Hello, TB

[Chicory Blue]

Ahoy, all. My name's Chicory, and I've been playing bass guitar as a closet live-looper for... maybe two years or so now?

Without much formal instruction (I was able to pay for lessons just long enough to learn how to hold the thing right and how to practice without developing too many bad habits), learning the instrument can often be a slow and frustrating process, but I think I've done reasonably well in this time, and between me and my trusty looper backing me up I think I've become passably competent at a few unconventional techniques (chords/soloing/using the bass as a drum) though I've still got miles of learning left to do before I'm confident enough to play with- let alone for- others.

To be honest, I've actually been using TalkBass throughout my entire learning experience- you guys don't know it yet, but you've helped me pick out pretty much all of my equipment to date- instruments, strings, pedals... and given me some very useful advice on how to approach the instrument, and music as a whole.

So, I think it's about time I came out of the shadows and joined the conversation, no?

It's a pleasure to meet you all!

(If you don't mind, I'll start bombarding you with silly questions now.)

--^@

 

[MalcolmAmos]

If you need something, ask away.

 

[W.Roberts]

Hell-o my young fine gentleman. Here's how to learn -- find a bassist on records that turns you the Hell on. Get your bass guitar and play along. Work it, my friend. Lessons keep one away from playing by overloading academics that don't translate into playing music which is a spiritual communication between life forms. My friend and mentor, bassist Jerry Jemmott, has a philosophy that is simple, straight ahead used in teaching music and it is traditional and tribal -- say it, sing it, play it! If you want to get with the best teacher on Earth, look to Carol Kaye's material. Start by looking her up on YouTube. She's a complete all business brilliant musician, the most recorded in entire recorded history. She makes learning bass, every aspect, straight ahead, no BS.

 

[Chicory Blue]

Hell-o my young fine gentleman. Here's how to learn -- find a bassist on records that turns you the Hell on. Get your bass guitar and play along. Work it, my friend. Lessons keep one away from playing by overloading academics that don't translate into playing music which is a spiritual communication between life forms. My friend and mentor, bassist Jerry Jemmott, has a philosophy that is simple, straight ahead used in teaching music and it is traditional and tribal -- say it, sing it, play it! If you want to get with the best teacher on Earth, look to Carol Kaye's material. Start by looking her up on YouTube. She's a complete all business brilliant musician, the most recorded in entire recorded history. She makes learning bass, every aspect, straight ahead, no BS.

Thank you! I'm familiar with Carol Kaye and the extent to which she's incredible, though most of my hero-study is playing along to good ol' Duck (especially backing Albert King <3), or, if I'm feeling cocky, attempting to follow along with a Jamerson line just long enough to feel bad about myself.

Say it, sing it, play it... I like it! I'll be certain to give that a try. Naturally it's easy to fall into creative ruts where everything I play just feels like the same old notes, because I'm letting my hands do what they already know how to do instead of pushing them to try something unfamiliar. This sounds like a wonderful way to break that habit.

--^@