Guitars n stuff
Discussion
With too much time on my hands and a hankering to do something different, I splashed out on a bass guitar the other week. Trouble is I'm tone deaf and haven't got a clue when it comes ro playing an with my instrumetn (oo errr).
SO, does anyone know the best way to teach myself how to play it - the guitar that is.
SO, does anyone know the best way to teach myself how to play it - the guitar that is.
Go to your local guitar/music shop. Most have a section with books and sheet music and the like.
Find a book with bass tab in it for a band you really like.
Tab books show you the notes on the fretboard (as opposed to having to actually be able to read music).
You will be amazed how quickly you can pick it up. It is easier if its a tune and band you are into.
Now you just need to practice your stance in front of the mirror.
Rock on
Find a book with bass tab in it for a band you really like.
Tab books show you the notes on the fretboard (as opposed to having to actually be able to read music).
You will be amazed how quickly you can pick it up. It is easier if its a tune and band you are into.
Now you just need to practice your stance in front of the mirror.
Rock on
Edited by B17NNS on Monday 31st March 23:47
depends how musical you are...
I'm a bass player, and taught myself by listening to my favourite records (showing my age, i know) and learning how to copy the bass lines verbatim - thin lizzy, maiden, that sort of stuff. Music that you like to listen to and play along with, but will also stretch (sic) you as well.
I guess that it wasn't a starting from scratch thing from me, since I was already able to play the piano, and could play by ear anyway.
Have a go, and if it doesn't work out try some lessons. I'm in the same position with the guitar - I can't play for buttoins, so I'll have to have lessons if I want to progress any further than murdering afew AC/DCclassics!!!
Remember though, have fun!!
I'm a bass player, and taught myself by listening to my favourite records (showing my age, i know) and learning how to copy the bass lines verbatim - thin lizzy, maiden, that sort of stuff. Music that you like to listen to and play along with, but will also stretch (sic) you as well.
I guess that it wasn't a starting from scratch thing from me, since I was already able to play the piano, and could play by ear anyway.
Have a go, and if it doesn't work out try some lessons. I'm in the same position with the guitar - I can't play for buttoins, so I'll have to have lessons if I want to progress any further than murdering afew AC/DCclassics!!!
Remember though, have fun!!
Not much point to bass unless you are going to play in a band. Did you buy a tuner as well? If you are going to practice then you might as well be in tune.
Lots of players say to use your fingers instead of a plectrum, can't think why, Paul McCartney uses a plectrum and he plays quite well.
Lots of players say to use your fingers instead of a plectrum, can't think why, Paul McCartney uses a plectrum and he plays quite well.
singlecoil said:
Not much point to bass unless you are going to play in a band. Did you buy a tuner as well? If you are going to practice then you might as well be in tune.
Lots of players say to use your fingers instead of a plectrum, can't think why, Paul McCartney uses a plectrum and he plays quite well.
You should use your fingers on bass,predominantly if not exclusively. Pick can be useful, but should play second fiddle to your fingers. Paul McCartney is a great songwriter, not a great bass player. Jaco didn't use a pick.Lots of players say to use your fingers instead of a plectrum, can't think why, Paul McCartney uses a plectrum and he plays quite well.
As far as learning goes, teaching yourself is a good way to develop bad habits. Take some lessons from a professional bass player in your area and once you have a decent brief, continue on your own. My two cents....
A lot of people teach themselves - me included, but it is worth starting by learning some fundamental basics, like strings, scales, frets, tuning etc etc. After this, a few good guitar tuition/tab books, coupled with some old fashioned play alongs and a whole lot of patience, and it all should start to come together - slowly - but surely
Good luck
g
Good luck
g
Check out www.ultimate-guitar.com , plenty of good stuff on there if you can figure out tab!
There is also a program called PowerTab bouncing around, helped me lots!
There is also a program called PowerTab bouncing around, helped me lots!
I don't know diddley about bass guitar, but it's on my to-do list.
I suddenly got the urge to learn guitar just over a year ago, so I borrowed a steel string acoustic from a mate, he got me going, then I bought one (Yamaha) and started evening classes £8 for 2 hours. After a year, for my birthday, I got an electric (Fender Strat).
Practice practice practice, books and internet, but I think it's harder to find sources of info for bass guitar. And without the evening classes, I'd probably have given up by now.
I agree with the previous post, ask your local music shop. Good luck...
I suddenly got the urge to learn guitar just over a year ago, so I borrowed a steel string acoustic from a mate, he got me going, then I bought one (Yamaha) and started evening classes £8 for 2 hours. After a year, for my birthday, I got an electric (Fender Strat).
Practice practice practice, books and internet, but I think it's harder to find sources of info for bass guitar. And without the evening classes, I'd probably have given up by now.
I agree with the previous post, ask your local music shop. Good luck...
singlecoil said:
Not much point to bass unless you are going to play in a band. Did you buy a tuner as well? If you are going to practice then you might as well be in tune.
Lots of players say to use your fingers instead of a plectrum, can't think why, Paul McCartney uses a plectrum and he plays quite well.
balls.... Lots of players say to use your fingers instead of a plectrum, can't think why, Paul McCartney uses a plectrum and he plays quite well.
bass is easy to pickup enough to play within a band but it can be hugely rewarding to play solo -- much harder though
also - fingerstyle can produce a far greater variety of sounds than using a pick - using a pick is a useful additional skill
Airbag said:
Paul McCartney is a great songwriter, not a great bass player. Jaco didn't use a pick.
balls again.. McCartney may be a smug cock of the highest order with dubious taste in women but (IMHO) he's a fantastic bassplayer - particularly considering some of the lines that also he sings over.
jaw dropping technique does not always make great bass playing -- this is a whole other thread!
Yes he's no Jaco - but you're hardly comparing two similar styles of music -
Edited by fryske on Tuesday 1st April 21:53
as for the idea that you shouldn't learn bass unless you wanna be in a band - b
ks!!!
If that's what you wantto learn, then go for it. I decided tgo loearn bass cos I've small hands,making barre chords tricky.
However, when I was giving it 8 hours a day practicein my youth, I could play anything steve harris,phil lynott or chris glenn could play and then some
i just learnes the instrument cos I wanted to....
ks!!!If that's what you wantto learn, then go for it. I decided tgo loearn bass cos I've small hands,making barre chords tricky.
However, when I was giving it 8 hours a day practicein my youth, I could play anything steve harris,phil lynott or chris glenn could play and then some
i just learnes the instrument cos I wanted to....
ih8thisname said:
Check out www.ultimate-guitar.com , plenty of good stuff on there if you can figure out tab!
There is also a program called PowerTab bouncing around, helped me lots!
What he said.There is also a program called PowerTab bouncing around, helped me lots!
Tab is a good, easy, and cheap way to start learning bass and guitar.
Good linky as well, BTW, ih8thisname
Bought a tuner, bought a book....
bugger me my fingers hurt now!!!!
Tried tuning it against some online tuners, thought I finally had it about right, even though when I tried the 5 fret method it wasn't quite there. Then when I plugged the tuner in - oh dear oh dear oh dear.
My ears need tuning, not the guitar!
Anyhoo, crashed on last night for about 3 hours, just playing 12 bar blues and I think I kinda cracxked it. Its gotta be fingers though, I'm not happy with a plectrum as it seems to "slap" against the strings a lot - either that or I need a louder amp to drown it out.
And the fingers on my left hand - I thought they were mine, but oh blimey they have a mind of their own
Much more practice required!!! But it was fun.
bugger me my fingers hurt now!!!!
Tried tuning it against some online tuners, thought I finally had it about right, even though when I tried the 5 fret method it wasn't quite there. Then when I plugged the tuner in - oh dear oh dear oh dear.
My ears need tuning, not the guitar!Anyhoo, crashed on last night for about 3 hours, just playing 12 bar blues and I think I kinda cracxked it. Its gotta be fingers though, I'm not happy with a plectrum as it seems to "slap" against the strings a lot - either that or I need a louder amp to drown it out.
And the fingers on my left hand - I thought they were mine, but oh blimey they have a mind of their own
Much more practice required!!! But it was fun.
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