New to bass

[russtolium]

Well, if you're looking for a challenge, try learning a few solo bass tunes for a change. Bass becomes much more challenging when it's the only thing making noise.



That'll whip you into shape.

 

[jmclearnon]

Firstly, i have never heard of anyone who said punk jazz doesn't sound that difficult.... honestly thats messed up if you think that.

Looked up Brain Drill and tbh, i'm going to be blunt playing 1 note per a fret apart and copying the guitar exactly is REALLY far harder than playing other stuff.

And you say your new to bass, how are you to say what is limiting on the bass.

For example i want a six string because you can do more (within reason) with more strings, but i have at least 1000years of practising to do on the 4string to complete its potential.
and a word of advice if its not technically demanding of you, learn the cello and play the shostakovich cello concerto number 1. You will **** yourself at how difficult that is....

 

[CraigTB]

It sounds like you're shooting pretty high for someone who's been playing for two months. IME it often takes longer than that for someone to progress to where they can play Mary Had A Little Lamb properly with good time.

Your enthusiasm is awesome, but I recommend you spend some of your practice time working on fundamentals without worrying about advanced stuff like technical death metal. Otherwise it's kinda like someone saying hey I want to learn karate so I'm going to watch a Bruce Lee movie and do what he does. Good luck to that guy the first time he gets in a fight

BTW I looked up some Brain Drill and was pretty impressed with Jeff Hughell's playing - here's what I saw from his bio:
Jeff Hughell has been playing bass since 1993, originally inspired by bass great Cliff Burton. He began sight reading music on the upright bass in 1994.

Something tells me he wasn't sight-reading Metallica on that upright.

 

[lkbass22]

Hi, just thought i'd throw in my 2 cents. If you want to play death metal that's cool, there are a bunch of really great death metal bassist out there to learn from (Alex Webster, Steve DiGiorgio, Dan Briggs, etc...) but don't go saying all other genres are to simple for you.

I can't think of any metal bassists who can improvise the way Christian does here
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h20HhCIOdSU

or who can groove like Pino
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OfVedKbAqOA

 

[armadillopete]

I think everybody is being too easy on this guy. To sit there and say that the only good bass is death metal is just plain arrogant.Everybody is entitled to there opinion but most people would not agree with this. He is basically telling everybody if you don't play his style you suck at bass. Really ????????

 

[germ_77]

I love death and lots of metal but that's just stupid, read interviews from metal bassist. Most of the good ones have heavy influences from all kind is styles of music.

 

[TechDeath]

I think everybody is being too easy on this guy. To sit there and say that the only good bass is death metal is just plain arrogant.Everybody is entitled to there opinion but most people would not agree with this. He is basically telling everybody if you don't play style you suck at bass. Really ????????

Butthurt bro? No I'm not saying every other genre sucks, your obviously misinterpreting what I'm saying. I don't like PLAYING it, I know every genre and any type of playing takes skill. I just don't get enjoyment of playing 80 bpm jazz. Don't start giving names of songs of fast jazz. I do respect jazz for having the most prominent bass, a lot of death metal has made basses completely invisible.

I'm starting to notice this is not a very metal-friendly forum.

 

[mcnach]

sounds fine but i reaaaaally wouldnt advise starting on a five string, specially if you havent had any previous guitar/double bass experience. that bottom string is extreemly difficult to handle, youll injure yourself if your not careful. my advice? start on a 4 or be very very careful...

Erm, with all due respect, OP, ignore this post. It's nonsense.

 

[fearceol]

I know every genre and any type of playing takes skill.

In my opinion jazz,blues, and 'hard' rock are just way too simple and aren't unique.

Seems you have rowed back a little on your initial opinion.


The latter quote certainly seems unusual coming from someone "new to bass".

 

[TechDeath]

Seems you have rowed back a little on your initial opinion.

The latter quote certainly seems unusual coming from someone "new to bass".

It does take skill. Just not as much

 

[DiabolusInMusic]

Ahhh life at 17 when a closed mind can only handle one genre. Don't care for Jeff Berlin's 16 thoughts I see, especially learning harmonically rich music.

Honestly learn whatever you want, it is your skill, but if you choose to only learn "death metal" you will never become a great bass player. This has nothing to do with one genre being more technical than another, once your adult those arguments become redundant and ridiculous, the fact is somebody who is good at only 1 thing, is just that, good at only 1 thing. If that is the path you want to take go for it, it is your path.

I never have any application for slap bass and I never play with a pick I find it slow and cumbersome. Do you think I cannot do these things? You'd be horribly incorrect, they are skills and are useful to have even if I don't use them, you just never know.

 

[germ_77]

It does take skill. Just not as much

Wow, I don't think you will find very many metal bassists that will even remotely agree with that.


I don't like jazz and other genres like it but that's how majority of the good metal bassists learn the crazy **** they play.

Atleast the really good ones, Alex Webster of cannibal corpse has a great bass method book called extreme metal go get that and quit trolling.

 

[Crazyeelboy]

Lol I've been told that but I have never ever found a death metal standard notation. Kind of useless in my world

If you really do know something about theory, you should at least have a minimal knowledge of standard notation. Although you might not find death metal songs written in notation, you will find a lot of other stuff which is really useful.

And sorry but I don't expect to be playing any other genres. In my opinion jazz,blues, and 'hard' rock are just way too simple and aren't unique.

I suspect that you are really trolling trying to get a rise out of people on this, but just in case you are genuine, if you continue to play music (on bass or in any other context), you will change your opinion on this rather quickly.

By the way I don't play/listen just because of the technicality. I just don't feel challenged enough. And dont have the same technicality.

Believe it or not, if you work at the instrument long enough, you will reach a point where challenging "technicality" is not an issue - you will be able to physically play practically anything, but the challenge then becomes what to play and that is where a broad range of influences come in.

I just don't get enjoyment of playing 80 bpm jazz.

I'm starting to notice this is not a very metal-friendly forum.

If you keep playing long enough, you will learn to appreciate playing at any tempo.

No, this forum is not hostile to metal at all. You asked for advice and the resounding message to you is that to be a better bassist, you need to broaden your musical horizons. That isn't anti-metal, but it is exactly what you asked for. Now, you can either take that advice you asked for (and which some other experienced musicians have generously offered) or you can igore it - that is up to you.

I suspect that you are really trolling and seeking to wind people up. If so, I hope you had fun. If not, I suggest you take the advice you have received in the spirit it is given.

 

[TechDeath]

If you really do know something about theory, you should at least have a minimal knowledge of standard notation. Although you might not find death metal songs written in notation, you will find a lot of other stuff which is really useful.

I suspect that you are really trolling trying to get a rise out of people on this, but just in case you are genuine, if you continue to play music (on bass or in any other context), you will change your opinion on this rather quickly.

Believe it or not, if you work at the instrument long enough, you will reach a point where challenging "technicality" is not an issue - you will be able to physically play practically anything, but the challenge then becomes what to play and that is where a broad range of influences come in.

If you keep playing long enough, you will learn to appreciate playing at any tempo.

No, this forum is not hostile to metal at all. You asked for advice and the resounding message to you is that to be a better bassist, you need to broaden your musical horizons. That isn't anti-metal, but it is exactly what you asked for. Now, you can either take that advice you asked for (and which some other experienced musicians have generously offered) or you can igore it - that is up to you.

I suspect that you are really trolling and seeking to wind people up. If so, I hope you had fun. If not, I suggest you take the advice you have received in the spirit it is given.

Lol it was sort of a half troll. I added the things about skill and stuff to jazz because It sort of seems the majority of this forum is that. I was serious about I will probably only play metal but that doesn't mean I won't attempt to play some and play it just to **** around, is is generally pretty fun to play but I'm kind of at a point where ***** either way too easy (Chelsea grin) or just way to difficult (after the burial) and this goes for all genres. Not really good at finding jazz songs because I have no memory of names bands or anything.

Leave some intermediate songs/bands or whatever.

 

[dougjwray]

I've been playing bass for around two months and just looking for tips and such. I can play a couple of songs Recreant-Chelsea Grin Sonnet of the wretched-Chelsea Grin partisan deconstruction-Aversions crown Aspirations-after the burial ect. I play with a pick which I will probably be dropping soon. I know some music theory and will probably be taking bass lessons soon. I am also getting a Ibanez SR605 5-string bass.

Just want to know tips and techniques to sound my best

You want tips and techniques to sound your very best?
Switch to fingers, take lessons, buy an Ibanez SR605 5-string bass, learn by ear and tabs, and stick with death metal. Also, don't bother with anything else, because names and titles are too hard to remember.

Happy now?

 

[fearceol]

Also, don't bother with anything else, because names and titles are too hard to remember.

...and besides, other titles are too simple for you.

 

[tdshea]

Right on !!!