Learning Rock Bass

[DoMiNiCaNPr1nCe]

Hey guys i just got a 4 string bass and an amp because i wanna learn how to play bass for rock music like alternative, punk , metal, etc. Im having trouble though... i can't really hear the bass in most rock songs, like i cant figure out what hes doing. Is there anyway you can help me out? Would be greatly appreciated.

[TheDarkReaver]

generally you just play the roots of what the guitar is playing.

get some tabs as well, might help too.

[VanillaO]

tabs are helpful, but if you learned how to do everything via ear, that'd be pretty sweet and helpful down the road... realistically just start out on tabs and work the ear later... i guess.

[Matthew Bryson]

Welcome to Talkbass, and to the wonderful world of bass playing. IMO, as you develop as a player your ears will change too. You'll listen to music differently, but not in a bad way, just differently. You won't be able to stop yourself from listening to the bass in everything you listen to. While it's hard for you to hear the bass now, it will get easier. Make sure that you are listening to things through some decent speakers or try using headphones. Also, in most cases, turning up the "bass" knob on the stereo does NOT make the bass guitar stand out any more.

With all of that said, I think that the obvious answer is to start out working on bass lines that have a very prominent but not necessarily difficult bass part. Something that you can't help but hear. One good example is Money by Pink Floyd. If you can't hear the bass in that one, you are probably deaf.

Another bit of advise for you - Get a teacher. A lot of young players just starting out seem to have some sort of misguided desire to NOT get a teacher. I'm not sure why. I think that the dream is to be the next great rock star and have people be able to say "and he never took a lesson". The whole concept is garbage. I've found that people who are successful take lessons. Even the top pros do. It's the best thing that you can do as a young player - find a good teacher.

[mike phillips]

teachers are a good thing. how good you ask? randy rhodes would look in the phone book for g*it^r teachers in the many towns he would tour. i know randy isnt a bassist but for someone with as much misical knowledge as he to go see a teacher it says alot.

[VanillaO]

I didn't even think to give examples... Red Hot Chili Peppers music.. a lot of their newer stuff (which isnt' slap, yo'ull probably find that hard) the bass stands out pretty well... Avoid a large number of metal bands at first because a lot of metal bass players (and punk and rock too) just play roots, and you may not be able to hear it.. At least that was how I was 3 years ago.

[vindy500]

if youre using media player boosting around 125hz helps me hear the bass more.

[DoMiNiCaNPr1nCe]

hey where can i get tabs from?

[vindy500]

google, "song name" bass tabs,

[DoMiNiCaNPr1nCe]

man, i dont know how to read music :/

[Marcus]

Then tabs are right for you ^_^

Try Ultimate Guitar and just search for songs you wish to learn. Chances are, they'll pop up.

Like others suggested, if you have the opportunity to receive lessons you should! They really go a long way in developing good technique.

Good luck, we all know what its like to start out!

[vindy500]

if by music you mean tab like this

G|-------------------------------------------------------------------|
D|-------------------------------------------------------------------|
A|--FADE IN-------------7-------------------7----9-10---------------7|
E|----(7)-----8----10-------7----8----10----------------7--8--10-----|

G|-------------------------------------------------|--------------|
D|-------------------------------------------------|--------------|
A|--------------------7\-----1-----2-333-----------|-GUITARS ONLY-|
E|----7----8----10-------------2-3-------1-0----0--|--------------|

G|---------------------------|
D|---------------------------|
A|---------------------------|
E|333333-0--22-333333-0--22--|

[Main Riff 1]
G|-------------------------------------------------------------|
D|--------------------------8----------------------------------|
A|-----7---7---787----7---7---7---7---7---787---1------2-333---|
E|--0---0---0------0---0---0----0----0--0----------2-3-------1-|

G|-------------------------------------------------------------|
D|--------------------------8----------------------------------|
A|-----7---7---787----7---7---7---7---7---787---1------2-333---|
E|--0---0---0------0---0---0----0----0--0----------2-3-------1-|

G|-------------------------------------------------------------|
D|--------------------------8----------------------------------|
A|-----7---7---787----7---7---7---7---7---787---1------2-333---|
E|--0---0---0------0---0---0----0----0--0----------2-3-------1-|

G|-------------------------------------------------------------|
D|--------------------------8----------------------------------|
A|-----7---7---787----7---7---7---7---7---787---1------2-333---|
E|--0---0---0------0---0---0----0----0--0----------2-3-------1-|


well basically one word of advice.



Learn.

[DoMiNiCaNPr1nCe]

uhh okay

[fryBASS]

www.studybass.com is a pretty good site for beginners

[duo8675309]

I had trouble with that too. To put it extremely simply, listen to the rhythm guitar, if you're playing rock. Basically you're mirroring what he's playing. Here's my advice. Go buy the American Idiot album. Or download it. Whether you like Green Day or not. All you need is one song. The first track is called Jesus of Suburbia. It's 9 minutes long, and just about every technique that you will use as a rock/punk rock bassist is in that song. Thats what I did. At first it was kind of hard, since you have to know how to right-hand mute, and you almost have to learn to use your pinky in some parts. Another great beginner song is Smells Like Teen Spirit by Nirvana.

[invader3k]

I taught myself...in retrospect I wish I had taken lessons, but I learned how to groove and play "in the pocket." I also practiced to the "RamonesMania" album a lot...because I loved the Ramones, but also you learn how to play the root notes and play fast...which is generally important in a lot of rock music (especially punk).