I asked my uncle to help me out with learning bass. So I go over to his house to learn and they ..my cousins also..who have been playing for 2o yrs...and they just start playing songs and expect me to follow along jumping from one song to the next. So I just feel so lost I just loose interest in playing with them that I put my bass down and look for the next opertunity to leave.
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do they expect to much or am i just dumb.
- Thread starter helterschecter
- Start date
Doesn't sound like anyone's actually teaching you, at least not the way you learn. It's possible that they were able to become competent by noodling around and learning songs by ear. I'd find someone else to give you lessons.
Lot of people can play very few can teach.
Let us know a little about where you are now and what you want to learn. There is a lot of help on this forum.
How long have you been playing bass?
What can you do now?
What type of music will you be playing?
What would you like to know first?
You're definitely not dumb. I've had this happen to me as well, and I look like a deer in headlights fumbling around when someone expects me to just follow along what they're playing. Not a suitable way for me to learn.
I suggest you find someone else to "teach" you. And use these guys as jam partners when you get some songs down
I suggest you find someone else to "teach" you. And use these guys as jam partners when you get some songs down
Actually, this is kinda the way I learned to play, jamming with my guitar player friend, but he at least took the time to stop and explain stuff to me if he saw I was having trouble.
These guys aren't teaching, they're just jamming. Find yourself a proper teacher.
These guys aren't teaching, they're just jamming. Find yourself a proper teacher.
can you remember the songs they were playing?? .. if I go into an environment like that, I like to take a note pad and jott down song names, keys, and any special tidbit of interest real quick ... then go home and spend some time getting the chords, and any other useful info you can find on those songs, then transpose if needed to their key .. then give them a shout to ask when you can go back and do it again, pedal roots if needed, then expand if you are able ... you will be surprised how quickly you can adapt with a little bit of knowledge and some time beforehand with the material they are doing ... try not to get frustrated and enjoy your small progresses rather than being hard on yourself .... you are learning more than you think in an environment like that with a little proactive homework on your part ... thats probably how they started and dont know any different ... by all means take lessons if you can afford, and have someone available that works for you, but dont dismiss the 'real world' experience of the session you just had ... JMHO
Jamming - no sheet music. Some one will call out the key; "Next one is Kiss Ole Kate in G, ready 1 & 2 &..." Use your fingers and the alphabet to find the I - IV - V chords in that key. Yes, it's not rocket science.
The I IV V chords will be a friend. Why? To get harmonization the melody line and the chord line should share like notes when they do you have harmonization and both lines sound good with each other. The I IV V chords will have in their make up every note in the I tonic's scale. So..... those three chords will sooner or later harmonize the melody. Yep, one like note (roots) gets harmonization, two like notes (R-5) is a little better. Three like notes are not really necessary, the root and the five have given you what you need more is just gravy. So, ....... while the melody is using primarily notes from the I chord we use the I chord for our bass line. When the melody moves on to notes not found in the I chord we will need to change to a chord that has some of the new melody notes in it. Good news - you have a 50% chance of hitting that new chord and if you missed it you have a 100% chance that the other chord is going to work. Wish someone would have told me that years ago it explains how music thinks.
Assume the verse will start with the I chord, move to the IV chord near the end of the first line of the verse. Continue on into the second line and then near the end of the second line the progression will move to the V chord and quickly resolve back to the I tonic chord to end the second line. The next two lines of the verse will repeat this same progression. Is it like this on every song? No, but, you will be close and in jamming it's like horse shoes and grenades - close is good enough. If you are jamming, with no sheet music, assume the above and trust your ear.
Assume what chords will be used then watch the rhythm guitar's hands and change chords when he does. After awhile you will recognize his fingering and know what specific chord he is going to. More good news - in a year or so your ear will tell you which of those three chords to use.
Remember all you need are three chords and just root notes of those three chords will let you jamm with anybody.
Go have fun.
Key of C = C F G
Key of G = G C D
Key of D = D G A
Key of A = A D E
For the other keys - use your fingers (thumb, ring and pinky) and the alphabet.
The I IV V chords will be a friend. Why? To get harmonization the melody line and the chord line should share like notes when they do you have harmonization and both lines sound good with each other. The I IV V chords will have in their make up every note in the I tonic's scale. So..... those three chords will sooner or later harmonize the melody. Yep, one like note (roots) gets harmonization, two like notes (R-5) is a little better. Three like notes are not really necessary, the root and the five have given you what you need more is just gravy. So, ....... while the melody is using primarily notes from the I chord we use the I chord for our bass line. When the melody moves on to notes not found in the I chord we will need to change to a chord that has some of the new melody notes in it. Good news - you have a 50% chance of hitting that new chord and if you missed it you have a 100% chance that the other chord is going to work. Wish someone would have told me that years ago it explains how music thinks.
Assume the verse will start with the I chord, move to the IV chord near the end of the first line of the verse. Continue on into the second line and then near the end of the second line the progression will move to the V chord and quickly resolve back to the I tonic chord to end the second line. The next two lines of the verse will repeat this same progression. Is it like this on every song? No, but, you will be close and in jamming it's like horse shoes and grenades - close is good enough. If you are jamming, with no sheet music, assume the above and trust your ear.
Assume what chords will be used then watch the rhythm guitar's hands and change chords when he does. After awhile you will recognize his fingering and know what specific chord he is going to. More good news - in a year or so your ear will tell you which of those three chords to use.
Remember all you need are three chords and just root notes of those three chords will let you jamm with anybody.
Go have fun.
Key of C = C F G
Key of G = G C D
Key of D = D G A
Key of A = A D E
For the other keys - use your fingers (thumb, ring and pinky) and the alphabet.
I bought an inexpensive ukelele to introduce my 3 yr old grandson to string instruments. Though he treats it like a toy, he has learned to strum with his right hand & is taking an interest in changing string pitch with his left hand
Several weeks ago I played a benefit for the local Artist's Open Studios. My wife brought the grandson & ukelele. After some coaxing, I lowered my music stand, pointed to the chart, turned to my grandson & said; "Do the best you can. It will be OK." He played, rocking back & forth on 2 feet & had a good time playing "Days of Wine & Roses".
I think the only mistake you've made with your family is trying to live up to your expectations. Arrange a next time, do the best you can & it will be OK. Maybe they just need to see what you can do to start helping out?
I strongly encourge you to try again.
This is the way most greats learned to play - they were thrown into the deep end and it was then sink or swim. You just have a short attention span. Keep with it, even if you have no idea whats going on. That's how you learn.
I can understand this - most older players learned by listening and being around music, i.e. they did not have the DVD, Video, Internet, etc. It was watch how their Dad's did it and then they went off and tried it on their own. Just exactly like your experience.
The older generation teach in the same way they were taught. You have the advantage of the Internet. So -- don't let this experience stop you - get busy.
FYI: You're very fortunate to have a family that plays music together. Look at it as a benefit instead of an obstacle. Keep at it and one day you'll play as good or better than they do.
P.S. They didn't have TalkBass to help them out yet they learned. You can too!
P.S. They didn't have TalkBass to help them out yet they learned. You can too!
