make me into a remarkable bassist

[brothertupelo]

i was kidding about the clothes. **** the ********, i prefer sweats.

 

[brothertupelo]

in fact, i only started wearing jeans in the first place because a bunch of ****ing cockbags wouldn't stop giving me **** about them. screw the miserable groupthink aspect of life.
i'm serious about becoming a serious bassist, though. and i don't have a whole lot of time. i'm mortal, and i play a lot of other instruments that i have to spend a lot of time on as well and work a ******, stressful job, so please don't waste my time and help me if you can.

 

[Blah114]

are those bands in order or should i try to tackle let it be on monday and donna lee on tuesday?

you asked.. that is my opinion... if you don't like the advice and only have a smartass response.. then don't ask for people's advice.

 

[debassr]

/unsubscribe thread

 

[notforrobots]

lol

 

[greenboy]

Everyone wants the Fast Food Fix these days <grumble grumble> ...Ever stop and think that the greats have a devotion to the spirit of music - and that, even more than assimilating techniques and knowledge, is what made/makes them greats?

It's easier to be famous, probably ; }

 

[Phil Smith]

Get enough cash so that you can study with all of the best players so that you don't waste time trying things on your own. Have them teach you what they are doing and why they do it. Do nothing but practice, don't work(this is where the cash comes in) and don't worry about paying any bills.

 

[(b)Assman]

A decent pair of pants, some leather shoes, and a white shirt and tie. Thats the snazzy dressing part down. Now just practise and network. All you can do really

***, is he playing at dive bars or jazz clubs or something?

LOL

 

[DougD]

i have an ok ear from other instruments and i've been around for long enough that right now i can get by as a fairly uninteresting stand-in, but i don't do anything that well. turn me into a human god, a funky sex machine, a virtuoso, and a snazzy dresser.

go.

Ok (drill Sargent voice on)
YOU WANT MOTIVATION? GET YOUR HANDS OFF THAT KEYBOARD YOU MAGGOT!!! PUT EM ON YOU BASS! DO IT NOWWWWWW MAGGOT! YOU WILL LEARN! I WILL TEACH YOU! I WILL MOLD YOU INTO A LEAN MEAN BASS PLAYIN MACHINE! YOU WILL WALK, TALK,EAT AND SEEP WITH THAT BASS! IF THAT BASS LEAVES YOUR GRUBBY LITTLE MITTS FOR 1 SECOND, I WILL PUT MY FOOT SO FAR UP YOUR BUT, YOU WILL BE COUGHING SHOE LEATHER!!!! NOW PLAY ME A CHROMATIC SCALE MAGGOT!!! MOVE IT, MOVE IT MOOOOOOVE IT! WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING AT MAGGOT? PICK UP THAT BASS BOY! PUT IT DOWN! PICK IT UP! PUT IT DOWN!! YOU EYE BALLING ME BOY? DROP AND GIVE ME A G MAJOR! G MINOR! NOW ADD A FLAT 5!!! I SAID FLAT 5! YOU MISERABLE MAGGOT! SOMETHING WRONG WITH YOUR EARS BOY? NOW DROP AND GIVE ME TWENTY FIVVVE!!!
(voice off)

 

[onlyclave]

I think it's remarkable that you have the nerve to think that someone is withholding some kind of bass secret that os preventing you from succeeding. Aside from hard work, constant study and dedication to the art, there is no one/thing that can make you a remarkable bass player.

Sorry man, if your personal life is getting in the way of that you have other things you should be dealing with rather than posting on this board.

 

[vlxyooper]

i'm serious about becoming a serious bassist, though. and i don't have a whole lot of time.

I think there's at least one of the problems. Not trying to yank your chain or waste your time ....but the truth is that you seem to want something without investing anything. Life isn't like that, unless your name is Forest Gump.

Now, should you prove everyone here wrong someday, I would like to read the book you write about becoming a remarkable bassist in one easy step.

 

[brothertupelo]

i spend the effort, i just don't want to waste time. there's nothing here that's helping besides studying those few artists mentioned, what should i do?

and it wasn't a smartass response. how do i attack such a wide range of musicians? does it matter how or does it just matter that it happens? some people say you should always try to play songs that are out of your range, and others believe in a one step at a time approach.

 

[greenboy]

how do i attack such a wide range of musicians?

The musician you should be most concerned with is YOU. Listening and copping from and being inspired by some real players and all-around msucial minds is one thing, but you've got to apply that, and foremost, working on your musical skills and sensibilities to YOU.

 

[bass_freq]

Jack of all Trades, Master of none

dedication and time are what you need to master an instrument, like everyone has said there is no quick way to get good at it. In order to master an instrument alone your look at 10 years (may vary by different learning abilities) and another 10 to perfect it,

if you want to be a bass master, then just play bass, and put all your time into it.

 

[brothertupelo]

well, i've spent the last 15+ years learning to play the guitar, and i'm still not always satisfied. i've only been into the bass for a few, and i don't want to be 50 before i can it. in fact, i'd like to put out an album next year where i play all the instruments. i realize there are going to be weak links, but pretend i'm going to lock myself in a basement for a month and live on stale bread and talkbass. what are the important elements, and what's a waste of time?

 

[greenboy]

and what's a waste of time?

A crap attitude is probably the only real waste of time. Everything else including internal growth contributes to being better and more. As for specifics with instrument, determining weak areas in both knowledge and technique and putting focused work on them is important... and keeping the stronger areas sharp, secondary. It also takes some real focus deciding what and who to be; that somewhat hinges on your current musical strengths and musical personality. Billy Sheehan isn't trying to be Matt Garrison trying to be Tony Franklin, he's working on HIMSELF at this point.

 

[bThumper38]

Don't just learn songs, learn the theory of what makes the song, learn modes, and play umhteen hours a day.

 

[Blah114]

i spend the effort, i just don't want to waste time. there's nothing here that's helping besides studying those few artists mentioned, what should i do?

and it wasn't a smartass response. how do i attack such a wide range of musicians? does it matter how or does it just matter that it happens? some people say you should always try to play songs that are out of your range, and others believe in a one step at a time approach.

ok.. I apologize.. how do you attack such a wide range.. you just do.. play the songs.. you know? Learn the songs.. it's REALLY tough, playing bass.. at least for me.. it's an uphill struggle all the way, for me, to play 100+ songs steadily, from various artists.. but I try.. I am not saying anything is easy.. I have heard people talk about bass being easier than guitar, guitar being easier than drums, etc.. when no one knows..

The only way, in my opinion, to become remarkable at playing bass is to play as many songs from as many artists as possible, then learn scales besides... I have been playing for maybe 30 years (within that 30, maybe 23 years of playing steadily) and I drop my jaw at country bassists that fill bottom end flawlessly.. my jaw drops when I hear Metallica's bass lines at breaking speeds... my jaw drops when I listen to a Temptations song and I HEAR the AMAZING bass lines and playing the Motown people were doing DECADES ago.. that I have trouble with now.. I am floored continually, when I watch Geddy Lee sing, use foot pedals, and playing bass lines that would stomp 1/2 the people I know into the ground to create, much less play while singing simultaneously.. then there's Stu, Manring, Miller, Will Lee, Jeff Berlin, Jaco, Pino, and scores of thousands of players that blow my mind.. even the guy from AC DC who lays the bottom end like Michael Anthony did in Van Halen so well.. anyway, play as many songs, if you're asking, from as many different artists as possible.. It's as simple as picking an artist's hits.. start with Heart.. Flock of Seagulls' I Ran.. Rush's Tom Sawyer.. stuff like that.. then do some Beatles.. if you're brand new to bass.. and I am not sure you are.. then start with what you perceive to be the EASIEST songs from artists you love.. get enthused.. then start learning, after those songs, songs by artists you might NOT love.. above all, keep the bottom end moving along.. like AC DC.. Van Halen.. The Cure.. Vangelis's Friends of Mr. Cairo.. the theme from Knight Rider (yes, why not).. then build upon these successes.. the "remarkableness" will happen naturally.. and I think being "remarkable" is not a point of arrival... it NEVER ENDS.. because you never, ever stop learning.. at least I do not. Play everything.. play anything.. and get OUT THERE and play with other people, in bands.. Become the guy (or gal figuratively) who gets called for sessions or substitute gigs because you're known to play bass well..

or take lessons also.. there is no right way to become remarkable.. I have been told my playing is "remarkable.." then I laugh when I think of Marcus Miller.. actually, almost cackle, then start to cry (on the inside).. and think about how far I still have to go..

I wish you the best.. if you need any tips, feel free to PM me.. or even continue posting herein.. I hope it goes well, and am curious to see if/when you find what works best for you..

 

[ZiggyDude]

Play with a lot of different people. But only those who are boths upportive and "Understand" bass. Other than that - sit at home and PRACTICE. Learn songs that require a style different than your own on the "Newbie Nights" and advanced bass players on the "Regular Nights". A Tascam Bass Trainer is great - with the headphones on an amp that has both CD inputs and headphone out.

 

[DocBop]

Start with taking one song like a cool Jazz standard and learn everything about it. Learn the melody and play it with great phrasing able to play it up the neck down the neck, different phrasing. Understand the differences all those changes make.

Same song work on bass lines write out lots of variations of basslines. Analyze the lines and what you like and don't like. Again play with different ranges. Really understand the lines and variations you come up with.

Work on changing up the chord progression with sub's and re-harmonizing. Then work on a solo bass version of the song ala Todd Johnson et.al.

Work on improv start with playing straight 8th or 16th (depending on technique level) of arp's of the chord progression. Then playing in in the scales for each chord. Work solos many of them and like bass line analyze what you line and don't like.

Try playing the song in other styles.

All of the above learn to play the lines and solos you like PERFECTLY. Perfect time, feel, tone, phrasing every aspect.

Learn ONE song inside out play it every way you can, understand what you are doing. This could take months but when done start another. Each song will take less time. After a few songs your understanding of music and bass and how the two relate will put you at a musician level.