Learning an instrument - bass guitar?
Discussion
Have been thinking for a while that I'd really like to learn an instrument. Not to play to people, but for the enjoyment and relaxation. I work stupidly hard, and with two young kids the social life has taken a back seat.
Played the cello through primary school, to grade 4. That was a very long time ago however!
So, thinking of the bass. I like the rocky, funky side of things, more so than a blinding riff or solo. Had thought of the electric violin (needs to be quiet enough to play whilst the kids are asleep) - mainly as my all time favourite tracks have a strong violin element. However reading up seems to suggest a fretless instrument is ridiculous to self learn on without a perfect ear...
So, the bass. Have looked on a few websites, this approach seems very appealing - http://how-to-play-bass.com/play-bass-in-50-songs-...
Playing tracks I like with logical progression and target setting sounds great - any pitfalls?
Lastly, kit. Any suggestions for a quiet practice setup with a good looking axe and headphone amp? Budget is I suppose £2-400 - although swmbo would prefer less! Adore the look of the Ibanez SR300, could I just get that (or anything better for the dosh) plus a headphone amp?
Cheers, Sam
Played the cello through primary school, to grade 4. That was a very long time ago however!
So, thinking of the bass. I like the rocky, funky side of things, more so than a blinding riff or solo. Had thought of the electric violin (needs to be quiet enough to play whilst the kids are asleep) - mainly as my all time favourite tracks have a strong violin element. However reading up seems to suggest a fretless instrument is ridiculous to self learn on without a perfect ear...
So, the bass. Have looked on a few websites, this approach seems very appealing - http://how-to-play-bass.com/play-bass-in-50-songs-...
Playing tracks I like with logical progression and target setting sounds great - any pitfalls?
Lastly, kit. Any suggestions for a quiet practice setup with a good looking axe and headphone amp? Budget is I suppose £2-400 - although swmbo would prefer less! Adore the look of the Ibanez SR300, could I just get that (or anything better for the dosh) plus a headphone amp?
Cheers, Sam
Cheers moggie, been looking at a few of his video as well as some of the others on YouTube - the tinterweb is bloody awesome!
Also been looking online for a bass. Narrowed it down (I think!) to the Ibanez SR300, or the Yamaha trbx304. Both seem to get great reviews, and are available for essentially the same price. A tenner more gets the trbx305 - a five string.
So, active electronics (and five string?) or Ibanez's 3 band eq?
Also, any recommendations for a headphone amp? The Vox amphones seem a cool idea...
Also been looking online for a bass. Narrowed it down (I think!) to the Ibanez SR300, or the Yamaha trbx304. Both seem to get great reviews, and are available for essentially the same price. A tenner more gets the trbx305 - a five string.
So, active electronics (and five string?) or Ibanez's 3 band eq?
Also, any recommendations for a headphone amp? The Vox amphones seem a cool idea...
Nice one Ken, great minds!
Chatted to a mate's brother who's in a bloody awesome Ska band, and he's lending me an acoustic for a few weeks to see how I get on.
Popped into GAK the other day, but it was rammed and nipper was begging for lunch... Had a brief squint at the Ibanez but the Yamaha wasn't on display.
If I get on with the acoustic, I'll head back to GAK (or Nevada in Portsmouth, they're equidistant). I think I've narrowed it down to either the Ibanez SR370 or the Yam trbx304 (or it's 5 string bro). Figure after a few weeks I'll have a better idea of things so will pick on the day.
Downloaded half a dozen absolute beginner lessons...
Chatted to a mate's brother who's in a bloody awesome Ska band, and he's lending me an acoustic for a few weeks to see how I get on.
Popped into GAK the other day, but it was rammed and nipper was begging for lunch... Had a brief squint at the Ibanez but the Yamaha wasn't on display.
If I get on with the acoustic, I'll head back to GAK (or Nevada in Portsmouth, they're equidistant). I think I've narrowed it down to either the Ibanez SR370 or the Yam trbx304 (or it's 5 string bro). Figure after a few weeks I'll have a better idea of things so will pick on the day.
Downloaded half a dozen absolute beginner lessons...
IainT said:
get yourself over to basschat.co.uk - plenty of good advice to be gained there. A decent 2nd hand bass would suit you more than a cheap new one if you can get the right instrument. Likely that there are locals on that forum who would give you some good advice.
Something like this: http://greatbritishbasslounge.com/product/warwick-...
represents a bargain (>£1k new) for a really good quality bass - and that's with retail mark-up on it. Private sale would see something similar for a little less (not much though).
Cheers Iain, have registered - seems a decent place.Something like this: http://greatbritishbasslounge.com/product/warwick-...
represents a bargain (>£1k new) for a really good quality bass - and that's with retail mark-up on it. Private sale would see something similar for a little less (not much though).
For my first bass, I'm going to get a new one - just found out a friend I haven't seen for a while works for Nevada Music in Pompey, so I'm heading over there today...
Going to try out the Ibanez SR - they've got the full range in stock, and the SR300 looks great and seems to get great reviews on fora. The 370 with maple body looks damn good in pacific blue - I'm kinda glad they've only got brown in stock!
Now now, clearly bassists are the sexiest!
Just picked up an ibanez sr370 in brown burst (currently waiting outside the primark fitting rooms - couldn't get away without a shopping trip for swmbo!). Picked up a vox little headphone amp - although I can see myself getting something better in a month or two.
Tried the modified jazz, musicman, and a couple of others, rightly or wrongly the really slim body and thin neck felt the nicest. Great deal too - over £80 off the already discounted price, sometimes it's nice having mates in the right places!
Pics will follow shortly, vids will have to wait a few months!
Just picked up an ibanez sr370 in brown burst (currently waiting outside the primark fitting rooms - couldn't get away without a shopping trip for swmbo!). Picked up a vox little headphone amp - although I can see myself getting something better in a month or two.
Tried the modified jazz, musicman, and a couple of others, rightly or wrongly the really slim body and thin neck felt the nicest. Great deal too - over £80 off the already discounted price, sometimes it's nice having mates in the right places!
Pics will follow shortly, vids will have to wait a few months!
Now five online lessons in, played my first (poorly timed!) bassline...
Really enjoying it, although I do dislike the tiny little headphone amp I got with the guitar.
Depending on how much this weekend's shopping is for the wife's birthday, I'm thinking of either the cheap zoom preamp pedal, or a pjb bighead/double four 2nd hand.
Reckon another month and I'll be learning songs I actually know - very, very simple songs I actually know!
Really enjoying it, although I do dislike the tiny little headphone amp I got with the guitar.
Depending on how much this weekend's shopping is for the wife's birthday, I'm thinking of either the cheap zoom preamp pedal, or a pjb bighead/double four 2nd hand.
Reckon another month and I'll be learning songs I actually know - very, very simple songs I actually know!
Whippy, I know, but it was effectively free... It'll do for now whilst I've the rhythm of Bambi on acid!
GC, cheers, will give that a try - next lesson is gonna teach me to use more than the index finger on the fretboard, so after I've practiced those exercises I'll give doe a deer a go.
Money is exactly the sort of thing I like - and is the sort of chill out and get in the groove stuff I want to play in the evenings to de-stress. Plenty of cool rock, metal and hip hop tracks I love too that are posted on the online tutor's pages for free.
GC, cheers, will give that a try - next lesson is gonna teach me to use more than the index finger on the fretboard, so after I've practiced those exercises I'll give doe a deer a go.
Money is exactly the sort of thing I like - and is the sort of chill out and get in the groove stuff I want to play in the evenings to de-stress. Plenty of cool rock, metal and hip hop tracks I love too that are posted on the online tutor's pages for free.
Amused2death said:
Attn Sway.....Sent you a PM 
Nothing has come through - try 'slackeratworkATgooglemail.com'Lesson yesterday used one finger per fret, a chord progression and a really simple blues riff. First time I've played something "musical", and really got into it - other half took the piss out of me, nodding my head and tapping my foot while playing the simplest four bar riff over and over again!
Cheers chaps.
Coincidentally, I downloaded a free android app yesterday that seems to do a similar job - it's a metronome with 'rhythm trainer', where it drops clicks im and out at ever increasing periods.
My general rhythm is actually pretty good, it's just the noob issue of sometimes (fairly often!) having to look at the fretboard or check my plucking finger positions, which despite my best efforts sometimes endures a brief blip in holding time.
It's getting better - I'm conscious that I'm currently only perhaps ten hours into learning!
Bloody good fun though, and a great way to unwind after a day at work..
Coincidentally, I downloaded a free android app yesterday that seems to do a similar job - it's a metronome with 'rhythm trainer', where it drops clicks im and out at ever increasing periods.
My general rhythm is actually pretty good, it's just the noob issue of sometimes (fairly often!) having to look at the fretboard or check my plucking finger positions, which despite my best efforts sometimes endures a brief blip in holding time.
It's getting better - I'm conscious that I'm currently only perhaps ten hours into learning!
Bloody good fun though, and a great way to unwind after a day at work..
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