As a complete beginner, I need lots of help regarding everything help

[Jay2U]

Just read http://www.talkbass.com/threads/let...misinformation.1018403/page-133#post-16649859 to find out what NOT to do. Everything else is optional.

By the way, welcome to the bass forum which entitles you to be a TalkBassist, even without having touched a bass ever. Here you'll find the most complicated questions to simple answers.

 

[Rich Terry]

You're going to be a bit overwhelmed by all this info.

A couple of things.

Talk to your uncle and ask him if he would mind if you have the bass set up properly. Most good music stores have a luthier that can set one up, about 50 bucks.

As for the headphone thing, buy a small practice amp like an Ampeg BA 110 that has a headphone jack and an input for a source, input for your phone, Ipod etc.

Recording, buy a small home studio recorder such as a Tascam DP 008 or DP 03, they work get and will teach you about recording also.

That's enough for now.

Practice a lot and don't give up. I've been playing 50 years and just got home from Thanksgiving dinner which I took my bass and my small amp and played music all afternoon. It never get old.

 

[enjoi1018]

Google "Scott's Bass Lessons". This is the absolutely best thing you can do. He has every level of lesson, keeps you in a good mood, and never makes ANYTHING stressful.

 

[monkeyfinger]

Metronome. Playing a few notes on time and with great feel will get you gigging much faster than lots of notes with no sense of rhythm. I like the mobile app called 'Time Guru'. For about $4, this time keeper does everything. It can play straight 4/4, swing, odd times, etc. But what is really cool is that is will start dropping the click over time. The idea is that you start to internalize the time.

 

[JBassDeluxe]

I don't think that I saw this mentioned, but there is an "all things slap" forum here at Tslk Bass. Here is the link:

http://www.talkbass.com/threads/the-slap-bass-welcome-center.298410/

As has been suggested, you really need to learn the basics before you jump into slapping and popping, otherwise your going to sound like a bass guitar rolling down a hill in a 55-gallon drum.

 

[Jeff Sarsippius]

You are already blessed with a bass and a music teacher uncle: he is really supportive! I'd say get your music theory and reading on point with his help: reading rhythm notation is FUN, CHALLENGING, and will make you improve because you are AWARE of what's happening in the music. Get that bass set up and get a teacher mas pronto!!