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I've been playing bass for a Whole year now. Any tips going forwards?
- Thread starter The3fingerteers
- Start date
I can only tell you how it was for me in school. Yes, we had a kind of rock band. We were pretty bad! But hey so our music was worth what they paid for it, which was FREE (usually) and our classmates were supportive. And the school itself was an opportunity. Since somehow they found out I played drums I got "volunteered" for the concert band season (non-football band). Why the killer drummers in the football band didn't want anything to do with off season was a mystery to me. I was basically the entire percussion section. Talk about stretching your mind! And then somehow they found out I had an upright bass (I played upright back then) and the school didn't have one, so I got "volunteered" again for bass for every musical show the school put on. Quite frankly I loved it and having to read like that was very educational. I know this sounds like it's going nowhere but it's not. Then while I was still in school somehow I met this fellow classmate who wasn't in any of my classes and wasn't in any of the bands but played accordion like a fiend. He was looking for a drummer for gigs. And I was it. Then as time went on I got around other people in the polka scene and was getting bass polka gigs. I know what you are thinking. POLKA GIGS??!!! Well, you might think it was torture but in fact it was very educational AND paid great too! And the one thing I"ll always miss about it was when those big Italian mommas take the band back in the kitchen during a break for food like you died and went to heaven! Later I got involved with a Ukrainian band. That one was truly weird (educational) too. And then you just work your way toward where you want to be. It's all knowledge and all experience. and it all makes you what you finally became. So no, our little sucky high school rock band never made us all rock stars. but every little bit helps. You know, I've been to more clinics than I can count where some cats who have played with some of the biggest stars around were holding them. And the ONE thing that always amazed me was just how comprehensive was their musical knowledge and wide the expanse of their range of musical experience! They clearly had all Paid their Dues and it showed.
As for a 6 string, I assume you are playing a 4 string so I VERY MUCH urge you to get a 6 string and find out what is it about a 6 string bass (which also teaches you what it is about a 5 string bass as well). Learn about using the extended low end (tastefully) as well as what the extended high end can offer. But most important of all learn how a 6 string is played across the strings and patterns are all movable up and down and side to side. Here's what I wrote about it:
http://www.mrk-inc.com/Docs/fjacoby/NString.pdf
You don't need to spend a fortune to get a nice 6 string bass and live with it for a while. If its not 'you" then flip it and you lose little cash that you can just consider 6 string "lessons". Check out RondoMusic.com for lots of buys. Look at my Avatar! A 6 string SX bass that is totally killer for a a couple hundred bux or even less on sale.
That is interesting. I have been thinking of drums too. I actually used to play them!
I'd may as well just get a 5 string if I was one of those nu metal kids from 10 years ago lol.
Using the extra C string compositionally ,in a song, with a whole band (drums, guitars, vocals, keys, etc) can be super good. I'd basically just soak in everything by Dream Theater and Karnivool (and other bands similar to) as soon as I get used to the 2 extra strings.
Got respect for fretless players too!
I'm more of a prog player, so that wants more a brighter tone, but I love the warm tone of a fretless. I suppose I could just pry the frets off my old one
That's what I used to say too. Then I got a 6 string, and a fretless, and a 6 string fretless... Plus there has to be some sort of relationship between the time spent on TalkBass and GAS attacks ...
Get a big playist of songs you can almost play or wish you could play and then put it on random play and jam along with it best you can as often as you can. That element of having to dive in head first and do your best and of not knowing what's coming next will keep you on your toes will develop your ear to a great degree. 
Find out who else in your school plays something.
Go jam with them.
Put together a band, if you can.
Play with as many folks as you can.
You can learn a lot from those that are better.
You still might learn something from those that aren't.
If you see a chance to help someone out, do it.
Nothing makes you have to make sure you know your stuff like
trying to teach someone else.
If you or your friends have older brothers or Dads or Uncles
in a band, hang out with them when they are playing.
Go jam with them.
Put together a band, if you can.
Play with as many folks as you can.
You can learn a lot from those that are better.
You still might learn something from those that aren't.
If you see a chance to help someone out, do it.
Nothing makes you have to make sure you know your stuff like
trying to teach someone else.
If you or your friends have older brothers or Dads or Uncles
in a band, hang out with them when they are playing.
I forgot to mention earlier, it is very helpful to at least familiarize yourself with chords on a six string guitar (not bass) ... assuming that you have not came over from guitar
I started 50 years ago playing rhythm guitar in a neighborhood band ... although I was never very good, knowing how to play the basic chords (bar chords too) has proven to be very important over the years when I find myself in situations where I am needing to play something on the fly ...
FWIW, if anyone wants to play bass and has no experience playing 6 string, I usually suggest picking up a cheap 6 string and spend some time learning basic chords on that as well as time with the bass ... I think it helps with your finger dexterity as well ...
JMHO ... as always
Gigs and theory. Piano. For music it's the equivalent of being able to type. If you don't read music, learn. (Drums are good also, but I'd suggest more of a percussionist's perspective).
Now is the time to evaluate any bad habits you may have picked up in your short time playing and correct them. Also I assume you are still in school so don't slack! Sorry that's just the dad in me coming out.
I think what really helped me was finding a couple of guys to make music with. My first band was a guitar bass and drums deal. We played Stranglehold so many times and dragged it out so long, I'm pretty sure the guitar players dad still can't get it out of his head. As boring as it was for a bass player to play basically the same pattern over and over while the guitar player solo'd, I was learning feel, learning groove, learning how to lock in with a drummer, and just loving that goodness that happens when it all meshes together to make music.
I'm in my 50's now and have played bass for what seems like forever. I made a living playing in the 80's doing 5-6 nights a week, 5 sets a night. You learn quite a bit from just doing it. These days I play for fun in a band doing original music and rarely make a dime. I still love playing and making music.
I think what really helped me was finding a couple of guys to make music with. My first band was a guitar bass and drums deal. We played Stranglehold so many times and dragged it out so long, I'm pretty sure the guitar players dad still can't get it out of his head. As boring as it was for a bass player to play basically the same pattern over and over while the guitar player solo'd, I was learning feel, learning groove, learning how to lock in with a drummer, and just loving that goodness that happens when it all meshes together to make music.
I'm in my 50's now and have played bass for what seems like forever. I made a living playing in the 80's doing 5-6 nights a week, 5 sets a night. You learn quite a bit from just doing it. These days I play for fun in a band doing original music and rarely make a dime. I still love playing and making music.
Play more. Try finding a band, it's a great way to build up your stamina and chops. Go to bars and watch as many bass players as you can.
Practice SLOWLY. If you can't play it well at slow tempo you'll never play it fast. Unless, that is, you're content with being sloppy. Once you learn to play something slowly learning to play it fast will come easily. Play relaxed. If you tense up, slow down.
A classical guitar teacher taught me something valuable: practice at a slow tempo but with finger movements at regular speed. There'll be pauses between notes. As you get comfortable you shorten the pauses, keeping the finger movements the same. If you move your fingers slowly when playing slowly and fast when playing fast you'll be holding yourself back. When practicing always use the same speed of movement but give your body time to adjust and build muscle memory.
A classical guitar teacher taught me something valuable: practice at a slow tempo but with finger movements at regular speed. There'll be pauses between notes. As you get comfortable you shorten the pauses, keeping the finger movements the same. If you move your fingers slowly when playing slowly and fast when playing fast you'll be holding yourself back. When practicing always use the same speed of movement but give your body time to adjust and build muscle memory.
I'd may as well just get a 5 string if I was one of those nu metal kids from 10 years ago lol.
Using the extra C string compositionally ,in a song, with a whole band (drums, guitars, vocals, keys, etc) can be super good. I'd basically just soak in everything by Dream Theater and Karnivool (and other bands similar to) as soon as I get used to the 2 extra strings.
Got respect for fretless players too!
I'm more of a prog player, so that wants more a brighter tone, but I love the warm tone of a fretless. I suppose I could just pry the frets off my old one
I'd not recommend a 5 string first. The 6 FORCES you to do the right things. A 5 not so much.
Yes, 6 is exactly the Dream Theater kind of thing. You'll love it and quickly get into it Even a 7 but for me a 7 is right at the limit of what I can reach so I wouldn't say a newbie should start there.
And I love Fretless too, but you are right about mellower tone. I tend to play ground wounds on my G&L L2500 fretless with an ebony board. Still mellow, but my FAVORITE bass. You can go brighter using rounds or even getting an epoxy coat, but neck chews from bright rounds drive me nuts so I don't go that route and stick with mellow. Woods softer then ebony will be more mellow and chew much faster from round wound strings.
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Youtube "guitar backing tracks". Find one that suits you and learn to play along in time and in the right key. Experiment with stuff as you go. The tracks provide a way for you to sort of play with a band until you get the chance to play with a real one.
Have you mastered the floating thumb technique yet? I highly recommend it. It forces you to play cleanly, it's inherently, naturally good plucking hand technique.
Don't pay attention to the name on the headstock or where it was built .
If it looks good feels good, plays well, holds tune, doesn't weight too much, records well, and sounds good live in the mix, keep it!!
Everyone needs at least 2 basses that bring something different to the table.
If it looks good feels good, plays well, holds tune, doesn't weight too much, records well, and sounds good live in the mix, keep it!!
Everyone needs at least 2 basses that bring something different to the table.
