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Most important lessons you have learned about bass
- Thread starter JordyLegend
- Start date
SMILE! 
Some great suggestions on this thread.
I would like to contribute by passing on the advice I was given by the great Bob Moore...."play the one and get the hell out of the way".
I would like to contribute by passing on the advice I was given by the great Bob Moore...."play the one and get the hell out of the way".
Mine: fundamentals are everything.
I read a thread the other day where someone told the story of how they went in for their first lesson after being self-taught for a year or two. He came in feeling pretty confident and played a bunch of Rush tunes for the teacher. The teacher listened for a bit, then brought out a metronome and the tab for "Jingle Bells" and had him work on Jingle Bells at 45 BPM. Which was challenging.
IMO a lot of beginners and intermediates miss this - you may be able to do all sorts of flashy stuff but a mastery of the simple stuff seperates the good players from the OK players.
I read a thread the other day where someone told the story of how they went in for their first lesson after being self-taught for a year or two. He came in feeling pretty confident and played a bunch of Rush tunes for the teacher. The teacher listened for a bit, then brought out a metronome and the tab for "Jingle Bells" and had him work on Jingle Bells at 45 BPM. Which was challenging.
IMO a lot of beginners and intermediates miss this - you may be able to do all sorts of flashy stuff but a mastery of the simple stuff seperates the good players from the OK players.
A few things I'd like to add to all useful tips and suggestions:
1) Understand your bass. If you are aware of its construction and working principle, it's easier to play around the limitations of your bass.
2) Don't rehearse till you do it right, rehearse till you can't do it wrong.
1) Understand your bass. If you are aware of its construction and working principle, it's easier to play around the limitations of your bass.
2) Don't rehearse till you do it right, rehearse till you can't do it wrong.
1. Don't stop listening and learning another song
2. Practice at least one hour a day
3. Remember that you must "stand on behind the band". Don't think how I soloing.. I am not a guitarist. But think how I can "make a song"
2. Practice at least one hour a day
3. Remember that you must "stand on behind the band". Don't think how I soloing.. I am not a guitarist. But think how I can "make a song"
1. Be open to many types of music. Do not lock yourself into a genre. How many guys can shred on Eruption that can't sit in on a simple blues progression? Keep an open mind.
2. Always strive to practice and play with musicians that are a few steps ahead if you musically. This is how you will learn and grow as a musician.
3. Listen
4. Know your gear and its limits. Just because you can bring a plywood bass with strings an inch off the fingerboard and a Crate guitar amp to gig, doesn't mean you should. On the flip side, all of the expensive gear in the world will not make up for lack of skill.
5. Practice. If you don't use it, you lose it.
6. Always work for the better of the song. Unless you're a solo performer, rehearsal and the stage is NOT a place for you to showcase your chops unless there is a context for it.
7. See #5
2. Always strive to practice and play with musicians that are a few steps ahead if you musically. This is how you will learn and grow as a musician.
3. Listen
4. Know your gear and its limits. Just because you can bring a plywood bass with strings an inch off the fingerboard and a Crate guitar amp to gig, doesn't mean you should. On the flip side, all of the expensive gear in the world will not make up for lack of skill.
5. Practice. If you don't use it, you lose it.
6. Always work for the better of the song. Unless you're a solo performer, rehearsal and the stage is NOT a place for you to showcase your chops unless there is a context for it.
7. See #5
#1) Always tune up before playing
#2) Always tune up again after your strings are warmed up and you are ready to record
#2) Always tune up again after your strings are warmed up and you are ready to record
Lock your rhythm with your drummer, and your melody with the guitar and vocals. Be the glue that holds everything together.
As was said before: Always mind the groove. Always.
Keeping time is different from keeping the groove.
Also, it's probably better for what we do to develop really solid "groove chops" over "solo chops." It's important that you learn to train your fingers to be able to keep constant rhythmic feels for long periods of time(Obviously if you're one of those specialized virtuosos making records only featuring your bass, this statement isn't quite as relevant.)
What most laypeople overlook about the difficulty of playing bass is the required rhythmic consistency. We have to be grooving almost all the time, and in many forms of music we have so many damn choices for what we can play at any given time. It can be daunting to decide exactly what harmonic content you want to put into your lines while not straying from the groove.
Keeping time is different from keeping the groove.
Also, it's probably better for what we do to develop really solid "groove chops" over "solo chops." It's important that you learn to train your fingers to be able to keep constant rhythmic feels for long periods of time(Obviously if you're one of those specialized virtuosos making records only featuring your bass, this statement isn't quite as relevant.)
What most laypeople overlook about the difficulty of playing bass is the required rhythmic consistency. We have to be grooving almost all the time, and in many forms of music we have so many damn choices for what we can play at any given time. It can be daunting to decide exactly what harmonic content you want to put into your lines while not straying from the groove.
When learning a song most of the work is done in my head. Once I get the rhythms and lines sorted out in thought, the execution comes easily.
Learn the basics, make sure you have a solid foundation to build on. Don't be all sizzle and no steak.
Don't be afraid of theory
Often times(depending on a few things) less is more.
Don't be afraid of theory
Often times(depending on a few things) less is more.
Another one I always tell new players looking to expand is to learn basic blues patterns. Most modern music stems from it. Learning the blues essentially opened up a world of possibilities that bled into everything else. You dont have to like it, but it should be a prerequisite, IMO.
