Learning the bass guitar

Dave Sutton's barnet · Post by **Dave Sutton's barnet** » Tue Sep 08, 2009 9:35 am

How's it going?

Verbal wrote:the best I got musically was year 9 lessons.

Another personal tip: certainly to begin with, it's not about scales, theory and dull practice: play summat you know. When I decided at the age of 14 (Jesus that's more than two decades ago) to take up the guitar properly, I went down to Booth's music and bought the complete Beatles songbook; by the time I'd learned all the songs I liked in there, I was halfway decent and therefore ready to fill in the theoretical holes.

I know many people who want to play instruments but got turned off by being asked to endlessly and faultlessly play the scale of C#major before they were "allowed" to play Michael, Row The Boat Ashore. Not all music lessons are like that but you should set your own targets, learn at your own pace, and you'll find it a lot more pleasurable.

Oh and one other thing - when I say "play summat you know", be realistic - just as a six-string guitarist shouldn't expect to be Steve Vai by the end of the first weekend, don't immediately try to ape Cliff Burton or Nathan Watts on Stevie Wonder's Sir Duke (check out the effortless and unobtrusive runs from 2'46" to 3'16"!).

Get that good in a couple of months and I might have a job for you when our bassist returns to Tasmania...

Above all, as with any artistic endeavour: enjoy.

Verbal · Post by **Verbal** » Tue Sep 08, 2009 11:51 am

I'm afraid play has been suspended until the weekend, due to the rather more pressing need of being able to see further than 10yards...specsavers on thursday it is. The deed will be done at the weekend though. Might try and start of trying to learn She's Lost Control...

Thanks for the tip - it's certainly something I see as a hobby rather than a profession at the moment, so enjoyment is certainly the main thing.

p.s. that Sir Duke bass line...

Verbal · Post by **Verbal** » Thu Sep 10, 2009 1:58 pm

Right, all bassed up, along with amp, headphones and tutorial. I'll report back in about a year...

superjohnmcginlay · Post by **superjohnmcginlay** » Thu Sep 10, 2009 2:06 pm

Verbal wrote:Right, all bassed up, along with amp, headphones and tutorial. I'll report back in about a year...

Dont come back until you can pay this.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yn3uiLZY9Jg

Puskas · Post by **Puskas** » Thu Sep 10, 2009 5:37 pm

superjohnmcginlay wrote:
Verbal wrote:Right, all bassed up, along with amp, headphones and tutorial. I'll report back in about a year...
Dont come back until you can pay this.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yn3uiLZY9Jg

Or try learning from a _proper_ bass-player...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9e5cqe_JE0Q

superjohnmcginlay · Post by **superjohnmcginlay** » Fri Sep 11, 2009 10:12 am

Puskas wrote:
superjohnmcginlay wrote:
Verbal wrote:Right, all bassed up, along with amp, headphones and tutorial. I'll report back in about a year...
Dont come back until you can pay this.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yn3uiLZY9Jg
Or try learning from a _proper_ bass-player...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9e5cqe_JE0Q

He's not playing it. He's just whacking it.

markakamark · Post by **markakamark** » Fri Sep 11, 2009 10:26 am

I'd recommend this as on your first pieces to learn. Ease your self in gently

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iy3V2Tl4g3s

Puskas · Post by **Puskas** » Fri Sep 11, 2009 10:30 am

superjohnmcginlay wrote:
Puskas wrote:
superjohnmcginlay wrote:
Verbal wrote:Right, all bassed up, along with amp, headphones and tutorial. I'll report back in about a year...
Dont come back until you can pay this.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yn3uiLZY9Jg
Or try learning from a _proper_ bass-player...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9e5cqe_JE0Q
He's not playing it. He's just whacking it.

I'm just waiting for you to add, "And he's not singing, just shouting. That's not music, it's just noise, I remember when we had proper tunes, not like all this modern stuff....."

thebish · Post by **thebish** » Fri Sep 11, 2009 10:37 am

Puskas wrote:
superjohnmcginlay wrote:
Puskas wrote:
superjohnmcginlay wrote:
Verbal wrote:Right, all bassed up, along with amp, headphones and tutorial. I'll report back in about a year...
Dont come back until you can pay this.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yn3uiLZY9Jg
Or try learning from a _proper_ bass-player...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9e5cqe_JE0Q
He's not playing it. He's just whacking it.
I'm just waiting for you to add, "And he's not singing, just shouting. That's not music, it's just noise, I remember when we had proper tunes, not like all this modern stuff....."

Dear Puskas,

I've seen motorhead live 3 times - and every time (just like in your youtube clip) some stupid roadie has put lemmie's mic too high so he has to stretch his head up to sing/yell/bawl/shout into it... hasn't he noticed this yet?

also - on every occasion - after about two songs - big breasted women get their norks out and wobble them at him... why do they do that?

yours

confused of Upminster

dasher · Post by **dasher** » Fri Sep 11, 2009 10:47 am

thebish wrote: also - on every occasion - after about two songs - big breasted women get their norks out and wobble them at him... why do they do that?

yours

confused of Upminster

Dear confused of Upminster

Shouldn't the question be why don't big breasted women get their norks out and wobble them at other bands concerts ?

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Learning the bass guitar

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