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How long does it take to get decent at bass?

#61
I have been playing for six months now.
I started with scales and basic blues stuff.
Then learning a song here and there to keep it interesting.
About a month ago,
I started jamming with a friend who is a decent guitar player.
He actually showed me some riffs that Helped me progress quite a bit.
Now I am learning some songs that are a bit more challenging.
Some Allman Brothers.....
Hootchie Kootchie Man
Every Hungry Woman
You Don't Love Me
Trouble No More
Lost Woman (The Yardbirds version)
I agree...forget the slap for now..get back to basics.
Practice regularly, work on scales and mix in a couple of tunes that are at your level.
 
#62
Have you ever heard of Carol Kaye? You certainly have heard her play. She was the bass player for the Wrecking Crew. She has played on more records than I own. She has a tutorial series that will teach you all you need to be taught about scales and how tones work together. Worth every Penney. It'll take you from "I know some stuff" to bassist
 
#69
I've been at it 45 years now and am only approaching halfway decent recently. Practice more, play with others more, learn more, don't be as lazy as I have been about it! :D
 
#73
It depends on you how fast you take to get good. Some never get good, some get good in 3 to 5 months.

If you're organized, know how to set up a goal with intermediate goals you'll have a time line and everything laid out to set yourself up for success.

If you're the type that seeks out the information you need to accomplish thing, you'll be able to sift through the massive amounts of free info and tutorial online.

If you're not a good self teacher, and need someone to tell you want to do every step of the way type of person. Than a instructor will do that for the right price.

If you not motivated to lay down a plan to work on. You can pay someone to do it for the right price.

If you don't really have the true passion and desire to play music, than perhaps musical instruments would be a waste of your time.

It's better to do something that you really like, and have a passion for, than fester in something that is a chore.
 
#74
I used to tell students that their progress is dependent upon the amount of time they put into studying and practicing.

I begah learning guitar in '63. By '65 I was playing jazz, in a band. All because I was OBSESSED with it. Couldn't help it, had to play, like a hunger, and study. More like POSSESSED. Over thirty years ago I had one student who was a total newbie to playing at all. He wanted to learn to play, and particularly wanted to learn theory. Well, in one year he could blow me off the stage, and knew what he was doing, too. It's all he did every night after work, study and play.

If ya wanna get good, dive in. And learn theory. Don't listen to the naysayers about how much theory helps. And learn to read. Again, don't listen to the naysayers.

I know, from experience.
 
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#75
Russell L said:
I used to tell students that their progress is dependent upon the amount of time they put into studying and practicing.

I begah learning guitar in '63. By '65 I was playing jazz, in a band. All because I was OBSESSED with it. Couldn't help it, had to play, like a hunger, and study. More like POSSESSED. Over thirty years ago I had one student who was a total newbie to playing at all. He wanted to learn to play, and particularly wanted to learn theory. Well, in one year he could blow me off the stage, and knew what he was doing, too. It's all he did every night after work, study and play.

If ya wanna get good, dive in. And learn theory. Don't listen to the naysayers about how much theory helps. And learn to read. Again, don't listen to the naysayers.

I know, from experience.
Click to expand...
There you go!
 
#76
I got my first usa std fender after 12 years of playing. I got a beginner student, who bought a brand new usa std fender before his first lesson.

At the end it really doesn't matter as long as you have an instrument that plays well and has a good setup.
 

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