where to start ?

[megabex]

well, i'm just started to play a 5 string bass... and never play a 4 string bass... i just joined this forum...

my question is, where to start? I dont know what to practice and i'm learning alone... any advice? or any website and thread?

i'm so sorry if i make a mistake...
thx

 

[progrmr]

First thing you want to do is start looking at basic technique - how to hold and fret with your left hand, how to anchor your thumb and pluck the string. Get comfortable playing across all the strings with simple hand exercises.

Check YouTube for beginner bass videos - there's a lot of great information to get you started. You may also want to at least understand tablature, but it would be great if you have the motivation to start learning to read music (see the Hal Leonard complete bass method book on amazon w/ CD - GREAT way to get going).

Welcome to the low end!

 

[Jim Campbell]

First thing you want to do is start looking at basic technique - how to hold and fret with your left hand, how to anchor your thumb and pluck the string. Get comfortable playing across all the strings with simple hand exercises.

Check YouTube for beginner bass videos - there's a lot of great information to get you started. You may also want to at least understand tablature, but it would be great if you have the motivation to start learning to read music (see the Hal Leonard complete bass method book on amazon w/ CD - GREAT way to get going).

Welcome to the low end!

i disagree....avoid tab.....grab that hal leonard book(there are several other good methods out there) and start working through slowly and methodically,and find a good instructor if you can

 

[DJS]

right away, rather than dwelling on theory right away. Play some simple riffs by ear. I started lessons less than a year ago, and in less than a month was much farther ahead.

Lessons are cheap - $25 each.

 

[onlyclave]

You should totally be learning modes now.

 

[MalcolmAmos]

You should totally be learning modes now.

What? Are you serious? Magabex - Anytime someone tells you to learn modes before you know how to hold your bass RUN get as far away from them as possible!

Yes an instructor is always the way to go. I understand that is not feasible all the time. www.studybass.com is a very good place to spend some time right at first. Just about any how to play bass instructional book will have enough to get you started. Bass for dummies for example http://www.amazon.com/Bass-Guitar-Dummies-Patrick-Pfeiffer/dp/0764524879 Your public library may have it. I do recommend you check with your library I bet they can help.

Go to a music store and ask the clerk to show you what they have for a new bass player. Hal Leonard, Mel Bay, and Alfred are all good music publishers.

You gotta know how to hold it. How to tune it. How to sound a note. http://www.studybass.com/lessons/basics/
After that you can start worrying about all the other "stuff". After you can do just about anything you want with the major scale and or the natural minor scale, then, and only then look into modes.

Good luck.

 

[Demonator]

I dont want to advertise, but another forum thread site type deal would be Ultimate-Guitar.com. I was there years before I was here, I learned a lot, plus they have tabs, videos, etc. A good place to go but avoid the pit. Their merciless there.

 

[Infidelity]

I dont want to advertise, but another forum thread site type deal would be Ultimate-Guitar.com. I was there years before I was here, I learned a lot, plus they have tabs, videos, etc. A good place to go but avoid the pit. Their merciless there.

ohh uhhh.. I actually started with tabs too but I wouldn't recommend it.. Like for real you will soon regret that you didn't took things slowly..

 

[tobie]

www.studybass.com is a very good place to spend some time right at first. <snip> Bass for dummies http://www.amazon.com/Bass-Guitar-Dummies-Patrick-Pfeiffer/dp/0764524879 <snip>

++1!

Also look at
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- http://www.adamnitti.com/lessons.shtml
- http://www.thelibster.com/bass/
- http://www.freejamtracks.com/bass-guitar-lessons.html (specifically 'Bass Lessons for Beginners')
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- http://www.play-bass.com/
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That should keep you busy for a while...

 

[megabex]

Thx guys !!
the advices really help me