Discussion
I woke up this morning and decided that at 48 years old I want to learn to play a bass guitar. Now I know I have probably left it a bit late to the be the next Bernard Edwards or John Entwistle. My current musical experience is zero and I would like a bit of advice. My 15 year old son plays electric guitar and is getting pretty good and it's just something I always wanted to do.
I suppose the basics would be a good place to start. Any tips about what guitar to look for, any good books or DVDs for a beginner?
I suppose the basics would be a good place to start. Any tips about what guitar to look for, any good books or DVDs for a beginner?
youtube is your friend here. Search for bass lessons and there is many to choose from.
scott's bass lessons on youtube is a really good resource and has lots of good stuff. Personally i do not like his style, but many do and he is a good teacher. basschat is a good Brit run forum to check out to witha great sales section.
I think DVD's are an out dated method with much more content being out on the Web. Places like Jamplay are also good and to a certain extent Rocksmith is an okay tool to use.
As for what bass you will probably get about a million different options. I'd say go for a Fender Jazz Bass either Mexican made or Squire vintage modern. I think Jazz bass are great and very versatile. Dont let the name fool you. If you buy second hand you will always get more guitar for your money.
Oh and look forward to the addiction. One bass is never, ever enough
scott's bass lessons on youtube is a really good resource and has lots of good stuff. Personally i do not like his style, but many do and he is a good teacher. basschat is a good Brit run forum to check out to witha great sales section.
I think DVD's are an out dated method with much more content being out on the Web. Places like Jamplay are also good and to a certain extent Rocksmith is an okay tool to use.
As for what bass you will probably get about a million different options. I'd say go for a Fender Jazz Bass either Mexican made or Squire vintage modern. I think Jazz bass are great and very versatile. Dont let the name fool you. If you buy second hand you will always get more guitar for your money.
Oh and look forward to the addiction. One bass is never, ever enough
Thanks KemP, will look at some of those Youtube pointers tonight. Had a quick look at the guitars you mentioned and there seems to be a wide variation in prices across that range from a few hundred to lots of hundreds. Some with one pickup, some with two. What's the difference?
This caught my eye without going to cheap or selling the house to fund it.
http://intl.fender.com/en-FR/basses/jazz-bass/70s-...
Being a child of the seventies that appeals to me. Does it look like a reasonable starting point?
I bought my son his first guitar off EBay for less that £50 and he struggled with it but was able to get a tune out. After a few months when he had demonstrated some commitment I took him to the local guitar shop and the chaps in there spent quite a bit of time with him and sorted him out with one he felt comfortable with, a Jackson SL?. As soon as he played it in the shop his face lit up. The transformation was spectacular, 6 months later he was playing solo in the school show and blew everyone away so the right instrument clearly matters.
This caught my eye without going to cheap or selling the house to fund it.
http://intl.fender.com/en-FR/basses/jazz-bass/70s-...
Being a child of the seventies that appeals to me. Does it look like a reasonable starting point?
I bought my son his first guitar off EBay for less that £50 and he struggled with it but was able to get a tune out. After a few months when he had demonstrated some commitment I took him to the local guitar shop and the chaps in there spent quite a bit of time with him and sorted him out with one he felt comfortable with, a Jackson SL?. As soon as he played it in the shop his face lit up. The transformation was spectacular, 6 months later he was playing solo in the school show and blew everyone away so the right instrument clearly matters.
KemP said:
youtube is your friend here. Search for bass lessons and there is many to choose from.
scott's bass lessons on youtube is a really good resource and has lots of good stuff. Personally i do not like his style, but many do and he is a good teacher. basschat is a good Brit run forum to check out to witha great sales section.
I think DVD's are an out dated method with much more content being out on the Web. Places like Jamplay are also good and to a certain extent Rocksmith is an okay tool to use.
As for what bass you will probably get about a million different options. I'd say go for a Fender Jazz Bass either Mexican made or Squire vintage modern. I think Jazz bass are great and very versatile. Dont let the name fool you. If you buy second hand you will always get more guitar for your money.
Oh and look forward to the addiction. One bass is never, ever enough
^ This. I really like Scott's style - been playing 30+ years and still learning scott's bass lessons on youtube is a really good resource and has lots of good stuff. Personally i do not like his style, but many do and he is a good teacher. basschat is a good Brit run forum to check out to witha great sales section.
I think DVD's are an out dated method with much more content being out on the Web. Places like Jamplay are also good and to a certain extent Rocksmith is an okay tool to use.
As for what bass you will probably get about a million different options. I'd say go for a Fender Jazz Bass either Mexican made or Squire vintage modern. I think Jazz bass are great and very versatile. Dont let the name fool you. If you buy second hand you will always get more guitar for your money.
Oh and look forward to the addiction. One bass is never, ever enough
It's worth checking out the Music Man Sterling Sub Ray basses, they are reasonably priced and quality instruments.
Just bought my 3rd Bass, a Music Man Stingray (my Holy Grail Bass and early 50th present to myself) and have a couple of guitars plus a drum kit as well, so the addiction never ends. Hope you enjoy your musical journey!
Thanks for your help guys, and especially thanks for not telling me I'm too old and to forget it!
@rgw2012
I hope you enjoy playing your little present to yourself and I hope my day will come.
For now I will apply the same discipline to myself as I applied to my son so the Music Man Stingray is out until I play well enough to deserve such an instrument. That may be a long time.
@rgw2012
I hope you enjoy playing your little present to yourself and I hope my day will come.
For now I will apply the same discipline to myself as I applied to my son so the Music Man Stingray is out until I play well enough to deserve such an instrument. That may be a long time.
Anna Sentina seems to be a good bass player and her videos are easy to watch...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZLVVBTePZSg
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZLVVBTePZSg
I started learning at 40 or so, so its certainly possible...
I bought a Fender Jazz, Mexican made (cheaper than the American made version, but seemingly not far off in terms of quality).
Also consider half round strings... I really like these as they had the rebound of full round, but a nice deep, valve-like tone, similar to proper flats.
Finally, I actually now find myself playing my son's 3/4 size Ibanez bass in preference to the Jazz.... the smaller size (same as an electric guitar, more or less) seems to make it easier to play for the - err - older and less nimble individual.
If I was buying again, I'd probably look carefully at a Fender Mustang as an alternate to the J-Bass:
http://intl.fender.com/en-GB/basses/mustang/
cheers,
UV
I bought a Fender Jazz, Mexican made (cheaper than the American made version, but seemingly not far off in terms of quality).
Also consider half round strings... I really like these as they had the rebound of full round, but a nice deep, valve-like tone, similar to proper flats.
Finally, I actually now find myself playing my son's 3/4 size Ibanez bass in preference to the Jazz.... the smaller size (same as an electric guitar, more or less) seems to make it easier to play for the - err - older and less nimble individual.
If I was buying again, I'd probably look carefully at a Fender Mustang as an alternate to the J-Bass:
http://intl.fender.com/en-GB/basses/mustang/
cheers,
UV
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