For a beginner

[Mushroo]

My advice is, don't try to "fake" songs like Paranoid or Billie Jean. Learn them note-for-note.

If the songs you have chosen are too difficult to learn note-for-note, then choose easier songs for now, and come back to the more difficult songs when you have more skill.

Process is very important for a beginner. It's not just how many songs you know, it's how you learn them. It's great to be able to improvise your own bass lines, but in my opinion you should learn the original bass line first, and then start incorporating your own original ideas if you like.

A really good exercise is to ask yourself this question: Is there a song that is so easy I can learn it note for note, by ear, in one practice session? In my opinion those are the best songs for beginners.

If you can't learn a particular song in a week or less, or it causes cramping or pain in your hands, or you have to resort to TAB, then my advice is to choose an easier song, so you can get a "base hit" and feel good about yourself.

 

[mrcbass]

IMO, if you have two years under your belt, those songs are appropriate level goals, even if your instructor says you're a beginner. That being said, to me, there are three different meanings of "learning a song".

1. To play with a band. One of the best things about being a bass player is that most of the time, we can get away with simply creating a groove that honors the song. "Note for note" is not required and 90% of people will never even notice. Other then the songs you list that have signature licks, under this premise, you can learn these songs on day 1 of your bass career. (Well, depending on your background, maybe day 100.)

2. To be able to jam around on it. I can't even count how many songs I know well enough to just kind of jam along with the song or maybe even a jam session with other musicians. Couldn't say that I'd be comfortable "performing" the song, but am probably reasonably close and know it well enough to have fun with it. Again, this can start very early in your career.

3. Total note for note transcription. Not necessarily to play with a band, but simply to challenge your self to learn the part that the original player did. This is typically something for a more advance player. Frankly I'm not there yet and probably never will be, because I don't want to be there. I transcribe what I have to and prefer to apply my own version of the groove outside of signature licks. That's what makes bass fun for me.

Without hearing you play, it's hard to know exactly where you are in your progress, but I was playing some of those (at least versions of them) in my first few months - good enough to support the groove with a band, not note for note. But your instructor would know best if these songs are appropriate level for you.

IMO, of the songs you list, these will require a lot of "note for note" transcription:
"Another One Bites the Dust", "Money", "Sweet Child Of Mine" (bass solo on intro), "Dazed and Confused". I'm not familiar with for "Whom the Bell Tolls" by name, but the others can all be served by imitating the groove - if that's all you want to do.

 

[mambo4]

Not sure how beginner the OP is
But the song list is missing the 12 bar blues.
Surely the first "song" a bass player ought to learn....

 

[fingerguy]

Not sure how beginner the OP is
But the song list is missing the 12 bar blues.
Surely the first "song" a bass player ought to learn....

12 Bar Blues is beyond easy. You pick a key, you do the 1st, the 4th, and the 5th in the proper order at whatever beat/pattern you want and there you go.

 

[Spin Doctor]

12 Bar Blues is beyond easy. You pick a key, you do the 1st, the 4th, and the 5th in the proper order at whatever beat/pattern you want and there you go.

LOL...

 

[fingerguy]

Anyway, I am thinking of canceling my class with this guy. The more I think about it, the more I realize I took a break from playing to begin with. Then after not playing for a few months, and some really beginner piano stuff during that break, my fiance finds me playing online poker and says to me why aren't you playing your guitar to which I realized she is right. So I dusted off the guitar (not the bass mind you), decided on a song to focus on, and started doing that. Then here comes a buddy of mine that plays bass and mentions he has a bass teacher that is an actual bass player. So I was interested and go to a free lesson with him which after each song idea here he goes playing that song and I am just sitting there and thinking enough already, lets get on with the lesson instead of you playing songs.

Anyway, now it's been 3 days after that lesson and not even sure I still want to play music anymore for it has become more of a homework than enjoyment. But on the flip side I have all this great gear why not use it. So instead just play songs or whatever I want when I want but try to keep some consistency and not worry about a teacher. The fact is I have ZERO desire to play outside my home. I tried the band thing and that was short lived and my last teacher tried to get me to open mic sessions which I refused. So why pay this guy $140 for x-lessons each time? For what? What am I really going to benefit from it? So I can read music, I can play x-songs...etc.

The fact is there are so many teaching tools out there and even the old method that pre-dates the Internet where many great musicians did was just learn on their own. Follow tabs, listen to music, follow tabs and listen to the music and so on.

So in short I am giving serious thought of calling his place and telling them to cancel my next appointment and will get back to them. But there is one glitch, I was planning to have dinner with my buddy that uses him as a teacher and he happens to be playing at the restaurant on that day to which my buddy will jump in for one song as a treat for his wife.

I don't know, I guess I am more venting than anything. I know I wanted to talk to my fiance about this last-night but didn't.

 

[DiabolusInMusic]

Before we get too far down the teacher bashing road, the OP should tell us if he's learning any theory/reading standard notation at all.

No doubt. I am not even pro-TAB and I am shocked at the TAB-bashing here.

If I have a student in their 40s, I am not about to force notation and reading on them. You don't need them to play in your church band or jam with your friends, which are often the realistic end goals of my students in their 40s. If you are under 18, however, I don't give you a choice.

 

[fingerguy]

LOL...

What's so funny? Let me guess, you are going to tell me how wrong I am. Go ahead...I'm listening.

 

[RyanOh]

I nominate Freddie King's Going Down as a 12 bar blues for the OP's list.

It's only about 85 bpm, but steady 16ths for alternate plucking and stamina.
I like to play it in drop D on one string. Also makes you find the right fret quickly.

12 bar is just the chord progression...there are lots of variations and not all are simple to do.

If that's too easy go for What is Hip?

 

[fingerguy]

No doubt. I am not even pro-TAB and I am shocked at the TAB-bashing here.

If I have a student in their 40s, I am not about to force notation and reading on them. You don't need them to play in your church band or jam with your friends, which are often the realistic end goals of my students in their 40s. If you are under 18, however, I don't give you a choice.

Precisely. I FD'up and not learning theory when I had all the time in the world in elementary school and high school but I didn't. Here I am 45 and not a lot of free time; what free time I have there are other activities that I prefer to do. For instance, taking my dogs outside to play. Going for a hike and a bike ride. Spending time with my fiance.

Besides I know enough theory to get by. Knowing half and full steps theory makes finding notes and understanding the key and so on that much easier. That really opened doors for me. Plus I can follow notes from quarter to 8th and so on. But for me when I am learning a song and got the finger memory down it's playing with the song that is more beneficial to me than anything else.

So all the tab bashing...bite me!

 

[fingerguy]

I nominate Freddie King's Going Down as a 12 bar blues for the OP's list.

It's only about 85 bpm, but steady 16ths for alternate plucking and stamina.
I like to play it in drop D on one string. Also makes you find the right fret quickly.

12 bar is just the chord progression...there are lots of variations and not all are simple to do.

If that's too easy go for What is Hip?

Well that is true for songs in general. But the fact is when you say 12-bar blues it's nothing but a pattern. It's what in that pattern that judges the difficulty so being that person said they don't see 12-bar blues in there, from that wording in general it's not a hard-concept to grasp. It's which song that uses 12-bar blues that would be the challenge.

 

[mrcbass]

Anyway, I am thinking of canceling my class with this guy. The more I think about it, the more I realize I took a break from playing to begin with. Then after not playing for a few months, and some really beginner piano stuff during that break, my fiance finds me playing online poker and says to me why aren't you playing your guitar to which I realized she is right. So I dusted off the guitar (not the bass mind you), decided on a song to focus on, and started doing that. Then here comes a buddy of mine that plays bass and mentions he has a bass teacher that is an actual bass player. So I was interested and go to a free lesson with him which after each song idea here he goes playing that song and I am just sitting there and thinking enough already, lets get on with the lesson instead of you playing songs.

Anyway, now it's been 3 days after that lesson and not even sure I still want to play music anymore for it has become more of a homework than enjoyment. But on the flip side I have all this great gear why not use it. So instead just play songs or whatever I want when I want but try to keep some consistency and not worry about a teacher. The fact is I have ZERO desire to play outside my home. I tried the band thing and that was short lived and my last teacher tried to get me to open mic sessions which I refused. So why pay this guy $140 for x-lessons each time? For what? What am I really going to benefit from it? So I can read music, I can play x-songs...etc.

The fact is there are so many teaching tools out there and even the old method that pre-dates the Internet where many great musicians did was just learn on their own. Follow tabs, listen to music, follow tabs and listen to the music and so on.

So in short I am giving serious thought of calling his place and telling them to cancel my next appointment and will get back to them. But there is one glitch, I was planning to have dinner with my buddy that uses him as a teacher and he happens to be playing at the restaurant on that day to which my buddy will jump in for one song as a treat for his wife.

I don't know, I guess I am more venting than anything. I know I wanted to talk to my fiance about this last-night but didn't.

That is certainly an option for you as well.
I agree that I wouldn't want to take lessons who spends more time showing off his chops than helping me get to where I wanted to go. There are other instructors who may be a better fit for you if you're truly interested in improving your skills.

Music can be enjoyed on a lot of different levels - nobody says you have to take lessons and become a great bass player. If you're happy just noodling occasionally then be happy and do that. For a lot of people, lessons will get someone closer to a goal quicker than self study, but it sounds like you don't have any real pressing goals, so it could be a huge waste of time for you.

I wouldn't worry about the dinner thing - just be honest that you don't feel that you want to take lessons right now and enjoy your dinner with your friend. Don't claim you're not available and then show up to dinner!

 

[fingerguy]

That is certainly an option for you as well.
I agree that I wouldn't want to take lessons who spends more time showing off his chops than helping me get to where I wanted to go. There are other instructors who may be a better fit for you if you're truly interested in improving your skills.

Music can be enjoyed on a lot of different levels - nobody says you have to take lessons and become a great bass player. If you're happy just noodling occasionally then be happy and do that. For a lot of people, lessons will get someone closer to a goal quicker than self study, but it sounds like you don't have any real pressing goals, so it could be a huge waste of time for you.

I wouldn't worry about the dinner thing - just be honest that you don't feel that you want to take lessons right now and enjoy your dinner with your friend. Don't claim you're not available and then show up to dinner!

Thanks, especially with the last paragraph that helped a lot!

 

[RyanOh]

Frankly, I find your lack of bass disturbing.

 

[Bass]

LOL. Learning songs is fun.

I think Paranoid is fine for a beginner and especially good for learning consistent rapid eighth notes. Just play it slow and increase the tempo until it gets up to speed. Also, there's an interesting lesson in this song found in the Geezer Butler "power chords". This guy has a good cover along with many other decent songs:



Money is probably OK for a beginner too, and there's an interesting lesson in this song found in the B minor scale. Plus it maybe is considered a "classic bass line" so it's good to know.

Another One Bites the Dust would be great except if I recall it's tuned up or down, if that bothers you. Sweet Child of Mine is probably a good song for any musician to know.

 

[fingerguy]

LOL. Learning songs is fun.

I think Paranoid is fine for a beginner and especially good for learning consistent rapid eighth notes. Just play it slow and increase the tempo until it gets up to speed. Also, there's an interesting lesson in this song found in the Geezer Butler "power chords". This guy has a good cover along with many other decent songs:



Money is probably OK for a beginner too, and there's an interesting lesson in this song found in the B minor scale. Plus it maybe is considered a "classic bass line" so it's good to know.

Another One Bites the Dust would be great except if I recall it's tuned up or down, if that bothers you. Sweet Child of Mine is probably a good song for any musician to know.

The person that makes those videos really pisses me off for that person is that good.

 

[Spidey2112]

Put in the time, and you'll get there.