitar - YouTube

[MalcolmAmos]

Studybass.com was mentioned and is an excellent site. I think the book Bass Guitar for Dummies is well written and has a wealth of charts etc. It will get into all the how to's; How to hold your bass, how to tune it, how to mute the strings, things like that. Your public library may have it. If not it's not all that expensive.

Which guitar? That is so personal I'm not going there. Sounds like you are on the right track. If I had to make that decision all over again I'd go with a 5 string. Why? If you are going to play from standard notation a lot of the sheet music you will be finding will be piano sheet music and will have ledger notes below your bottom E. The 5th string gives you those lower ledger notes. Going to cost a little more, but, .............. your decision. Something to ask about at the music store.

Originally Posted by Chief2112

...Secondly, where do I start? I mean when I first sit down and get this thing tuned up what should I be focused on for practicing purposes? I'm NOT getting a teacher right away so I'm doing this on my own. Any thoughts, opinions or personal experiences you'd be willing to share would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

Run your scales to get your fingers moving on the fretboard and your ear recognizing the good notes from the bad notes. Scales are IMHO used for the melody, the tune, of the song and like said earlier we play in the rhythm section and this is chord tones so --- after you get your fingers moving on the fretboard with the scales then pick out some generic chord tone bass lines and put them into muscle memory - see a major chord R-3-5-8 will work. See a minor chord R-b3-5-8 will work for the minor chord. Bass Guitar for Dummies and StudyBass.com will have charts on the fingering. http://www.studybass.com/lessons/com...ts-and-fifths/
http://www.studybass.com/lessons/com...ths/exercises/
http://www.studybass.com/lessons/bass-chord-patterns/

Once you have some generic bass lines in muscle memory call up some fake chord sheet music and see what you can do with that. Here is a backing track to get you started. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bUK5pE5x_6A Just roots at first. When you can do that add the 5th. Where is the 5? From the root it's up a string and over two frets, or it is below the root on the next lower string - same fret.

As to the amp - it's probably more important than the specific guitar you choose. But, you will not know what to listen for right now - and you mentioned running the family crazy. I use a Vox battery powered headphone amp for practice. Might give that some thought. All of your Vox Headphone Amp products at American Musical Supply

Welcome to our World, have fun.

[BlackRussian]

+1 on Bass Guitar for Dummies and Patrick's Bass Guitar Exercises for Dummies too.

I really like knowing the how's and why's of things. The Dummies books fulfill that wonderfully.

In my case, I have zero string instrument experience so I really need a level below Patrick's books for the mechanical basics. The YouTube links above and throughout this forum have been very helpful.

+1 on Online Bass Lessons at StudyBass.com, Andrew Pouska does a great job in his study guide that provide a good building block process of learning. I love his Bass Clef Tutor for helping me transition from my treble clef reflexes to bass clef.

[BlackRussian]

+1 on the Vox. I've got this one.

[skychief]

Originally Posted by Chief2112

I'm NOT getting a teacher right away so I'm doing this on my own.

If i had it to do all over again, i woulda hired teacher on day 2. Instead, all the bad technique habits i picked up had to be painstakingly "unlearned" under the watchful eye of a teacher. You have a golden opportunity here---im jealous. Best of luck either way.

[LiamPodmore]

Another big +1 on Bass Guitar For Dummies. I picked it up after playing for 3 and a half years and its still helped me, especially with the theory side of things. I suggest learning theory as you learn how to play, as it seems a lot harder to learn if you put it off for a few years like i have done.

Liam

[Chief2112]

I'm blown away by the responses here. I appreciate it so much! What a great site!!

I purchased my bass today. Money was certainly an issue and the thought entered my mind to buy one of those "package" deals like the Squier Affinity Jazz.

I ended up deciding to spend a little more money and picked up the Ibanez GSR200FM with the P/J pickups. When I picked it up I loved the how it felt in my hands and it looks fantastic. Picked up a 15W amp that sounds perfect for practicing, and let's be honest, that's all I'm going to be doing for awhile.

Anyways, I messed with it some this evening and I think I'm going to love it. I'm happy with the purchase. More importantly I'm excited about putting some of the stuff you all posted to good use starting tomorrow. I retired from the military in May and I'm doing a lot of nothing for a while so I got nothing but time. :-)

Thanks again for the comments and please keep the suggestions coming if you think of anything else. I might be coming back here to update my progress. I'm as excited as a middle aged man can get for now.

[Stumbo]

Originally Posted by Chief2112

I then switched to drums and have been playing them for almost 3 years. I took to them pretty quick and could play some stuff pretty quickly. I always had been more attracted to a song's rhythm section so I think this was a good move on my part. However, due to practice restrictions (driving the neighbors and family crazy) I stopped playing as much.

Here's a thought. Since you have 3 yrs. experience on the drums already, how about investing in a set of electronic drums? Play through headphones and keep workiing on your percussion skills.

Just sayin'.

[MalcolmAmos]

Getting with a band should be your goal. Now that you are retired if you are not going to get another job there is a whole World of afternoon gigs available out there. Very little competition and people begging for entertainment.

VA hospital comes to mind.
American Legion and VFW early evening "stuff".
Salvation Army family movie night (supper time)
Nursing and retirement homes. Mid-afternoon.
Opening acts for County fairs, we've been the "opening band" for the Gilmer Yambree for the past 8 years. That's a morning gig. Ribbon cuttings for new businesses. Birthdays, picnics, ............

A good bass is always in demand. Most afternoon stuff is for free, you get fed a lot. There is "some" money involved.

Good luck, and thanks for your service.

[Chief2112]

Thanks again for all the replies. They have all been extremely helpful thus far.

I'm employing some of the stuff mentioned and I'll have my "Dummies" book next week when it arrives.

Another question. What are your opinions of learning songs to play early on? I mean, that is what makes it fun right? The thought of jamming along with songs you've listened to for years? I started messing around U2's With or Without You. Easy easy bassline with just four notes but after only a few days of fiddling with that song I'm already noticing I'm getting a little more comfortable moving around the fretboard. Of course this is in conjunction with the other stuff I'm doing too like scales, etc.

I'm also trying to use that easy beginner bass line to help me work on my fretting hand. I'm making a point of using my pinky for the first and third notes of the line which I think is helping too.

I guess what I'm wondering is how much of that kind of "fun" stuff should I be working on? Is it good? Can it be bad to do it too much?

What are you thoughts and what were some of your favorite bass lines to learn when just starting out?

[Waterpilot]

Great responses by everyone. The only thing I can add is to have fun. Pick out some songs that you like and try to work them out as well.

[XtheDeadPawn]

I consider myself a acceptable to moderately skilled improv bassist.

I practice by getting out my metrenome popping in a cd (I'm old skool like that) and try to write MY OWN basslines for my favorite songs.

Then sometimes I'll remember those made up lines and rework them into a song I'm writting.


Never undersell yourself imagination breeds inspiration and inspiration breeds creation.

[MalcolmAmos]

Originally Posted by Chief2112

......... I guess what I'm wondering is how much of that kind of "fun" stuff should I be working on? Is it good? Can it be bad to do it too much?

What are you thoughts and what were some of your favorite bass lines to learn when just starting out?

By fun stuff - playing songs - that's why you got into this. I'm sure you did not go down and purchase your bass so you could run scales and work on generic bass lines. You bought your bass to play songs.

Now you gotta run your scales and you gotta put some generic bass lines to muscle memory so ---- you can use them in the songs you play. All work and no play is no fun. So, yes play songs. Start your gig book. But allow some time each day to learn your instrument, your scales, where the notes are on the fretboard, how to tune the beast, how to mute the strings and how to decide if you will use your fingers, your thumb or a pick to make sound come from that thing.

My favorite bass lines are generic bass lines. Begs some explanation I know.

See a major chord - the R-3-5-8 intervals are generic to all major chords, i.e. those notes will make a safe bass line for all major chords.

See a minor chord - the R-b3-5-8 intervals are generic to all minor chords. So that pattern will make a safe bass line for all your minor chords.

Makes since to me that those two patterns should be in muscle memory. Now getting all those notes into your bass line right at first is a little hard to do. The music is going to run off and leave you before you have time to get all of them in. Be satisfied with roots, i.e. R-R-R-R right at first. When that is comfortable add the 5th, i.e. R-5-R-5. When you can do that and the music does not go off and leave you add the 8. And when you can do that then add the "correct 3" into your bass line. That should keep you busy for several months.

Here is a site that will be a friend. http://www.studybass.com/lessons/com...ts-and-fifths/ Bottom of the page - check out the exercises.

Start with roots only and see what you can do with this. http://www.chordie.com/chord.pere/ww...dColdHeart.cpm
This may give you an idea what is down the road. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g35zS1tVO3o Generic bass lines augmenting the vocalist. Augmenting not competing.

Use fake chord sheet music and your generic bass lines. Shoot for one new song a week. When you get it down put it in your gig book. Now that song belongs to you. Go get another. When you start gigging you will run through 15 to 18 songs an hour - so start filling your gig book.

Have fun.

[pandaman37]

RONDOMUSIC.COM. YOU WILL NOT REGRET IT.

[Stumbo]

I suggest you study/learn the blues. Check out the link in my sig. below for some great TB info that may help you out.

[sonofabass]

I don't know if anyone has mentioned them but for a guy in your shoes (a little more mature with all of the "fun" things that accompanying adulthood) Ed Friedlands Bass method (1-3..and they can be bought as a bundle) are a pretty good self study style course as is David Overthrows series.

I favor Ed's a bit more especially because you can get it in a bundle and the play along tracks are a touch more tasty (however, they are what they are).

Best if luck!

[Chief2112]

Thanks again for the replies. So far so good. It's only been one week since I started learning to play. I'd say I've spent a total of about 3 hours a day over that week. Never 3 hours straight though. I find it hard to walk by the bass without picking it up and playing for 30-45 minutes here or there.

Over the week I've just been working on technique really paying attention to my posture. Consciously paying attention to how relaxed your fretting and plucking hand are seriously pays off. I've found that I'm catching myself tense up from time to time very quickly and I correct it. It makes a huge difference when I've concentrated on using a light touch.

I had nothing more to go on than online stuff until my "Dummies" book got here so I've just been drilling the fretboard notes into my head and working hard on major and minor scales. Not exciting work but an incredible musician friend of mine told me it would be worth knowing that stuff.

So then I get the "Dummies" book today. I read all the stuff in the beginning even though I thought I knew it. It still helped me to think about some stuff.

Then I got to triads. Hey, it's only a week in so don't laugh too hard but I swear it was a little break through for me. Soon after messing around with some of the triads I realized real fast how it relates to the repetitive scales and I found myself doing a few very simple bass lines just on my own to a metronome. Slowwwwly!! LOL But it was cool. It was nice because I guess a little muscle memory is already kicking in because playing the triads and working around within the major and minor scale notes my fingers felt pretty comfortable. As I said I'm working slowly and making sure notes ring out properly. Speed will come along sooner or later. I am getting quite faster on the scales.

Anyways, I thought I'd keep this thread updated. I know from reading around online that it's nice to hear about how other beginners are going about it.

I'm having a great time. So great that I think lessons are in my future within a week or two. :-)

[Chief2112]

Thanks again for all the replies. I figured I'd stop in here and update this thread on occasion. Maybe something I'm doing will help someone else. I know I always find it interesting to know what other beginners are doing to get going.

For the last week I've been working mainly on technique and focusing on trying to stay relaxed. Anything I do I'm doing slowly. I've pretty much committed the fingering of the major scales to memory and working on the minors too. A musician friend of mine (and he's really great, he plays just about any major instrument you can think of like piano, guitar, bass, saxophone among others) told me that it would be beneficial to get familiar with scales and how they relate to all the notes on the fretboard. I've found that doing these scales ad nauseam has helped me for sure. I didn't really realize how much it was going to help me until I got my "Dummies" book and dove into that.

I read even the stuff I "think" I already know. I'm not stupid enough to assume anything at this point. Anyways, once I got to the part about triads a few things really started clicking and it became obvious how committing scales to muscle memory is extremely beneficial. I know it's only been one week but it was a minor breakthrough and I guess that's what anyone starting to learn bass is looking for....breakthroughs!

I'm spending much of my time on AND away from the bass now learning more about the notes and where they are. Just started trying to wrap my head around learning standard notation. I have looked at some tabs too but I'm really trying to steer myself towards notation because, in the long run, I want to be able to read music.

Anyways, so far so good. If you see anything I'm saying and wish to further guide me please do so. There are a lot of different opinions of how to go about this but I'm pretty good at filtering. In any case I think I'll be seeking out a teacher in the next week or two. :-)

[Stumbo]

Originally Posted by Chief2112

Just started trying to wrap my head around learning standard notation. .... I'm really trying to steer myself towards notation because, in the long run, I want to be able to read music.

Be patient on the sight reading. Learning the notes and the rhythmic content are a lessons in perseverance.

Here are a few links (from my >500 links in my sig below)you might want to check out:

~Newbie Sight Reading
Beginner's Bass Clef tips
"Name that note" online SN game
Downloadable read "bass clef" software
Online bass clef audio/visual trainer
print bass clef flashcards/staff paper
Intro to transcribing

~Newbie Rhythm
1 Learn rhythm
2

~Sight Reading
{url=www.studybass.com/lessons/reading-music/bass-clef-fretboard-notes/bass-clef-notes-fretboard.pdf}Note: paste web address to your search bar to Download this cool doc: clef to fretboard translation. Memorize this!
1 Learning
2
Improving
Practicing
Sight reading source material
Transcribe/read transcriptions free online

~Newbie Theory
What's "Theory"?
Intro to Theory website-easy to follow
Easy understanding of chords
Music Theory for Practical People book
Online Visual Beginning Theory, ear trainer