Any good tips about bass guitar?
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Topic: Any good tips about bass guitar?
Posted By: janealex
Subject: Any good tips about bass guitar?
Date Posted: December 14 2010 at 03:58
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I these days i am learning how to play Bass guitar so i need some good tips to impress my music teacher. If someone knows that please share with me. ------------- http://www.pushbuttonproductions.com/" rel="nofollow - Radio Ads | http://www.pushbuttonproductions.com/" rel="nofollow - Jingles |
Replies:
Posted By: Triceratopsoil
Date Posted: December 14 2010 at 04:02
| get a chapman stick |
Posted By: parapet
Date Posted: December 14 2010 at 04:34
hahaha or warr guitar my tip is not to try to impress your teacher but to try to listen to him  ------------- SMART preachers of our doom Telling us there is no room. Not enough for all mankind And the seas of time are running dry. |
Triceratopsoil wrote:Posted By: Angelo
Date Posted: December 14 2010 at 05:35
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Indeed. And try posting in the right forum section while you're at it.
------------- http://www.iskcrocks.com" rel="nofollow - ISKC Rock Radio I stopped blogging and reviewing - so won't be handling requests. Promo's for ariplay can be sent to [email protected] |
Posted By: Slartibartfast
Date Posted: December 14 2010 at 06:24
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Can you spin the thing around your body while you play? But seriously and you may not be at the stage where you can pull it off, but some original improv. This is something you can't likely do through a tip. It has to come from inside you. ------------- Released date are often when it it impacted you but recorded dates are when it really happened... 
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Posted By: chopper
Date Posted: December 14 2010 at 06:31
| Learn your scales. |
Posted By: Epignosis
Date Posted: December 14 2010 at 07:59
First, don't try to impress your teacher. Practice what you are taught at least 30 minutes each day. Learn all the notes of the fretboard and how they interact (i.e., learn scales). Practice with all different kinds of music because the skills in various genres can carry over into one another. ------------- https://epignosis.bandcamp.com/album/a-month-of-sundays" rel="nofollow - https://epignosis.bandcamp.com/album/a-month-of-sundays |
Posted By: thehallway
Date Posted: December 14 2010 at 09:25
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Learn some theory (if you haven't already) about root notes, intervals like 3rd and 5th, and the role the bass guitar plays in a band or ensemble. Then simply apply it to the fretboard.
Applying it is the hardest part!
Practise something until you know it, then practise doing it with your eyes closed, then at double speed, etc........ so that you always have something to improve upon.
(In other words.... Do what my signature says!) ------------- http://www.thefreshfilmblog.com/" rel="nofollow"> 
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Posted By: CPicard
Date Posted: December 14 2010 at 12:29
I plus it. |
Posted By: SaltyJon
Date Posted: December 14 2010 at 12:57
This, plus improvise a bit, play around with the instrument and try to "make it your own". Most of all...enjoy whatever you do end up playing, since it's such an excellent instrument.  ------------- http://www.last.fm/user/Salty_Jon" rel="nofollow"> 
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Posted By: WalterDigsTunes
Date Posted: December 14 2010 at 13:00
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Sell it. Leave music to the pre-1989 pros. |
Posted By: Triceratopsoil
Date Posted: December 14 2010 at 13:45
another thing, don't slap or pop your strings 
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Posted By: Stooge
Date Posted: December 14 2010 at 13:54
That just about says it. I've never taken any lessons or anything (and it shows  ),
but I'd imagine the best way to impress your teacher is through a
willingness to learn and be open to exploring new avenues of music.
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Posted By: Slartibartfast
Date Posted: December 14 2010 at 15:45
Come on people. His teacher has likely heard scales so many times to be bored to tears with them. Pick your strings with your teeth and then set your bass on fire.  It's weird, but when I recommend improv, no one joins in with me on it. Scales are for fish... ------------- Released date are often when it it impacted you but recorded dates are when it really happened...
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Posted By: Proletariat
Date Posted: December 14 2010 at 17:49
Thats like saying don't play picked guitar or don't tap. Stylistic choices can be employed to the advantage of the player and each player should find their own blend of sounds. ------------- who hiccuped endlessly trying to giggle but wound up with a sob |
Posted By: himtroy
Date Posted: December 14 2010 at 21:21
Larry Graham disagrees with not slapping or popping your strings. Thats feel ------------- Which of you to gain me, tell, will risk uncertain pains of hell? I will not forgive you if you will not take the chance. |
Posted By: thellama73
Date Posted: December 14 2010 at 21:50
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I teach piano lessons to kids and you know what really impresses me? When they listen to me and practice what I ask them to practice. I am not impressed by them trying to show off songs that they claim to have written or improvising when I am trying to talk. As far as musicianship goes though, the best way to learn is to imitate others. Put on some records with prominent bass parts and try to learn the lines by ear. Then improvise over some chord changes. That is how you learn your instrument inside out, by constantly playing it and trying to discover new things. ------------- 
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Posted By: spookytooth
Date Posted: December 14 2010 at 21:50
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Coming from someone who takes music lessons (for drums, though not bass, but I feel I can still give some advice), I would say to try not to impress your teacher so much. Just listen to him or her and soak whatever they say in. Try to gain as much knowledge as you can and try to practice as much as you can. It would also help to listen to a lot of bass-heavy work (always go with Jaco Pastorius, and some Victor Wooten and Larry Graham wouldn't hurt either) to try to gain some influence and inspiration. Bottom line: listen to what your teacher says, study hard, and try to do some extra work. Also, it wouldn't hurt to learn a thing or two about music theory. That is all... ------------- 
Would you like some Bailey's? |
Posted By: Slartibartfast
Date Posted: December 15 2010 at 04:39
 ------------- Released date are often when it it impacted you but recorded dates are when it really happened...
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Posted By: spookytooth
Date Posted: December 15 2010 at 18:28
Couldn't agree more, man. -------------
Would you like some Bailey's? |
Posted By: Slartibartfast
Date Posted: December 15 2010 at 20:31
Tony Levin Funk Fingers: Then you must use a bow. Tony on Chapman ------------- Released date are often when it it impacted you but recorded dates are when it really happened...
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Posted By: theessentialform
Date Posted: December 18 2010 at 22:41
Hey i'm with you :) hey, you could learn the modes of each major scale! that helps with improv...
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Posted By: jammun
Date Posted: December 18 2010 at 23:40
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Jack Bruce always said practice yer Bach. ------------- Can you tell me where we're headin'? Lincoln County Road or Armageddon. |
Posted By: The_Jester
Date Posted: January 10 2011 at 16:19
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Learn some Gentle Giant stuff like me. Or some Yes like Heart of the Sunrise and the bass solo on the Gates of Delirium. ------------- La victoire est éphémère mais la gloire est éternelle! - Napoléon Bonaparte |
Posted By: clarkpegasus4001
Date Posted: January 17 2011 at 15:44
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He'll probably be impressed if you practice hard and listen/learn what he is teaching you. Tony C. |
Posted By: moshkito
Date Posted: January 17 2011 at 16:14
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Hi,
I'm the world's worst bass player, and on top of it, I refuse to practice, and I am still playing it, and I don't care what anyone says or thinks.
But there is something that I can do ... that many can't ... and I was playing with an instructor one time, and I did the homework ... and when it came around to the end, I adjusted it to my feel and ending ... and he said ... wow, that was nice ... how did you do that? ...
I'll tell you what I did ... I played it through and practiced it, and it sounded dry and tuneless and boring, and I did not want to do another Chuck Berry song again. So, in the middle of it, I shut off everything and just followed MY OWN MUSE ... and the notes ... completely away from any lyrics and conceptualization ... and when I flowed on it, the song wanted to end this way ... not that ... and I did ... and he still says, that I am the only student he ever had that could color and adjust and add something to anything that was already there. And I did it more than once, and many times even in the middle of things, not just in the end. Or the start, many times of which I liked to adjust to help the music get stronger.
The issue, FOR ME, is this ... you have to tell the notes to get lost and screw them! ... and you have to learn, and teach yourself to "FEEL" the notes and their vibration through your fingers and then arm, and such ... and the minute you do, you will be a very good bass player ... since a band will immediately want to use that ability to help them color their own material ... BUT, if you are playing the Red Lion circuit ... yeah ... leave quickly, because your "moments" will never be heard, or appreciated.
Too many people think that it is just about the mechanics and the notes ... it's not! ... it's about YOU ... and the sooner you know that and learn that, the better ... all else is not important ...
But you have a decision to make, specially now that you read this ... it will show up and come to you ... put your money on it ... and you will know what you want to do that very minute ... and either go for it, or quit -- because playing a bass, or anything else ... just got really boring and not worth it! ------------- Music is not just for listening ... it is for LIVING ... you got to feel it to know what's it about! Not being told! www.pedrosena.com |
Posted By: clarkpegasus4001
Date Posted: January 17 2011 at 17:53
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I kind of agree with the post above, there's nothing wrong in adding your own feel to stuff, I do it all the time. I never practice either as it happens, and i've never had any lessons. I guess it depends on what level you wanna be at. Tony C. |
Posted By: irrelevant
Date Posted: January 18 2011 at 07:13
You're absolutely dead on with that one.
 ------------- https://gabebuller.bandcamp.com/" rel="nofollow - New album! http://www.progarchives.com/artist.asp?id=7385" rel="nofollow - http://www.progarchives.com/artist.asp?id=7385 |
Posted By: avinpiter
Date Posted: January 18 2011 at 15:06
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If you play in a band, is one of the most important play together. The sound of your instruments should blend smoothly. Remember that the bass notes often form agreements in conjunction with the notes played by other instruments. Unfortunately, the bass is often the main attraction for many groups. |
Posted By: irrelevant
Date Posted: January 19 2011 at 04:50
What's wrong with that? I mean people that play their bass like a lead guitar is annoying, if that's what you mean. ------------- https://gabebuller.bandcamp.com/" rel="nofollow - New album! http://www.progarchives.com/artist.asp?id=7385" rel="nofollow - http://www.progarchives.com/artist.asp?id=7385 |
Posted By: Andy Webb
Date Posted: January 22 2011 at 22:57
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Idolize John Myung, Tony Levin, and Chris Squire. This is the key to success. Seriously, though (although that is good advice )Practice, practice, practice. Know your scales, how to play them easily and lucidly, and how to whip out a nice bass line, even it's really simple. Also, practice more than just rock music. Jazz, funk, reggae, and even pop and soul music have very unique and important styles that can make you a really dynamic player. And don't forget to jam out! ------------- http://ow.ly/8ymqg" rel="nofollow">  
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Posted By: CloseToTheMoon
Date Posted: January 28 2011 at 14:56
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I learned to play music mostly on my own. So when someone asks for advice (doesn't happen often), I say simply learn your basic chords and start playing along to your favorite records. Learning a song will give you all the motivation and feeling of accomplishment. ------------- It's funny how the colors of the real world only seem really real when you viddy them on the screen. |
Posted By: Negoba
Date Posted: January 28 2011 at 15:39
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As a long time guitar player, I would pick up the bass in band practice and I could play all the notes but it sounded like a guitar player.
I was given a bass about 10 years ago. What turned me into an at least credible bass player is dozens and dozens of times of playing along with James Brown's Greatest Hits. It sounds cliche but it worked. I don't think about guitar and bass in the same way at all anymore.
Bass is a rhythm instrument. Lock in with the drums. Play along with basic songs and work on locking in. The point is not being in a expert in 3 chord rock, it's training your ear to be able to turn your bass and the bass drum into a single tone. ------------- You are quite a fine person, and I am very fond of you. But you are only quite a little fellow, in a wide world, after all. |
Posted By: crimhead
Date Posted: January 28 2011 at 18:41
^ this and pick up a Carl Thompson bass.  |
Posted By: MillsLayne
Date Posted: February 02 2011 at 20:59
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I, too, am currently learning how to play bass and lets just say that I'm so new to playing ANY instrument, that I'm just learning about notes and how to correctly pluck my bass! It's all very hard for me (as I'm sure it is for anyone just starting out), but I'm feeling more and more comfortable with my bass.
------------- http://gamercards.exophase.com/xbox/user/MillsLayne/" rel="nofollow">  ht |
Posted By: Xanatos
Date Posted: February 03 2011 at 14:13
| Play jazz music and do not slap your strings |
Posted By: CPicard
Date Posted: February 03 2011 at 14:15
| Do the slap. |
Posted By: Andy Webb
Date Posted: February 03 2011 at 15:29
------------- http://ow.ly/8ymqg" rel="nofollow">
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Posted By: Icarium
Date Posted: February 03 2011 at 17:10
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I just played School by ear (on bass) -------------  
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Posted By: boo boo
Date Posted: February 04 2011 at 02:10
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Yeah, make sure nobody can hear it. And don't get any ideas, EVER. Just follow the guitarist and make sure you don't detract from anyone else in the band. Just remember, you ARE the least important member. ------------- http://www.last.fm/user/kingboobs/?chartstyle=LastfmSuicjdeGirls" rel="nofollow"> 
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Posted By: The Pessimist
Date Posted: February 04 2011 at 11:01
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Couldn't say anything else other than carry on learning and dedicate yourself to it. There aren't enough good bass players nowadays!
------------- "Market value is irrelevant to intrinsic value." Arnold Schoenberg |
Posted By: Equality 7-2521
Date Posted: February 04 2011 at 11:38
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Play baritone guitar instead.
------------- "One had to be a Newton to notice that the moon is falling, when everyone sees that it doesn't fall. " |
Posted By: boo boo
Date Posted: February 04 2011 at 12:15
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I think he wants to pick up chicks, not old guys in powdered wigs. And the bass really does seem to have some mystical chick magnetizing powers. Of the top 5 rock stars who are alledged to have gotten the most ass at least 3 of them are bass players (Gene Simmons, Lemmy Kilmister, Bill Wyman). Seriously, of all the Rolling Stones members to get the most tail... it's Bill Wyman?
Think about it. ------------- http://www.last.fm/user/kingboobs/?chartstyle=LastfmSuicjdeGirls" rel="nofollow">
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Posted By: CPicard
Date Posted: February 04 2011 at 18:55
| Think about the number of bassist women. Indeed, a magnetic power... |
Posted By: boo boo
Date Posted: February 05 2011 at 06:41
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I don't know if you're being sarcastic but there ARE more bassist women in rock bands than guitarists or drummers it seems like.
There was a time when a hot indie band HAD to have a girl bassist. I think it started with Talking Heads and caught on from there. ------------- http://www.last.fm/user/kingboobs/?chartstyle=LastfmSuicjdeGirls" rel="nofollow">
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Posted By: CPicard
Date Posted: February 05 2011 at 09:50
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Oh no, I wasn't sarcastic (for once...). Back in the 90's, when I was a teenager, I noticed a strange thing with mixed bands: - if a band has 3 female members and one male member, this last one is the drummer: the Slits, the Breeders, the early L7, the Corrs... - if a band has 3 male members and one female member and that she's not the singer, this last one is the bassist: White Zombie, Telephone (very important French band), Talking Heads, Sonic Youth... |
Posted By: The Salem
Date Posted: April 06 2011 at 17:06
| Never ask for people's tips. Try to see your instrument through your eyes from your perspective, not from anyone else's. |