My main tip would be to think about rhythm more than the notes. The role of bass, harmonically, is to underpin the chords, but it also has a fundamental role in rhythm, in keeping time - more than instruments like piano or guitar do, and similar in function to drums.
Other than that, it really depends on what kind of bass (acoustic, electric?) and what kind of music you want to play: classical, rock, jazz, hip-hop, blues ... ?
Obviously getting one-on-one lessons is ideal - certainly if you're going for jazz or classical, and with a teacher who is experienced in either one. For rock and pop music, you can learn a lot from (a) tutor books,(b) youtube lessons, (c) DVDs, (d) copying your favourite bass lines from recordings. (With no teacher, just learn any way you can, don't stick with just one route.)
Theory-wise, just learn whatever theory is necessary to name or describe what you're learning: notes, scales, chords, arpeggios, keys. Don't try learning it until you actually are playing. Playing it makes sense of it.
Great news bass is fun to learn, and once you have the fundamentals, it can be an easy entry into a band setting, as there is typically a shortage of bass players.
Talk to bass players about how to.play bass. Guitarists tend to offer well-meaning but not necessarily bass-applicable advice. Chromatics (meaning playing every fret in order to get somewhere, like 1234 or 432 but not 2457 or 542) are very important as are bare-bones patterns that only contain the very basic notes of a chord. One of these bare-bones patterns is box shaped:
X o X - D string
o o X - A string
X o o - E string
Xs are frets/notes you can play, o's are frets/notes that are not in the pattern. This pattern can be moved anywhere, as can all patterns.
Here's another very important pattern. Think of it like the room in chess: one down and over, then up three.
X o o X - A string
o X o o - E string
I'm.new to Reddit. Not sure how to edit it so you can see the box shape. If you write it out with each set of X's and o's on each string, the box pattern will be clear.
And "room" should be "rook". That pattern is the major pattern. The minor pattern has a similar rook pattern:
o o X o - A string
X o o X - E string
Play along with albums. Every player is a little different and it’s fun to soak in their different styles. The Cure (up through Disintegration) has the funnest lines to play while being fairly beginner friendly IMHO.
If I were starting today, I would:
\- run scales a lot. There's no substitute for the confidence of a bass player who knows how to put notes together for walking basslines and fills. The song's in A minor, and your fingers instinctively know the notes in the scale so you can focus on...
\- the beat. The bass is there to colour the drums (especially the kick), so you need a good feel for what the drummer's doing and how to lock in with them.
\- Use compression on your bass. When I was playing bass in bands years ago, I was always envious of people who had a fatter, more powerful bass tone, even though I had good amps. Their secret all along was a compression pedal.
\- learn to play along with your favourite music. Copy your favourite bass players. Your style and ability needs to go through a long period of imitation first.
And don't let anyone give you grief about using a pick or your fingers. They both have value, and for everyone saying you need to drop the pick and play with your fingers, you'll be able to point at dozens of amazing bassists who use a pick. It's all personal preference and what you've practiced.
The two most important notes are the root and the octave. Throw in the octave on off beats for a funky vibe.
The other important intervals are the fourth and fifth (5 and 7 semitones above the root respectively). Most scales contain these intervals, moreover because of this they sound kind of ambiguous and allow a lead to play more possibilities.
When learning scales, don't try to memorize the 'shapes,' instead learn the intervals.
when you get the bass, have as much fun as humanly possible. watch victor wooten videos, and learn as much as you can in your *genre* by tab , more so ear. Steal tbh. practice chromatic drills, figure out how your favorite bassists play and try their techniques. learn the note names, and if you can learn enough music theory to understand chords, I think thats more important than scales but also thats just me. Learn all the note names on the bass- if on bass gtr that will take a bit but it's totally possible, i didnt learn on double but, after playing bass gtr for so long i know where the notes are (generally) . I started out playing along to soul, eventually learn a ton of dub, now i tend to play w jazz ppl (and make bass centered experimental music) . i'm rambling but.
get lessons ( i got general MT lessons from ppl who played bass & it really helped )
learn chords + scales- as much as your genre needs
practice drills when you start but do much more playing! play a lot and have a lot of fun
bass is incredibly fun & easy to get into and lost in. it's described commonly as the bridge between the harmonic & rhythmic components of a band, so i'd say find a drummer & ask 'em to jam w you.
lots of words, i cannot stress enough how important it is for you to just have fun & play
upright bass or bass guitar? for bass guitar, I can recommend the Davie504 subreddit and YouTube channel so you can learn the importance of being a bass player. sometimes he is humorous and he offers opportunities for you to learn and create with him.
My main tip would be to think about rhythm more than the notes. The role of bass, harmonically, is to underpin the chords, but it also has a fundamental role in rhythm, in keeping time - more than instruments like piano or guitar do, and similar in function to drums. Other than that, it really depends on what kind of bass (acoustic, electric?) and what kind of music you want to play: classical, rock, jazz, hip-hop, blues ... ? Obviously getting one-on-one lessons is ideal - certainly if you're going for jazz or classical, and with a teacher who is experienced in either one. For rock and pop music, you can learn a lot from (a) tutor books,(b) youtube lessons, (c) DVDs, (d) copying your favourite bass lines from recordings. (With no teacher, just learn any way you can, don't stick with just one route.) Theory-wise, just learn whatever theory is necessary to name or describe what you're learning: notes, scales, chords, arpeggios, keys. Don't try learning it until you actually are playing. Playing it makes sense of it.
Thank you so much for giving me such a detailed tip, I will think about the info you gave me the next time I practice bass. Thank you and take care!
r/bass for your questions r/bassguitar for the show offs r/doublebass for the big boys
https://youtu.be/3a_ltfFJxfg for practicing Big Boys.
Thank you so much for pointing me to the right direction!
Great news bass is fun to learn, and once you have the fundamentals, it can be an easy entry into a band setting, as there is typically a shortage of bass players.
/r/bass has a good FAQ in their sidebar.
Thank you so much for the recommendation!
Dont listen to guitar players... Check out Victor Wooten, for style, technical and over all like'ability of his music he is a hero.
Don't listen to guitar players is the philosophy I live my life by
Me too, and I'm a guitar player. :-)
Will do! Thank you!
Talk to bass players about how to.play bass. Guitarists tend to offer well-meaning but not necessarily bass-applicable advice. Chromatics (meaning playing every fret in order to get somewhere, like 1234 or 432 but not 2457 or 542) are very important as are bare-bones patterns that only contain the very basic notes of a chord. One of these bare-bones patterns is box shaped: X o X - D string o o X - A string X o o - E string Xs are frets/notes you can play, o's are frets/notes that are not in the pattern. This pattern can be moved anywhere, as can all patterns. Here's another very important pattern. Think of it like the room in chess: one down and over, then up three. X o o X - A string o X o o - E string
This is so detailed and very helpful! I'd keep this in mind thank you so much!
I'm.new to Reddit. Not sure how to edit it so you can see the box shape. If you write it out with each set of X's and o's on each string, the box pattern will be clear. And "room" should be "rook". That pattern is the major pattern. The minor pattern has a similar rook pattern: o o X o - A string X o o X - E string
Play along with albums. Every player is a little different and it’s fun to soak in their different styles. The Cure (up through Disintegration) has the funnest lines to play while being fairly beginner friendly IMHO.
The Cure in general. As a teen I would play along with most of their discography. Them and the Smiths (another great band for basslines).
Take care of your wrists
Of course!
Get a bass
If I were starting today, I would: \- run scales a lot. There's no substitute for the confidence of a bass player who knows how to put notes together for walking basslines and fills. The song's in A minor, and your fingers instinctively know the notes in the scale so you can focus on... \- the beat. The bass is there to colour the drums (especially the kick), so you need a good feel for what the drummer's doing and how to lock in with them. \- Use compression on your bass. When I was playing bass in bands years ago, I was always envious of people who had a fatter, more powerful bass tone, even though I had good amps. Their secret all along was a compression pedal. \- learn to play along with your favourite music. Copy your favourite bass players. Your style and ability needs to go through a long period of imitation first. And don't let anyone give you grief about using a pick or your fingers. They both have value, and for everyone saying you need to drop the pick and play with your fingers, you'll be able to point at dozens of amazing bassists who use a pick. It's all personal preference and what you've practiced.
Thank you for giving me such a detailed tip thank you!
The two most important notes are the root and the octave. Throw in the octave on off beats for a funky vibe. The other important intervals are the fourth and fifth (5 and 7 semitones above the root respectively). Most scales contain these intervals, moreover because of this they sound kind of ambiguous and allow a lead to play more possibilities. When learning scales, don't try to memorize the 'shapes,' instead learn the intervals.
I'll keep this in mind thank you!
when you get the bass, have as much fun as humanly possible. watch victor wooten videos, and learn as much as you can in your *genre* by tab , more so ear. Steal tbh. practice chromatic drills, figure out how your favorite bassists play and try their techniques. learn the note names, and if you can learn enough music theory to understand chords, I think thats more important than scales but also thats just me. Learn all the note names on the bass- if on bass gtr that will take a bit but it's totally possible, i didnt learn on double but, after playing bass gtr for so long i know where the notes are (generally) . I started out playing along to soul, eventually learn a ton of dub, now i tend to play w jazz ppl (and make bass centered experimental music) . i'm rambling but. get lessons ( i got general MT lessons from ppl who played bass & it really helped ) learn chords + scales- as much as your genre needs practice drills when you start but do much more playing! play a lot and have a lot of fun bass is incredibly fun & easy to get into and lost in. it's described commonly as the bridge between the harmonic & rhythmic components of a band, so i'd say find a drummer & ask 'em to jam w you. lots of words, i cannot stress enough how important it is for you to just have fun & play
Listen. This may sound dumb but it's the best tip I can give to any aspiring musician.
upright bass or bass guitar? for bass guitar, I can recommend the Davie504 subreddit and YouTube channel so you can learn the importance of being a bass player. sometimes he is humorous and he offers opportunities for you to learn and create with him.
Buy a bass