New bassist. Please read

Wrong forum.

Keep playing, just go at your own speed, you can go through the book if you want, there are probably a couple of things there that can help you a lot.

 

Google 'bass guitar lessons' for a start. There is a lot of source material available online.

I originally started playing bass due to a similar situation: My friends had a band and they need a bass player.

Between playing with/learning from them and playing along to 'records' (thats what we had back then), over time I got better and better.

Like anything, the more you practice, the more proficient you will become.

 

Find out what your friends are planning to play. Get mp3s and listen.
Figure them out, one note at a time. This is a discussion for the General Instruction Forum, IMHO.

Since you are a trained musician, trust your ears, and ditch the notation and TAB. Take it from a guy who has every degree and lesson and certification you could ever want (or not). USE YOUR EARS to learn bass lines. There is no substitute for this, IMHO.

Just try to play everything. Try a radio station, for heaven sake. I spent hundreds of hours in my mother's kitchen playing everything that came on the radio. Everything. Try it.

 

Good idea, but never thought of it. I used to do the same with albums. Put one on, figure out each track while it plays, then move on to the next album (or turn that one over).

 

+1 to all. And to the OP... Why pay for some guy to read to you from a book? I would suggest maybe even just finding a new instructor; find one that you identify with and that you like. It also helps if you can relate to them and if they are cool and pleasant to work with. Keep in mind; whilst you are paying them, they are pretty much your employee... if you don't like their work, fire em'!

 

What I do is watch TV and try to figure out basslines in the background music or commercials.

 

I thought I was alone! I turn my amp's volume waaaaay down and play clean to commercials. Drives my girlfriend insane.

 

I have been doing the same for years!!!!! Intros to TV shows are pretty cool as well or put in the movie Repo Man.

 

George lopez is easy, and the theme song isn't too hard

Another good one is Malcolm in the Middle, every time a scene changes a bassline plays

 

And Scrubs, let us not forget Scrubs!

 

i started playing again about a year ago after quitting for about 20 years,always played and learned songs by ear,never learned to read a single note of music.AND NOW I REGRET IT! It is alot easier today if you don't read,with the internet you can find damn near anything tabbed out.I think you should keep learning to read with instructor or on your own but learn it.

 

I have begun checking out youtube.com. You can search for songs and see how other bass players play the songs. You can also can search for bass lessons.

 

not only do I listen to t.v. shows/movies and whatever, I also post videos on my channel of cool t.v. show basslines -my latest video ( not my main one ) on my youtube channel is a VERY good example of some "scales" practice "the Jetsons theme".

 

Just putting in your favorite cd's and jamming is a great way to learn lines. Every one has Windows media player, and it has a function that will let you slow down the tracks without changing the pitch. A small percentage of slowing will make a song remarkably easier to play along with.

You may not be able to afford it now, but as soon as you can get some cash and carve out some time in your schedule.I would recomend lessons with a new instructor. I never had electric lessons, but I took several years of upright bass lessons, and what I learned there was invaluable to my my progress as a musician. You can teach yourself, and alot of folks do, but with some lessons from a wise teacher, you will be a much better player and will become much better much faster. You will also learn proper technique and keep from developing potentially bad habits.

Oh yeah, Welcome back to the world of bass.

 

Obviously, some of us have had some very similar experience. When I first started playing, I would crank the radio and try to learn every song that crossed the airwaves. Very slow going at first, but very soon I became pretty proficient at it. In hindsight, I feel like it was extremely valuable ear training. I still do it from time to time just to try something different. Its a great way to get in some practice.

 

I'll have to remember that next time i watch

I've also tried to do the melody that plays throughout Pee Wee's Big Adventure I think it got it

And the Free Credit Report commercials are also very easy

I didn't know that was you, i think i saw your videos before. you play a right handed bass upside down right?

 

I play along to the "Smooth Jazz" and "R&B Classics" channels on cable. The smooth jazz cuts tend to feature lengthy grooves that give you time to catch up to the song. The R&B cuts are classics that I grew up on.

 

yep that's me...