Hello

[Robmnj]

Hello all. I recently dug out my old basses from storage and decided to try to learn again. The last time I really played was in high school 20 years ago, and that was mostly sheet music. I've joined my church band, but for the most part, I've been following the guitar chords, with no real bass lines. I've tried a few songs on Songsterr, but it's tough for me to keep up.

Does anyone have any recommendations for practicing? Scales, etc? Looking for something to get my fingers back in shape.

I currently have a Peavey Foundation and a Peavey Dynabass I'm working with. I'd like to get a violin style bass, but plan on using that as a reward for myself once I get back up to speed.

 

[Oddly]

Welcome to TB!
As someone who returned to playing after a 20-year break myself the best advice I can give is to take it slow and easy.
Older hands ain't as flexible or forgiving as they once were.

As for using Songsterr, I found the speed-changing ability on it real useful...take a song down to 50% and work your way back up to full speed.

 

[MalcolmAmos]

Praise music at church is normally from fake chord sheet music so the chords and lyrics are given to you. Praise music can and does use as many as 6 or 7 of the chords in the key. You normally have room only for pounding roots and changing roots dead on the chord change. Perhaps a chromatic run between verses, but, normally less is more with the Praise we do.

I transpose my fake chord over to Nashville numbers and if I need a 5 in the bass line it'll be up a string and over two frets. The 8 will be right over the 5 on the next string up. R-5-8-5 with chromatic runs between verses should get you going.

Chromatic runs; target the next verses starting chord's root. Miss it by three frets - up or down makes no difference - then walk to the root one fret at a time and hit the chord change dead on.

Have fun.