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Guys, help a brother out. I'm stuck.

C

Captain Ahab

Jul 25, 2012
3
0
Utah
#1
Hey everybody, how's it going? So I've got my scales down and my question is exactly how do I get better at bass? I've hit a road block. I'm not saying I'm a boss of the bass but everyone tells me practice your scales and to be honest, it's not getting me anywhere and learning songs can only do so much. So what can I do to get better at solos, moving up and down the fret board faster and bass stuff in general? :bassist:
 
#2
Hey capitan.

Now, I'm assuming your better than I am, because I don't know all my scales... So consider this a bump. :p

Maybe you could work on odd time? It's not always applicable to every style of music, but it's good to know. I'm sure you can play all over you scales playing 8th notes, I'm sure you can do triplets. Can you play 5 notes per beat? 7? 9?

Maybe you could play around in odd time grooves using your scales.

I dunno. Bump. Your the first TBer I've seen from the beehive state. Other than me...
 
#4
Get good at arpeggios - first one octave, then two (three if you've got a 5-banger). Add the seventh. Get yourself a looping pedal and record short loops of any tunes you feel like you want to solo over. Using mainly those arpeggios (hit the scales for embellishment), solo over the changes (i.e. make sure you change the arpeggio with the 'chord of the moment' on the loop).

Are you a reader? If not, become a reader. If you are, get better at reading :-) Running through some Bach (cello suites reharmonized for bass guitar? They exist...) will give you ENDLESS ideas for solos. Read melody lines from fake books. Write out melodies you hear (start simple - Mary Had A Little Lamb, Happy Birthday, game show theme tunes, etc), then post 'em in General Instruction for critique. Graduate up to writing more complex melodies that you hear - sung verses from the radio, jazz heads, whatever floats your boat, etc.

Finally, find a teacher. If there isn't a good teacher in your area, find a good teacher who does Skype lessons (I hear Anthony Wellington is an excellent instructor, regardless of whether it's in-person or over Skype).
 
#7
sleeplessknight said:
Get good at arpeggios
Click to expand...

+1.

OP, as you know your scales, the next step is to learn how chords are derived from them. It is chord tones and arpeggios, rather than scales that a bassist will play 90% of the time. When you have learned arpeggios then go on to learn about their inversions.

The "Study Bass" site linked below explains the importance of chord tones. It is a great all round site.

I have also linked to a set of lessons on walking bass lines by Dave Marks. Even if you are not really into jazz, these lessons are very beneficial. They deal with chord tones and inversions. I think there are about ten lessons in all.

Dave Marks lessons :

 
#9
I can only speak from personal experience, but playing with others has done more for my playing than anything else. Open mics, jam sessions, etc.
Also, I enjoy playing with backing tracks. There are some decent ones on YouTube.
Also, Scott Devine is a wonderful online teacher. He offers the majority of his lessons free of charge. On his site, he has backing tracks available for download.
Good luck and take care.
 
#12
Pacman has some really great tips. One of my teachers at Berklee put me on to playing all of my scales from the first note of the scale on my bass. E.g. start your Bb scale from low F.

There are some great suggestions here. A lesson or two from a pro might also get you pointed in new directions.
 
#13
Use the skills you have accumulated by using them in improvisation. Get a drum track you like and jam over it. Songs do help though, just think of it is part of your greater arsenal to influence your riffs and grooves.
 
#16
I'd say learn to play melodies.

It's been a bit of an epiphany for me - been practising scales for years and my phrasing sounded linear. Melodies utilise scales, but in a fractured way. You have a chunk of scale then a big interval, then a stationary note. I'd say leaning scales is like learning the alphabet. I discovered I got better at playing when I started practising words, if that makes sense.
 
#19
Do you know your scales/modes well enough to pick a key and run all around the fret board? You need to know every note you land on and what mode it is the root of.

+1 play with others.

+1 play other peoples' songs. It may inspire something similar. Don't think of it as a rip off, just inspiration.

Work up to more advanced techniques. Tap. Slap. Three fingers. Harmonics. I've been playing a long time and still have a LOT to learn. That's what keeps you inspired. It's something you can put effort into and come out better and it never ends, so you should have never ending goals and never ending happiness when you truly progress.
 
#20
Maybe find a teacher?

Sight read?

Music Theory and Harmony?

Learn the lyrics/vocals for all the songs you play bass on?

Be able to sing harmonies for all the songs you learn on bass?

Notate all the songs you learn in Nashville Number System?

Transcribe all the songs you learn on bass?

Some other stuff....
 

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