just joined talkbass... looking for advice! :)

[daytripper]

Hi! im totally new to the website (not too sure where this post should go..) and im totally new to bass!
so here's my story -
i really want to learn bass but im totally clueless! i bought an Ibanez starter pack with the idea of buying a bass (and amp etc) which is cheap, but also good enough for me to learn on!

So now im sat here with my bass and absolutely no idea where to start! i have started trying to learn a few songs such as lovecats by the cure, and although i seem to be getting a little better.... i still suck! im sure you all remember how hard it is as a beginner, not knowing where to start! i am picking up tabs ok (many people said learn sheet music but at the moment its simply too hard!) ... so does anyone know where i should go from here?

know any decent websites/dvds i can look at that will teach me how to play bass through using tabs?
- at the moment i am simply memorising what i can in the hope that it'll stick, but i still know absolutely nothing! ... and you guys all seem wayyyyy more experienced!

so thanks, ALL help is welcome!!

- daytripper -

[bassteban]

Firstly, welcome to TB.
As to your request, I did exactly what you're doing, albeit 30-odd years ago, & playing along w/records(like I said, 30 years ago ). I will strongly suggest that you DO find something else; although I quickly picked it up & could play w/others, I never did much in the way of learning any theory or basic musical terminology. The result is that I can 'fake it' but can't really communicate w/formally-trained musicians.
The only specific material I have any experience with is Norm Stockton's DVD series(Grooving for heaven). He injects a tiny bit of his Christian beleifs, which I could see as off-putting to some; IMO it's not too heavy, but I am Christian myself so perhaps I'm biased.

[René_Julien]

Welcome to the lowend daytripper.
(And welcome to TalkBass.)

Beginning bass guitar is different for everybody and you can approach it in different ways.

I assume you have no musical experience whatsoever at this point. (You didn't mention any previous instrument in your post.)

There is no problem with using tablature.
Before bass I played clarinet and could read sheet music. But I never could sight read very well, I had a good memory for melody and big musical pieces that helped me.
When beginning bass I used tablature, nothing wrong with that.
Don't make it to hard, make it comfortable for you to learn.

But reading tablature counts for nothing if you don't know any basic music theory.

Start with learning scales, different keys and modes.
Then progress to time signatures and paces, rythm and groove is important for a bassist.
Then study how chords (arpeggios) are build and how you can apply them.
Take it easy on technique, start with plain fingerstyle (or even pick if you think that's your thing) and learn stuff like slapping, tapping, fingerpicking, etcetera... and where to pluck the strings afterwards.
Although learning to eliminate fretbuzz is the first thing you should tackle.
And practice your fingers: force and flexibility.

First focus on getting the notes right and finetune your sense of rythm.
You can pick up a metronome for cheap, I advice this.

Learn where every note is on your fretboard. Do not memorize this mindlessly but try to understand how the structure.

All this music theory should not get in the way of the fun. But I advice to spend some time on it.
For example: an hour of studying and practicing theory followed by an hour of practicing songs you'd like to learn.

You can also find some good practice books for bass guitar.
From complete beginner to certain genres to certain techniques.
See what aplies to you and what genre you want to play. (Or be good at any genre if you're going for that.)


As a beginner try to hang out a lot in the General Instruction and Technique forum here on TalkBass.

And stay away from the Basses, Effects and Amps forum.
GAS (Gear Aquisition Syndrome) will get in the way of progress to often.


Again, welcome, and enjoy your new hobby.
Succes.


greetz

[SteveC]

Get the Hal Leonard book.

http://www.amazon.com/Leonard-Bass-M...gy_cc_b_text_a

Take some lessons.

[Bluesy Soul]

Originally Posted by C'thulhu

...I assume you have no musical experience whatsoever at this point. (You didn't mention any previous instrument in your post.)

...There is no problem with using tablature...[b]ut reading tablature counts for nothing if you don't know any basic music theory.

...Start with learning scales, different keys and modes.
Then progress to time signatures and paces, rythm and groove is important for a bassist.
Then study how chords (arpeggios) are build and how you can apply them.
Take it easy on technique, start with plain fingerstyle (or even pick if you think that's your thing) and learn stuff like slapping, tapping, fingerpicking, etcetera... and where to pluck the strings afterwards.
Although learning to eliminate fretbuzz is the first thing you should tackle.
And practice your fingers: force and flexibility.

First focus on getting the notes right and finetune your sense of rythm.
You can pick up a metronome for cheap, I advice this.

Learn where every note is on your fretboard. Do not memorize this mindlessly but try to understand how the structure.

All this music theory should not get in the way of the fun. But I advice to spend some time on it...

greetz

++++1 !

I can't underscore the emphasis on basic music theory enough. For weekend warriors, I think basic theory is more important than sight reading (though depending on your goals, aptitude, etc., I'd encourage you to also learn sight reading).

An understanding of theory allows you to analyze and create, rather than just copy. It's the difference between memorizing a generic question in a foreign language and then wondering what the hell the answer meant, or formulating a specific question and understanding the answer--whatever it may be.

Does it take some discipline and slogging--yes. Is it worth while to spend the time and energy--absolutley, IMHO.

Good luck to you.

Bluesy Soul

[standupright]

www.studybass.com

[Falkner]

Originally Posted by SteveC

Get the Hal Leonard book.

http://www.amazon.com/Leonard-Bass-M...gy_cc_b_text_a

Take some lessons.

Big +1 to both of those. Taking even just a few lessons can be such a big help with technique.

[Matt Till]

C'thulhu covered everything that really needed to be said: Learning covers is awesome, it gives you some insight on your favorite players/songs and it's fun. But as you are doing that, try to take in some music theory as well. In a rock setting, modal theory is pretty key to coming up with interesting bass lines.

Also, Youtube has SOME good bass instructors (others are just showing off and calling it a lesson, or have no right teaching anyone anything), look around on there a bit. Try to develop good technique early on, bass technique can lead to eventual arthritis, you are hitting some heavy strings. I wail on the strings pretty hard out of habit, it's hard to break bad habits.

If you can find/afford a real teacher, do that. No doubt about it, having someone physically show you how to do things is better than anything.

Good luck.

[Atoz]

You could always forget about practicing and just hang out in OT all day.

[René_Julien]

Originally Posted by Matt Till

C'thulhu covered everything that really needed to be said:

Thank you, but I forgot to include an important piece of advice that you and some others brought up:

Originally Posted by Matt Till

If you can find/afford a real teacher, do that. No doubt about it, having someone physically show you how to do things is better than anything.

I agree on this.
Find a (real-life) bass teacher.
It helped me a lot in my early days to have 2 bass teachers.
One was a guy with dozens of years of experience (learned me "funk" fingerstyle playing) and the other was a professional (learned me fretless and slap). That was a big leg up.

You can learn a lot more from an experienced bassist sitting across from you, and interacting in real life.

[EricF]

Learning as much as you possibly can on your own is great (great advice already given above), but NOTHING beats the learning efficiency of working one-on-one with a good teacher. I spent many, many years playing the guitar before finding my way home to the bass. Although I had an understanding of music, and where to find notes on the fretboard, the physical and mental differences from the guitar make it whole different world. Spending some time working with a teacher accelerated my learning curve dramatically and I'm now a much better bass player than I ever was a guitar player.

Also, spend as much time as you possibly can the the bass in your hands and getting comfortable with how to control the instrument and the sounds it makes. Playing the bass well is about timing and touch as much as it is the actual note itself.

[Darkstrike]

No matter what, make sure you enjoy it, if ya ge fustrated, stop for a while and take a breather.