Hi. I've been sorta playing all my life with last 4 strings of guitar. Play along with songs but no lessons need technique how to read chords to play jazz even names of notes on fretboard are a challenge. Was a percussion major at Berklee in early 80's and hope my background will give me strong unique rhythms. Small hands, play a Squier Jaguar not great sound imo, gave up a full scale Squire that "played itself, "incredible harmonics hard to play because of size but kicking self for selling it. Portrait of Jenny is a fave song plus Marcus Miller too. Suggestions for me ? What's the best short scale bass on limited price range? What are best web instructions in your experience ? How to (gulp!)?begin to play in groups? Best way to learn fret notes, chords etc. How to use experience as drummer to play bass better? Have SO many ideas, would love to give to them some exciting things such as power influence etcbut miss playing harmony and melodies ! Thanks for reading. Any suggestions welcome!
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Newbie here-drummer who is learning bass
- Thread starter upgroove9
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I recently signed up for talkingbass.net's all access pass and while some of the lessons leave out backing tracks that would be included if you purchased his courses rather than subscribed to all access, the all access area has a plethora of information in PDF format that is very easy to read, as well as backing tracks to a point of redundancy.
When I first started playing bass I signed up for Scott's Bass Lessons, and he's pretty much responsible for teaching my right hand technique, floating thumb and raking for descending bass lines.
Personally, I feel like talkingbass.net is more to the point in his videos, and the information is presented in an easier to follow format. No offense intended to Scott Devine, but he kind of takes too long to get to the point in many of his videos for my taste, although some people may benefit from his analogies and reasoning behind the application of what he's trying to teach. There is a lot to be gained from Scott Devine's free videos as well though.
I had to go this route because I simply couldn't find an actual bass instructor to take lessons from in my town. The lessons I did take were from a guitar major who used that information to transfer to bass, but couldn't teach me right hand techniques to save his life.
If you can find a solid bass instructor locally, who is really a bass player and can teach you finger technique and slap, it's your best bet.. and with or without that I'd highly recommend subscribing to talkingbass.net and going through their courses as well as hitting up the all access area.
A background in drumming should be greatly beneficial to playing bass, and I'm inclined to believe that once you do get some practical theory and technique under your belt, something will likely click for you as far as the bass's role in rhythm.
Be prepared to spend a few weeks developing your fingers and right hand for picking and plucking techniques until you're comfortable playing with any sense of rhythm at all. When I first picked up a bass, the first month was mostly spent just trying to coordinate my two plucking fingers on open strings.. but I also cheesed out playing some rocksmith which helped make it less boring. Not that I'd advocate rocksmith as a proper learning tool.. it did help though.
I'll let others recommend gear to you.. as I don't know much about short scales personally.
When I first started playing bass I signed up for Scott's Bass Lessons, and he's pretty much responsible for teaching my right hand technique, floating thumb and raking for descending bass lines.
Personally, I feel like talkingbass.net is more to the point in his videos, and the information is presented in an easier to follow format. No offense intended to Scott Devine, but he kind of takes too long to get to the point in many of his videos for my taste, although some people may benefit from his analogies and reasoning behind the application of what he's trying to teach. There is a lot to be gained from Scott Devine's free videos as well though.
I had to go this route because I simply couldn't find an actual bass instructor to take lessons from in my town. The lessons I did take were from a guitar major who used that information to transfer to bass, but couldn't teach me right hand techniques to save his life.
If you can find a solid bass instructor locally, who is really a bass player and can teach you finger technique and slap, it's your best bet.. and with or without that I'd highly recommend subscribing to talkingbass.net and going through their courses as well as hitting up the all access area.
A background in drumming should be greatly beneficial to playing bass, and I'm inclined to believe that once you do get some practical theory and technique under your belt, something will likely click for you as far as the bass's role in rhythm.
Be prepared to spend a few weeks developing your fingers and right hand for picking and plucking techniques until you're comfortable playing with any sense of rhythm at all. When I first picked up a bass, the first month was mostly spent just trying to coordinate my two plucking fingers on open strings.. but I also cheesed out playing some rocksmith which helped make it less boring. Not that I'd advocate rocksmith as a proper learning tool.. it did help though.
I'll let others recommend gear to you.. as I don't know much about short scales personally.
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I was a drummer all through grade school and the beginning of college when I started playing bass and made the switch. So yes, it is achievable!
I had lessons as a drummer so I knew how to practice, I honestly think that was a big help. Just as you would work up rudiments and figures you need to build up your approach to bass without even thinking about speed... that comes in time. (So to speak). The only things that should matter now are time and sound, make each note sound good in the right place.
Unlike the early days, there are a million ways to learn the basics online. Of utmost importance is learning the fretboard, so do whatever you need to do to feel comfortable with that. Maybe finding every F# (and so on) and playing them in time? That leads to playing scales starting from each one. Then two octaves worth of scales at a time... etc.
If you played in groups before, that will be pretty familiar. Lock in with the drummer, obviously. And keep your ears open. Play with dynamics. The usual, right?
Can't help with the short scale bass but the more you can play, the better, you'll find what suits you.
Hope some of this helps! Maybe you are already past all that but I found that no matter how "quickly" I picked up bass there were plenty of fundamentals to work on that I probably should have spent more time on.
I had lessons as a drummer so I knew how to practice, I honestly think that was a big help. Just as you would work up rudiments and figures you need to build up your approach to bass without even thinking about speed... that comes in time. (So to speak). The only things that should matter now are time and sound, make each note sound good in the right place.
Unlike the early days, there are a million ways to learn the basics online. Of utmost importance is learning the fretboard, so do whatever you need to do to feel comfortable with that. Maybe finding every F# (and so on) and playing them in time? That leads to playing scales starting from each one. Then two octaves worth of scales at a time... etc.
If you played in groups before, that will be pretty familiar. Lock in with the drummer, obviously. And keep your ears open. Play with dynamics. The usual, right?
Can't help with the short scale bass but the more you can play, the better, you'll find what suits you.
Hope some of this helps! Maybe you are already past all that but I found that no matter how "quickly" I picked up bass there were plenty of fundamentals to work on that I probably should have spent more time on.
find a $100 Fender B-DEC 30, the atomic brain combo amp, it'll become your new best friend
