Looking for advice on multiple fronts (adult beginner)

[AlexMYS]

I do to now, but I wish I did when I was younger. My late wife was a classical pianist and wanted to teach me but back then I think I would have rather had dental surgery.

I'm sorry for your loss man, may she rest in peace.

 

[Marcury]

Calluses are inevitable as are blisters at first. You want and I'd even say need top build up callouses, Don't think they will affect your professional life. You might experience some muscle soreness in your hand and forearms so I suggest going slowly at first and if you can find a teacher to set you up with the physics of playing.

As for 4 or 5 string: I've had and played bot and have gotten rid of all my 5s at this opoint because nothing I'm playing requires notes below D (for which I have one bass with a Hipshot X-tender https://hipshotproducts.com/collections/bass-xtenders). I would suggest trying out a few 4s and 5s before deciding, but if you're sure you will need those extra notes, get a 5.

Active will probably give you more tonal options, but a passive bass with both a neck and bridge pickup will give you a lot of versatility too.

Definitely learn theory as you learn technique. It's really not all the complex and it will clarify issues as to what you do with the things you Lera (like scales, chords arpeggios etc.).

For learning on line I think you'll find goos stuff at Truefire Bass Guitar Learning Path - TrueFire and I'd recommend any and all of these YouTube channels that all have very useful beginner info:

Dan Hawkins: https://www.youtube.com/c/OnlineBassCourses/featured

Josh Fossgreen: https://www.youtube.com/c/BassBuzz/featured

Luke McIntosh:https://www.youtube.com/user/BecomeABassist

Mark J Smith: https://www.youtube.com/c/TalkingBassVideo/featured

 

[chris_b]

Hi Alex, You don't want callouses, don't play hard/dig in. You want the most flexible bass, get one with 2 pickups.

The rest is down to your personal choice when you are choosing your instrument.

 

[DrBnz]

Callouses do happen. I don't consider them a problem. Now what is a problem is initially most of us "try" too hard and we'll bruise our fingertips and/or aggravate the joint tendons to the point where they painful to touch. In this case hold your fingertips in ice (a lot) and skip a day of playing, you'll be fine. After a couple months of playing that'll stop happening too.

Also pay particular attention to technique and POSTURE. Learn to do the fundamentals - perfectly. As you know as a physical therapist, poor posture will cause pain to you in the long run. Again.... learning the fundamentals will keep you from having to crouch over and WATCH what your fingers are doing. Keep good posture and watch the fretboard side markers to know where your fingers are. Head back / shoulders back and play.

I'd also mention:
- The right strap helps there are well. The wrong strap will cause pain within an hour.
- A lighter Bass is more comfortable than a heavier one.
- Stick with the name brand instruments - doesn't have to be a USA model - others play just as well
- 4 strings are all you need (IMO) - BUT - if you "think" you'll want a 5 string, then it is better to start with them. Rather than getting one later.
- Playing in front of a mirror helps too as you don't have to crouch over to see where your fingers are and it'll help you (later) to read other players fretboard in a band environment (helpful if you don't know the song or just got lost).

 

[g-dude]

- 4 strings are all you need (IMO)

Nobody needs that many strings!

Not mine…mine is still being built.

Wish I had the bravery and artistic integrity to get this one…

 

[jastacey]

Kinda late to this, but at this point just get a bass, that you like either 4 or 5 string, (it should be comfortable, and have it set up, meaning you don't want the strings so far off the fret-board, that you can't sound a note ), when I started playing, late 1960's, the only options, were the "Mel Ray" book, and face to face instruction, I was lucky, as my teacher was a bass player, so many teachers are guitarists, and don't have the mindset of a bassist, and in my view, it's essential, that you view music through that lens, now there are many portals to get instruction, on the web, but having feedback from a teacher, will broaden your learning experience, you'll find that around colleges, that have music courses, a good starting place to find a bass teacher, jazz is a good flavor to learn in, and those ideals translate into most music, as to calluses, you'll get them, don't worry, view it a a rite of passage, and learn to crawl, then walk, then run, playing bass is a journey, you'll meet many musicians along the way, who can help you along the path of being a musician, yes it's frustrating at times, but in the end, you'll be a better person/musician, and another thought, that has worked for me, go see as many bass players as you can, everyone has there own style, and you can see/hear what they are doing, that in it's self is a lesson .... IMHO

 

[west al]

If you're really keen on avoiding callouses, you should consider using tapewound strings

Agreed. I was going to advise on Nylon Tapewounds also. I've used D'Addario ETB92 Nylons on about every bass I've played. Currently using ETB92S on my Epi EB-0, with no issues.

 

[vindibona1]

@vindibona1

About in-person lessons, I probably will get a couple lessons, once I get the very basics under my belt. I've learned many things on my own, trough online resources, I'm very meticulous and detail-oriented, so it works out fine, but some things need to be evaluated by others.

I'm learning using StudyBass, but I might sign up for the "Beginner to badass" course, I've heard great things about it.

Thank you both.

You can do what you want, but IMO you have it backwards. I strongly believe in face to face lessons out of the gate. So many nuances that get habituated from the first moments of playing. You can do what you like, but I'm telling you from the experience of 40+ years of playing, teaching and as a student myself. The nuances and fine pointers that you learn from the very beginning could accelerate your learning... or slow it it. Once you get a little advanced those nuances really start to show up. JMO

Editorial note: I tried using the word "r e t a r d" in the context of slowing down, but the systematic Woke police built into the forum changed "r e t a r d" to "dufus". As I tried to write this note in hopes that the moderators can correct this, I finally got to show the word by spacing between the letters. Let's not be woke morons banning words that, especially in musical context could not be considered within 20 miles of "offensive". I think as a rule some folks have become way too sensitive about nonsense. What's next? I have to be mindful of using only "gender free pronouns" too???