• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

Hello everyone! (And maybe one beer too many?)

M

mojomusic

Oct 5, 2020
3
16
#1
Hello everyone! I am new to the site although I have been reading on and off for several months. I am not a bass player, or a player of any instrument really. The last time I played an instrument was 40 years ago in high school band, baritone. I have a friend of 25 years who has been playing guitar for over 50 years and has been in numerous bands over the years. Several months back I bought a “cheap” guitar, bass, and mandolin just to mount on the wall of my “man-cave”. The bass is a Rogue VB100. Fast forward to about a month ago. He told me he was going to have a small party for one of his daughters who recently was married. He was going to “get the band back together” and play a few songs. Unfortunately, his bass player is in jail. He reached out to some bass players from former bands and they either weren’t interested, no longer played, etc. The conversation was over a few beers and he mentioned that since I had a bass he could “teach” me enough to at least play some fill in the songs. He would write some very basic tabulature. Pretty much just the E string and a few songs requiring the A string. “If you have any rhythm at all we will find out in 30 minutes if it will work.” Apparently I had one beer too many and agreed. Shockingly I still had “rhythm” and was actually able to play along. My playing isn’t hurting our ears and with the use of 3x5 cards, for now, I can at least stay with the song. My fingers now have callouses and I actually am having fun. I have thought that after this is over I may actually learn how to play the correct way! So maybe some day I can actually become a “real” player.
 
  • Like
Reactions: DrFishGut, two fingers, 68Tele-Bass and 8 others
#7
mojomusic said:
Hello everyone! I am new to the site although I have been reading on and off for several months. I am not a bass player, or a player of any instrument really. The last time I played an instrument was 40 years ago in high school band, baritone. I have a friend of 25 years who has been playing guitar for over 50 years and has been in numerous bands over the years. Several months back I bought a “cheap” guitar, bass, and mandolin just to mount on the wall of my “man-cave”. The bass is a Rogue VB100. Fast forward to about a month ago. He told me he was going to have a small party for one of his daughters who recently was married. He was going to “get the band back together” and play a few songs. Unfortunately, his bass player is in jail. He reached out to some bass players from former bands and they either weren’t interested, no longer played, etc. The conversation was over a few beers and he mentioned that since I had a bass he could “teach” me enough to at least play some fill in the songs. He would write some very basic tabulature. Pretty much just the E string and a few songs requiring the A string. “If you have any rhythm at all we will find out in 30 minutes if it will work.” Apparently I had one beer too many and agreed. Shockingly I still had “rhythm” and was actually able to play along. My playing isn’t hurting our ears and with the use of 3x5 cards, for now, I can at least stay with the song. My fingers now have callouses and I actually am having fun. I have thought that after this is over I may actually learn how to play the correct way! So maybe some day I can actually become a “real” player.
Click to expand...
Callouses mean you’re putting in some time, & having fun.
If I could recommend something else you may like - (sometimes I recommend this so often, that people may think I have some vested interest, but I don’t.) There is a fun learning app called Yousician. You can use it for 10 minutes a day Free to see if you want to subscribe. You play along with well known songs. You start at whatever level you feel comfortable with, and proceed at your own pace. They teach guitar, bass, ukulele, keyboards & vocals. You can learn to read music notation and tablature, scales and theory, while you’re at it, if you want to go further.
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back