Where to begin now

[tgriley62]

I started over on bass about 10 years ago & started using tabs & the internet to pretty much memorize songs. Then about 5 years ago I met a guitar player and we started a little 3 piece band. Since then I have pretty much learned each song by following only the guitar chords. Here is where I need help. In the 10 years I have been playing I just can't make myself learn scales or key signatures & theory is over my head. In fact I can't even get my head wrapped around the circle of 5ths. I can't afford a teacher but, I feel like I need to start over because I do love playing. So, if some one asked your for the best book out there for a beginning bassist what would you suggest

 

[bholder]

The Hal Leonard series by Ed Friedland is pretty highly respected... https://www.amazon.com/Leonard-Bass...sr=1-1&keywords=hal+leonard+bass+ed+friedland

 

[Mushroo]

Hope you don't mind if I answer your question with a question.

Does your band play original songs or cover songs? If they are cover songs, when you say you "learned each song by following only the guitar chords" does that mean you are playing the actual, correct notes of the bass line from the recording? Or are you making up your own personal bass lines to fit the guitar chords, that are different from the bass lines on the original recording?

Either answer is "correct" but your answer will help me steer you in the right direction.

 

[saabfender]

You kinda do need to start over. Tabs are a dead end. Learn to read music and then do so. All the theory and other jazz will follow later. First order of business is learning to read notes. Doesn't really matter what you use, although the Ed Friedland materials I have seen were excellent.

 

[tgriley62]

Hope you don't mind if I answer your question with a question.

Does your band play original songs or cover songs? If they are cover songs, when you say you "learned each song by following only the guitar chords" does that mean you are playing the actual, correct notes of the bass line from the recording? Or are you making up your own personal bass lines to fit the guitar chords, that are different from the bass lines on the original recording?

Your answer will help me steer you in the right direction.

Well, when I say band our drummer quit about two years ago so mainly its just the guitarist (vocalist) and me playing/practicing. Yes its just covers for now & I guess I didn't phrase my problem correctly. I do listen to the original & try to learn it note for note but, due to age sometimes I have to limit fast runs and such & I know how to use root, 5ths & octaves so I may not play exactly note for note but, I don't sound bad. I guess the biggest problem is I don't know enough that if I we had to change the key of a song I learned in G to C. There are times at practice when he will need to sing in a different key after I have practiced the song in a certain key

Thanks

 

[Mushroo]

Well, when I say band our drummer quit about two years ago so mainly its just the guitarist (vocalist) and me playing/practicing. Yes its just covers for now & I guess I didn't phrase my problem correctly. I do listen to the original & try to learn it note for note but, due to age sometimes I have to limit fast runs and such & I know how to use root, 5ths & octaves so I may not play exactly note for note but, I don't sound bad. I guess the biggest problem is I don't know enough that if I we had to change the key of a song I learned in G to C. There are times at practice when he will need to sing in a different key after I have practiced the song in a certain key

Thanks

So first let's talk about your musical strengths, and the we can figure out how to build off that.

1. You have 10 years of experience playing the bass and learning songs.
2. You must have a good ear if you can learn a song "pretty close" from the original recording.
3. You understand chord progressions and you know what roots, 5ths, and octaves are.

I'd say, you already know quite a bit of music theory, and you should feel good about your progress so far.

My "next step" recommendation to you is this: Pick some of the easier songs that you have learned over the past 10 years. "Transcribe" these songs note-for-note into standard notation. Then, once you have written out the bass line in the original key, try "transposing" or writing out the bass line in a different key. For example, choose an easy song in G, write out the bass line, and then transpose it to C.

I think going through the transcription exercise and seeing the notes on the staff will really help you with the task of transposing to a new key. There is a visual similarity to how the notes look on the staff, when the same bass line is played in different keys.

 

[mambo4]

The pdf linked in my signature is my favorite summary of the stuff you are struggling with.

 

[MalcolmAmos]

Mushroo hit it on the head. You already know enough to play with most cover bands. Following the chords and using the root, fifth and eight will always get you asked back.

Little theory needed for the times they change things up and you have to play in another key, etc. will help. Some of the things I did right at first follow:

I pay from fake chord sheet music. We all do so, the advantage of this is we all have the same sheet music on stage - except when jamming - so we all are on the same "page". I come armed with sheet music that we all will be paying from - even the solo instruments. Yes its called fake chord as we all follow the chords and the solo instruments - fake the melody.

OK the fat lady comes out of the dark and askes that we play her song in Bb. What can you do

Use a capo and if you are using scale degree or Nashville numbers (R-5-8-5) just move up or down the neck with your major scale pattern to where the 1 in the pattern is under the Bb note on your fretboard. Move the pattern and place the root note and you will be playing in the key the fat lady wants.

If you have time transpose the fake chord. How?
Write out in the margins the G chord progression your sheet music is in - yes on the sheet music - then write out the C chord progression under it.

G, Am, Bm, C, D, Em, F#m7b5
C, Dm, Em, F, G, Am, Bm7b5

All of the old G chords become C chords, all the original C chords become F chords, etc.

Now take a copy of your old key of G sheet music (keep what you have) and with a black marks-a-lot and mark through your old fake chord sheet music so it now has the chords in the key of C. Now you have this song in the key of G and C... Put both in your gig book.

Mambo4's link - basic theory PDF - is a great learning tool - spend some time there.

Theory is like eating a great big bear. Best down one bite at a time.

Have fun and good luck.

 

[dreamadream99]

if some one asked your for the best book out there for a beginning bassist what would you suggest?

I would suggest a University Music Theory course. But, if it must be a consumer level book, just make sure it has the right components and goes in the right order.

**what do you mean "the right order"? I mean that music theory builds from basic tenets to complex ideas, and one aspect must be mastered before moves no to the next. To use the example from the OP: you can't understand the circle of fifths till you understand scales and intervals first.

Order:

1. Order of sharps and flats
2. Key signatures
3. Scales
4. Intervals
5. Melodic dictation
6. Chords (based on the harmonized scale)
7. Chord qualities
8. Extended chords
9. Altered chords
10. Progressions
11. Harmonic dictation
12. Analysis
13. Composition
14. Arranging
15. Orchestrating