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Frustration.

M

Mazatleco17

Mar 27, 2008
1,050
1
46
#1
So I'm a newbie to bass guitar, have been practicing (more like messing around) with a bass guitar for about 3 months now, been reading books, practicing scales, major, minor some modes, playing Pacman's sure-fire scale practice method, I do hand permutations everyday all over the neck, know pretty much the names of the notes, use a metronome most of the time but.........For the life of me I just can't play any song at all (ok a few simple ones, sublime's pawn shop, stir it up, among others) sometimes I feel like I'm learning a language but when it gets to actually speak it, inmediatly I become a mute, Am I explaining myself clearly?

here is an example of what I just can't play http://lacuerda.net/tabs/g/gondwanna/kin-2.shtml and heres the original song http://youtube.com/watch?v=UXuMI3QjVDE my fingers get completely lost on the fretboard.
 
#2
Give it time! I wish I could give some really good advice, but I can't really remember what I did in the beginning. I'm sure some of the other members here will have some fantastic advice. But I remember in the beginning I was pretty bad, only being able to play this one simple blues line and that's it! Just give it time and it'll come with practice and dedication.
 
#3
Invest in at least a couple bass lessons. It's worth it just to get pointed in the right direction.

I did a lot of self teaching when I started, but when you hit a wall it helps to have some help! You can get a lot of advice from online but anyone would really need to hear and see what you're doing first hand to give good advice FOR YOU.
 
#5
rootshock said:
If you can explain the difficulties you are having with that piece of music it would be easier to help. It's not complicated... I'm wondering what fingers you are using down there, are you having trouble with hammer-ons, etc.


Need more info!


:bassist:
Click to expand...

That's the thing is not complicated, but for some reason I just can't do it :confused: I feel like my fingers are not in sync with my brain, not having trouble with hammer-ons this is not the only song that I'm having troubles with, I've been trying to take some lessons but because of my work schedule I haven't been able to.
I might take a video of me playing and post it.
 
#6
I'm sure this wont go over too well around here but if you want to learn songs practice song and songs only. I know the scales,theory,modes etc will get you foundation etc but we play the bass to play songs or music. If i played bass to study it i would of quit a long time ago.

Dont get me wrong study but if you want to learn that song or any others jam to them and learn them. I had a good basic guitar background for 20 years and went to bass late in life. I decided to go to bass and get in a band and thats what i did. a crash course on scales and finger position etc to build up strength and i was in a band learning songs. I progressed so fast and so well i had bands wanting me cuz I'm loyal and hard working.

Today i goof around with scales etc to warm up but I'm in two bands learning songs and playing gigs weekly. This is where i wanted to be not in books or lessons. My advice isnt for everyone...I'm no Wooten dont care or want to be. I am a solid pocket bass player with enough flash to get by and tight to the drummer. This is what bands want and i give them.

Lessons will help for sure. Like you i had no time for them. Do what you want to do. If its to learn songs do it. You will be surprised when you go back to a lesson book and see after playing and knowing 50-100 songs that most music repeats itself and since bass rarely solos we do the same things offen no matter what the music. You will see the scales ,modes ,walks etc that were in the books in the music you play and know...pretty cool.
 
#8
When I started, lots of the songs I played were extremely simple bass parts. By simple, I mean the bass simply played the root note of whatever chord it was. Even though it's simplistic, what it did was help me with timing and syncing my fingers to the sound, and getting my two hands to work together.
Maybe instead of working with scales, just try chord progressions:

-----------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------
----------33333333-55555555-33333333--
33333333--------------------------------

This way you can get used to playing along and having good timing. Then once you're comfortable, move on to more technical stuff.
 
#9
Learning to read music and note values, time signatures, rests, are very important things to learn.

I would suggest getting the standard notation to songs you already know but do not know how to play. (get a transcription book of a band you like)

Listen to the song and try to follow along with the notation.
 
#10
Well, here's my $0.02 worth...

I am sure a teacher would help you immensely, but if this isn't an option then you might want to try finding any local bassists in the area who would be willing to show you the ropes on your particular song. Assuming you are polite and not overly demanding, I am guessing that any of your bassist friends/acquaintances would be willing to take a few minutes helping you with the song (assuming they know the song). Still, you're best bet is allocating the time and money for a teacher.

Also, when listening to a song, try picking out the bass line from the music. This will help develop your ear as well as give you a reference to what the bassline should sound like. Good luck with your learning, and try to keep your spirits up. No one said playing the bass would be easy, but trust me, it is worth it!
 
#11
Welcome to the bass-ics!!!:D

You're just getting started - it's going to take time and practice to get the Brain => Hand coordination down! You're going to feel like a spazz for awhile, but you;ll get it! ;)

Keep working with simple songs to start with. Get used to playing from charts and/or standard notation as much as possible - these are the building blocks of music, and they will help you immensely when the time comes for you to start working with other professional musicians.

Good luck, and hang in there!;)

TJ
 
#12
I agree that learning to read either tab or traditional notation is essential for training the brain and fingers together.

Do you have a book like "Building Walking Bass Lines" by Ed Friedland? It doesn't have to be that one, but it comes with a DVD and the song is played for you on jazz piano - you play along with simple bass lines.

I didn't get a chance to look at the songs you're trying to play, but you probably need to choose very slow tempo songs at first - or as RedSubway said, very simple lines (or both).

Do start playing songs, even if out of tempo and too slow at first. It's great if you can find people to play with you, too - really helps.

You can play a song like Autumn Leaves by just hitting one note (a whole note - 4 beats) per bar, and it will sound cool if played with a keyboardist or guitarist. That gives you real practice in seeing whether you really know those notes on the fretboard. It goes like this (in its simplest form):

A-D-G-C
F#-B-E-E
A-D-G-C-
F#-B-E-E
B-B-E-E
A-D-G-C
F#-B-E-E
F#-B-E

Notice that this also introduces you to the structure of one common type of simple song. Songs usually have repeat elements, so once you've broken it down into phrases, and you learn one phrase at a time, you build it back up again. Playing an entire song before you're ready with the skills is very very tough. If you were in a practicing band, where everyone played at about your level, that's what you'd be doing: breaking it down into 2 and 4 bar and then 8 bar phrases.

You can do this with half notes next, then quarter notes (I'd transcribe it all into standard notation, if I were you - because reading rhythm and notes together may be the essential skill you need to pick up next, for songs).

This can be practiced, obviously, with a metronome. I'd be very surprised if you weren't playing the whole song by the end of today. It really does sound like a song, even if no one is playing with you, and even if you don't know the tune.

Hopefully, you know the tune.

You need to stretch your memory skills to encompass all the changes that come with a typical song, and then get your fingers up to speed.

Do you have the chords to the two songs you're trying to play? If so, start with the same method (just playing two half notes or 4 quarter notes, if it's in 4/4- not a rhythmic line) until you get the structure, then stick the rhythmic line in.

If you're a beginniner and you're choosing songs that have repeated changes in time structure, you're just making it too hard for yourself.
 
#14
Are you having difficulties memorizing the basslines? Like, you start on one note but have no idea on what's next? If this is so, transcribing will certainly help. If you can't read standard notation, write the notes down in alphabetical form and memorize the rhythm instead. This is provided that you know the note names on the fretboard.

Last resort is using tablatures either by transcription or source from the internet.
 
#15
All of these suggestions are very helpful but I would like to add just one more. Seek out others at your stage of development playing other instruments and spend time playing with them.

Doesn't matter what songs or what style. Doesn't even matter that at first you and they are not penultimate playes only that you have a chance to apply what you are learning to actual music and with other musicians.

You can woodshed until you are blue in the face but until you get to apply what you learn it won't be "stamped" on your brain. You are doing many of the right things (not that there is just one formula for everyone) and in the right order in my opinion. Now try to seek out other folks who wish to improve on thier instruments and play together.

Spin
 

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