So I'm getting a bass guitar ... any advice?

Err Mike, The Hot For Teacher stretches aren't that big anyway, at least not compared to a 1st-3rd-5th fret stretch on a bass

Negoba wrote: Memorize this if you haven't already for guitar   -----flat 2nd---------2nd------------Minor 3rd-----Maj 3rd---4th-------tritone-------5th -----Minor 6th------Major 6th-----Minor 7th-----Maj 7th----Root----flat 2nd------2nd -----Minor 3rd------Major 3d-----4th--------------tritone-----5th------Minor 6th----Major 6th -----Minor 7th------Major 7th-----Root-----------flat 2nd----2nd-----Minor 3rd----Major3rd   You probably already know it.....but if you don't it will change your life.

Thanks! Yes, I already know it ... I've been practicing scales for about 20 years. I agree, it's very important to know the intervals, especially for bass lines. I've always been consciously listening to to the bass lines in my favorite music.

I think my main problem will be the finger picking/plucking technique.

I'm going to assume, from previous conversations, you're getting a bass more so because you need something for recording rather than wanting to be the next Billy Sheehan.
Just going through a lot of scale exercises as you would on a guitar or whatever helps, obviously instead picking with a pick just via the fingers.
It's obvious, but just record yourself playing and listen to picking and fretting hand consistency.
Be wary about playing the F Major scale starting on the first fret, 3 note per string pattern ascending/descending starting on the E string, because that is quite a big stretch on a scale length like that. It's entirely possible, even for a guy with medium sized hands like me, but I don't recommend you make it part of your daily regime unless you want to injure yourself. Of course you can learn to do it via the low B string and ascending from there.
When you play 3 note per string stuff, try to stick with A major (when starting on the E string) and higher, still a good stretch but nothing that will risk injury.

And why not learn YYZ? No one says you have to learn it all full speed first off. You can slow the song down by 30 per cent of whatever, and learn it that way.
FWIW, my friend has that exact same bass, they have decent playability for what they are, you should enjoy it.

Memorize this if you haven't already for guitar

Slartibartfast wrote: Interesting advice, bass is mostly about the arpeggio (I looked it up I may not be using the right term exactly ), I'm trying to think of bassists that actually do chords and no one comes to mind.  I'm pretty lousy at guitar chords so maybe I really should take up bass. By the way Mike, feel free to single out the shipping service that screwed you over by name.

Stanley Clarke does some chordal stuff, as did Jaco.  It's not as common as on guitar, though..

My main advice: Have fun with it, you've now ordered guitar's smarter brother.

Other than that, at least IMO fingerstyle is much better on bass than playing with a pick.  Unless you NEED the pick for something you want to play (for example some of the Yes stuff which would be nigh-impossible to play without one) give your fingers a good workout instead.  Oh, and once you're comfortable with the larger frets and such...go fretless, it's a lot more fun.    I play a lined fretless, that way I have the general idea of where I should be playing, but it's a lot more free, and if you ever want to transition over into double bass you won't be as lost on its monster neck.

Practice control, fingers, be patient. Dont get scared of huge frets and strings. Very soon it will become natural and enjoyable!

Dont play chords, dont plug it in distortion, please! At least not at the beginning.

After that, when you grab a guitar, you will think its tiny as a mandolin

When I got my bass (long time guitar player here too), I literally just played along with James Brown greatest hits repeat after repeat. I've been playing now (bass) for over 12 years now, and I approach it completely differently than a guitar. It's actually taught me alot about guitar, as I used alot of shapes / licks on guitar, but on bass I know exactly which scale degree of every chord I'm playing. It seems wierd, but it's easier to do because the instrument is so much simpler in a melodic sense.

I was looking at the credits for a John Paul Jones solo album and have this utterly useless piece of advice:
get one with as many strings as possible.
After all you can take strings away but you can never add additional ones.

himtroy wrote: Whatever you do just actually learn how to play bass. I'm sick of hearing what is obviously guitarists hacking away on a bass like it's a guitar missing strings.

Geezer Butler never played Bass before he joined Black Sabbath (He used to play rhytm guitar)
And i see what you mean, but he's really got his own bluesy style.

Whatever you do just actually learn how to play bass. I'm sick of hearing what is obviously guitarists hacking away on a bass like it's a guitar missing strings.