General concepts of bass mastery

[fretlessman71]

I'm trying to think of major concepts of bass study and see how many I can come up with. So far I have seven; have I left anything out?


EAR TRAINING

FINGERBOARD MASTERY

MUSIC THEORY

TECHNIQUE (TONE PRODUCTION, SPEED, ETC.)

RHYTHM

MUSIC LANGUAGE SKILLS (READING, SPEAKING)

KNOWLEDGE OF BASIC BASS LINE STYLES

 

[FatStringer52]

The instrument itself. It includes sub categories such as body style/composition; neck type - bolt-on/set neck/neck-thru as well as fretted/fretless; pickup configurations; string types/gauges; bridge type; controls (including active/passive); etc., etc. While any bass will produce the musical pitch, the areas detailed here have a major influence on the elusive tone that most everyone is chasing . . .

 

[fretlessman71]

The instrument itself. It includes sub categories such as body style/composition; neck type - bolt-on/set neck/neck-thru as well as fretted/fretless; pickup configurations; string types/gauges; bridge type; controls (including active/passive); etc., etc. While any bass will produce the musical pitch, the areas detailed here have a major influence on the illusive tone that most everyone is chasing . . .

"Instrument nuts & bolts". I like it - thanks! I guess another sub-group would be "Care & Maintenance", such as action, truss rod adjustment, intonation, other issues that pop up...

 

[FatStringer52]

"Care & Maintenance", such as action, truss rod adjustment, intonation, other issues that pop up...

I was thinking more along the lines of tone production in my response. I'd probably make Care & Maintenance its own category.

 

[fretlessman71]

I was thinking more along the lines of tone production in my response. I'd probably make Care & Maintenance its own category.

Worth pondering for sure. Thanks for the idea, and the inspiration.

 

[mambo4]

have I left anything out?

READING

 

[Bob_Ross]

HUMILITY

 

[fretlessman71]

READING

Falls under Music Language Skills.

 

[fretlessman71]

HUMILITY

Life is a far better teacher than I where humility is concerned...

 

[fearceol]

Knowing the difference between sparse and busy playing. More importantly...knowing when to apply them.

 

[James Collins]

Effects and amps are part of the instrument too.

Why isn't this just:

Theory (which includes reading music, rhythm, styles of music, and others you have listed separately)
Instrument
Technique

 

[fretlessman71]

Effects and amps are part of the instrument too.

Why isn't this just:

Theory (which includes reading music, rhythm, styles of music, and others you have listed separately)
Instrument
Technique

For the same reason it's not all under "BASS" and being done with it. I want to pull apart this engine to see everything that makes it go.

 

[fretlessman71]

Knowing the difference between sparse and busy playing. More importantly...knowing when to apply them.

We can call this one "TASTE".

 

[bassdude51]

You forgot "tortoise shell" guard.

 

[fretlessman71]

You forgot "tortoise shell" guard.

Now I'm going to include a category called "SUBSTANCE OVER STYLE", just for you...

 

[James Collins]

For the same reason it's not all under "BASS" and being done with it. I want to pull apart this engine to see everything that makes it go.

Then I would add strings, knobs, and tuners as well.

 

[fretlessman71]

Then I would add strings, knobs, and tuners as well.

Never go out of your way to misunderstand someone.

 

[EchoEcho]

Amps, effects(pedals etc), go faster stripes and so on have already been mentioned but you could put all these extras under "Bass accessories" as an umbrella term

 

[JW56789]

When a disembodied voice rumbled from the deep, coming from beneath the subwoofers, speaking unbidden from somewhere far below the frame of this world . . . . . . .

BECOME A REGULAR AT DENNY'S, WAFFLE HOUSE, OR IHOP AT 3AM.

LOSE A LOT OF SLEEP. DRINK TOO MUCH COFFEE.

LEARN HOW TO SLEEP IN A VAN, BUT NOT WHEN IT'S YOUR TURN AT THE WHEEL AT 4AM.

PLAY CRUMMY GIGS WITH AWFUL BANDS TO PAY THE BILLS.

PLAY MUSIC YOU HATE AND SMILE LIKE YOU WON THE LOTTERY TO KEEP THEM AS AN 'ACCOUNT'.

LEARN THE MUSICIANS UNION IS YOUR FRIEND.

LEARN THE MUSICIANS UNION WILL CUT YOUR THROAT THAT FAST.

NO, YOU DON'T PLAY BETTER DRUNK AND/OR HIGH. REALLY. JUST DON'T IF YOU WANT TO BE A PROFESSIONAL.

THERE'S ALWAYS SOMEONE FASTER, HOMBRE.

YOUR WIFE THAT SUPPORTED YOU (WORKED LIKE A DOG WHILE YOU PRACTICED SCALES TILL YOU GOT HIRED) IS WAITING ON YOU TO COME HOME IN ONE PIECE. SHE LOVES YOU. LET THE DRUMMER HAVE THE WAITRESS. DON'T BE A DOG.

LEARN TO KNOW WHAT YOU DON'T KNOW: FIND IT, KILL IT FAST.

THESE THINGS AND SO MANY MORE YOU WILL NOT FIND IN ONLINE LESSONS OR EVEN A DEGREE PROGRAM AT BERKLEE OR NORTH TEXAS, BUT AT TIMES WILL BE EVERY BIT AS IMPORTANT. THESE ARE THE THINGS THE ANCIENT PILOTS WILL TELL YOU BEHIND THE BUS LATE AT NIGHT, THE ANCIENT WISDOM PASSED DOWN. YOU WILL MAKE MISTAKES: JUST DON'T MAKE THEM TWICE AND LEARN FROM THEM, AND LISTEN TO THE GOOD ONES THAT WERE THERE BEFORE YOU, RODE THE MILES, PLAYED THE HALLS, AND LEARN FROM THEIR EXPERIENCE.

OK, we now resume your regularly scheduled metronome practice, already in progress . . . . .

 

[fretlessman71]

BECOME A REGULAR AT DENNY'S, WAFFLE HOUSE, OR IHOP AT 3AM.

LOSE A LOT OF SLEEP. DRINK TOO MUCH COFFEE.

LEARN HOW TO SLEEP IN A VAN, BUT NOT WHEN IT'S YOUR TURN AT THE WHEEL AT 4AM.

PLAY CRUMMY GIGS WITH AWFUL BANDS TO PAY THE BILLS.

PLAY MUSIC YOU HATE AND SMILE LIKE YOU WON THE LOTTERY TO KEEP THEM AS AN 'ACCOUNT'.

LEARN THE MUSICIANS UNION IS YOUR FRIEND.

LEARN THE MUSICIANS UNION WILL CUT YOUR THROAT THAT FAST.

NO, YOU DON'T PLAY BETTER DRUNK AND/OR HIGH. REALLY. JUST DON'T IF YOU WANT TO BE A PROFESSIONAL.

THERE'S ALWAYS SOMEONE FASTER, HOMBRE.

YOUR WIFE THAT SUPPORTED YOU (WORKED LIKE A DOG WHILE YOU PRACTICED SCALES TILL YOU GOT HIRED) IS WAITING ON YOU TO COME HOME IN ONE PIECE. SHE LOVES YOU. LET THE DRUMMER HAVE THE WAITRESS. DON'T BE A DOG.

LEARN TO KNOW WHAT YOU DON'T KNOW: FIND IT, KILL IT FAST.

THESE THINGS AND SO MANY MORE YOU WILL NOT FIND IN ONLINE LESSONS OR EVEN A DEGREE PROGRAM AT BERKLEE OR NORTH TEXAS, BUT AT TIMES WILL BE EVERY BIT AS IMPORTANT. THESE ARE THE THINGS THE ANCIENT PILOTS WILL TELL YOU BEHIND THE BUS LATE AT NIGHT, THE ANCIENT WISDOM PASSED DOWN. YOU WILL MAKE MISTAKES: JUST DON'T MAKE THEM TWICE AND LEARN FROM THEM, AND LISTEN TO THE GOOD ONES THAT WERE THERE BEFORE YOU, RODE THE MILES, PLAYED THE HALLS, AND LEARN FROM THEIR EXPERIENCE.

OK, we now resume your regularly scheduled metronome practice, already in progress . . . . .

This isn't QUITE what I had in mind, but boy, I can't like this enough... well done.