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My first Bass lesson and first bass...

A

azimian

Dec 29, 2008
1
0
#1
Greetings all

It's been my dream to learn to play the bass well. Some of the styles of music I'm most interested in are jazz, funk, and some fat disco bass lines.

I have been producing electronic music without having any formal training in music. Lately I've been thinking that life even shorter than I thought (in my 30's now) and have decided to learn the bass.

A friend of mine (music shop owner) has agreed to give me some lessons, also he has a crafter convoy bass (display model) that he is willing to sell me at cost.

Some of the things I'm wondering about are since I am picking up the bass tonight, is crafter a bad beginner's bass? I'm mostly concerned with the price, it is my first bass afterall and I can upgrade in a few years.

Second, I downloaded a victor wooten bass video, but wondering if there are any good and simple books that teach beginner bass technique. All your thoughts are appreciated.

Best, newbie wannabe bassist!
 
#3
Well, I am only a beginner myself. I have been playing a little over a year, but I started with the Hal Leonard books. I think they are very good for starters. The first comes with a DVD and the next 2 come with CDs.

Since your friend/teacher owns a music store, they will know a lot more about it than I can and will probably provide you with some books to start with. Good luck and welcome to bass playing. I am having a blast with it myself.
 
#4
Azimian,

I've written five bass books for Hal Leonard, some of which you might find helpful. Funk/Fusion Bass is my second book and it contains loads of exercises with scales, arpeggios, strings crossings, etc., as well as entire chapters devoted to grooving and soloing. You shouldn't expect to be able to play everything right away, but the step-by-step approach will give you something to shoot for. It's just fine for a beginner (as well as an advanced player).

Funk Bass, my first book, covers the slapping technique. Rock Bass and Blues Bass will help you learn proper execution of those styles.

My BRAND NEW BOOK, is to be released at the January 2009 NAMM Show. It's called Bass Grooves: The Ultimate Collection and covers virtually every style you'll ever need: blues, jazz, rock, funk/R&B, reggae, country, latin and much more.

Start with Funk/Fusion Bass and see how it goes. Let me know what you think. I'm always available to answer any questions and provide any help.

Thanks!

Jon Liebman
 
#7
as Phillip Jordan said youtube is your friend. I get newbies asking me all the time what helps me, and I tell them the same thing, when you are bored, you will not learn..when you think it is stupid, you will not learn.

find bands/t.v.shows...anything to listen to and play to. start out with the simple songs first that you like.

of all the speedmetal videos I have on my channel, I STILL love to jam on old t.v. show theme songs for scales, and practice.

I have already done spiderman, jetsons, wonderwoman, speedracer, electric company on my channel, not nearly at my skill level BUT.... worldwide tunes everybody hums in their heads, just to show people that even t.v. shows can be a learning/practice tool, AND FUN TO DO....:D

books for theory, are a necessity to a lot of people, and I absolutely recommend getting one that will cover the "neck" and what string/fret positions are what. ( unless you have a hell of a teacher )



and naturally azimian-----welcome to TB
 
#8
I'll add that while the lesson books are great, and I still use mine (you find that if you have multiple teachers over your career, that you can have multiple books, and you don't always get to each lesson...so go back and look!)...I think that one important part of learning is to learn what YOU really like.
For example, if you hear a bass line that you really like, transcribe it, take it in to the lesson and learn it for yourself. You'll find that you apply your technique lessons to a song you truly enjoy playing, and then you apply that style of playing to your own personal style.

That's my $0.02 anyway.
 
#9
double_stop2584 said:
For example, if you hear a bass line that you really like, transcribe it, take it in to the lesson and learn it for yourself. You'll find that you apply your technique lessons to a song you truly enjoy playing, and then you apply that style of playing to your own personal style.
Click to expand...

Better yet, find a teacher that will help you transcribe it and show you the best way to play it. This is why it's important to find a teacher that likes the same genre of music that you want to play.
 

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