• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

Seeking advice

B

benrelf

Feb 14, 2019
11
2
#1
Hello TalkBass forum! This is my first ever post. I wanted to ask, what is some advice for a relatively new bass player? I'm going to leave my question real open ended because I'm interested in any tips that you all may have!

I've been playing for close to 2 years now and I feel like I am proud with my progress thus far, but I am always looking for ways to improve. I am a young player but haven't played since I have been a kid, and I am looking for any sort of advice that more experienced players can give me so that I can start working on/considering it now, rather than later. I feel like in other aspects of my life learning and taking advice from more experienced people has really saved me time and frustration while developing new skills, and I am sure this forum has plenty to offer. Again I apologize for the vagueness of my question, but really I don't know what sort of answer I am looking for.
 
#4
Follow the chords and play notes of the active chord to the beat of the kick drum. Point being you gotta know what chord is active. At this point in your journey I doubt you can do this by ear. So, sheet music is in order. I, like everyone that plays in the bands I'm with use fake chord sheet music, I take it one step more and transposed the chords to Nashville numbers 90% of the time. Ten percent of the time I'm catching the note/chord name in first position. Be glad to go into more detail..... ask specific questions.
 
  • Like
Reactions: benrelf
#5
MalcolmAmos said:
Follow the chords and play notes of the active chord to the beat of the kick drum. Point being you gotta know what chord is active. At this point in your journey I doubt you can do this by ear. So, sheet music is in order. I, like everyone that plays in the bands I'm with use fake chord sheet music, I take it one step more and transposed the chords to Nashville numbers 90% of the time. Ten percent of the time I'm catching the note/chord name in first position. Be glad to go into more detail..... ask specific questions.
Click to expand...

Would you explain what you mean by an active chord? I'm sorry if this is something obvious. If a chord is not active than what is it, passive?
 
#6
rhopper said:
Don't over play bass lines. Your musical relationship with the drummer is the #1 key to success in my opinion. Bass can be a solo instrument when the time is right but not for every song!
Click to expand...

Thank you, and well said! I have to say despite my inexperience that these are things I find to be very true when playing with others. I've found myself getting better at navigating the fretboard on bass as I practice improvising on electric guitar, it helps me get my shred/solo cravings out!
 
#10
-Meet other musicians. Copy the things they do that you think are wise.
-If you choose to study music theory (and you should) apply everything you learn to the bass. In other words, use it to write some music (any style will do).
-Learn to read music. Read something new everyday.
-Once you learn to how to play something, learn to play it a different way.
-Never say no to a gig if your schedule permits. If there are people in your life that don't understand your need to make music, encourage them to find other friends.
-Love the sound of your instrument. Be anxious to find time to play.
-Never put anything in your body that changes your mind, or the way you think.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Anthony D Gattuso Jr and ObsessiveArcher
#11
benrelf said:
Would you explain what you mean by an active chord? I'm sorry if this is something obvious. If a chord is not active than what is it, passive?
Click to expand...
Here is a chord progression on "Somewhere over the rainbow" Print it and then have it in hand as you read the rest. Somewhere Over the Rainbow Guitar Chords This link pulls up some standard notation sheet music on the song and if you scroll down you will find some fake chord sheet music on this song. Fake chord is where I want you ……. Notice the Bm chord is active with the lyric words, over the rain, but on the syllable bow it changes to the G7 chord. The chord stays active until a new set of notes make another chord be the harmonizing chord.
Have fun.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: Wfrance3 and benrelf
#12
There are many things worth doing to improve as a musician,
but I cannot think of anything as beneficial as musical literacy.

Practice reading daily, if you haven't started already.
It can be a slog, (I am still slogging myself) but it is entirely worth it.
The benefits of learning notation begin to accumulate
long before you achieve proficient sight reading level.
With reading every other thing worth doing becomes more accessible.
 
  • Like
Reactions: benrelf and ObsessiveArcher
#13
My advise is to learn the fret board. If someone says a root note, or a chord name; then you need to know where the root of that chord is on your bass. you can do this with scales and warm up exercises and such..

Study up on some theory. Major/Miner scales. Pentatonic Maj/Min.
Study the Circle of Fifths(Fourths).
Study the simple Chords Major chords, Minor Chords to start. Then work up to 7th chords and on to augmented diminished and such is more advanced.. but start with the Maj/Miner Chord tones and the Pentatonic Maj/Min (It has all you really need right now).
The interval qualites is what you are looking to get ingrained into your bass-being..
(Honestly a little keyboard will help you with this. if you have apple products Garage Band is a great little app. its like a tiny studio in your pocket! or tablet!)

Learn to play songs you like. It will keep things fresh and fun (I mean we 'play' music after all right? ;)) This alone has kept me going after all these years.

Eventually you get the guts to play out somewhere, even if its in front of neighbors in your garage. find some jam mates. and maybe get into a band. the sky is the limit.

there is tons more, but soak this up for now, and post back when this sparks more questions.
 
  • Like
Reactions: benrelf, ObsessiveArcher and MalcolmAmos
#14
benrelf said:
Hello TalkBass forum! This is my first ever post. I wanted to ask, what is some advice for a relatively new bass player
Click to expand...
Hi and welcome to TB. If you want some really good advice, leave and never come back to this site, otherwise you'll end up spending more time worrying about things like:
  • whether or not you chose the right pickguard material and color
  • whether your nut is 1.5" or 1.5001"
  • what your bass actually weighs in picograms
  • whether or not you like carrots
than you will about actually playing your bass :roflmao:

Seriously, just remember to play :bassist: more that you read :thumbsup:
 
  • Like
Reactions: benrelf and nbsipics
#15
As others have pointed out, don't be afraid to go out and play with other people, whether it's in a band, or a jam, or an open mic, or whatever. I'm a fairly shy person (as I'm sure many people are), and I definitely waited longer than I should have to leave the bedroom and go out and play--I was terrified! Luckily, I eventually did (that was about 20 years ago), and it quickly became tolerable, and then second nature, and then wonderful! No matter how insecure you might be about your playing, most of the people you meet out there are kind and considerate, and most of them are going through (or have gone through) the same kinds of insecurities and doubt that you might be experiencing. So just hold your nose and jump in!
 
  • Like
Reactions: benrelf and ObsessiveArcher
#16
benrelf said:
Hello TalkBass forum! This is my first ever post. I wanted to ask, what is some advice for a relatively new bass player? I'm going to leave my question real open ended because I'm interested in any tips that you all may have!

I've been playing for close to 2 years now and I feel like I am proud with my progress thus far, but I am always looking for ways to improve. I am a young player but haven't played since I have been a kid, and I am looking for any sort of advice that more experienced players can give me so that I can start working on/considering it now, rather than later. I feel like in other aspects of my life learning and taking advice from more experienced people has really saved me time and frustration while developing new skills, and I am sure this forum has plenty to offer. Again I apologize for the vagueness of my question, but really I don't know what sort of answer I am looking for.
Click to expand...
Enjoy the journey. I always remind myself that the musicians we watch and try to play like have been doing this for years and decades. It doesn't just happen in a few weeks. So, enjoy the challenges and pick up the instrument every day. Even if it just sits in your lap it helps. That's extreme but you get the drift.
Good luck and welcome to TB:bassist:
 
  • Like
Reactions: benrelf
#17
1. Listen.
2. Listen.
3. Listen some more.

There's already a lot of good advice in the thread. Follow those but listen!
Listen to yourself while playing. It's harder then it seems.
Listen to your bandmates (esp. the drummer) in a band setting.
Listen to other bass players. Identify what you like and what you don't.

Did I mention listen?

....and have fun! :bassist::thumbsup:
 
  • Like
Reactions: benrelf
#19
benrelf said:
I'm going to leave my question real open ended because I'm interested in any tips that you all may have!
Click to expand...
Play, play, play, play, and play. And when you're done, play some more. All the time, as much as you can.

I'm being sincere. With a couple years experience and your happiness with your progress, hopefully you're gigging to a degree. On top of all the advice you'll get here, combined with your practice and skills enhancement, nothing like playing out to build your comfort on the bass and skills. I had been playing for about three years when I got my first "great" gig - a ten month tour (100+/- shows in that time) preceded by 8 weeks of staging for the show (six days a week, 8 hours a day). It was an amazing boost in my abilities and confidence. There would be some nights where I'd pay attention to the first few songs and suddenly wonder why we were at the last song. When your hands are doing their own thing without thinking, wow!

So work as much as you possibly can with as many people as you can, soak it all in.
 
  • Like
Reactions: benrelf

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back