Weird story, but I decided to learn the bass because I KILL playing bass on Rockband. Before you scoff, let me assure you that I KNOW it is NOT THE SAME...my husband has been playing and collecting guitars for years, has a weekend band, and I actually played baritone horn back in school, so I realise that flipping a lever and punching buttons is a little different than playing a stringed instrument.
But, I love music, and I have, unfortunately, suffered rather severe hearing loss requiring surgery and hearing aids, and I don't "have" much of the higher frequencies, but it turns out I CAN STILL HEAR THE BASS LINE. If we had not bought a PS3 and Rockband, and since my husband claimed the lead guitar, and our daughter sings, I was assigned the bass, and was amazed that it "worked" for me, despite my hearing issues. I don't think I would ever have realized my affinity for the low, if not for PS3/Rockband.
So, after much discussion with the spouse, and, surprisingly, with his encouragement, I have decided to JUST DO IT. In fact, I have a bid right now on a Warwick Corvette Swamp Ash Std. and, if I'm lucky, may actually own it in a few hours...if not, then maybe an Ibanez SR500. I'm 5'-10" so I don't think I need a particulary small bass. The amp will be a SWR Workingman's 10 Combo. I am blessed that DH knows his gear (okay, he's a snob) and insisted that I get good stuff to start.
In discussing how to learn to play, it has been very interesting to realize how different I am from my husband. He has absolute pitch and plays only by ear, never ever using tab or sheet music, which, in fact, he does not understand at all, and at 56, isn't about to learn.
I, OTOH, learned music theory as a girl, fortunately played an instrument that resided in the BASS CLEFT and have been reading ELECTRIC BASS course books for the last month while waiting for the right instrument to come my way. I'm pretty sure I have the note locations on the fretboard in my head already as I have been "practicing" on the GDAE strings of one of my husband's lesser guitars - toughning up my left-hand fingers and practicing rythym by strumming with alternating index and middle fingers to a metronome. I am itching to actually start.
This board is wonderful, and I have been reading threads on topics such as "how to learn," looking for advise on which strap to buy (there are significant "girl" issues, of course - but have not found an "answer" to that!) and we studied the reviews carefully before making our short-list for bass and amp.
So, as it usually is when one finds a new interest, it is wonderful to find a source of like-minded enthusiasts. I look forward to learning from your experience and sharing your love of the bass.
But, I love music, and I have, unfortunately, suffered rather severe hearing loss requiring surgery and hearing aids, and I don't "have" much of the higher frequencies, but it turns out I CAN STILL HEAR THE BASS LINE. If we had not bought a PS3 and Rockband, and since my husband claimed the lead guitar, and our daughter sings, I was assigned the bass, and was amazed that it "worked" for me, despite my hearing issues. I don't think I would ever have realized my affinity for the low, if not for PS3/Rockband.
So, after much discussion with the spouse, and, surprisingly, with his encouragement, I have decided to JUST DO IT. In fact, I have a bid right now on a Warwick Corvette Swamp Ash Std. and, if I'm lucky, may actually own it in a few hours...if not, then maybe an Ibanez SR500. I'm 5'-10" so I don't think I need a particulary small bass. The amp will be a SWR Workingman's 10 Combo. I am blessed that DH knows his gear (okay, he's a snob) and insisted that I get good stuff to start.
In discussing how to learn to play, it has been very interesting to realize how different I am from my husband. He has absolute pitch and plays only by ear, never ever using tab or sheet music, which, in fact, he does not understand at all, and at 56, isn't about to learn.
I, OTOH, learned music theory as a girl, fortunately played an instrument that resided in the BASS CLEFT and have been reading ELECTRIC BASS course books for the last month while waiting for the right instrument to come my way. I'm pretty sure I have the note locations on the fretboard in my head already as I have been "practicing" on the GDAE strings of one of my husband's lesser guitars - toughning up my left-hand fingers and practicing rythym by strumming with alternating index and middle fingers to a metronome. I am itching to actually start.
This board is wonderful, and I have been reading threads on topics such as "how to learn," looking for advise on which strap to buy (there are significant "girl" issues, of course - but have not found an "answer" to that!) and we studied the reviews carefully before making our short-list for bass and amp.
So, as it usually is when one finds a new interest, it is wonderful to find a source of like-minded enthusiasts. I look forward to learning from your experience and sharing your love of the bass.
) And you're certainly right about the mixed scrambles. I'll bet you give yourself and your partner a lot of wedges on par fours and eagle putts on par fives. 
