New guy to bass, Wanna chat!

[TristanG]

Hey, I am new to the bass, Well not really....
I started in 2017, with my music teacher, Greg Page of chasing light. He taught me for four-five months until he left my school, I stopped playing, He came to the school to say bye just a couple of weeks ago, and brought the bass that I ordered in with him on the last day. So thus I have started playing the bass, I love it, Same as drums. I am having all of the beginner problems against, blisters, finding my way around the neck etc.

I would like to know, What are your practice routines? And are there any good routines to increase my durability and knowledge around the neck, I have been practising some scales, majorly the minor pentatonic scale.
Thanks, Tristan.

 

[Mister Boh]

Stop playing for a bit if it hurts. Don't injure yourself permanently.

 

[TristanG]

Stop playing for a bit if it hurts. Don't injure yourself permanently.

In a way, I do. I just alternate to my ring finger and other fingers, try to strengthen them up.

 

[pschwei37]

Hey Tristan, It sounds like you're on the right track. I switched from guitar to bass about 3 years ago. I've found it beneficial to warm up and stretch my hands first. Since my background is classical; I practice right hand using Thumb, Index, Middle, and Anular (ring) fingers. You do not need all these fingers; there's many great players who use a pick, their thumb, their thumb and index, etc. It's whatever works best for you and the style you wanna play! I highly recommend watching Scott's Bass Lessons on U Tube if you haven't bumped into him already. Best wishes, welcome to a group of really great people!

 

[MalcolmAmos]

The getting started stinky in this sub-forum will be time well spent. I started with the pick and now use my thumb to sound the notes.

That sticky I mentioned will talk to most of the things you need to involve yourself with. Start with scales and learning the notes in first position (first 5 frets), don't overload zero in on your scales as they will get your fingers doing what they are supposed to do.

Shoot for a two octave scale exercise - which one? Your choice.

Good luck.

 

[mambo4]

Sticky Thread on Getting Started

Mark Smith of Talkingbass.net's beginner lesson series:


Of all the possible things to practice, nothing will build you a more solid foundation than major scales in all 12 keys. The best method for practicing scales I have found is Pac-Man's sure fire scale practice method.

 

[MalcolmAmos]

Scott and now Mark have been recommended. IMO Scott's stuff is great, perhaps a little advanced. Mark's stuff would be a good starting place.

Welcome to the bottom end.

 

[TristanG]

Hey Tristan, It sounds like you're on the right track. I switched from guitar to bass about 3 years ago. I've found it beneficial to warm up and stretch my hands first. Since my background is classical; I practice right hand using Thumb, Index, Middle, and Anular (ring) fingers. You do not need all these fingers; there's many great players who use a pick, their thumb, their thumb and index, etc. It's whatever works best for you and the style you wanna play! I highly recommend watching Scott's Bass Lessons on U Tube if you haven't bumped into him already. Best wishes, welcome to a group of really great people!

Of course I have bumped into him, I cant justify spending that much money on his online courses though

 

[TristanG]

Sticky Thread on Getting Started

Mark Smith of Talkingbass.net's beginner lesson series:


Of all the possible things to practice, nothing will build you a more solid foundation than major scales in all 12 keys. The best method for practicing scales I have found is Pac-Man's sure fire scale practice method.

Thanks mate! Appreciate it. Will try

 

[hondo4life]

I like to warm up by playing Sir Duke at the full tempo, and then smash my bass on the floor until the neck breaks in half because I'll never be able to play it that fast.

More seriously, I second Scotts Bass Lessons. Even if you don't want to pay for his course, he has tons of free videos, and they are very good.

 

[mobdirt]

hi,
learn the songs you want to on bass and learn the scales and start "mapping the neck" and focus on left and right hand muting techniques
hope this helps

 

[el murdoque]

Two simple rules that work for me:
1. Practice every day.
2. Don't overdo it. When training something technical, do 3x 10 minutes with long pauses instead of 1x 30mins.
Don't play until your fingers get sore. Stop just before. When you can feel the yet-to-be-calloused skin is jsut beginning to hurt, stop.

And a tip: Play through an amp or use headphones. When you're playing unamplified and have a little bit of background noise, you will play harder to hear yourself better. That won't happen if you can just turn up the volume.

 

[TristanG]

Two simple rules that work for me:
1. Practice every day.
2. Don't overdo it. When training something technical, do 3x 10 minutes with long pauses instead of 1x 30mins.
Don't play until your fingers get sore. Stop just before. When you can feel the yet-to-be-calloused skin is jsut beginning to hurt, stop.

And a tip: Play through an amp or use headphones. When you're playing unamplified and have a little bit of background noise, you will play harder to hear yourself better. That won't happen if you can just turn up the volume.

Thanks for the tips sir!

 

[TristanG]

hi,
learn the songs you want to on bass and learn the scales and start "mapping the neck" and focus on left and right hand muting techniques
hope this helps

So learn all the major and pentatonic scales all around the neck?

 

[TristanG]

I like to warm up by playing Sir Duke at the full tempo, and then smash my bass on the floor until the neck breaks in half because I'll never be able to play it that fast.

More seriously, I second Scotts Bass Lessons. Even if you don't want to pay for his course, he has tons of free videos, and they are very good.

Haha, I have tried that...

Yeah, his YT vids are super good

 

[mobdirt]

So learn all the major and pentatonic scales all around the neck?

ya, and the modes
lots to do basically lol
in all honestly i missed out on learning sight reading, one thing i would change if i had to learn all over again,
and learning from a good teacher, just didnt have that option

 

[Mechanical]

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[TristanG]

ya, and the modes
lots to do basically lol
in all honestly i missed out on learning sight reading, one thing i would change if i had to learn all over again,
and learning from a good teacher, just didnt have that option

I dont have the lesson option either, I have to self teach

 

[mobdirt]

I dont have the lesson option either, I have to self teach

theres good stuff online now though and a lot of it is free
one thing, dont just watch bass tutorials, watch all the instruments' videos (just saying you probably already do)

 

[JimmyM]

theres good stuff online now though and a lot of it is free
one thing, dont just watch bass tutorials, watch all the instruments' videos (just saying you probably already do)

I think learning who knows what they're talking about and who doesn't to be tough for a beginner. This is why I would stick with players whose names you recognize at first.