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pls I need help from you all

kay prince

kay prince

Oct 26, 2012
12
0
Ghana
#1
playing bass and my problem is I can't create fills am only stucked at root notes that makes playing boring....am always insulted by my mates....pls what can I do to create good bass line without stucking only at the root notes...pls help
 
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#8
Playing bass is a bit like spelling correctly :rolleyes: - you can't form complete bass lines until you know all the notes in a chord or even a scale.
In all seriousness, my two biggest pieces of advice would be to 1) start learning and transcribing songs. Even if it's tabs only at first. Work up to being able to do it by ear. 2) Get a teacher who will help you and hold you accountable for progressing as a player.
 
#11
Two things: Start memorizing your fretboard until any note needed can be reached for and easily played, and learn as many songs (and licks from songs) as you can, from simple to more complex. Discipline and a clear focus on self-improvement will be your allies.
The more data that you learn and internalize while at the same time refining your technique & approach through practice, the sooner that the time will come where you can just play and blow your mates socks off.
 
#12
OldDirtyBassist said:
Learn the rest of the chord.
Click to expand...

BioWeapon said:
Learn scales then each mode. If your root is a C then use whatever scale in the key of C.
Use octaves, 5ths, 10ths, etc etc to spice it up too.

+1 to learning the chord, on my todo list now.
Click to expand...

IMHO it's not 100% about technique first, but more about the ability to play a song. No matter how easy is the song (which mean doesn't need much technique ability to play it).

Both suggestions I quoted above are great inputs for the OP.
But I tend to recommend more to lean the chords first.
What notes that build a chord. Any chords.
Play (practice) those the notes on each of the chord. (You can call it 'Chordal Scale Practice').
On all 12 notes.
Much better if you practice them on every possible position of fingers on the every possible fretboard on the bass.

Leave the 'Scale Practice' (modal, etc) for now,...
maybe until later when the OP has 'mastered' his Chordal Notes Scale and able to play any songs he knows the chord progressions better.

How about technique?
I recommend:
learn to read note and practice "Hanon Virtuoso Pianist" with metronome from the slow (60 BPM) tempo....
or get a teacher if you like.

Good Luck for the OP
 
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#14
Greg Jones said:
This ^^

Learn the arpeggios first. Leave the scales/modes studies for later.
Click to expand...

Thanks. I learned it from Carol Kaye. (She's a great teacher even if only from her website).

But it was much too late for me when I first know it. I had already my own different habit.
If only I knew it when I started play bass....
I was too hard in modal, scales and alike,... Now I realize that it's not better then what Carol Kaye told :D
So I'd like to pass the (Very Good) information.
 
#16
Darryl Miller said:
Oh yeah Carol Kaye--wonder if she checks in here. I had a couple lessons from her when she was in Seattle to open EMP. She was a theory buff. Duct taped a dish sponge to her bridge to deaden the tone because her pick is so hard. What a bad ass lady!!!!
Click to expand...
You're lucky to have been met and teached by the legend herself. I always put CK high in my list of world legend bassists, up there with Monk Montgomery, James Jamerson, Duck Dunn, Joe Osborn, Paul McCartney,...
 
#19
kay prince said:
Thanks a lot all of you....I think I shud start practicing all what u told me.........I thot learning songs could help me but I think there are more things I shud do b4 learning songs
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I hope not, but I'm affraid you missunderstood me/us.

Have you check the Carol Kaye tips on her website by clicking the link a gave you above?

No?

OK, here it is I'll quote it here for you before you check it out for yourself at her website (http://www.carolkaye.com/www/education/tips1.htm)

Carol Kaye in her website said:
tip 2

BASIC THEORY. Basic theory starts with the formation of chords. I never teach any scale until much later, after you learn the right notes to use in chordal situations and get to playing right away, with good ear-training chordal arpeggios and some useful rock/funk lines as well as good walking lines to use.
Click to expand...
 
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#20
Play the root only on the first beat, then push yourself to jump away from it for the rest of the bar.

Learn chord theory. You need to picture a chord using its chord tones which are the 1-3-5-7-8 notes. You will use this notes to "describe" the chord along its duration in the bar.

Those fills you want to learn to play, are also made of those chord tones.

Take note of this:

*Study and learn chord theory.

*You don't have to play the root first always.

*Octaves are the easiest interval and your best friends, learn how to use them and abuse them, beacuse they provide an endless source of groove and make chicks move their parts in a sexy way.

*Internet and Youtube are immensely populated with free lessons and information on everything we are pointing you at.

Go for it and give a holler if need more help
 

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