My index finger is definitely getting calloused up! I guess that is my most dominate finger. I'll keep plugging away!
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Beginner Bassist at 47...
- Thread starter Kimberly Munn
- Start date
I'm 61. I started playing in college. I play most weekends at churches, some of them pretty decent sized. The biggest one we get about 1000 people for the early service, maybe 800 for the second service. If I had to describe where I am, for most of the stuff I play, the notes "fall under my fingers" - meaning I practice enough that I'm not really thinking about many things when I play - muscle memory has the notes covered; I'm just thinking about how to make the groove build, and things like that. All that said, I'm still a work in progress, and yes, the more I learn, the more there is left to learn.
As to finger stretching, I have enormous hands (I have a hard time finding gloves that fit my hands). And yes, over time, my left hand has built a lot more stretch capability than my right - if I fan out my fingers on both hands, the left hand (I'm right handed, so we're talking the fretboard fingers) has a good inch more stretch from index to pinky than my right hand - that didn't come from stretching exercises, it's just from playing a lot. That came naturally with time - I never really worked on that. Even starting with that, I don't do one fret per finger low on the fretboard - I do a lot of double stops - octaves and fifths, and to do what I do, one finger per fret would slow me down. I'm really good at shifting - that capability is far more useful to me than having fingers that can stretch really far.
So, don't sweat things. Use your love of music and the instrument. Timing is indeed the most important skill for any musician - the wrong notes played in time are better then the right notes played out of time. Work on things you're not so good at until you're pretty good, then pick something else to develop. It takes years of hard work to get to the point where you appear "naturally talented" - at least for most of us. But a few months of hard work...you'll see progress.
More likely that as a beginner you are using that finger to get first and then other fingers as needed. As you progress you won't always reach with the first finger for the first note.My index finger is definitely getting calloused up! I guess that is my most dominate finger. I'll keep plugging away!
I hesitated to jump into this one, just because it's yet another thread I'll get endless notifications from and you've already got what appears to be 8 pages of support, but that hasn't ever stopped me before so why bother now?
I'm also 47 (well, will be this November) and I feel like I've just picked it up too. See, my story is a little different, but puts me in a similar spot as you. I actually started playing bass guitar back in about 1989 when me and my two best friends decided that a band would be a great way to get girls. One was a drummer and one was a guitarist so I figured "How hard can bass be? It's only 4 strings and you only play one at a time, right?" We had some fun for years and made some decent music that a small handful of people seemed to enjoy. Fast forward to about 1995-ish and I had to step away to get sober. I put my equipment away, the bass went in the case and there it sat for about 2 decades, never to be touched, or even looked at until my little brother (who was a much more successful bass player than me) passed away about 8 years ago, prompting me to open the case and reconnect with this thing the two of us had in common. But after not playing for 2 decades or so, I find myself in your shoes feeling like a brand new player at 47. Sure, you never really forget the basics having learned them way back when. But honestly, I feel just like you. I was never formally taught, just bought a bass and a couple books and learned on my own. So don't let your age deter you, you'll be fine. Plenty of people get started at our age. You'll be fine.
Myself, I'm waiting on my Christmas bonus and plan to grab a Scott's Bass Lessons membership and go from there. I'm sure my wife will cringe when she finds out, but that's the plan!
I'm also 47 (well, will be this November) and I feel like I've just picked it up too. See, my story is a little different, but puts me in a similar spot as you. I actually started playing bass guitar back in about 1989 when me and my two best friends decided that a band would be a great way to get girls. One was a drummer and one was a guitarist so I figured "How hard can bass be? It's only 4 strings and you only play one at a time, right?" We had some fun for years and made some decent music that a small handful of people seemed to enjoy. Fast forward to about 1995-ish and I had to step away to get sober. I put my equipment away, the bass went in the case and there it sat for about 2 decades, never to be touched, or even looked at until my little brother (who was a much more successful bass player than me) passed away about 8 years ago, prompting me to open the case and reconnect with this thing the two of us had in common. But after not playing for 2 decades or so, I find myself in your shoes feeling like a brand new player at 47. Sure, you never really forget the basics having learned them way back when. But honestly, I feel just like you. I was never formally taught, just bought a bass and a couple books and learned on my own. So don't let your age deter you, you'll be fine. Plenty of people get started at our age. You'll be fine.
Myself, I'm waiting on my Christmas bonus and plan to grab a Scott's Bass Lessons membership and go from there. I'm sure my wife will cringe when she finds out, but that's the plan!
I think it's awesome when you can pick up new stuff after 30, 40, 50, 60. There's plenty of people who struggle to start a new hobby at later age, especially because they think about not being good enough.
If you suck, you can always start a punk band. That's what it was invented for, to show that anyone can make music!
If you suck, you can always start a punk band. That's what it was invented for, to show that anyone can make music!
My index finger is definitely getting calloused up! I guess that is my most dominate finger. I'll keep plugging away!
I started at age 54. My teacher recommended using the Simandl method - like stand up players - you fret over 3 frets instead of 4 so you don't have to stretch your fingers / hands so much as opposed to one finger per fret. You get good at keeping your position ready for 1/5/8 - which are the intervals you will most likely play most frequently as a bassist. As a woman with small hands, I find this a much easier way to play. I also use a short scale bass for comfort. After 3 years of intensive study and practice, I can say that my technique has improved although I still have trouble with my pinky fingers staying where I want them. It just takes beaucoup time and practice. Don't be discouraged!
First up - welcome to TalkBass!
To your question, everything you’re experiencing is perfectly normal whether you’re starting out at 15 or 65. It takes time and it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. So try to view what you’re learning as chunks. Posture, fingering technique, muting, stretching while avoiding injury are all important. But they’re also very difficult to think about simultaneously when you’re just starting out.
So as you’re practicing, step through the things you’re working on in a round robin fashion if that’s helpful for you. Play a passage concentrating on your fingering. Then, once you’re fairly satisfied with that repeat the passage but shift more of your attention towards muting, etc. Then rinse and repeat. As you master things you find easiest, you’ll soon find the things you find more challenging will start falling into place.
Look at it this way - you love music and you’ve already had a great jam session. You’re already playing music - not just your bass. That’s at least 75% of the equation right there. The rest is just technical details that will come in time with practice as long as your heart is in the right place.
As far as feeling there’s so much you don’t know, all I can say is congratulations. Realizing how much there is to know is the badge of a real musician. I’ll celebrate my 50th year of playing bass next year. And I’m at the point now where I think of myself as an actual beginner. Everything that went before was getting the details out of the way so I could actually begin to learn what this thing called “bass” really is.
It’s like studying a martial art. When you first get into it you think black belt is the end point. So you diligently plug away through the various belt colors until after some years you are awarded your own black belt. At which point you now know enough to suddenly realize that far from it being the finish line, it’s actually the true beginning of your studies. You’ve gotten all the details taken care of so they’re no longer a distraction. And with all that now being second nature, you’re finally ready to really start learning what the martial art you’re studying all about.
So hang in there. If you keep at it it’ll come together.
In the meantime, welcome to the fold. You’re among friends and allies here. Glad you chose to join us.
To your question, everything you’re experiencing is perfectly normal whether you’re starting out at 15 or 65. It takes time and it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. So try to view what you’re learning as chunks. Posture, fingering technique, muting, stretching while avoiding injury are all important. But they’re also very difficult to think about simultaneously when you’re just starting out.
So as you’re practicing, step through the things you’re working on in a round robin fashion if that’s helpful for you. Play a passage concentrating on your fingering. Then, once you’re fairly satisfied with that repeat the passage but shift more of your attention towards muting, etc. Then rinse and repeat. As you master things you find easiest, you’ll soon find the things you find more challenging will start falling into place.
Look at it this way - you love music and you’ve already had a great jam session. You’re already playing music - not just your bass. That’s at least 75% of the equation right there. The rest is just technical details that will come in time with practice as long as your heart is in the right place.
As far as feeling there’s so much you don’t know, all I can say is congratulations. Realizing how much there is to know is the badge of a real musician. I’ll celebrate my 50th year of playing bass next year. And I’m at the point now where I think of myself as an actual beginner. Everything that went before was getting the details out of the way so I could actually begin to learn what this thing called “bass” really is.
It’s like studying a martial art. When you first get into it you think black belt is the end point. So you diligently plug away through the various belt colors until after some years you are awarded your own black belt. At which point you now know enough to suddenly realize that far from it being the finish line, it’s actually the true beginning of your studies. You’ve gotten all the details taken care of so they’re no longer a distraction. And with all that now being second nature, you’re finally ready to really start learning what the martial art you’re studying all about.
So hang in there. If you keep at it it’ll come together.
In the meantime, welcome to the fold. You’re among friends and allies here. Glad you chose to join us.
In my opinion, this is a really wise decision. I know a lot of people will poo poo lessons and point out stars who are entirely self-taught, and often themselves as well, as examples why lessons aren't worth it. I disagree. If you have a GOOD teacher (and that's important!), you'll almost always get much farther much faster than you would on your own. And if you're starting late in life, then why waste time hacking away on your own? Get some instruction and start down a good path right from the start!I've been taking lessons almost since day one. For me having an instructor is a must! I don't want to waste my time not learning proper technique!
Keep at it!
I have a 60+ years old student and she's having a great time with it. She has all the challenges that you've mentioned and while I think a good teacher a crucial, it's important to have realistic expectations and a good attitude about failing and trying again. It's something that as we grow older we are less and less used to be dealing with and it could become a useful mental exercise. One thing that is a real game changer in doing anything (professionally or as a hobby) is to surround yourself with people that are in a similar place or share a similar experience in music. Doesn't have to be bass, but someone who you can play with, explore stuff together, and share thoughts and concerns with.
So many great thoughts. A couple more from me:
1. One of my greatest joys in starting to play bass was the (wonderful) difference in how I listened to music. I always loved bass, and thought I was really listening to it, but my ears came alive when I started playing bass. And I started listening to more genres. (EX: Listen to China Grove by the Doobies. You've heard it a million times but have you ever heard the awesome bass line? I never had. )
2. I mentioned earlier about learning where the notes are. What I really did was just start learning certain shapes...for example when I play a (chord) root note (for example E) I learned that the same fret on the next lower string (B) sounded nice when used with E, and the note 2 frets higher on the next higher string also sounded nice (by great coincidence, also a B). So I started learning "shapes" of things that almost always sounded good together. Then later when I thought about it (applying my minimal theory knowledge) I learned WHY they sounded good together. In other words, I learned the notes by playing (experience) not by memorizing them.
Similarly when playing songs (at first esp simple country and ballads) I noticed that the (chord) changes resulted in certain 'shapes' as well. This allowed me to take some chances in practice and "guess" what fills might sound good. Sometimes they did, sometimes they didn't. The ones that sounded good often worked regardless of the song.
This is how I learned - take a guess at upcoming changes, try it, see if it sounds good, if it does figure out later why. This is how I developed my "go-to' moves.
(Forgive me if this info is too basic...)
1. One of my greatest joys in starting to play bass was the (wonderful) difference in how I listened to music. I always loved bass, and thought I was really listening to it, but my ears came alive when I started playing bass. And I started listening to more genres. (EX: Listen to China Grove by the Doobies. You've heard it a million times but have you ever heard the awesome bass line? I never had. )
2. I mentioned earlier about learning where the notes are. What I really did was just start learning certain shapes...for example when I play a (chord) root note (for example E) I learned that the same fret on the next lower string (B) sounded nice when used with E, and the note 2 frets higher on the next higher string also sounded nice (by great coincidence, also a B). So I started learning "shapes" of things that almost always sounded good together. Then later when I thought about it (applying my minimal theory knowledge) I learned WHY they sounded good together. In other words, I learned the notes by playing (experience) not by memorizing them.
Similarly when playing songs (at first esp simple country and ballads) I noticed that the (chord) changes resulted in certain 'shapes' as well. This allowed me to take some chances in practice and "guess" what fills might sound good. Sometimes they did, sometimes they didn't. The ones that sounded good often worked regardless of the song.
This is how I learned - take a guess at upcoming changes, try it, see if it sounds good, if it does figure out later why. This is how I developed my "go-to' moves.
(Forgive me if this info is too basic...)
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Club 47! Super cool that you started playing. I'm 47 as well and started just a couple years ago. I'm still terrible. I like that you're taking lessons and I really need to do that myself. BTW, is there a mirror playing tricks on me with your profile photo or are you a lefty player? I'm left handed but play instruments righty.
good luck! 
It takes years to become good at anything... The more you learn, the more you realize you don't know. That's not necessarily a bad thing though. Just know that with practice, you're improving. That's all I got.
The best lesson I've learnt in all this time, is to ignore the negative voices....
I have small fingers and Hate stretch my fingers .
So I do few things to won't have problem .
From fret 1 to 5 ,I use 3 finger per 4 fret and use mini shift .I do not stretch at all .
from 5 till 21 I use 4 finger per 4 fret .
I use small necked bass like Ibanez ,yamaha and ....
I use gary willis bass technique ,For example When I play on E i rest thumb on pickup when wanna play A string rest thumb on E string when wanna play D rest on A and ...
this way you keep the String that do not use mute easily .
Haveing low action on bass helps too .
Finally practice ,practice and practice .
Here a video of me when i was playing bass for 8 month .
Here a video of me when I was playing 36 months
Things will not happen in one night .
