Teaching Myself

[Slapper0202]

I have been using Hal Leonard, and Bert Casey, books, Cd; DVD. I read music, and played 40 yrs. ago, and, so far it is going pretty good, with picking up the notes again. I was thinking once, I get the notes down, I may take some lessons. I need some guidance on this, or should I take lessons now, and workout the more detailed items later.

 

[psylocke24]

I am taking my lessons but I am slow, I can see the progress little by little. My tutor told me it takes time to Link Removed and I need to enjoy what I am doing. I think I will follow some of your advice here with the books, CD/DVD because I want to learn fast.

 

[Mike Saville]

Hi, just wanted to say good luck. I'm around 8 weeks into learning the bass. Great fun so far You can check my progress on this thread: http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showthread.php?t=679301

So far I've used some tab from active bass, hal leonard Building Walking Bass Lines book, Fingerstyle Funk by Francis Rocco Prestia and the Jamerson book. I've also some some transcribing of a couple of tunes.

This is stuff aimed at the kind of music I want to play.

I'd second the person that said learn to hear things and write them down. It might be really difficult for you at the moment, but liken anything else the more you do it the easier it will get. Just play the recording and try to work out a note or 2 on the bass. Doesn't need to be perfect, just get some practice doing it.

Good luck!!

 

[TRob1293]

I have been learning for about 3 years now
Between work and family obligations, and my poor ability to memorize the note locations on the fretboard - it is becoming a journey to say the least.
I love the instrument and will certainly keep plugging away.
I seem to have become a student (building, reading, watching, messing with tones and effects, etc...) of it and have become a bit obsessed - but that darned fretboard...

I feel that once I dedicate my time to memorizing the fretboard - the world of bass will open it's doors and everything will become that much easier.

 

[dabigc5]

Well, after a couple months of taking some advice, it has gotten a little easier to hear songs, and figure out how the song goes (sorta) even if I'm in the wrong key. I think picking out where I need to be on the fretboard will just take some more time and practice. One of the best tips I got, and even shared with other people, was that I should sing the notes as I play them. My singing may suck, but it helped me with location a bit, as well as noticing the differences between notes on the fretboard. Thanks a ton guys, your advice helped a bunch!

 

[Drifta]

Well, after a couple months of taking some advice, it has gotten a little easier to hear songs, and figure out how the song goes (sorta) even if I'm in the wrong key. I think picking out where I need to be on the fretboard will just take some more time and practice. One of the best tips I got, and even shared with other people, was that I should sing the notes as I play them. My singing may suck, but it helped me with location a bit, as well as noticing the differences between notes on the fretboard. Thanks a ton guys, your advice helped a bunch!

The singing part is the biggest... All my instructors have told me that.

Yesterday my instructor said something interesting

"Ever felt a sax while a sax was being played? The thing shakes, rumbles, vibrates... Those horns players FEEL, KNOW in their head when they play a f# or a b flat etc. They hear it in their head, focus all their energy in playing that NOTE... String players have a tendency to just play notes and not feel them, you need to learn how to hear it in your head and make it comes out through your fingers"

Something along those lines... I thought the comparison to Horns players feeling that note, they ARE that note, is very interesting.. You can really tell they put their heart into what they are playing... and that is exactly what all the great bassists do, jamerson for example... He puts so much feel into his lines that you know it is jamerson (this is why I say your tone comes from fingers.. but thats another thread/arguement).