Help for Beginner

[johnhunn]

I would like to learn to play bass. I have never played. My goal at this point is to learn the bass lines from the old hits of the 50's, 60's and early 70's and be able to play-along with the songs as I listen to them on CD, etc. I currently have a Dean E09 bass and practice-amp.

I just need some good, basic advice but do not want to tie -up time/resources, with formal lessons, unless absolutely neccessary. Are there sufficient on-line resources to help me accomplish my goal? Which, if any, books should I buy? Any/all advice is greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance.

 

[Hulktopus]

These forums are FULL of wonderful information. My advice is to browse the information in the General Instruction threads. Everyone on these forums is very supportive and will gladly answer any specific questions you may have.

Also, learning your scales and intervals will help a lot. "Singing" the letter or making the sound of the next note in a scale will develop your "ear" allowing you to mimic the notes you hear. This will also help familiarize you with your fretboard.

When I practice, I use a metronome and it seems to help quite a bit.

Above all else, PRACTICE!

 

[Already In Use]

Try here for starters....

http://www.studybass.com/

Then take a peek here...

http://scottsbasslessons.com/

You can learn a lot right here on TB! Enjoy..

Thank member Stumbo!
http://www.talkbass.com/forum/f147/brand-new-aspiring-bassist-705792/

 

[klokker]

^^ I would say do what you want to do.

There's tons of stuff on the web. You can find guys that will walk you through Honky Tonk Woman for example and show you excatly where to put your fingers etc. There's all kinds of "bass part" videos for classic rock songs.

Just pick one and start in. If it grabs you, you're on your way.

It's nice to know the notes, to read music, to count correctly and all that.......but I'd just start for a while doing what you want to do. You'll probably branch out as you go.

Have fun.

 

[fearceol]

All great advice so far. The "Study Bass" site is especially good IMO. It emphasises the importance of CHORD TONES. Learning your scales is very important, but chord tones are equally so. It explains why, here :

http://www.studybass.com/lessons/bass-chord-patterns/chord-tones-are-primary/


As you are starting from scratch, it would be a good idea IMO to pay some attention to both R/H and L/H technique. Apart from being able to play to your full potential, good technique will help prevent physical injuries later on. Below are some clips to help get you started. Be sure to take your time at first. Dont over do the playing time until your hands/fingers/wrists have time to adjust to this new task being asked of them. This also helps to prevent the dreaded blisters.





Best of luck with it, and welcome to the low end.

 

[Demonjrx]

Try here for starters....

http://www.studybass.com/

This ^^
Another good idea maybe to get yourself a teacher for a little bit to help with the basics. I did that when I was learning to play guitar and it helped soo much more than just trying to learn on my own.

Some other advice I can give you for learning songs, try to learn songs you like. You'll have a lot more motivation to play the songs than you will if they are songs you don't really enjoy.

 

[GypsyMan]

Get Ed Friedlands book;

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0793563836/ref=oh_details_o06_s00_i00

It's the best method book I've ever seen and comes with 3 CDs.

It has a natural progression in skill. I like the way he went into playing in the BOX, and triads. I can't say enough good things about this book.

You'll start out as a complete novice; and finish at least intermiediate Bassist!

I go back to it often!

This is how good it is; I was just thinking to myself, " I should go down to the Music Acadamy for a few lessons, Naw I'll just go work on my Ed Friedland book!"

 

[Hulktopus]

Be sure to take your time at first. Don't over do the playing time until your hands/fingers/wrists have time to adjust to this new task being asked of them. This also helps to prevent the dreaded blisters.

Fantastic advice. If you get tired or start to hurt, take a break. I do hand stretches before and after playing as well.


Here's dman's link to a video of the stretches. Doesn't take long, and your hands will thank you in the long run.

Link Removed

 

[MalcolmAmos]

Gotta know how to hold your bass. How to tune it. How to get sound from it, all those basic things.

The book Bass Guitar for Dummies will give you all that and much more. http://www.amazon.com/Bass-Guitar-Dummies-Patrick-Pfeiffer/dp/0764524879

• Yes to http://www.studybass.com/
• Yes to Ed Friedland's books. http://www.amazon.com/Building-Walking-Bass-Lines-Friedland/dp/0793542049
• Yes to Scott Devine's videos. [Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
• Play from fake chord sheet music. Here is an example of the song Cold, Cold Heart showing the lyrics and chords used in the song. http://tabs.ultimate-guitar.com/h/hank_williams/cold_cold_heart_crd.htm and this should give you an idea how to take those chords and provide an accompaniment bass line for the song Cold, Cold Heart.
• Use the major scale box pattern to help with what specific notes to use with the chords. See below.....

Bass Patterns based upon the Major Scale box.

Major Scale Box. 
Code:
G|---2---|-------|---3---|---4---| 1st string
D|---6---|-------|---7---|---8---|
A|---3---|---4---|-------|---5---|
E|-------|---R---|-------|---2---|4th string
Cmaj7 chord coming up in the song.  Place the major scale box 
pattern's R on a C note (4th string 8th fret) and play the
R-3-5-7 scale degrees of the box.  That will automatically
put the correct notes into your bass line - for a Cmaj7 chord.  

Basic Chords
•	Major Triad = R-3-5
•	Minor Triad = R-b3-5
•	Diminished Chord = R-b3-b5
7th Chords
•	Maj7 = R-3-5-7
•	Minor 7 = R-b3-5-b7
•	Dominant 7 = R-3-5-b7
•	½ diminished = R-b3-b5-b7
•	Full diminished = R-b3-b5-bb7

See a chord and play it's chord tones. As every key will have two major, one dominant seven, three minor and one diminished chord it's a good idea to get your major (R-3-5-3 for a major triad or R-3-5-7 for a maj7 chord), dominant seven (R-3-5-b7), minor (R-b3-5-b7) and diminished bass line chord tones (R-b3-b5-b7) into muscle memory so when you see a chord your fingers just know what will work. Now the song may only give you enough room for the root, or root five - adapt and get as many chord tones into your bass line as needed. Root on 1 and a steady groove from the other chord tones plus something to call attention to the chord change will keep you gigging. Ed and Scott will help with how to call attention to the next chord coming up. It's a journey best started with baby steps. Pick one thing - perhaps the book Bass Guitar for Dummies and start there.


Good luck and have fun..

 

[thunderstation]

Mel-bay Bass Books #1 & #2 - also learn your fretboard

 

[MrLenny1]

Learn your scales & proper fingering up front.
A good teacher is always the best way to start.
If money is an issue go bi-weekly.
Good Luck & Welcome to TB