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another new guy.....hello
- Thread starter rlt4life
- Start date
Hey Rick--
I started exactly that way, exactly that time. This is what I learned:
1. Be careful about youtube videos--for every good piece of information, there are two or three bad ones. Online Bass Lessons at StudyBass.com is a great place to start.
2. Pay special attention at first to technique (i.e., how to hold the instrument, how to make notes, etc.). Bass can be punishing on the hands if played wrong, and you are not starting with you person's hands. Even with proper technique, it is going to take time to build up strength and endurance int he little-used muscle the instrument requires. Rest if it hurts.
3. Tab is everywhere on the Internet. Nearly all of it is wrong to some degree, and most of it is mostly wrong.
4. Take lessons. Nothing beats a teacher who can straighten out bad habits early.
5. Take lessons. Nothing beats a teacher who can straighten out bad habits early.
6. Take lessons. Nothing beats a teacher who can straighten out bad habits early.
7. And you are going to outgrown that cheesy little Fender Rumble amp quickly.
Good luck!
The most important thing you should address is to do anything you can to clarify your point A and your point B. This is where a SKILLED instructor CAN help you.
You have to be VERY careful how you "fool around" with things just in case you need them someday. That type of busy work can do a lot more harm than good.
Things like scales, especially diatonic (often referred to as "the major scales") tend to be COUNTERPRODUCTIVE because you are shaping your ears as well as developing calluses and learning (hopefully) constructive habits. Since those scales are practically NEVER used in the music we listen to these past in the 21st and most of the 20th centrury, they will be training you to fight your ears. BAD THING!
The methods that I have seen listed here so far will only work as busy work until you know what you are REALLY trying to do. That's all ANY method really is.
Remember that learning any instrument is actually learning a LOT of simple skills that can be combined into something that can APPEAR involved if you do not know the simplest elements accurately. Do not look for that ONE thing that will do it all for you any more than you should go to the gym and just do one magic exercise.
You have to be VERY careful how you "fool around" with things just in case you need them someday. That type of busy work can do a lot more harm than good.
Things like scales, especially diatonic (often referred to as "the major scales") tend to be COUNTERPRODUCTIVE because you are shaping your ears as well as developing calluses and learning (hopefully) constructive habits. Since those scales are practically NEVER used in the music we listen to these past in the 21st and most of the 20th centrury, they will be training you to fight your ears. BAD THING!
The methods that I have seen listed here so far will only work as busy work until you know what you are REALLY trying to do. That's all ANY method really is.
Remember that learning any instrument is actually learning a LOT of simple skills that can be combined into something that can APPEAR involved if you do not know the simplest elements accurately. Do not look for that ONE thing that will do it all for you any more than you should go to the gym and just do one magic exercise.
