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New to Bass :P

peps1enjoy3r

peps1enjoy3r

Apr 16, 2024
48
30
san francisco
#1
Hi I'm new to this forum thing lol :laugh:
Recently, I have been interested in learning to play bass but I don't actually own one or know anyone who does :(. I play guitar already, I have a tele, so it shouldn't be too hard right?? I'm also doing some research on different basses and I'm looking to buy a (Squier) Jazz Bass maybe lol. So I was just wondering if anyone had any advice for a (soon-to-be) beginning bass player. (I don't own any physical pedals either so pedal advice would be appreciated too)
Thanks in advance :bassist:
 
#5
Welcome to the Low End!

A squier jazz should do JUST fine. If you can swing it, one of the best “bang for your buck” basses are the classic vibe squiers, and if you can get it used even better. The affinity ones can be great too if the truss rod works.

Best advice I can give is to look into videos on youtube discussing how to get a good set up and a good technique for plucking and fretting, as it is surprisingly easy to hurt yourself playing bass.

that and motown

As for pedals it depends really.


I like scotts bass lessons.
 
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#7
peps1enjoy3r said:
ohh okay I'll learn those first then ty. I've heard brown eyed girl before that sounds easy
Click to expand...
I was just messing with you…it’s something of a joke around here. Those are three songs in particular(among many)that certain bar band vets(especially if they’ve been at it too long)are sick and tired of playing. “Wagon Wheel” is a bit more contemporary, but has been run into the ground. BEG is actually a good workout, and you get to solo on the break(although it’s just what you’re playing under the vocals on the verses).
 
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#8
Bass4ThePublic said:
Welcome to the Low End!

A squier jazz should do JUST fine. If you can swing it, one of the best “bang for your buck” basses are the classic vibe squiers, and if you can get it used even better. The affinity ones can be great too if the truss rod works.

Best advice I can give is to look into videos on youtube discussing how to get a good set up and a good technique for plucking and fretting, as it is surprisingly easy to hurt yourself playing bass.

that and motown

As for pedals it depends really.


I like scotts bass lessons.
Click to expand...

Okay I'll check him out thanks :bassist:
 
#9
Michedelic said:
I was just messing with you…it’s something of a joke around here. Those are three songs in particular(among many)that certain bar band vets(especially if they’ve been at it too long)are sick and tired of playing. “Wagon Wheel” is a bit more contemporary, but has been run into the ground. BEG is actually a good workout, and you get to solo on the break(although it’s just what you’re playing under the vocals on the verses).
Click to expand...
:dead: Bass player inside jokes LMAOO
 
#11
joeLowB said:
Ditto the Squire advice...worked very well for me. Lets you learn if you truly like bass enough to practice regularly.

Pedals can be a distraction. Get to know the fretboard instead. My 2c
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Yupp my tele is a squier and I love it ( >< I don't have the money for an actual fender) and I'll also take your advice on pedals unless I can find some used ones for not a lot of money lol
 
#14
Michedelic said:
Learn “Brown Eyed Girl”, “Mustang Sally”, and “Wagon Wheel” so you can get a jump on refusing to play them.
Click to expand...
Funny how the better songs are avoided at all costs.
Regarding set lists, can't think of a single feature more valuable to distinguish a band as being different from the last and the next band.
A good and different set list is "your brand". You are the guys who play__________and no other band does.

I remember a time I played with my local Clapton. We played Strange Brew and a guy introduced himself as a drummer saying, he'd never considered that song, but everyone knew it, we played it accurately and it was well received. Thats a great compliment as noone ever says that MS, BEG or WW.
I have a practice list of 10-12 hours and it feels way too short, but they're numbers not played by the local bands but every one known with lots of airtime on Classic Radio.
Talk to the bar tenders and ask them what songs are over played by bands playing there. Thats a good starting point.
 
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#15
Aussie Player said:
Funny how the better songs are avoided at all costs.
Regarding set lists, can't think of a single feature more valuable to distinguish a band as being different from the last and the next band.
A good and different set list is "your brand". You are the guys who play__________and no other band does.

I remember a time I played with my local Clapton. We played Strange Brew and a guy introduced himself as a drummer saying, he'd never considered that song, but everyone knew it, we played it accurately and it was well received. Thats a great compliment as noone ever says that MS, BEG or WW.
I have a practice list of 10-12 hours and it feels way too short, but they're numbers not played by the local bands but every one known with lots of airtime on Classic Radio.
Talk to the bar tenders and ask them what songs are over played by bands playing there. Thats a good starting point.
Click to expand...
Thats actually rlly good advice lol

if I had a band to play with :crying:
 
#16
peps1enjoy3r said:
Hi I'm new to this forum thing lol :laugh:
Recently, I have been interested in learning to play bass but I don't actually own one or know anyone who does :(. I play guitar already, I have a tele, so it shouldn't be too hard right??
Click to expand...
Velkommen! You'll get lots of excellent advice from the members of this here fine establishment. :thumbsup:

As to bass vs. guitar playing difficulty, your Tele may have two more strings compared to basses having only four (generally speaking here), but they are real skinny compared to bass strings. Therefore... :D
 
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#17
Squier or Ibanez, new or second hand will be fine.
Amp n Cab?
New, second hand, lightweight, heavy, speaker configuration and sizes, there's enough opinions out there that'll have your head spinning quicker than Regan McNeil's... Whatever you choose, just be content with the sound quality in its simplest, basic form ie, bass > amp > cab. Pedals can come (and go) later.

I'm still using a single 15 and an old school amp for 98% of the gigs I play. Total cost under $900 Aus/$578 USA.
 
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#18
Squiers are generally good instruments and a J-bass is a good choice. But like everything else: You get what you pay for. With an Affinity J-bass I would definitely try before buying. They can be a bit inconsistent. The Squier CVs are a huge step up from the cheapest Squiers IMO, and generally very nice. But once you reach the Squier CV price range there are also several other VERY good options, like Sire/Marcus Miller or Yamaha BB (although the BBs are PJs, rather than J-basses).

If the "cheap'ish amp" you're using for playing at home is a GUITAR amp you don't want to use it for bass. For two reasons:

1) It will sound very poor.
2) You will blow the speaker.

Small practice amps for bass also have a rather poor tone, but at least they are (mostly...) built to handle the lower bass frequencies without blowing the speaker. If you need advice on a bass amp you can always start a thread in the "Amps and Cabs" sub-forum. (And THIS thread should probably have been in the "Basses" sub-forum...;)).
 
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