Newbie bass player

[almightycrunch]

youtube is your friend, you can find plenty of videos of people playing it "right" "wrong" and everywhere in between, I've been a guitar player in a gigging cover band since 1989, recently switched to bass to replace the bass polayer who moved out of the area on us. I've been at it for about 5 months I guess. Anytime I need to learn a tune, I dial up youtube video's of people playing it, gets pretty easy to weed out the "right" and "wrong" way pretty fast.

 

[Red Four]

A lot of good advice here. Like others, I'd suggest starting on a Squier P or J, and don't think about it too much between those two - whichever feels more comfortable and "right" right away. Either will serve you well and probably be a bass you can own and use forever.

I'd say to only go outside those two options if something else feels like "the" bass to you, immediately, at a primal level. When you feel that, it means something. When you don't, then the foundation of a Fender-style will always serve you. (Of course, I say this as someone who started on a Yamaha BB300 - a bass I still own and love - but I've always personally had a fancy for not going with the majority, which has pros and cons.)

Don't sweat the amp side too much. Let outside needs guide it. When you're in a situation that needs more volume, worry about it then; until then, don't give amps a second thought. Basic solid-state amps will be super-reliable and get you a long way.

As for learning, I'd recommend working on your ear as much as you can as early as you can. Tablature can be a good thing early on; starting out, it's a great way to learn on your own how some familar sounds are made. (That is, checking out tab of a song you already know well as a listener.) Limit how you use it, though; my moment of realization with tab came in the early stages of learning to play, when I learned Tull's "Aqualung" by tab and then totally lost the plot during a performance, in the extended walking part of the song. That's when I realized that developing your ear instincts and knowledge of chord progressions is what gets you closer to the music.

For general learning, the best advice may be to try some of everything. Tab can help you figure out something difficult. Video and lessons can help you understand more about playing technique. Ear training can make you a more intuitive and spontaneous player. Reading music can open doors to things that the other items above don't cover, and to getting involved in different types of work. Through all of that, you'll get a sense of what you like to play and are drawn to, and the technical/learning needs of that path will help you focus your learning on certain types of activities. Keep doing something - anything - and it will develop naturally.

 

[Down & Outman]

Don't forget pawn shops. You never know what you'll find. Got a MIM P bass for $150. They are out there. If your not sure about a bass, don't feel pressured to buy it right then.

I learned early on a bass player must have the inspiration of a guitarist and the timing of a drummer. Puts it in a different light.

I learned by playing to records, those vinyl things, LOL! It developes your ear and helps to develope your sense of timing. Got some music books of the records I had and went from there. There is so much more today with the net and Youtube, it boggles the mind.

I copied the sound and style of each bassist I was listening to. Eventually you will develop your own style from this.

I drove my mother crazy, but she figured that if I was at home making racket, I wasn't getting into trouble.

 

[Balog]

Lots of good advice here. I'll second the go used bit, and not just because I'm selling a $150 bass on here atm. I would at least consider getting a better amp as well, it was very discouraging to me when I was first starting out to play through a tiny crappy guitar combo amp that sounded nasty no matter what I did.

 

[Mike 257]

i think what you could sir, is to
1.pick up basic covers of songs at first. train your listening skill because when you listen, you start to be instinctive whether the note sounds right.
2.then you move on scales which help you to improvise in your playing and soloing. LEARN PENTATONIC scale 1st as it is the easiest scale in my opinion. then you move on to blue scales. one of the easiest way to apply your scale into playing is to groove within the scale.
3. check him out MARLOWEDK in youtube. i think he's able to help you a lot and enjoy bass playing. goodluck sir

xtunix , I am actually doing exactly as you suggested . I have so far made very good progress for the very short time I have been at this. My bass now feels comfortable to me and I dont feel awkward like I did the first week. I watch a lot of MarlowDK's vids the guy is great ! Im able to listen to music now and find out where the notes are but im just thinking I need some actual lessons would be a good route for me to take . This is crazy I take my bass to work with me now !

 

[Mike 257]

Mike:

DO NOT let your age be a detriment. And keep in mind, you are probably doing this for your own enjoyment, yes?...as opposed to learning the bass to be a professional or make a career from it; of course I would not know your intentions. My point here was to not let your age get in the way....but please pursue it as you need.

I feel "qualified" to answer in this light because at age 51, I have only been at it for a year - by myself - and I absolutely love it, and have learned a LOT! I have no designs on learning bass for anything more than self-enjoyment; I WISH I had done it years ago, but I did not, c'est la vie! Good luck!!

Chris

Chris you are correct Im doing this for my own enjoyment although I did mention to my girlfriend that it would be cool if eventually I could play a song or two at the local bar in my friends classic rock band .
Im really feeling good about this , my bass just feels perfect and Im not having a hard time learning on it , and that really surprises me.
As someone mentioned in an earlier post about buying a cool looking bass, I bought mine because I like Marcus Miller and I also think it looks cool, When Im not practicing Im staring at my bass because I love the way it looks, I mean I really love the look ... then I want to pick it up and that is all I do now, I hardly watch tv anymore .

 

[xtunix]

xtunix , I am actually doing exactly as you suggested . I have so far made very good progress for the very short time I have been at this. My bass now feels comfortable to me and I dont feel awkward like I did the first week. I watch a lot of MarlowDK's vids the guy is great ! Im able to listen to music now and find out where the notes are but im just thinking I need some actual lessons would be a good route for me to take . This is crazy I take my bass to work with me now !

haha thats great sir! awesome to see you feeling comfortable and happy playing bass. Classes are actually beneficial in lots of ways; especially an instructor correcting your mistake, telling you to avoid the "don't"s and etc. However, class sometimes maybe a little boring for some people bcs thats where you have to build a good foundation in your playing. I had been attending classes for 2+ years and throughout the 1st year, it was completely boring practicing those scales for nothing. It was later only the 2nd year i started to figure out things and being intuitive of the my playing.

Class may only bring you to a certain level where at the peak point, you find your true identity as a bassist and carry on ;-) thats when you play music like language. As for me now, self- teaching really encourages myself to find my path of playing and i do enjoy marcus miller work a LOT! peace man