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Best songs for new bass player...

twinrockerz

twinrockerz

Guest
Jan 11, 2016
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48
#1
My son is getting ready to go to Rock Band camp in June. He plays electric guitar (3 yrs) and bass (only about 4 months). He will play both instruments at camp this summer and needs help picking the songs that would work for a new bass player. We want something with good riffs and drums too but not too hard for a new bassist to learn.

If you have any links or learning tools that would be super helpful also!

Thanks so much!!!
 
#5
I'm not as familiar with much of those bands' material as many on TB would be. I would think there are some good Green Day riff-based songs that would be easy enough to learn. Sorry I can't be more helpful than that!
 
#8
JMacBass65 said:
21 Guns by Green Day is something my son (drummer) plays in his B2R band, they are all 12. I haven't tried to learn it, but it's easy, I can assure you. Seven Nation Army is another one they do. Technically it was done on guitar with an octave pedal, but......
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Love the Seven Nation Army by the White Stripes....great bass that seems like it would be easy!
 
#10
I am a big fan of "Why'd you only call me when you're high?" by The Arctic Monkeys as a learning song... Cool groove, easy but with a bit of complexity as the groove erupts later in the song.

Judging by his taste in music he would probably like Rise Against as well, any of their hits are pretty easy on bass too... Nothing too mind boggling.
 
#11
Since much of his taste runs along the same lines as my daughters, I might suggest some My Chemical Romance. "I'm Not OK" is way easy. "Welcome to the Black Parade" is easy too, but more changes.

21 Pilots are not hard, but their stuff is a bit odd - playing to a lot of loops, bass and other stuff dropping out and in, quite a bit. I think they are interesting. "Stressed Out" is a cool tune with a cool laid back vibe. Easy, if he can cop that feel. Same with "Ride", drops into a reggae feel for much of it. "Tear in My Heart" was a huge song - there is bass in there I imagine, but buried in a dense mix.
 
#13
twinrockerz said:
My son is getting ready to go to Rock Band camp in June. He plays electric guitar (3 yrs) and bass (only about 4 months). He will play both instruments at camp this summer and needs help picking the songs that would work for a new bass player. We want something with good riffs and drums too but not too hard for a new bassist to learn.

If you have any links or learning tools that would be super helpful also!

Thanks so much!!!
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This one, of course.

And two more.


Some may say they're rather simple bass lines, but no one can say they're not fun.
Since he's a Green Day fan this one is a must, a bit more complex, but it isn't exactly Blue Turk.

Which he might like (very prominent bass player, Dennis Dunaway) and should learn eventually.
 
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#15
twinrockerz said:
Thanks again for the suggestion! They performed the song at the Soiled Dove recently.
Here is the link:


My son is on the red bass guitar and my other son (his twin) is on the silver drum kit both just finished 6th grade.
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Excellent! That one always works with a crowd too, as you can tell here! Looks like your boy has the Red version of my daughter's bass (her's is silver). Those are great little basses at an amazing price.
 
#19
Ironbar said:
Is it just me or is that a very odd playing style with his thumb on top of the bass like that??
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He's only he'd playing bass for 6months and he is 12. He normally plays electric guitar. He has very big hand so he hasn't figured out really what's comfortable and best for playing. He doesn't take lessons on bass just electric so far.
 
#20
twinrockerz said:
My son is getting ready to go to Rock Band camp in June. He plays electric guitar (3 yrs) and bass (only about 4 months). He will play both instruments at camp this summer and needs help picking the songs that would work for a new bass player. We want something with good riffs and drums too but not too hard for a new bassist to learn.

If you have any links or learning tools that would be super helpful also!

Thanks so much!!!
Click to expand...
"Another One Bites the Dust" is a lot of fun. Learned that in about a hour on YouTube on the same day I got the bass. But to be fair I been playing guitar for awhile now so transitioning to the bass wasn't all that hard.
 

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