I want to learn bass guitar

[Matt UK]

Afternoon all, keen to hear from you bassists!

I can play a bit of piano and enjoy it, but as my sons are getting good on guitars I want to join in!

Decided bass is for me - I love a good bass line and equate it to the left hand on the piano.

So, any hints and tips? Good easy songs to play along to? I'll have to learn it similar to how I learnt piano as a kid - ie can't read music, not interested in learning to, but not bad at playing by ear to get the structure and then ad-lib from there.

[vescaegg]

But repetitive but a good starter

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FWvKSPQ9p5Q&sns...

[Matt UK]

vescaegg said:

But repetitive but a good starter

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FWvKSPQ9p5Q&sns...

Cheers.

[Matt UK]

Having a look at various cover videos on a rainy Sunday afternoon.
I was watching the one below when the wife wandered in, took one look and told me to grow up!
I told her it was genuine research
I'm being sent to the loft to find the Christmas decorations

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZLVVBTePZSg

[singlecoil]

I'd suggest playing along with whatever music you like the most. Even if you can't cope with all the notes that are being played you should be able to manage the root and fifths, and then you can start adding extra notes, especially in the bar before the chord changes. Just build up to the full thing gradually.

You should be ok to join a band in a few weeks.

[simoid]

So... 3 hours later surely the OP is about grade 6/7

[hman]

start here:-

buy yourself a bass first - fender jazz or similar is nice to work with.

tuning is GDAE in standard set up. dont be tempted to use a plectrum - bassists rarely need one.

[vescaegg]

Don't buy a fender straight off Op. Get a cheap bass to see if you like it first!

[singlecoil]

I've got a Squier bass which is very nice. With basses there's less advantage in paying more money than there is with guitars.

[GetCarter]

I turned pro bass player in 1981... never had a proper job since.

Best tip.. whatever anyone tells you, make it fun. If it's fun, you'll do it a lot, and a lot you need to do it. Am or pro.. the more you do it, the better you'll be.

Good luck.

[RichB]

hman said:

start here:- buy yourself a bass first - fender jazz or similar is nice to work with. tuning is GDAE in standard set up. dont be tempted to use a plectrum - bassists rarely need one.

:laugh, if the chap needs telling how to tune he's in real trouble. No, best bet is learn to play a violin to get the hang of fingering and then go for a Fender Fretless Bass. Sounds much better.

[Camaro]

Scales... learn them, I wish I had!

I used to play a lot, was in several bands, but as I got older and the love of cars took over, I played less and less. Now my basses and stack just sit in the corner, occasionally getting a good playing when I feel like it. The best thing you can do for yourself is pick up a beginner set, like an Aria GSR200 or whatever the equivalent is now. They're good, cheap and often set up well from the factory. Get that, a little practise amp and start figuring out the fretboard, where all the notes are and how they work with the other instruments. A key thing I got taught with playing in bands of just guitar accompaniment, you are effectively a melodic drum, providing melody and rhythm.

[davidd]

By way of encouragement my friend Bill started playing just over a year ago. He's been gigging in our band since June and is doing a great job getting better every week. Just pick your songs and get on youtube..

D

[backwoodsman]

Start here.

http://www.bigbasstabs.com/

[Abagnale]

GetCarter said:

Best tip.. whatever anyone tells you, make it fun. If it's fun, you'll do it a lot

I couldn't honestly think of a better bit of advice if I tried. The magic shortcut we all look for is hours & hours of practice. Then more practice with some pretty hard practice on top. So you may as well enjoy it or that's a lot of time spent being unhappy.

[Matt UK]

This is certainly about fun, I just want to play with my lads a bit - also learning something new keeps the grey matter working!

Just borrowed one of his acoustics for a bit of 'heard it through the grapevine' - a great song!

Through trial / error / memory I can do it, but only using the one string. Need to play more and start figuring out the other strings - how they relate to each other and when to use more than just one string! On the piano it's a linear scale from top to bottom, not the case with the strings!!

My first google hit produced this:
http://www.djmmusic.com/p-5840-tiger-sunburst-elec...

[Matt UK]

Camaro said:

Scales... learn them, I wish I had!
A key thing I got taught with playing in bands of just guitar accompaniment, you are effectively a melodic drum, providing melody and rhythm.

Good tips - my son has also pointed out that I am the only man in history that when playing air guitar plays bass!

[Matt UK]

backwoodsman said:

Start here.

http://www.bigbasstabs.com/

[Matt UK]

davidd said:

Just pick your songs and get on youtube..

Yes, I tried this, but got into trouble (see one of my earlier posts)

Will just have to steer clear of interesting bass covers played by overtly hot blondes!

[RichB]

Matt UK said:

Need to play more and start figuring out the other strings - how they relate to each other and when to use more than just one string! On the piano it's a linear scale from top to bottom, not the case with the strings!

It kind of is if you think of each string slipped up the neck a few notes. Perhaps being a keyboard player you could imagine it's like a church organ with 3 x registers you'd happily move your hands from register to register so it's kind of similar with each string.

p.s. While learning to sight read is a chore I would suggest learning the rudiments of reading music. I cant sight read but I can pick my way through a piece and then play it. Makes it more fun when you can impress people with a rendition of The Toccata and Fugue in D minor.