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branddddddddd new bassist. eek.

I

iDylan

Jun 27, 2008
92
0
dallas texas
www.myspace.com
Disclosures
Endorsing Artist: Fender Basses
#1
hey guys, this is definitely my first post here. i've played drums my whole life, and i've played guitar for like 9 years as well. we're having member issues in my band and so we're switching some things around, which includes me switching from drums/vocals to bass/vocals so i can sing more.

so i haven't even played one single show on bass yet and it looks like my first one will be the first show of our tour in august, haha.

just wondering if you guys had any advice for brand new bass players. i don't really have any problem playing the parts or anything since i have background in guitar, but there's lots of bass technique and such that i don't know anything about.

if you wanted to see the band i play in it's Link Removed

thanks guys!
 
#10
thanks for the replies! as far as locking in with the drums goes, that's the first thing i knew to do, coming from playing drums to this.

i was planning on playing mostly just root notes until i figure out what the crap i'm doing, but i've been practicing playing a few 2-note chords in places where i know the guitar player will be playing lead, since we're a 3 peice. so that should help it sound fuller.

the main thing i have a problem with is (i play with a pick) trying to just strum one string at a time, because i'm used to guitar where you can strum all the strings and just mute the ones you're not playing.

as far as setup goes, i just bought a fender mustang (the reissue) off ebay, and our guitar player owns an ampeq SVT-3 head and ampeq 8x10 cab, so i'm lucky to be able to use that stuff until i get something of my own.
 
#12
i've been practicing fingerstyle a little bit here and there, but i'm focusing on pick for now, if for no other reason then i think it'll fit in better with our style. BUT i'm not going to ignore fingerstyle or anything like that, i just don't want to learn it right now. i'm just trying to learn what i have to so i don't look like a total goob when we tour this august.
 
#13
tdmorley said:
1. Keep it simple
2. Lock in with the drums
Click to expand...

+1

(+1 means "I agree.") :D

Welcome to talkbass. It's a little noisy here at the moment. Click!
Click! Click! ...AH, that's much better...
Now, I would add these to what tdmorely wisely said:

Get a teacher
Figure out lots of songs by ear (start simple)
Play along with other musicians, recordings, radio, etc.
Go see/hear other bass players
Learn finger-style and slap!

BTW, after the Colleges, High Schools, and Middle Schools let out, it
gets noisy around here for a while. IMHO, it is important to know how
to ignore some of the noise. Here is how:

If you click on the link giving an irritating poster's name in the upper left of a post,
and then find the link that says something like "Add Jim Carr to Your Ignore List,"
click it then click save, you will then no longer see the test of posts by Jim Carr. I
use my own name only as an example. :p

Many of us have very very very long ignore lists. :D
 
#15
Well, I suppose it's my turn to offer some decent advise.

You've got a great amp setup that should cover all your needs.
You've got a decent bass to play with, and it's short scale if I understand correctly so it's not a huge jump from guitar.

When I started playing, I wanted to play with a pick too. But give fingerstyle a chance, like others have said, once you get it down it is TONS more versatile then the trebbly bite a pick gives. IMO.

Although, if you're dead set on playing with a pick, you're gonna have to start pretty fresh because it's a different technique then playing guitar, like you said. But the next time you play with your band, practice, etc. see how finger style fits in.

Sorry, I'm an advocate for fingerstyle playing ;)

As far as fitting into a song, I really like basslines that don't just mimic the guitar playing. You're experienced enough, I think, to know what does sound good and what doesn't, so I'm not gonna lecture you there. But many times the common misconception is that bass players need only follow their lead(er). Unfortunately, I find this bland.

Especially since you're a trio, and I haven't listened to your myspace yet, but I'd suggest paying attention to Rush and how Geddy Lee writes lines that aren't guitar driven. It makes for a much more interesting sound. IMO.

That's about all, so I'm gonna eat my Taco Bell now. I shouldn't, but I'm hungry.


EDIT:

iDylan said:
thanks for the kind words, and for the suggestions!

after the first couple of replies i wondered whether or not signing up was a good idea after all but i'm glad you guys aren't as elitist as i feared you might be!
Click to expand...

Of course we're not, we don't play guitar :D
 
#16
if you're touring soon, by all means master the pick to work for you to get things done. i've been playing almost 30 years, I remember starting out using my fingers, but they hurt and I got frustrated that they didn't do what I wanted them to do (within first year of playing). I played with a pick for about a year, and then realized I couldn't do everything I wanted to with a pick. And then I restarted playing with my fingers. I remember it taking a while (years) before I had permanent callouses and didn't have to think about my finger usage,
best of luck to you,
 
#17
thanks canadaman and rrr_o_bbb, you guys had some great suggestions. i guess it's all in the ear of the beholder, but the "trebbly bite" that the pick gives, in my opinion really helps cut through the guitar and drum noise and helps a 3 peice not sound so empty, especially when the guitarist has to do more than just play the chords.

but, of course, that's all opinion. i got the mustang because i read that it has a really punchy tone that'll cut through pretty well, and cause it's small and so am i. =P
 
#18
rrr_o_bbb, really? I found I was FAARRRR more comfortable using my fingers from the get go. Different strokes, I guess.

iPod; Try boosting your mids, high mids and see if you can't cut through really well. The counter-acting basslines work great for fullness, again, have a good hard listen to Rush and see what they're doing.

Nothing wrong with a Mustang bass, it's what you play, not what you're playing, that really makes music.
 
#19
thanks! i really want to get started working on a tone i like, but the svt3 is in the shop right now because it smoked out the other day at practice. as soon as it gets back i'll have a go at it. if i'm not mistaken it doesn't have knobs for mid or high mids or anything, it just has a graphic EQ, any suggestions on how to set that up to achieve the same kind of tone that will cut through and be punchy without losing too much of the actual good bassy tone?

the only time i set it up, i just put it in a V formation because i have no experience with amps and had NO idea what i was doing. =/
 
#20
Common sense would say Mids = Middle frequencies, so what you've done is cut the mids out instead. I'm not big on the mid-rich sound, so I'll leave that to someone else, as I prefer the trebly clunk a la Tool.

BASS......MIDS.......TREBLE
| . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . |
| . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . |
| . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . |

That's essentially how your graphic EQ works.
 

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