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Next steps on my beginner journey

P

Phil73

May 11, 2021
2
1
53
Montréal, Québec
#1
Hi Everyone,
This is my first time posting (I just created my account).
I have been using Ed Friedland's Bass method (Hal Leonard), and am just finishing the last exercise from the second book. I have done every exercise from the first two books over the last two years (I have a full time job and 3 kids). I have found them quite difficult as I went along, but I feel I have progressed a lot and I went through every exercise until I felt I had mastered it.
I would like some advice on the best path forward:
1) Continue on with the third book. I think it would take me another year to complete.
2) Hit pause on the method and try to join a local band to get some group playing (I have never played with others).
3) Hit pause on the method and practice longer songs (I am a huge Beatles fan).
4) Any other advice ?
Thank You !
 
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#2
Hey Phil - welcome to TB.
From my years of stalking this forum, the consensus view is that having a teacher and a metronome is the best bang for buck, particularly at the early stages. By identifying strengths and weaknesses in technique early on, you will be able to go a lot further with the instrument in the long run.
My personal suggestion would be to find a friendly group of musicians you can jam with. If you understand the basics of 4/4 time and delivering root notes on the 1 and chord tones for the other 3, you're ready for most rock classics as a bassist.
The most important thing is knowing when to play those notes in relation to the beat, or "the pocket". In my experience, finding this moment each and every note you play will become your lifelong musical quest!
Oh, and practice "bass face"; really entertains your band mates and compensates for a lot of musical mediocrity (please don't ask how I know this :unsure:)
Notice I've said all this without any mention of gear ... you will be told by many here that your gear is the cause of any shortcomings. I urge you to find out what GAS is and avoid it at all costs. It is a painful unrewarding disease and affliction suffered by many on these boards.
***Consider yourself warned!***
Most importantly, enjoy your musical journey!
:thumbsup:
 
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#3
Hi Phil, congratulations on working through those two methods, that's a big accomplishment. My suggestion to you would be to find a teacher so that he/she could work with you to evaluate your progress and identify areas needing improvement. Even one or two lessons would be helpful in this, and you could probably do this online.

Also, since you're a talkbass member now, you'll need to start accumulating bass gear :)
 
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#4
First of all congratulations! I think the timeless approach to a music book is 'do the first 10 pages and let it sit on the bookshelf for the next 10 years'. So doing it cover to cover is commendable!

I'll always recommend a teacher as the best way to improve. There is nothing like having someone in the know and with the knowledge to independently assess your playing but actually working with you with the genuine desire to help you develop. A lot of what is on your list you don't need a teacher for, and you shouldn't need one to tell you how to join a band or play longer songs etc but what we can do for you is offer a whole lot of skills and knowledge you may not even know that you don't know.

There are many of us about on Talkbass who teach so ask around and see who you like. Ask questions as well and discuss things with people, that's what it's all about.
 
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#6
Phil73 said:
Hi Everyone,
This is my first time posting (I just created my account).
I have been using Ed Friedland's Bass method (Hal Leonard), and am just finishing the last exercise from the second book. I have done every exercise from the first two books over the last two years (I have a full time job and 3 kids). I have found them quite difficult as I went along, but I feel I have progressed a lot and I went through every exercise until I felt I had mastered it.
I would like some advice on the best path forward:
1) Continue on with the third book. I think it would take me another year to complete.
2) Hit pause on the method and try to join a local band to get some group playing (I have never played with others).
3) Hit pause on the method and practice longer songs (I am a huge Beatles fan).
4) Any other advice ?
Thank You !
Click to expand...

What are your goals? Where do you want to be as a bass player in, say, 5 years?
 
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#9
Phil73 said:
My goals:
- Be good enough to have fun in a band
- Be good enough to play most of the Beatles catalog
- Be good enough to play most Blues classics, and some jazz
- Try not to accumulate too much gear
Click to expand...

Do you want to understand what you're playing, or just play it? :)

IMO, if you just want to play songs, then the best way to get good is to just play loads of songs. If you want to really understand the bass as an instrument, and understand the theory behind what you are playing, then I think a teacher would be a good move. Or at least a book like Ariane Cap's Music Theory for the Bass Player.

I used to be a song monster, but I was painting by numbers. Nothing wrong with that, but I wanted to understand things. Why did the song move to that chord? What notes can I play over that chord? If you join a band and the guitarist says "right, it's a simple 2,5,1 in BbMaj", will you know what they mean?

BrotherMisters point about not knowing what you dont know is so true. Even when you think you know something, you realise there are way more levels to that knowledge than you thought there was!

As for accumulating gear... well, we all have GAS, but once you realise it does not make you play any better, then hopefully it will subside. There's so many great players on Youtube absolutely killing it on cheap basses. I'm really glad that being good on an instrument is something that money just cannot buy. It's what makes it so special.

So, in short:

Get a teacher
Learn loads of songs
Join a band

But most importantly, have fun my man. It's what it's all about!

Oh, and if you want some song ideas, here's my Spotify playlist. Something for everyone :)

Bass Guitar
 
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#10
Why not both, go to book 3 and find some local guys to jam with.

Being good enough to have fun in a band does not require any formal education or a wealth of musical knowledge. You will probably find that you are more knowledgeable than most folks you come across to jam with, that have the same amount of time in as you do. It will likely be harder to find players that share your knowledge and likes and you may have to dumb it down some when you do. Hooking up with more experienced musicians may be to your advantage. Don't let fear get in the way. The older guys have been there and know when somebody has potential. It's a journey.
 
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#12
Hey Phil, welcome to the club! This may be slightly off topic, my apologies if so, but for me, in addition to teachers, books, etc., I've found that utilizing an inexpensive multi-effects pedal unit is a great way to enhance creativity, but also for composing and songwriting, plus they're just plain fun to mess with. I'm not talking about the top level pro gear for onstage, but a good quality Zoom or Digitech. As you can see, I'm a fan of the Zooms. BTW, I have 4 kids of my own, and when they were tikes, having a pedal and a good set of phones was a lifesaver!!
Zoom pedals.jpeg
Hey, I went to the 1976 Montreal Olympics with my late Dad, an Uncle and cousin. Beautiful, city, that Montreal!!
 
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#13
Benj-jammin said:
Hey Phil, welcome to the club! This may be slightly off topic, my apologies if so, but for me, in addition to teachers, books, etc., I've found that utilizing an inexpensive multi-effects pedal unit is a great way to enhance creativity, but also for composing and songwriting, plus they're just plain fun to mess with. I'm not talking about the top level pro gear for onstage, but a good quality Zoom or Digitech. As you can see, I'm a fan of the Zooms. BTW, I have 4 kids of my own, and when they were tikes, having a pedal and a good set of phones was a lifesaver!! View attachment 4266331 Hey, I went to the 1976 Montreal Olympics with my late Dad, an Uncle and cousin. Beautiful, city, that Montreal!!
Click to expand...

I have the Zoom B3. I'm a bit clueless when it comes to how to get the best sounds out of it though. At the moment it's just a very large tuner :)
 
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#15
My last answer about the B3 was a bit shoddy - "look at the manual." I think a good basic start with this model, is to focus on the middle screen. The first two knobs, left to right, will control your individual patches and/or banks. I believe there are 10 banks, so there are a ton of patches to choose from. The middle, very top button is your rhythm button which will access the drum machine. The screen on your left will control the different drum patterns. Try these options, just to get a basic feel for the patches and patterns.
 
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#17
In these modern times I would defer to the advice from others. In 1969 I would keep practicing from a book with a play along record, Jam with as many people as possible, haunt the musicians wanted/available advertisements at half a dozen local music stores. Get in a band and get gigging. That process back then would have taken one to two months maximum.
 
#19
WrapRough said:
I have the Zoom B3. I'm a bit clueless when it comes to how to get the best sounds out of it though. At the moment it's just a very large tuner :)
Click to expand...
I have a zoom b 2.1 that's a permanent fixture on my pedal board. I mostly play jazz and r&b so I don't need a lot of effects, but I use it to add a slight amount of reverb to sort of wet my sound a little bit. And I have an envelope filter patch that I created to use on a certain songs like chameleon and superstition.
 
#20
You don't really state what your goals are for bass. If you want to get somewhere, you need to know where you are going.

If your goal is to be in a band, start looking for people to play with. Technical studies are great, but not the only form of education.

It sounds like you've found a method that works for you, so stick with that - we never stop learning even when we think we're "there".

I've never seen a practice plan that didn't include a lot of variety. When you first start to learn an instrument, there really isn't much else you can do besides the basics. Once you get to a basic understanding of the fretboard and some musical structure, it's of great value to mix it up some. Spend some time on each of your issues every practice session:
- Warm up on something comfortable. Could be a song you know, could be etudes, scales or arpeggios.
- Technical Study 15-30 minutes. Review last session's technical study and/or start on a new topic
- Work on a new song(s) for 15-30 minutes
- Work on improving or locking down "known" songs for 15-30 minutes
- Review Technical work (5-10 minutes.
- Jam on a known song that you enjoy playing (end with some confidence and fun).

This is just a sample of how many good students will organize their practice time. Your plan will vary based on the length of your sessions and what you are working on. And not every session will follow the timing exactly - no need to set a timer or anything, just be conscious of switching things up and practicing with focus. And it's OK to occasionally focus on one task or skipping one. Maybe you don't feel like working on a new song that day, so you use the time on the other tasks. Maybe you have an audition coming up and you need to spend the time dialing in a lot of new tunes. Just try to mix up your sessions a little.

I personally recommend that you don't get too caught up in effects chasing just yet. This can be very distracting and take your time away from learning the instrument and learning to groove. There' plenty of time to caught up in the pedal board game.
 
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