So... What next? Newbie question.

[tonemachine]

So, I'm bored of reading tablature. I want to better myself as a player. I've been playing for a little over 1/2 a year. I like to read it because it helps me with technique kinda, and it gives me a better feel for the instrument. I can play plenty of bass parts, but I don't know what to do next. I've played Alto/Bari Sax for a long time, and I can read sheet music in treble clef, and I've played in a band, so I have musical background. I'm working on reading sheet music, and it's been steady, but there's so much I can't do.

I can't slap. Maybe it's my bass. A Squire P. I tried on a Jazz Bass at GC and it did sound a lot better, but I really don't blame the instrument. Maybe the neck? Not sure.

I see people demonstrating basses and they can pick it up, and just play something off the top of their head, and it sounds beautiful. Kinda an odd question, but how do I do that?

I guess, in short, what do I do next? This is something I really want to get better at. A Bass is such a cool instrument.

I've been in your shoes, still kinda am 25 years later. Heed my advice: take lessons from a great bass player, at least to get a good technique down. Preferably stick with him and learn all you can beyond technique.


I can play fairly well, I "know" theory and I can read ( grew up on clarinet, treble clef). At church, I play with a great, touring drummer (who is properly trained and still takes lessons) who for three years has said "you just need to get out and play, play, play." Yes, play the same old limited way.
Just being in a band isn't the answer. Lessons are.

Having a teacher will save many years of your reinventing the wheel. You will get insight and understanding, even if you have a great ear, this will help tremendously. Since you can read, you'll pick up bass clef fast. A whole new world will open up to you. I just started lessons again and with a fixed regiment of "boring" stuff I am already better. You can afford it. Make sacrifices, it will pay off later, just trust me on this if you want to be great faster than you could be by reinventing the wheel. Reinvent after you learn the fundamentals well. Best of luck.

 

[DreadyDiggs]

Learn the notes on the neck if you haven't, and start to train your ear to pickup basslines. Some people demonstrating basses learned the lines they are playing, and for others they are made up on the spot. To make stuff up you need to be very adept at playing by ear and/or you need to learn scales and a little theory (the more the better).

I myself have only just begun learning scales, and they've helped me create some neat basslines already. Nothing complex, but that comes later.

As far as slapping, I can't slap at all. I don't even like trying.

Training your ear is way more complex than one might think. I thought I had a good ear, but my ear was only trained to hear notes if played on bass. I play in a band now and the keyboardist may try to get me to pick up a bassline but he's playing it an octave higher than what he wants me to play it AND it's coming from a piano. I suck at picking out the notes played on a piano, but it gets better everytime.

 

[Smooth_bass88]

Throw all TABS or whatever the heck they're called into the garbage and never ever look at them again.

Learn how to read bass clef- you might need to find a good teacher for this.

Learn lots of music by ear. Make sure it's note-for-note. Start with simple stuff then move onto more difficult material.

Don't worry about learning how to be good at slap 'n pop. Most musicians you end up playing with don't want to hear that stuff anyway.

Take it S L O W

 

[1stnamebassist]

Learn scales, how chords are constructed from the scales, and play the notes of the chord, also known as an arpeggio. Learn the most common chord progressions you will encounter like a 1,4,5 progression (G,C,D). And work on learning songs by ear which takes a lot of patience and time. And play with others. Online sites like Scottsbasslessons have a wealth of material that will keep you busy for years! And if you get too frustrated with something move on to something else and come back to it later. Most of all have fun and enjoy the journey!