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Need some suggestions.

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Poop-Loops

Inactive
Mar 3, 2006
5,488
8
40
Auburn, Washington
#1
I've been learning bass for a few months now and have a teacher, but I don't feel like I'm progressing.

I'll sit down, do some finger exercises (for speed), then some scales, play along with a Circle of 5th's CD thing, then play some of the songs he has me learning (he'll give me the CD with the bass track missing, and a chord chart).

So I'll play along, playing things like R, 3, 5, maybe even a 7 if I've had something to drink, but I don't know where to go from there. Everything I do feels bland and without direction. After I'm done practicing, I feel like I haven't learned anything or progressed at all.

I talked to him about this of course, and he suggested transcribing songs and playing along with songs I like. I like thrash/death metal, so that's not going to happen (I can't keep up).

So I tried something a bit slower like Black Sabbath. But I can't seem to tell what notes are being played. I mean, I'll try to get the interval down by just sitting there, listening to a bit of the song (like the first 2 notes), then literally try every interval I can think of to make it sound the same, and I can't seem to get it right.

Should I just find something that's even slower?

I really don't know what to do. I guess my main problem is that I have nothing really to show for my learning so far. If someone asked me "play something", I'd have to respond "ok, get a band together and give me a chord chart, and I'll play something." :(

Of course, I'll talk to my teacher again about this, but I was hoping for some additional input. It can't hurt, right? :)
 
#2
More practice, less posting on TB, more time with your bass in your hands, more time playing stuff you like.

If you only exclusively listen to death/trash then you won't evolve very fast, you need to widen your musical horizon there. Learn to like other music genres.

If you want to play death/trash you can, transcribe the songs, play them slower, and as your speed evolves slowly get to the correct speed.

If you want to feel like you're progressing you've gotta like playing bass, and enjoy practicing. If you're just practicing thinking "oh well this sucks but i'll keep doing it and get better" chances are it'll take you alot more time to get better. Enjoy what you do, think about how to do what you want to do, and exercise until you can pull it off, and have fun while doing that. Set smaller goals for yourself and achieve them through practice, and you'll get where you want to be in no time.
 
#3
Poop-Loops said:
I really don't know what to do. I guess my main problem is that I have nothing really to show for my learning so far. If someone asked me "play something", I'd have to respond "ok, get a band together and give me a chord chart, and I'll play something."
Click to expand...

I think you have your answer.
 
#4
This is going to sound worse than I am trying saying this, but maybe it's not the courses you are taking that is hindering you, it's your own creativity. Playing R,3,5,7 will make you a solid "In the Pocket" bass player, and there is nothing wrong with that. But, maybe you need to open yourself up to different structures. Bass can be Melodic, "Jazz" it up. Just an example, In the same chord that you are playing R,3,5,7, Try playing something like 2,6,4,5. Or, even go "Below" the Root note for some changes.
 
#5
Try playing along to Thin Lizzy "Live and Dangerous". Great rock and roll album with great rock bass lines.If I'm feeling that my playing is getting boring I drag this out and groove along with it.Always works.I used to be into Sabbath and Judas Priest as a young player in the early eighties but always got the most out of anything by Lizzy.The thing that really got me is that Phil Lynott played these songs and sang them at the same time......(legend)
 
#6
Thanks for all of the replies, guys.

morf said:
More practice, less posting on TB, more time with your bass in your hands, more time playing stuff you like.
Click to expand...

That's definately true. This place is addictive. :(

If you only exclusively listen to death/trash then you won't evolve very fast, you need to widen your musical horizon there. Learn to like other music genres.
Click to expand...

I like classical music...

I'll ask my dad about some blues albums. I should probably know the father of metal before playing it, eh?

If you want to play death/trash you can, transcribe the songs, play them slower, and as your speed evolves slowly get to the correct speed.
Click to expand...

I can't, that's my problem. My ear isn't accurate or fast enough to pick anything up.

If you want to feel like you're progressing you've gotta like playing bass, and enjoy practicing. If you're just practicing thinking "oh well this sucks but i'll keep doing it and get better" chances are it'll take you alot more time to get better. Enjoy what you do, think about how to do what you want to do, and exercise until you can pull it off, and have fun while doing that. Set smaller goals for yourself and achieve them through practice, and you'll get where you want to be in no time.
Click to expand...

Thanks. This really helps.


dlloyd said:
I think you have your answer.
Click to expand...

Definately not ready for one. Although it is tempting and makes sense...

thebassclef said:
This is going to sound worse than I am trying saying this, but maybe it's not the courses you are taking that is hindering you, it's your own creativity. Playing R,3,5,7 will make you a solid "In the Pocket" bass player, and there is nothing wrong with that. But, maybe you need to open yourself up to different structures. Bass can be Melodic, "Jazz" it up. Just an example, In the same chord that you are playing R,3,5,7, Try playing something like 2,6,4,5. Or, even go "Below" the Root note for some changes.
Click to expand...

I'll try that, thanks. My problem is that I'm always thinking "... what do I do?" when I have to get creative. I'm completely stumped. I guess I just need more practice...

bevel19 said:
Try playing along to Thin Lizzy "Live and Dangerous". Great rock and roll album with great rock bass lines.If I'm feeling that my playing is getting boring I drag this out and groove along with it.Always works.I used to be into Sabbath and Judas Priest as a young player in the early eighties but always got the most out of anything by Lizzy.The thing that really got me is that Phil Lynott played these songs and sang them at the same time......(legend)
Click to expand...

I'll try that, thanks.
 
#9
I try to practice every day. Time wise, about an hour. It's not much, I know. But after I practice for a while I just think "ok, what should I do now?" I've done some scales, exercises, and play some songs a few times each, and now I don't know what else to do.
 
#10
I think you ought to reconsider your answer to dlloyd. Although there is no replacement for practice, playing with others is an absolutely critical component to your development as a bass player. If you wait until you think you are ready to play with others you may never do it and you will not progress as quickly as you will applying what you learn in practice to a real situation. You don't need to go out and find the worlds most proficient band in fact just go and find some folks at your stage of development. Unless you are striving to be a solo bassist you will need to learn and appreciate what it is like to interact with other players and other instruments. You will also find in those situations added inspiration for your practicing as it will give you short term goals that others will hold you accountable for achieving. No time like the present to begin experiencing all aspects of the musical environment.
 
#12
Do you have any favorite songs that have a bass line that you can sing? If you can do that, then try to convert those notes into notes you can play.

One of my favorite rock bass lines is in the song "Mayor of Simpleton" by XTC. It's fast, but after listening to it for an entire day (or two), I got to where I could sing the entire bass line. Then it was a matter of getting it to my fingers.

If you can sing it, you can play it. Generally.
 
#13
Poop, spin is right. You'll never think your ready until you try it. You'll find out that other musicians are having the same self doubts no matter what their skill level is.

Whe I first started playing bass, I was handed a bass by a buddy of mine and told "Here, Go learn how to play this so you can play in my band." One Week later, all I new was root notes in the I-IV-V Blues Combo, and I played with him and some other guys that had been playing together for 5 years. 3 weeks later, I am on stage at an open mike night. It did wonders for my confidence and my wanting to learn new things on the bass.
 
#14
My singing is worse than my bass playing.

Guys, a band isn't for me right now.

1) I don't think I am ready. Trust me here.

2) I couldn't give significan attention to it. Bass is my 2nd hobby. My first one is BJJ + lifting weights. If they say "meet Wednesday at 5:30 at blah blah place", I have to say "Can't."

3) School starts in about a month. I'll likely have to drop both hobbies as my advisor says I'm taking a ****load of hard classes. :(

4) I wouldn't even know where to look for a band.
 
#16
if the speed on songs in causing you trouble you should look into a tascam bass trainer, it will slow down the songs without changing the pitch

it helps me alot


or if you dont want to buy one im pretty sure there are programs you can download for your computer to slow things down without changing the pitch
 
#17
I'd say what your teacher is say is right and you're expecting miracles or maybe the bass isn't exciting you. Transcribing would help you and it is tough in the beginning to hear things.

Transcribe what you can, then analyze what notes they are using, how are they using 1.3.5. If still having trouble get some classic Blues records and figure out the bass lines, there is a world of knowledge in learning to play blues. Blues will teach you how to build bass lines, what feel and locking in with a drummer is about. What you learn from playing Blue can be used in any other music you want to play.
 
#18
Poop-Loops said:
I really don't think I'm ready.
Click to expand...

It doesn't need to be a gigging band.

I used to get together with one or two guitarist friends when I was a beginner and just jam on tunes we'd learn from records or books or we'd just come up with a chord progression and jam away. Best lessons I ever had.

Gear-wise, we had virtually nothing. A cheap keyboard we'd use as a drum machine, a couple of cheap amps with holes in the speakers. Virtually no ability.

You just need to get together with other musicians. Put up an advert in a music shop, saying you're looking for other beginners to jam with.
 
#20
I don't know anybody who plays instruments at the moment. When school starts I'll be taking a music course, I'll see then. If I have time, that is.

I was going to ask, do you know of any programs that can slow down the song without changing the pitch? Or even the pitch can be change, as long as the intervals don't...

Masturskate, I don't have a level. I only just tried to transcribe, so I don't think I can jump into death metal.
 

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