DanClews Posted October 19, 2011 Report Share Posted October 19, 2011 Where do I start?I have borrowed my friends Bass guitar, and have been looking at scales and learning them. But I just don't really know where to go from here.Can anyone reccomend instructors in aberdeen? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adam Easy Wishes Posted October 19, 2011 Report Share Posted October 19, 2011 Do you play guitar? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Gladstone Posted October 19, 2011 Report Share Posted October 19, 2011 I definitely went about it the wrong way.This was what I did:I started playing bass in a band (before learning, and not being able to play guitar). Basically, I just learnt what bass notes went along with the chords that the rhythm guitarist was strumming and took it from there. I picked that up fairly quickly but was then left with a very very basic understanding of how to play bass.I did buy a how to play bass DVD and book once and got to about the third page of the scales etc. but always got bored because I was too busy learning my band's songs to bother with all that bullshit.Along the way I've learnt and practised other basslines from other artists and this has brought me on a bit and I now feel reasonably accomplished and can come up with some cool basslines but I still don't feel like a "good" bass player. As with all things like this, unless you have a natural flair for playing musical instruments, you're probably best to work from the bottom and get a really good grasp of the basics (scales and stuff like that - I don't really know any of that stuff, but I probably should!) and then gradually progress to learning different techniques and working up to playing along with your favourite songs.It's really easy to learn and play bass to a basic level, but far more difficult to play it to a really good level. I've struggled for years to play guitar and can still only string about 4 chords together in any meaningful way, so I've found bass far more satisfying in that I achieved quicker results, but I did go through a very frustrated phase where I couldn't come up with anything challenging. I've got over that now, but I'm kind of getting to that stage again because I feel I could be so much better than I currently am.EDIT: and I think a good instructor would definitely be a good idea. I've never had any lessons, but I think I might take up some lessons at some point to try and improve and learn new techniques etc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stroopy121 Posted October 19, 2011 Report Share Posted October 19, 2011 Youtube has some amazing lessons and BassChat has some fantastic resources for beginners. Have a poke around there.I'd look for some "intro to slapping" type videos as it's such a versatile skill in bass playing and really opens it up to more than just playing roots and fifths.xx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jaaakkkeee Posted October 19, 2011 Report Share Posted October 19, 2011 Play with your fingers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Milner Posted October 19, 2011 Report Share Posted October 19, 2011 use a pick Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jaaakkkeee Posted October 19, 2011 Report Share Posted October 19, 2011 Honestly it's a great skill to have. To be able to use your fingers and even slap bass. I use a pick now because of the music I play but when you're wanting some real warmth and soul I'd go for the finger. She'll thank you later. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adam Easy Wishes Posted October 19, 2011 Report Share Posted October 19, 2011 Slap can get fucked but learn fingers and pick. Probably easier to go pick first if you can play guitar. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest droid Posted October 19, 2011 Report Share Posted October 19, 2011 The thing about one to one tuition is, a good instructor can give you pointers when you are going wrong.Chord construction is a good thing to study. Slap is a cool technique to learn, but these days you'll find less bass players using it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jaaakkkeee Posted October 19, 2011 Report Share Posted October 19, 2011 Or make your strap as long as possible, put on some distorion, bend your knees and sway side to side. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Soda Jerk Posted October 19, 2011 Report Share Posted October 19, 2011 Don't forget pigtails. Yeah!We're talking about Trujillo, right? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jaaakkkeee Posted October 19, 2011 Report Share Posted October 19, 2011 You gotta be able to play with the volume down if you wanna be as good as him. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neepheid Posted October 20, 2011 Report Share Posted October 20, 2011 Get lessons. I learned more in a month than in all the 3 years before. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kybosh Posted October 20, 2011 Report Share Posted October 20, 2011 ....and stop calling it a guitar , it's a bass Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jaaakkkeee Posted October 20, 2011 Report Share Posted October 20, 2011 Yeah definitely get lessons. And stick at them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Gladstone Posted October 20, 2011 Report Share Posted October 20, 2011 Get lessons. I learned more in a month than in all the 3 years before.Any tutor recommendations?I actually tried to find a bass tutor a few times but didn't have much luck searching online. I did once contact Captain Tom's about lessons from the guy there (Fish is it he's called?) but never got a reply. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jaaakkkeee Posted October 20, 2011 Report Share Posted October 20, 2011 I think getting lessons first is the better idea. You can develop some nasty habits that will make the different styles you learn in lessons more difficult. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest droid Posted October 20, 2011 Report Share Posted October 20, 2011 Yeah definitely get lessons. And stick at them.Never did you any harm eh Jake? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jaaakkkeee Posted October 20, 2011 Report Share Posted October 20, 2011 Haha aye definitely. Worth every penny And maybe 'cause he's not 15 he might stick to them a little longer haha. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest droid Posted October 20, 2011 Report Share Posted October 20, 2011 Haha aye definitely. Worth every penny And maybe 'cause he's not 15 he might stick to them a little longer haha.I bet you can still do those scales i showed you. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DanClews Posted October 20, 2011 Author Report Share Posted October 20, 2011 I had guitar lessons at school and did guitar for standard grade music. But that kind of ruined it for me.So I thought I would take up an instrument again, and bass seems 33% easier as its 2 less strings. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jaaakkkeee Posted October 20, 2011 Report Share Posted October 20, 2011 Unless you buy a 6 string bass. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DanClews Posted October 20, 2011 Author Report Share Posted October 20, 2011 But even then its easier than a 7 string guitar.Anyway, lesson booked for Tuesday with droid. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Gold Posted October 20, 2011 Report Share Posted October 20, 2011 6 string basses are proof that you can buy yourself out of being cool. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Gladstone Posted October 20, 2011 Report Share Posted October 20, 2011 So - droid does bass lessons?Where are these lessons held and how much do they cost? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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