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Hello everyone.

I

Iblis92

Feb 22, 2012
5
0
#1
I just bought a bass last night. I am satasfied with it. its a silver tone revolver, and I love it.
Heres the thing though. I am a fairly confident guitarist, and have been playing for about a year. I learned guitar by looking at tabs and following along with the song. Its fairly easy to learn by tabs and other articles on the net. However, Ive found that learning to play bass is a whole another world in its own.
I have loose understanding of just slapping and finger picking.

Learning bass is kind of overwhelming me at the moment. Perhaps I came in with the idea of "I can play guitar, I can do this" Foolish of me.

I try to learn a riff, I listen to the song. But I cant really hear it. Thats been the biggest problem. I tried finger picking, but its very awkward and "wrong" I dont even use my fingers for acoustic guitars.
It also seems like there's a... aspect of bass Im not understanding. Maybe im getting to deep, but its like theres this aspect of bass that I can see but cant get grasp. Not sure what it is.
 
#2
Try studybass.com to get you started. Youtube is helpful too. Maybe learn some classic basslines you've always liked. Most importantly, don't push yourself too hard at first and just have fun. Welcome to the low end. :)
 
#5
Iblis92 said:
I just bought a bass last night. I am satasfied with it. its a silver tone revolver, and I love it.
Heres the thing though. I am a fairly confident guitarist, and have been playing for about a year. I learned guitar by looking at tabs and following along with the song. Its fairly easy to learn by tabs and other articles on the net. However, Ive found that learning to play bass is a whole another world in its own.
I have loose understanding of just slapping and finger picking.

Learning bass is kind of overwhelming me at the moment. Perhaps I came in with the idea of "I can play guitar, I can do this" Foolish of me.

I try to learn a riff, I listen to the song. But I cant really hear it. Thats been the biggest problem. I tried finger picking, but its very awkward and "wrong" I dont even use my fingers for acoustic guitars.
It also seems like there's a... aspect of bass Im not understanding. Maybe im getting to deep, but its like theres this aspect of bass that I can see but cant get grasp. Not sure what it is.
Click to expand...

1. Bass is not guitar.

2. Bass is the link between rhythm and harmony...part drummer part note player.

3. You've got to feel it...that's groove.
 
#8
Wow where to start with that question. The first thing I would tell you to do is find a very good instructor. Just like learning the guitar, there are a lot of techniques that you will need to be a competent bass player.

Exercises that I use with my students.

Right hand exercise
1) place your thumb on the top of the pick up as a resting place
2) beginning on the E string alternate your fore finger and middle finger plucking the string in an 8th note pattern. 1&2&3&4& is how this is counted. Continue the exercise on to the A, D, and G strings. Then run the exact same exercise faster but keep all of your strikes the same volume consistency is king. Practice with a drum machine or metronome.

Left hand
It is very important that you develop finger independence.
1)Using one finger per fret begin on the E string 1st fret with your index finger. Middle finger 2nd fret 3rd fret ring finger and 4th fret the pinky. Move on to A D and G strings.
2) same exercise but start on the 2nd fret with the middle finger and do a 2341 pattern on all strings then do a 3412 pattern so on and so on.
Again practice with a drum machine or a metronome.

Timing
The bass is about pocket and groove finding the 1 is a very important part of what we do. It is counter intuitive to guitar players that want to syncopate everything bass players want to as well but we must control our bass urges until that spot on the 4 opens up the the guitar or keyboard player doesn't steal. But then you've got to land the 1 or your solo will fall flat. Use a drum machine or a metronome.

Lastly it is more important that you know how chords are made than it is for guitar players. In the key of G. The one chord is GBD this is a triad. You must know the notes in the chords that are being represented because these are the easy notes that you know you can play when moving to the root.

Just 4 starters
 

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#10
TeachMeBassGuitar.com great lessons by Roy Vogt. He is a master bass player and a awesome teacher. I believe he is the first person to ever receive a Masters degree in bass. He also teaches at Belmont University. Go buy this course and thank me later..cheers
 

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