- Jul 8, 2009
- 1,612
- 11
- Disclosures
- A&R, Soulless Corporation Records
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Bass in a Year
- Thread starter Mike Saville
- Start date
The 124 method of fingering is strong evidence of the 3rd finger being the weakest. Something to keep in mind. You've deduced the pinky being the weak link because it is smaller. Could it be the third?
but we're playing music
on a musical instrument.That's like saying hit these drums in this order and you are Bozio.
For the mechanical side - scales and arpeggio exercises will take you a long way.
For learning how the bass works in different genres - learning lines by ear off recordings (and maybe transcribing them) is productive. Also, there's some good transcriptions out there on the net, although not in the same sort of numbers as the dreaded tabs. These will give you hours of fun and also help your playing no end.
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
http://www.lucaspickford.com/transbass.htm
For playing jazz over changes, this can be a fun site:
http://www.realbook.us/
That should keep you occupied for a bit.
EDIT - if you dig James Jamerson (and everybody should), "Standing in the Shadows of Motown" is an essential purchase. You'll learn a lot about bass with that book - a lot more than just how to cop a few Jamerson lines. I see from your video that you've bought the Rocco book, which is excellent. I haven't used Ed Friedland's book myself but I've heard nothing but good things about it.
For learning how the bass works in different genres - learning lines by ear off recordings (and maybe transcribing them) is productive. Also, there's some good transcriptions out there on the net, although not in the same sort of numbers as the dreaded tabs. These will give you hours of fun and also help your playing no end.
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
http://www.lucaspickford.com/transbass.htm
For playing jazz over changes, this can be a fun site:
http://www.realbook.us/
That should keep you occupied for a bit.
EDIT - if you dig James Jamerson (and everybody should), "Standing in the Shadows of Motown" is an essential purchase. You'll learn a lot about bass with that book - a lot more than just how to cop a few Jamerson lines. I see from your video that you've bought the Rocco book, which is excellent. I haven't used Ed Friedland's book myself but I've heard nothing but good things about it.
Hi, no I'm not. I don't really know how much I'm doing - some days less than that - others more. That's not how I measure my practice though. I try to get things done rather than record minutes.
I guess it would be interesting at the end at the year to know how many hours I did put in though - I might keep a secret log of time, but as I say that's not my main goal.
Hi All,
Once again thanks for the valuable input so far - it's helping a lot.
This week I'm working on some picking exercises from the Fingerstyle Funk booklet:
Ex 2 which is alternating notes - aim is to get this to 108 bpm by end of the week
Cross string picking Ex 1 & 2 aim is to get these to 124 bpm by end of the week
Cross string Ex 3&3 - aim is to get these to 108 bpm by end of week
I'm also doing some more work on major/minor scales.
Question - where on the fretboard do people play their scales? I find it much easier to play higher up the fretboard - less stretching for fingers between frets. Any issues with this.
Question - I've got the fingering for an octave. What do folks do to take it to two octaves? Currently I'm ending scales on pinky with fretting hand which kind of leaves me stuck on where to go if I want more than one actave???
Also doing some arpeggios and finding minor much easier than major.
Question - how do you guys end a major arpeggio? Both notes with pinky?
For the minors I can play the 5th and top root both with ring finger and 'flatten' it to cover frets on both strings. For major my pinky won't seem to flatten in the same way. Is this something I need to work on??
I also started the Building Walking Basslines book today. Played through the first few exercises without any issues. However I've now got to Ex's 8/9/10 which are just chord symbols and my brain is currently WAY ahead of my fingers
Aim for this book is to try an master one exercise per day. . ...
Cheers for now.
Once again thanks for the valuable input so far - it's helping a lot.
This week I'm working on some picking exercises from the Fingerstyle Funk booklet:
Ex 2 which is alternating notes - aim is to get this to 108 bpm by end of the week
Cross string picking Ex 1 & 2 aim is to get these to 124 bpm by end of the week
Cross string Ex 3&3 - aim is to get these to 108 bpm by end of week
I'm also doing some more work on major/minor scales.
Question - where on the fretboard do people play their scales? I find it much easier to play higher up the fretboard - less stretching for fingers between frets. Any issues with this.
Question - I've got the fingering for an octave. What do folks do to take it to two octaves? Currently I'm ending scales on pinky with fretting hand which kind of leaves me stuck on where to go if I want more than one actave???
Also doing some arpeggios and finding minor much easier than major.
Question - how do you guys end a major arpeggio? Both notes with pinky?
For the minors I can play the 5th and top root both with ring finger and 'flatten' it to cover frets on both strings. For major my pinky won't seem to flatten in the same way. Is this something I need to work on??
I also started the Building Walking Basslines book today. Played through the first few exercises without any issues. However I've now got to Ex's 8/9/10 which are just chord symbols and my brain is currently WAY ahead of my fingers
Aim for this book is to try an master one exercise per day. . ...
Cheers for now.
Hello Mike, great thread. Concerning your first question, read Pacman's excellent thread entitled "Pacman's sure-fire scale practice method". You already know that you need to know the entire fretboard/fingerboard. You already know that where people play scales is insignificant because you must be able to play them everywhere. Finger strength and flexibility will increase. Just work your way toward the nut gradually and your fretting hand will adjust.
I really like the fact that you are giving serious time to your plucking hand. Seldom will you find a reference to anyone doing that, and it is at least as important as practicing your fretting hand, perhaps more important.
Hi All,
Once again thanks for the valuable input so far - it's helping a lot.
Question - I've got the fingering for an octave. What do folks do to take it to two octaves? Currently I'm ending scales on pinky with fretting hand which kind of leaves me stuck on where to go if I want more than one actave???
I also started the Building Walking Basslines book today. Played through the first few exercises without any issues. However I've now got to Ex's 8/9/10 which are just chord symbols and my brain is currently WAY ahead of my fingers
Aim for this book is to try an master one exercise per day. . ...
Cheers for now.
Re: double octaves: Try starting down by the nut and incorporating the open strings. You will need to learn fingering for runs at some point, the sooner the better if you want to do double octaves.
Re: Building Walking BAsslines book: There is an excellent thread here on TB by people who are working through the book. Especially valuable are the comments made by Ed Friedland. You should take a look at it.
Dude, I commend you on the detail, time and effort you put into this. The mods should give you a sticky for this!! I'm new and this is a great "subscribed" thread for info. Thanks
Hi, This is what I kind of came up with for 2 octaves:
|--------------------------4-6-7----
|--------------------4-5-7----------
|--------------4-5-7----------------
|-------3-5-7-----------------------
|-3-5-7-----------------------------
Fingers:
--1-3-4-1-3-4-1-2-4-1-2-4-1-3-4--
OK, so it's 5 strings, and you need to stretch over 5 frets on the low strings but seem to sit under the hand ok.
Any issues with doing it this way?
|--------------------------4-6-7----
|--------------------4-5-7----------
|--------------4-5-7----------------
|-------3-5-7-----------------------
|-3-5-7-----------------------------
Fingers:
--1-3-4-1-3-4-1-2-4-1-2-4-1-3-4--
OK, so it's 5 strings, and you need to stretch over 5 frets on the low strings but seem to sit under the hand ok.
Any issues with doing it this way?
Mike:
Enjoying reading through your thread. I picked up the bass 2.5 weeks ago, had never held one in my hands. Bought a Fender Squire and 50W amp, "Bass for Dummies", and The Hal Leonard series book(s).
Knowing how to read music is a big advantage - I played clarinet from the time I was 10 years old until just about 3 years ago, so reading music is not an issue. The trick for me is learning a stringed instrument, and learning bass clef.
As of last night (only 2.5 weeks mind you), I am able to identify, read and play the first five frets worth of notes on the four strings (not fast, mind you), but it's really awesome to make "strides". Those silly exercises remind me of being a kid, but hey, you gotta start somewhere. I'm a firm believer in old school basics.
I put in 30 minutes to 1 hour every day - it's my "evening leisure activity". I am inspired by your progress here and know I can do the same if I keep at it. I believe the ROOT of success is what so many other people have said - the TIME you put in it.
Chris
Enjoying reading through your thread. I picked up the bass 2.5 weeks ago, had never held one in my hands. Bought a Fender Squire and 50W amp, "Bass for Dummies", and The Hal Leonard series book(s).
Knowing how to read music is a big advantage - I played clarinet from the time I was 10 years old until just about 3 years ago, so reading music is not an issue. The trick for me is learning a stringed instrument, and learning bass clef.
As of last night (only 2.5 weeks mind you), I am able to identify, read and play the first five frets worth of notes on the four strings (not fast, mind you), but it's really awesome to make "strides". Those silly exercises remind me of being a kid, but hey, you gotta start somewhere. I'm a firm believer in old school basics.
I put in 30 minutes to 1 hour every day - it's my "evening leisure activity". I am inspired by your progress here and know I can do the same if I keep at it. I believe the ROOT of success is what so many other people have said - the TIME you put in it.
Chris
Hey Chris, why not join in here for the ride? I'd love to hear how you're going. Might be able to support each other on the way when things get tough
We'll have to agree to disagree about this one I'm afraid. For me improvement is not down to time. It's good to hear you are putting in TIME but I'd not use that as a measure of my practice.
I never set myself a number of minutes to complete. Instead I focus on some targets for that session - when I've finished I then know I've achieved something.
Take today for example. I wanted to get up 2 metronome notches on some finger exercises, figure out some fingering for 2 octave scales, complete 2 more exercises in the Friedland book etc.
The result of this is that I now know I am better than I was this morning before I did any practice. That's much better to my mind than saying - 'I did 30mins' - much more tangible and motivating.
Anyway, keep me posted on how you're going I'd love to know
Don't believe it. That sort of hype creates mental blocks. If you've never met Jaco in person or actually played with him, then there's no reason to adopt a mental block like that. If you believe that you've got every drop of talent that Jaco had then you free your mind from the shackles of idol worship.yeah but... he was Jaco
I was in a band with a guitarist who thinks that Dave Matthews hung the moon. Because of that, we NEVER played any Dave Matthews tunes because he simply believed that he could never nail it without screwing it up. Someone else, somewhere else thinks Dave Matthews sucks and Eddie Van Halen is a god. Someone else somewhere else things Eddie Van Halen sucks and...
You see the point?
No player--especially a new student--should EVER take on the burden of idol worshipping hype about another player. Jaco didn't do anything that I can't do. You should believe that too.
Hey Chris, why not join in here for the ride? I'd love to hear how you're going. Might be able to support each other on the way when things get tough
We'll have to agree to disagree about this one I'm afraid. For me improvement is not down to time. It's good to hear you are putting in TIME but I'd not use that as a measure of my practice.
I never set myself a number of minutes to complete. Instead I focus on some targets for that session - when I've finished I then know I've achieved something.
Take today for example. I wanted to get up 2 metronome notches on some finger exercises, figure out some fingering for 2 octave scales, complete 2 more exercises in the Friedland book etc.
The result of this is that I now know I am better than I was this morning before I did any practice. That's much better to my mind than saying - 'I did 30mins' - much more tangible and motivating.
Anyway, keep me posted on how you're going I'd love to know
Mike:
Happy to hang in here and be part of it (my fingers are sore as I type this)
.To make more clear, I was only using the 30 minutes - 1 hour thing as a comment, not a hard rule. What typically happens is, after the kid goes to bed, I look at the wife and say "going upstairs", which means it's time to play. I don't watch the clock, I just play until I'm ready to quit, before bed. Most of the time it's a hour, but again, I don't time myself. Last night I was able to do far more than the day before, which I consider success; what I am doing is so very rudimentary for most, "baby steps" as it were, but hey, you gotta walk before you can run. I'll add as I feel comfortable. Having a book with lessons is an awesome accompaniment - it gives clear goals to reach and then look beyond.
...and I actually started fingering the notes to "Red Barchetta" sheet music last night, whereas days before I couldn't do a thing with it. That's progress!
Be keeping up with you here, thanks.
Chris
Mike, if you are new to bass, why have you been a member of Talkbass.com for a year and a half? Just curious.
Before I ever owned a bass guitar I went and bought "The Complete Idiot's Guide to Playing Bass Guitar" by David Hodge.
Since I didn't have a bass to play I just started practicing the major scale on my brother's guitar. I also did a lot of scale practice on paper and in my head. I got a pretty solid understanding of theory this way. I didn't understand chords and keys too well yet at that point, but I pretty much had the major scale down.
That all started in August of 2008.
In January of 09 I went to one of the music shops in the area and looked at the basses they had. I was into Dragonforce at the time, so I was all about the Ibanez. I also wanted to get a 5 string because I wanted to play heavy metal and stuff. So I put an Ibanez SR405 bass on layaway (I freakin love layaway).
By March I had the bass paid off and I brought it home. At first playing on it was quite awkward, the frets were WAY farther apart than on a guitar. The first thing I did was practice scales. Also, a friend of mine taught me a pretty simple chord progression: F, G, A#, C (which happen to be on frets 1 and 3 on the top two strings, so it was pretty easy). I have actually played this progression so many times that I can tell when someone goes from an A# to a C in any song now.
One big epiphany I had was when I realized that if I see a chord on a chord chart, I can just play the root. As soon as I realized that I was able to play around 5 songs right off the bat. I read some tabs to figure out some other songs and had the bassist at my church show me the right way to do it (tabs are rarely accurate).
So I practiced that bass line to the point that I could play it up to tempo. The rest is pretty much history.
At this point I've still got a loooong way to go when it comes to technical ability, but the area I want to focus on most is improvisation and creating my own bass lines.
Good luck to you guys that are in your early stages, you're not far behind me
Since I didn't have a bass to play I just started practicing the major scale on my brother's guitar. I also did a lot of scale practice on paper and in my head. I got a pretty solid understanding of theory this way. I didn't understand chords and keys too well yet at that point, but I pretty much had the major scale down.
That all started in August of 2008.
In January of 09 I went to one of the music shops in the area and looked at the basses they had. I was into Dragonforce at the time, so I was all about the Ibanez. I also wanted to get a 5 string because I wanted to play heavy metal and stuff. So I put an Ibanez SR405 bass on layaway (I freakin love layaway).
By March I had the bass paid off and I brought it home. At first playing on it was quite awkward, the frets were WAY farther apart than on a guitar. The first thing I did was practice scales. Also, a friend of mine taught me a pretty simple chord progression: F, G, A#, C (which happen to be on frets 1 and 3 on the top two strings, so it was pretty easy). I have actually played this progression so many times that I can tell when someone goes from an A# to a C in any song now.
One big epiphany I had was when I realized that if I see a chord on a chord chart, I can just play the root. As soon as I realized that I was able to play around 5 songs right off the bat. I read some tabs to figure out some other songs and had the bassist at my church show me the right way to do it (tabs are rarely accurate).
So I practiced that bass line to the point that I could play it up to tempo. The rest is pretty much history.
At this point I've still got a loooong way to go when it comes to technical ability, but the area I want to focus on most is improvisation and creating my own bass lines.
Good luck to you guys that are in your early stages, you're not far behind me
A number of reasons really.
Firstly to keep up with what other groups/instruments/people are saying discussing about music practice - it's a pet topic of mine as you might have gathered. You'll find me on many instrument forums
Secondly one of my other interests (when I get time) is woodwork. I spent an awful lot of time when I joined TB on the luthiers forum looking at some of the fantastic things other members were making and wondering if I could do something like that.
Lastly I've been toying with the idea of learning a new instrument for a while - so you'll see me registered on some of the guitar and other instrument forums for similar reasons. I came down on the bass a little while back and got some gear - not until the last few weeks though that I've really go into it.
I'm looking ahead to what I'm going to do next week. The scales/exercises/Friedland will all continue but I think I might have a go at some real music.
Any suggestions for something soul/jazz/pop that's not too hard??
Any suggestions for something soul/jazz/pop that's not too hard??
