Long-Term Musician, Bass Noob

[flattman]

So, I made the decision to switch to bass a short while back, and now that my guitar has arrived... I'm kinda wondering what took me so long.

I started doing the rhythm guitar/lead vocals thing when I was around 18. For the next ten years or so, I played pretty regularly -- My busiest stretch was probably around 94-97 or so, when I was performing a Fri-Sat house gig every week and a couple other one-off shows regionally. (My busiest years were around the 120-130 gig mark.)

Anyway, superstardom was somehow elusive (Hah).

After a handful of years involving a career change, a move, a marriage, another move, etc... I started looking back into playing live. Picking up the bass to get a bit more versatility, and have more options for home recording. Also, now that I've been thunking around on it a few days, music is FUN again.

The transition hasn't been TOO difficult, so far... no more than expected, at least. I was never really a lead guitar player, so there's not much impulse to play 'lead bass'.

Getting used to the differences in fret spacing, pressure, technique, etc.

One problem I'm facing is the same problem I've always had with the guitar -- My pinkie finger doesn't do what I want it to. I tore up my left wrist when I was younger, snapped both bones, tore some tendons, real mess... And I don't have a great deal of precision with the pinkie. Octaves aren't really a problem with it, but otherwise? I'd learned all sorts of compensations on the guitar, but it's feeling like it might be a bit more of a problem with the bass. Suggestions would certainly be appreciated.

Also looking to find some info regarding a good cheapo headphone amp. I work nights, and have been putting in a couple hours of practice on 'off' nights, don't want to wake up the entire family.

Any solid drills/practice routines for converted guitarists would also be welcome.

Another observation -- Singing while playing is currently MUCH more difficult. Might just be an effect of having too much of my brain caught up in learning the new instrument.

I can't seem to get photobucket to load at the moment, so I'll have to hold off on the pic -- I picked up an Ibanez Gio GARTB20 in Silverburst, hoping to have a cheapo to bang on for a couple years 'til I got somewhat competent. The thing had a surprisingly nice tone out of the box.

Thanks, all!

 

[Staccato]

Welcome!

Lots of choices out there, here's two TB favs...

1. Acoustic B20 bass amp with 12" speaker, MP3 in/headphones out. $150
2. Roland CB30 Cube bass amp w/ 10" speaker, amp models & 'Boss' effects, MP3 in/headphones out. $299

 

[Russell L]

"Thunking." I like that. That describes the sound I'm looking for (either that or the past tense of thinking).

Well, about your pinky. Forget about it. You will learn to fret the bass somehow or another. I mean, you can adapt. Django did, huh? But yes, I understand the frets on bass are farther apart than on guitar. You might like a shorter scale length bass like a Fender Bronco, 30" scale instead of the usual 34". Also take a look at an Epiphone EBO. Only $300, I think.

I play electric a lot with my ring finger going along with my pinky because I used to play upright bass. See if that technique helps you any. But, otherwise, you can still play a lot of bass without your pinky. I think the more you play you will learn to accomodate for the lack of dexterity in your pinky. Or, who knows, it might actually gain some.

 

[flattman]

I did end up with a short scale. I was leaning heavily toward the Dean EVO XM for cramming 24 frets into a 30" neck, but ended up getting caught in by Teh Purty of my Gio's silverburst.

Hey, the bucket started working again. Here:

I'm trying to force a bit more pinkie action, but right now it's only useful for octaves (Which IS immensely useful). On the down side, I'm -only- using it for that octave note, then transitioning to the ring finger if the note is played again. It's unnecessary motion in principle, but the hands do what they're capable of, I guess.

 

[Russell L]

I thin you'll get it. Nice looking bass.

 

[flattman]

So, got almost a week in, and around ten hours of practice time. Some discoveries:

* Playing with a pick is easier, but I'm forcing myself to play with index-middle fingers. Finally getting a decent flow with 8th notes.

* Singing is a pain. If it isn't straight 8's or something absurdly simple (Beverly Hills, etc), there are going to be issues. Might have to practice more than a few days before I'm a Master, haha.

* Either my fingers are stronger and more calloused than I thought, or dudes like to complain too much. Haven't had any of the problems I've heard about with fatigue/blisters/whatever.

* I'm using my right hand ring finger to quiet strings quite a bit. Wasn't anything I planned out, just noticed myself doing it at one point. One reason I'm preferring fingers to the pick.

* Bizarrely fun noob song: Longview.

* My Sister Hazel appreciation has inverted. Was favoring the recent stuff for harmonies. Now favoring the early stuff (White and Somewhere More Familiar are great).

* Ditto musical appreciation in general. I'm a baritone, vocally, and my selection before bass was -entirely- based on what I could sing. Caught myself playing Michael Jackson songs the other day, heh.

 

[helterschecter]

As far as a head phone amp iv got a v2 pocket rocket mini amp that plugs directly into your bass or guitar. My wife bought it for me for christmas. I think I use it more than my regular amp..she bought it at guitar center for about 80 bucks..the great thing about it is that you can play your music thru so u can play along with your songs

 

[flattman]

As far as a head phone amp iv got a v2 pocket rocket mini amp that plugs directly into your bass or guitar. My wife bought it for me for christmas. I think I use it more than my regular amp..she bought it at guitar center for about 80 bucks..the great thing about it is that you can play your music thru so u can play along with your songs

I was looking at the Sb1 -- Same company, cheaper model that I'm mainly looking at because it says 'Bass' on it. I'm not expecting a great deal out of a headphone amp, but are they at least workable?

Also looking at the Vox versions, but would have to order one of those online -- Just have the guitar versions locally.

 

[guitar<bass]

I use the vox ac30 amplug for my Warwick Rockbass Corvette.
I got it half off a couple of months ago but the bass version wasn't on sale

However, this little do-dad is quite useful. battery life is excellent and a good clear tone is not that hard to obtain. It is very loud with ear buds but still plenty loud with "full sized" headphones.

I would love to try the bass model because this one is great!

 

[flattman]

I picked up the C-Tech Sb1. Good sound, though a bit quiet through the phones. I'd put it in the 3/5 stars range -- A bit on the plastic piece of crap side of things for 40 bucks, BUT it does its job sufficiently.

 

[sammyp]

you're right, singing and playing bass is rough because you can't just hit a chord and let it hang while you spit out some words ...bass is note and groove specific and seems to take more brain separation between voice and hands.

i would recommend Essential Bass concepts from musician's institiute press published by hal leonard ...it's a great well rounded guide to the main bass tech from rock, blues, jazz lines as well as slap, hammer ons, slides and ghost notes ....has lot's of musical exercises for left and right hand.

i personally don't like 1234 type finger exercises but they will help bring your pinky around....

 

[Stumbo]

* Singing is a pain. If it isn't straight 8's or something absurdly simple (Beverly Hills, etc), there are going to be issues. Might have to practice more than a few days before I'm a Master, haha.

Try slowing down everything by about 50% (or wherever you're comfortable) so that you can practice both until you get up to speed.

Good luck with your bass playing. YOu might want to check out the link in my sig. below for some great TB info that may help you out.

 

[flattman]

Try slowing down everything by about 50% (or wherever you're comfortable) so that you can practice both until you get up to speed.

Good luck with your bass playing. YOu might want to check out the link in my sig. below for some great TB info that may help you out.

It's coming together pretty well -- Random surprise is how easy it seems to be to sing with walking bass lines. Guess it's a timing thing, as it's easy to get into a groove.

The batch of scales I set out to memorize was also quite a bit simpler than expected. Stumbled across countless recognizable licks in the process, heh.

Shame it's such a pain to track down some musicians, hereabouts. Getting to where I want to find a drummer to annoy.

 

[The Deej]

I feel ya on the pinky issue. Add a bit of tendinitis to the mix and it makes it even more of a challenge. I just switched to bass last week and I think I need to change to a lighter gauge. I keep getting a lot of buzz on my strings probably because I am just not pressing hard enough.

I have the bass version of the amplug and while I am still figuring out the right mix for the best sound while practising I do like being able to hear what I am playing until I can get myself a real amp.

 

[JimmyM]

the pinky just needs to be worked, and you need to have technique that maximizes its usefulness, i.e., keeping the thumb behind the neck, fingers curved, etc. your injury notwithstanding, if you can do octaves with it, you can do other stuff with it.