What is a good starting point for learning the bass?

[bassbeginner95]

Hi, ive been playing the bass for about a week and have not learn any thing, anyone have any advice of where to start. Thanks

 

[Liam Wald]

I would suggest finding a good instructor to get you started. Go to your local music store and ask them for a reference.

 

[MalcolmAmos]

Yes an instructor will get you started. If that is not in the cards. Bass Guitar for Dummies will have how to hold your bass, how to tune it, how to get sound from it, how to mute the sound and all the other "how to things" you will need to know. Online Bass Lessons at StudyBass.com is a helpful site also.

Next thing is what kind of sheet music are you going to use. I would recommend starting with fake chord or lead sheet. Here is fake chord:

C                 G       		
Happy birthday to you
                  C
Happy birthday to you
                       G  F
Happy birthday to dear name
F         C        G  C
Happy birthday to you

One note per lyric word. Hap-py and birth-day get two notes as they are two syllable words. Grab a C root note (the name of the chord) and while singing the lyrics under your breath - one note per word - keep going till another chord comes into the song. Yes, then change roots. Keep going.

Just root notes will get you going. Is there more? Sure. When you can do roots we will talk about something else. Try this;

Have fun.

 

[MalcolmAmos]

Print this - it'll come in handy. Using scale degree numbers (1 to 8) helped me see how everything is related. If you can count to 8 and use fake chord sheet music that's all the theory you will need for 6 months.

Good luck and have fun.

Bass Patterns based upon the Major Scale box.​

Major Scale Box. 

G|---2---|-------|---3---|---4---| 1st string
D|---6---|-------|---7---|---8---|
A|---3---|---4---|-------|---5---|
E|-------|---R---|-------|---2---|4th string

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Place the root (R) on the C note 4th string 8th fret and the C major scale await you.
Place the root (R) on the C note and play the R-3-5 and you have just played the notes of the C major chord aka C arpeggio. Chord progression for this song is G-C-D. Place your box root on a G on the 3rd string. Where is your C? Where is the D? The next song's progression is C-F-G. Place your box root on a C on the 3rd string. Where is your F? Where is your G? Yep, piece of cake.

Basic Chords

• Major Triad = R-3-5
• Minor Triad = R-b3-5
• Diminished Chord = R-b3-b5

7th Chords

• Maj7 = R-3-5-7
• Minor 7 = R-b3-5-b7
• Dominant 7 = R-3-5-b7
• ½ diminished = R-b3-b5-b7
• Full diminished = R-b3-b5-bb7

Scales

• Major Scale = R-2-3-4-5-6-7
• Major Pentatonic = R-2-3-5-6 Major scale without the 4 & 7
• Natural Minor Scale = R-2-b3-4-5-b6-b7 Major scale with the 3, 6 & 7 flatted
• Minor Pentatonic = R-b3-4-5-b7 Natural minor scale without the 2 & 6
• Blues = R-b3-4-b5-5-b7 Minor pentatonic with the b5 blue note added
• Harmonic Minor Scale = R-2-b3-4-5-b6-7 Natural minor scale with a natural 7
• Melodic Minor Scale = R-2-b3-4-5-6-7 Major scale with a b3

Generic Notes to use in your bass lines.

• The root, five and eight are generic and fit most any chord. Remember the diminished has a flatted 5.
• The 3 is generic to all major chords. See a major chord R-3-5-8 is a generic bass line that will work.
• The b3 is generic to all minor chords. See a minor chord R-b3-5-8 is a generic bass line that will work.
• The 7 is generic to all maj7 chords. R-3-5-7.
• The b7 is generic to all dominant seventh and minor seventh chords. R-3-5-b7 or R-b3-5-b7.
• The 6 is neutral and adds color, help yourself to 6’s. I like R-3-5-6 for major chords. Has a great sound.
• The 2 and 4 make good passing notes. Don’t linger on them or stop on them, keep them passing.
• In making your bass line help yourself to those notes, just use them correctly.
• Remember roots, fives, eights and the correct 3 will play a lot of bass.

Start with roots. If you feel you need more add a 5. When root-fives are comfortable try an 8, then a 3 or 7. Then look into how to walk all this. Put some of the generic bass lines into muscle memory. It's a journey. Have fun.

 

[fearceol]

All the advice so far is good, especially the Study Bass site that Malcolm gave. Start at the very beginning of that site and slowly work your way through it.

Also, dont neglect the physical aspect of playing the bass, i.e. technique. Get this right now (always being aware that nothing is written in stone, and it's up to you to find the best and safest technique for you), before bad habits develop. There are lots of clips on You Tube for right and left hand technique. Below are links to two, that you should find helpful.


Beginner Bass Guitar Lesson: Left Hand Technique - YouTube

Todd Johnson Bass Guitar : Floating thumb technique - YouTube

 

[steven1068]

As others have said, use studybass.com!

 

[carlthegroover]

Do you have prior musical experience? That might come in handy. Otherwise, just learn your major, natural minor and dominant scale patterns, and some major chords.

Also, ditto about the instructor. He will help with theory and technique.

 

[sunnycal]

Finally, something that my experience and lack of experience qualify me to answer. I've been taking lessons about three months. I started out on my own using Studybass.com and a book. First and foremost I learned an A Major scale. I began lessons with a guitarist that taught me some theory at my request. Knowing the major scale was very important in giving me a head start. We progressed into some blues progressions and I was having fun.

Approximately 6 weeks ago I went to the Bass Live Expo in LA went to a clinic and was blown away by Mike Mennell's command of the bass, theory and technique. I spoke to him afterwards and decided to take a lesson. What a difference it was like learning from a connoisseur of bass. I immediately realized I had to continue with him. My first teacher did the best he could but if you really want to do your best then study with a bass teacher that can teach you HOW to play the bass.

I'm loving it and look forward to practicing every day and going to my lesson each week. He started at the beginning with how to hold the bass, how to position my hand on the neck, how to position my fingers on the strings, how to use my right hand, my thumb to mute, where to pluck the strings for the best sound, how to listen for "my sound" and "my technique." I am working on dexterity, finger independence and the various major scale positions including open notes.

So I guess I am advocating lessons. As I've improved my technique before my bad habits got too bad, it's gotten easier and more fun as we go. I've also developed an appreciation for the bass as an instrument. It's beautiful and it's really fun to watch. I play the drums too but this has really captivated me.

Even if you have to take a few just to get started I think that finding a teacher that you like and can get you on the path then it will be a great investment. That's my two cents worth or maybe a little more.

 

[Chainsaw Willie]

Make sure to balance theory study with some easy silly fun. Find some simple walking bass line, or some simple riff that repeats in a blues progression. Something you might hear in a Chuck Berry tune, or Little Richards "Lucille".

Do all the hard work, but make sure to have fun.

 

[Mike 257]

Hi, ive been playing the bass for about a week and have not learn any thing, anyone have any advice of where to start. Thanks

I have only been at it 3 months myself . My first week was hell my fingers were burning as callouses were trying to develop. I had my bass hanging so low below my belt line that I couldn't even reach the strings, my bass was always out of tune but I didnt know it.

Im doing what Malcom suggests , I have Bass Guitar for dummies, I use the study Bass site, I use Utube and follow MarlowDK lessons, I attempt to play along to music and for me that is a lot of fun. Playing a long to music is helping me find out where the different sounds come from on the fretboard, although Im dont know if its good practice or a waste of time .

I have learned the fretboard and a C major cord and that is it in 3 months. I can tell you Im a lot more comfortable now, my fingertips have calloused up , Im now able to use 1 finger per fret . Im going to start lessons very soon , Im just now researching teachers in my area.

 

[carlthegroover]

Im doing what Malcom suggests , I have Bass Guitar for dummies, I use the study Bass site, I use Utube and follow MarlowDK lessons, I attempt to play along to music and for me that is a lot of fun. Playing a long to music is helping me find out where the different sounds come from on the fretboard, although Im dont know if its good practice or a waste of time .

I'm also a beginner but I have been playing bass one year almost exclusively. So far I can tell you one thing confidently: playing along songs is not a waste of time at all.

First off, you learn popular chord progressions and changes, some fills and many other things that only come from listening to tons of music.

It also develops your ear. I recently ventured into playing songs only by ear. I might not get it completely right, but as long as I get the gist, I can work the rest from there. It took me a year of constantly practice to reach this stage. And guess what? It was by playing along songs a lot of times.

If anything, one should never neglect learning more theory and developing one's ear more. Those are great tools for us musicians.

 

[MalcolmAmos]

It also develops your ear. I recently ventured into playing songs only by ear. I might not get it completely right, but as long as I get the gist, I can work the rest from there. It took me a year of constantly practice to reach this stage. And guess what? It was by playing along songs a lot of times.

If anything, one should never neglect learning more theory and developing one's ear more. Those are great tools for us musicians.

Jamming with real people to songs you do not normally play will take you to new levels - guarantee.

Our town has acoustic jamming in the downtown area at specific locations. We had around 20 musicians in town moving from one circle to another. Spent five hours Saturday jamming with an assortment of people. Most fun was with two 16 +/- year old kids. Great talent and songs this old man has never heard before. I was playing my acoustic 6 string guitar (my budget will not stretch for an acoustic upright) and my 80 year old friend had his upright bass out of the closet. Both of us were winging it and watching these kids fretting hands. We ended up making some good sounding noise. Great fun.

Jamming is great fun and it is amazing what you end up learning. Try it every chance you get.

 

[vishalicious]

What MalcolmAmos said about Bass Guitar for Dummies (and all the rest, actually!) is great advice. I'm a beginner too. Next week will make it a year since I picked up my bass, but there were about 4 months in between May - almost October that I didn't get to touch my bass, so I really have like 6 months of learning in my head.

I have a few posts on my blog about technique that might be useful to you as a beginner:

Ergonomics and what to do with your hands

Just the tip

Striking the strings

More ergonomics and technique

If you're worried about how to physically manage the bass, the videos from Adam Neely from that first link are really useful. There's also a book I grabbed called Essential Bass Technique which covers body mechanics and ergonomics of bass playing. Its a thin book, but its crammed full of information.

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[TheGreatSealof]

I have been learning for about a year. I am using the Hal Leonard bass method books 1-3 written by Ed Friedland. Very good system with great CD's that you can play with and learn, 1/4, 1/8, 16th notes, major and minor scales in all strings E, A, D, G, ETC., 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 5th positions. I am having fun!

 

[dontay]

The best course for learning bass in my opinion his [Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
by Roy Vogt. Buy the course and thank me later.

 

[carlthegroover]

Jamming with real people to songs you do not normally play will take you to new levels - guarantee.

Yes, of course. And it's lots of fun too. But not when you're just starting.

I tried it when I had only about 3 months playing bass and half of the time I had no clue what to do on a live setting. Now, 9 months later, I'm at it again, and improving at a pace like never before, and it's one of the highlights of my week when I'm jamming with my band.

Anyways, I'd say the OP should first learn by himself for a few months before venturing into live jamming. IMHO.

 

[brap8]

I too have just started. Bought my first bass last week. Ibanez sr 500. I take my first lesson this week. I would like to know if that web site teach me bass guitar is worth the money. Anyone use it

 

[sunnycal]

I too have just started. Bought my first bass last week. Ibanez sr 500. I take my first lesson this week. I would like to know if that web site teach me bass guitar is worth the money. Anyone use it

You don't need to join a pay site just check out this one which is free and leave the rest up to your teacher.

Online Bass Lessons at StudyBass.com

I am a beginner too and I will say there's not substitute for a teacher. Make sure he's a bass teacher and not a guitarist who's teaching bass. There's a big difference when it comes to learning technique etc.

 

[Mike 257]

I too have just started. Bought my first bass last week. Ibanez sr 500. I take my first lesson this week. I would like to know if that web site teach me bass guitar is worth the money. Anyone use it

Studybass.com is great there is so much free stuff online . As an absolute beginner myself Im taking advantage of all the free stuff including all the utube . I especially like the teaching of MarlowDK Im able to understand what he is doing and I have learned some cool stuff .

 

[Mike 257]

So far I can tell you one thing confidently: playing along songs is not a waste of time at all.

First off, you learn popular chord progressions and changes, some fills and many other things that only come from listening to tons of music.

It also develops your ear. I recently ventured into playing songs only by ear. I might not get it completely right, but as long as I get the gist, I can work the rest from there. It took me a year of constantly practice to reach this stage. And guess what? It was by playing along songs a lot of times.

.

This makes me happy , because I really love playing along to music . Although at times it seems Im just doing the same thing over and over but I notice myself getting better at it. Im also getting more comfortable and not having to stare at the fretboard the entire time to see where my fingers are.