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struggling.... Should I get lessons

K

kramerpage

Mar 25, 2010
6
0
Gahanna, Ohio
#1
I am new to forum and playing bass. I have been practicing for 45 days now and trying to play just one song for 2 weeks (Beatles Eight Days a Week). I even bought an instructional video for the song. I practice nearly every night. I just cant get it. I am horrible.
Should I seek lessons or try to break thru it? I am not having fun like I was in the beginning just practicing Bass players for dummies book and CD. That instructor has a great sense of humor. It would be cool to play that song well. My goal is to play with some friends that all play Beatles and 60's stuff.

Any suggestions are appreciated.:help:
 
#5
kramerpage said:
I am new to forum and playing bass. I have been practicing for 45 days now and trying to play just one song for 2 weeks (Beatles Eight Days a Week). I even bought an instructional video for the song. I practice nearly every night. I just cant get it. I am horrible.
Should I seek lessons or try to break thru it? I am not having fun like I was in the beginning just practicing Bass players for dummies book and CD. That instructor has a great sense of humor. It would be cool to play that song well. My goal is to play with some friends that all play Beatles and 60's stuff.

Any suggestions are appreciated.:help:
Click to expand...

Yes you should get lessons!

But in the meantime what about about the song makes it impossible for you to play? Is if too fast? Can't keep track of where the bass is going? The rhythm? Can't stay in time? Fret buzz/technique issues?

Also some pointers for learning songs...some of this might be a little over your head:

Whenever you learn a song learn the chord progression, for this song it's...

Verse=

D E
Ooh I need your love babe
G D
Guess you know it's true
E
Hope you need my love babe
G D
Just like I need you
Click to expand...

Chorus=

Bm G
Hold me, love me
Bm E
Hold me, love me
Click to expand...

You should be able to play those notes as whole notes/in rhythm and the song should sound okay.

Form there you need some theory to understand your options/the ones Paul choose.

I assume you can read tab... I'm at work but I'm 90% sure just from looking at this and comparing it to the chords that it's right http://www.bassmasta.net/b/beatles,_the/162796.html FYI, there is a tab of this song out there in which the guy wrote all the strings upside down (G, D, A, E instead of E, A, D, G)...if your tying to play it off that you'd definitely have a hard time.
 
#7
Me too. I`ve been playing for 9 years and was in a band(for about a year) that played shows and am starting up a new band with my friends and I still think about getting lessons. If only to show me some stuff that I never thought of. For example, I was playing for about a year and a half when i "discovered' palm muting. Take a lesson and learn something new!
 
#10
DudeistMonk said:
Yes you should get lessons!

But in the meantime what about about the song makes it impossible for you to play? Is if too fast? Can't keep track of where the bass is going? The rhythm? Can't stay in time? Fret buzz/technique issues?

Also some pointers for learning songs...some of this might be a little over your head:

Whenever you learn a song learn the chord progression, for this song it's...


You should be able to play those notes as whole notes/in rhythm and the song should sound okay.

Form there you need some theory to understand your options/the ones Paul choose.

I assume you can read tab... I'm at work but I'm 90% sure just from looking at this and comparing it to the chords that it's right http://www.bassmasta.net/b/beatles,_the/162796.html FYI, there is a tab of this song out there in which the guy wrote all the strings upside down (G, D, A, E instead of E, A, D, G)...if your tying to play it off that you'd definitely have a hard time.
Click to expand...
Thanks for your suggestions and point of view.

I did start of with the Internet upside down tabs. It starts out with eight note triplets on the G string instead of the E string. I worked on that over a week getting stuck 5 or 6 measures in when the song made no sense. I guess its funny now but I was pissed until my bob efford instructional Lennon / McCartney CD came in. I then had proper instruction.

Any way I am trying to play it at 165 bpm and get lost with my left hand fingering. Fret buzz has not been much of a problem. I have broke the song into parts and practice just a certain part each night along with my daily rudiments on the bass for dummies CD. The song isnt that hard is it? It is for me.
I will try your chord suggestion and post an update.

I think I will look for a teacher to teach me as so many has suggested. I must find my own melodic style.
Thanks
 
#12
Tabs - I hate them. Get the fake chord which gives the chord progressions. Sing the song under your breath changing chords with the chord change word.

Get yourself some favorite riffs R, R-5, R-3-5-3, R-3-5-b7 or R-b3-5-b7 and use which ever one fits the chord and the groove best.

Call up a video of your song and play over it. [Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
I'd use a basic R-5 on this one.

On another song the R-3-5-3 may work or a R-R-3-3-5-5-6-5 could fit the groove better. Each song will dictate what riff and groove you are to use.

Teacher or not - up to you and your specific situation. A teacher will get you there twice as fast as you can do it alone.

Good luck.
 
#13
I never had an instructor until I was learning Upright in college. Been playing for 25 years. I think you can always learn something new.

That said, whether you get a teacher or not please don't think that 45 days is long enough to get anywhere. My experience is it takes about 2 years to get to a point where you feel like you have a foundational understanding of what you're doing.

So yes, get a teacher. No, do not get discouraged. If this was easy everybody would do it. I gained my skills by playing my bass every spare minute of every day for MONTHS on end. I am not kidding, it was like 5-7 hours of playing every day.

Also, don't beat one song to death for 45 days. You've burned that song and you are not having fun anymore. Find something to make it fun right away and just quit that song. It is not a defeat -- there are songs that I started learning when I was a newbie that I STILL haven't mastered just because I moved beyond them. Don't let that be a brick wall to you.
 
#14
I agree with lessons. And I also agree with getting them from a bass player. While any good musician can teach you about music, there are technique issues that only a bassist can give you. Simple things, such has length of guitar strap and where to put your left thumb. And that's before fingering options. Everyone you listen to has put in years getting to where they are. Its a good journey. Start now.
 
#15
baddarryl said:
Two things:
1. Get a bassist who teaches, not a guitard that thinks he can teach bass.
2. My teacher absolutely rips, has a Bachelors in Jazz Bass and still takes lessons.
Click to expand...

I made that first mistake... I got better a theory. and then corrected it by doing the second thing, he is who i now have lessons with.


YES you need lessons, and YES get someone that knows what they are talking about.
 
#17
DeaconK said:
FWIW, "Eight Days A Week" is a fun song to play and learn. But, you're playing it waaaay too fast. It's played at 120bpm (but very easy to run away with).
Click to expand...

Yeah, much too fast...Also whenever I have trouble with a song I use a program called Amazing Slow Downer (although, Transcribe or the Tascam Bass Trainer) will do the same). It lets me create a loop of a section, slow it to 80 or 90% and then work it up. It also lets me run all the songs on my bands set list at 115% which gets me through my pre-gig refresher extra fast.
 
#18
You haven't filled your profile, but it sounds like you're a hobbyist, and the Beatles thing suggests you are old enough that you likely lack piercings and tats. GET LESSONS. Right now you think all you want to do is jam the fab 4 with friends, but that may grow. When I took it up as a hobby 8 yrs ago my teacher suggested I practice playing while standing for when I gig. I laughed at him and stated I had no ambitions beyond my living room....but a few years later I began playing the occasional charity gig. Youy will get way more out of music if you understand it, rather than memorize it IME, waaaaaaaay more, and you will become better faster and be able to better learn on your own.:bassist:
 

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