What did you all do when you were a beginner?

[mneveux]

http://www.youtube.com/user/howtoplaybassdotcom/videos

This is better for a beginner than Scott's stuff, which is excellent.

I am working through Paul's beginner bass series myself and it is the best I have come across.

 

[Slough Feg Bass]

I found a drummer who was a little better than me and we tried to play some punk songs, rock songs, whatever, but it really just was noise, but damn we had a good time.
find some friends who are on your level and start a band, it will be awesome.
Make a demo, shop it to labels, make some shirts, go on tour, RULE THE WORLD~!!!!!!

 

[Stick_Player]

It is never too late to start. I started at aged 50 and I know lots of fellow TB's started late too.

The advice to play with others is good, but the main thing is to learn and have fun doing so.

Sorry, there is a point where it IS too late. One may be able to play some Polka bass lines, but the time to REALLY start is before one turns 10, preferably 4-6 years before that. Not necessarily on a full-size bass, but at least a fractional bass (electric or double bass), or another small instrument (i.e., fractional violin).

But, you could possibly have some fun starting at age 50+. And, there is no age limit on collecting or posting on forums.

Truly no different than attempting to learn a foreign language as an AARP member - it won't REALLY work.



Yikes!!!

 

[fnordlyone]

Sorry, there is a point where it IS too late. One may be able to play some Polka bass lines, but the time to REALLY start is before one turns 10, preferably 4-6 years before that. Not necessarily on a full-size bass, but at least a fractional bass (electric or double bass), or another small instrument (i.e., fractional violin).

But, you could possibly have some fun starting at age 50+. And, there is no age limit on collecting or posting on forums.

Truly no different than attempting to learn a foreign language as an AARP member - it won't REALLY work.



Yikes!!!

Really? That was about the most ignorant thing I've ever read in a thread on TB. :scowl:
fnord!

 

[mrreason]

You are not old, I am old. I started about 3 weeks ago, just feeling up the bass. Got a teacher now I know nothing more than i did three weeks ago. Trying to get my fingers to know where to go and when, they are making it to 1 finger per fret, played a bluse line and i am happy as can be! having a blast in my mancave plucking away. Between my teacher, this site and you tube, the light bulb is at least flickering. Take you time be patient you got to be able to drive the car before you can get on the road... thats an old man saying from back in the day.

 

[punkjazzben]

Sorry, there is a point where it IS too late. One may be able to play some Polka bass lines, but the time to REALLY start is before one turns 10, preferably 4-6 years before that. Not necessarily on a full-size bass, but at least a fractional bass (electric or double bass), or another small instrument (i.e., fractional violin).

But, you could possibly have some fun starting at age 50+. And, there is no age limit on collecting or posting on forums.

Truly no different than attempting to learn a foreign language as an AARP member - it won't REALLY work.



Yikes!!!

I'm hoping this is a joke.

Because otherwise,

 

[JimmyM]

I started playing bass when I was 13. I am now a professional musician. I think Stick_Player's proposition that any age is too late is a load of crap.

However, what isn't a load of crap is that adults are a little too involved in other aspects of their lives to put in 4-8 hours a day into it like I did when I was a kid, therefore their growth may be limited by that.

 

[garp]

Tune into classic classic rock stations

+1. For many years — in the era before CDs, MP3s, YouTube and whatnot — FM radio was my only teacher. While it was often frustrating to have to retune the instrument for every new song, the experience really taught me how to listen, and helped me to develop an appreciation for how the bass drives most pop music.

 

[Herrick]

I used a book. Unfortunately, I do not remember the name of it. I learned much from it and it was great. I have nice memories of learning the beginnings of Bass with that book.

 

[Jazz Ad]

Have fun.
Pick up as many lines as you can from your favorite musics, not just bass heroes.
Try to do it by ear, even with mistakes rather than using tabs.
You will quickly discover that
1- More than often, simplelines work wonders
2- Many lines that seem simple have a lot of hidden subtleties
Get into a band ASAP. You're in demand even as a beginner.
Grab some basic theory ASAP : timing, scales, keys, chords and how they relate. The rest can wait.
Have fun.

 

[Webskipper]

I heard "My Girl" on my favorite groove station during rush hour today and thought that's a great bass line for you.

That song appeals to a wide range of people.

 

[kedo]

Sorry, there is a point where it IS too late. One may be able to play some Polka bass lines, but the time to REALLY start is before one turns 10, preferably 4-6 years before that. Not necessarily on a full-size bass, but at least a fractional bass (electric or double bass), or another small instrument (i.e., fractional violin).

But, you could possibly have some fun starting at age 50+. And, there is no age limit on collecting or posting on forums.

Truly no different than attempting to learn a foreign language as an AARP member - it won't REALLY work.



Yikes!!!

Total nonsense.

 

[Trayster2]

It is never too late to start. I started at aged 50 and I know lots of fellow TB's started late too.

The advice to play with others is good, but the main thing is to learn and have fun doing so.

IMO, late bloomers try harder, are more patient, & are willing to put in the work!

 

[Webskipper]

Agreed.

You're not too old to be playing. You're too young not to be playing.

 

[Stick_Player]

Really? That was about the most ignorant thing I've ever read in a thread on TB. :scowl:
fnord!

Scowl all you want.

Feel free to list ONE high-level musician that had NEVER played a musical instrument before the age of 50 and then became a virtuoso player later in their "post" career.

You can even give me a Pro-level MLB or NBA player.

I started playing bass when I was 13. I am now a professional musician. I think Stick_Player's proposition that any age is too late is a load of crap.

However, what isn't a load of crap is that adults are a little too involved in other aspects of their lives to put in 4-8 hours a day into it like I did when I was a kid, therefore their growth may be limited by that.

It's not totally dependent on having 4-8 hours a day available, although it is a major aspect.

It also involves muscle development and brain development that is not available to an older person.

As you stated, the growth level is greatly limited, the longer one waits.

And then there is a point of skill-loss at some point in the aging of the person. Even master-level players loose the physical skill-level that they once possessed.

Fact of life - scowl all you want.

 

[punkjazzben]

Feel free to list ONE high-level musician that had NEVER played a musical instrument before the age of 50 and then became a virtuoso player later in their "post" career.

You're assuming the only goal of learning and becoming proficient on an instrument is virtuosity. By your logic, anyone unlikely to become a virtuoso is wasting their time.

 

[KingRazor]

As a beginner I relied heavily on TAB and thought a lot about what frets I was playing.

Now I don't even think about what fret I'm on. I just play by ear. I don't even use chord sheets anymore usually. Also, now that I tune in D-standard it'd take more work to transpose TAB than it would to just play a tune by ear.

 

[Stick_Player]

You're assuming the only goal of learning and becoming proficient on an instrument is virtuosity. By your logic, anyone unlikely to become a virtuoso is wasting their time.

Not what I said. Read my ENTIRE post, Punkee.

 

[Bowe]

Admittedly it is better to start young, the best time to start is when you feel ready, it has nothing to do with age.

When I first started another player showed me some of the basics; root fifth, basic scales, and some simple transitions. To go further I looked for a book on how to play, something beyond just showing a few sample lines, and ended up with Rufus Reid's The Evolving Bassist. Of course I was playing with a bluegrass group at the time and a book on playing jazz was a bit over-the-top, but I started to understand the instrument at a totally different level.

Today I'm still learning all the time, I want to keep that beginners edge but with some seasoned flair.

 

[svtb15]

Fist things that i did were to listen to the records that i liked. on VINYL back then.. and copied the parts the best that i could.. It taught me how to tune my bass, and trained my ear,,, It wasnt as easy back then because you would have to lift the needle off the record that was spinning, and hopefully drop it near the part that you wanted to hear over again.. It certainly tested your patience... and others in the house that may hear you doing the same thing over and over...
Then Cassettes came out which made it easier.. then CDs... etc etc.
i was a kid in the 60s.. started to play bass in 1971. .. and did my first record for Columbia records now SONY in 1976... then toured the country when i was about 17-18 opening for peter frampton, foghat, gary wright, and many others. .. i started young.. funny thing is, i have run into many of the bands that i opened for waaay back then and have gotten to play with them in different situations.. Full Circle sort of.. nothing good comes fast..
Reading is good to know... But more so train your ears to hear intervals and time...