New guy to bass, Wanna chat!

[ll Rip ll]

I heard a tip years ago that really helped with pain/blisters/fatigue/cramps. Don't try to play too hard or too loud. Let the amp do the work. You'll be able to play more forcefully as you develop your skills.

 

[mobdirt]

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.

yeah, i guess,
id like to think most have capable "filters" and can deduce for themselves
..and also taste in music is such a personal thing so i tend to stray away from names as such unless asked specifically

 

[JimmyM]

yeah, i guess,
id like to think most have capable "filters" and can deduce for themselves
..and also taste in music is such a personal thing so i tend to stray away from names as such unless asked specifically

The problem is some of the more attractive but useless vids to beginners have titles that make learning sound like you can learn everything you need to know in 3 days or less. So I'd say at the very least, try to avoid them.

And as for the tastes in music thing, stick with jazz players. Even if you hate jazz, the jazz players are the ones to go to for the real knowledge.

 

[mobdirt]

The problem is some of the more attractive but useless vids to beginners have titles that make learning sound like you can learn everything you need to know in 3 days or less. So I'd say at the very least, try to avoid them.

And as for the tastes in music thing, stick with jazz players. Even if you hate jazz, the jazz players are the ones to go to for the real knowledge.

i agree, the real cats are there, and classical musicians, i think its because their basics are soooo "tight"

 

[StatesideRambler]

The problem is some of the more attractive but useless vids to beginners have titles that make learning sound like you can learn everything you need to know in 3 days or less. So I'd say at the very least, try to avoid them.

Learning gets really easy when you leave out a lot of important stuff the way they tend to do.

And as for the tastes in music thing, stick with jazz players. Even if you hate jazz, the jazz players are the ones to go to for the real knowledge.

There is almost nothing played in rock that hasn't been taught already in jazz. Many of the most successful rockers have jazz backgrounds and some have returned to that genre.

 

[basscapes]

Welcome to the Asylum.

Oops! Wait! Wrong page!

Welcome to Talkbass!

Lots to do, see, talk about, debate.

Above all, LEARN!

 

[WardEarth]

If you can get the scratch together, get a nice amp and cabinet. That way you can be loud and accurate without having to pluck so hard. You'll learn how to play dynamically faster and easier.
Play stuff you enjoy. Join some bands. Have fun, that's what its all about.
A book of scales can be very nice to have.
Minimize your time on talkbass, minimize G.A.S.

 

[MrLenny1]

Try to find another teacher
and start using a pick to give your fingers a break.
Have fun.

 

[DanAdams]

Sure... scales, technique, lessons, etc...
I think the most important thing about learning is finding other people at your level who want to play music.
It's also a lot more fun.
Form a sucky band! Pretty soon you might become a good band.

 

[soulman969]

Don't think this has been mentioned yet but timing is key. YOU have to maintain the "groove".

That being the case I would use a metronome in practice or a drum machine set to provide a simple click track to play against. The advantage of the drum machine is that it will allow you to expand to different rhythms and feels as your playing becomes more advanced.

So for starters my advice is stick with the "money notes" and develop a good "feel" and a great sense of time. If you have that you can play with anyone. The more creative stuff will come the more you play. So welcome to the low end and good luck.

 

[Nephilymbass]

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.

Practice routines: writing or freshining up on my original bands material. I do like to learn covers by ear also. It not only keeps my ear "in shape" but I think learning cover songs helps me as a songwriter when it comes to song structures.

I do play some scales but more so as warm up exercises. The first two things I typically play when I pick up a bass are a two octave c major scale with the two octave arpeggio and an f# blues scale. A lot of scales on bass share the same patterns. For example if you can play a two octave c major scale on a 5 string bass the pattern of the low octave starting on the low c on the b string is the same pattern as an f major scale just shifted over one string(if you move it up one more string its B b major)
the second octave from that same two octave c major scale is the same pattern as a g major scale just shifted over one string, start the exact same pattern on the d on the low b string and its a d major scale. Major scales also have a relative minor so c major has the same notes as A minor for example you're just starting the scale on a different note. D major is B minor, e major is c# minor. It just starts getting redundant imo to spend a ton of time on scales and I think people tend to want to make it more complicated than it actually is. I think i make more progress doing things like trying to learn the melody of a song by ear. Reharminization is pretty fun. I also think listening to music while you're not playing is severely underrated.

 

[MYLOWFREQ]

Practice routines??? What are They? Welcome to tb.

 

[donotfret]

I can recommend using some audio software to work on bass lines of your favourite bass players in detail. Personally I use Audacity, for the simple reason that it's free, easy to use and it has all that I need. But there are tons of other softwares that do the same. You can play difficult bits in a loop, reduce the tempo if need be (30% slower still sounds okay), apply filters to make it easier to hear the bass etc.

If you struggle hearing the bass lines to begin with, it's even more worth it to put some effort into this - simply skip too difficult bits and go for something simpler in the meantime. In my opinion this is one of the best ways to work on all aspects of bass playing simultaneously (provided your choice of stuff to work on is targeted enough of course).