"Experienced" Bass Player looking to become a musician

I would suggest to go to Anthony Wellingtons thread in the ask a pro. Anthony is a top notch teacher and is a really nice guy. Also check out his web site http://www.bassology.net/

He does lessons via Skype and one lesson with him will have you busy for a long time .

Good luck.
John

 

Sounds like we are about in the same boat, however, finally after years of trying, I think I've cracked the theory nut; the basics at least. It was Edlys' book that got me over the hump -

http://www.amazon.com/Edlys-Music-Theory-Practical-People/dp/0966161661

I would explore some of the free, online resources before plucking down any money. It seems to me that there are some good sites out there.

Tell me, can you play a Major scale on the bass? If so, in my mind, most of what you need to know is right there. You just have to crack the code.

 

Are you dissatisfied with the music you are playing? Assuming you can get your playing to the level you have in mind, what do you plan to do with it? What music would you like to play?

 

Here is what i have found in the very experienced, but theory deficiet players i worked with........they cannot recognise exactly how much they know.
So you need to gauge what you know, you need to know if it is just small bits of info that ties large bits of info that is missing...so you never make the conections. Or is it large bits of info missing...full stop?

The phrase that got my attention was "extremely narrow comfort zone".
No one and i mean no one learns anything meaningfull within their comfort zone, all that means is you are working within what tou know and understand.
So you need to get out of your comfort zone, feel lost, slightly over whelmed, then work it out slowley step by step till you get the idea or lesson that took you out your comfort zone.

The feeling you get from learning it opens you up to learning more outside your comfort zone because it teaches you not to be scared of the un-known....because it is not un-known because it is in books, DVDs, lessons etc...so it is a known quantity.

Find a music teacher in your area and take some music lessons, or look on line for music lessons, do not look for bass lessons. Music theory applies to all instruments and the best place to learn it is on paper..not the instrument...the best place to apply what you learn is on the instrument...not on paper.

Enjoy the journey and i feel you will be surprised at exactly how much you actually know once you get into it.

 

Start with the 4 main chords as they are the foundation of pretty much all popular music.

In C major = C F G Amin
- understand the terms 1, 4, 5, 6 (or I, IV, V, VI).
- learn it in the 12 keys.
- spot them in songs you know.

(Sorry if you already know it).

 

The usual:

http://www.studybass.com/

http://scottsbasslessons.com/

Happy learning

 

the jpg image represents the G major scale (in red) and the different locations of the various notes on the fretboard;

Surely you already know the chromatic scale? C-C# . . . . . . B? (12 notes all in all)

 

Yep, transposition my friend.

All the scales can be transposed using the scale figure;