Jake picks up bass

[JakeK]

About a week ago, I was itching to play bass badly. A few people told me one will always find someone who plays guitar or keyboards, but he's less likely to easily find a drummer, and even less likely to find a bassist. So I picked up a MIM Standard Fender Jazz Bass and a copy of "Bass Guitar for Dummies", but can anyone here also be of assistance to me learning bass?

[sloop_john_b]

Well, that's a really broad question. It all depends on what you're looking to do with the instrument. Are you going to learn songs or are you going to play along with original material? Do you want to learn how to play fingerstyle or are you going to stick with playing with a pick?

Also, pics or it didn't happen.

[ricardo_vicente]

Start off by playing the route notes of the chords and then to make it interesting, play some others that sound nice as well.

[kiramdear]

I learned bass by listening and following parts off of records. I think the first song I ever played on bass was "The Low Spark of High-Heeled Boys". If you know the chords of a song you can usually do right by falling back on the tonic or root note of a chord. Then as you gain confidence you can add the fills and figures.

Good luck, Jake! You might love it. I picked up the bass really because I could always get in a band with bass skills, and I wanted more than anything to play in a band.

[JakeK]

Well, that's a really broad question. It all depends on what you're looking to do with the instrument. Are you going to learn songs or are you going to play along with original material? Do you want to learn how to play fingerstyle or are you going to stick with playing with a pick?

Also, pics or it didn't happen.

I want to learn songs. The only fingerstyle I WANT (see how I say "want"? ) to do is the famous "hook" that Duck Dunn of Booker T and the MG's does. How is Duck Dunn's "hook" done, if I may ask, JB? I can learn traditional fingerstyle, too, but I feel I get the most pleasure out of playing with a pick. There's most rock songs (such as Beatles, Petty, etc) that I may want to stick soley pick for, and then there's the traditional jazz and blues with walking basslines that I may want to use fingerstyle for.

Does it matter for pick or fingerstyle for you, JB? Does it depend on what you're playing? Also, what strings may you recommend this beginning bassist use? I really want to go flats, because the stock rounds on my Jazz make my fingers tender and prone to blisters (none yet, but I shouldn't jinx myself)

Also, my bass rig. I've been using my Deluxe Reverb with high treble at low volumes, but I really want to upgrade my rig (for guitar AND bass) to something like this:
http://cgi.ebay.com/Fender-Bassman-Amp- ... 27af1589e9

Is that too much? I do alternate between guitar and bass, frequently (my Strat feels like a Ric 325 when I switch from bass to guitar! ), so I'm sure a 60's Fender Bassman would be the right way to go. Again, I do not gig out much, so a small bass volume doesnt matter.

Pics coming up tonight. Just been really busy lately and haven't had time for the Internet much.

[collin]

Pfff------learn bass? It has two LESS strings than the guitar you already know how to play.


The band thing is absolutely true though.....there are so many guitar players here I can't even find a band. I have to start one to be in it! Play bass and you'll have more bands than you want to deal with.

[paologregorio]

I'd suggest sticking with the roundwounds to toughen up your fingertips, and alternate between playing fingerstyle and pick. I learned both when I first learned to play bass, and I can still do both. Learn to use every finger on your right hand to play bass with. I wouldn't fixate on the gear too much right now. Just learn to work the instrument.

You'll definitely get lots of gigs band wise if you can play bass. There are always more guitarists than bassists. I always enjoy playing bass at the jams, and there are plenty of opportunities to, as there are only three local bassists.

As for learning songs, there are lots of prominent bass riffs to choose from. Bass riffs are more audible from 70s through the present; the bass is more difficult to hear on a lot of earlier songs.

[weemac]

Bass players have more fun and can almost get away with murder as they are usually in demand!

Eden.

[egosheep]

I would recommend listening to some Motown, with all the great James Jamerson basslines. He was a big influence on Paul, and he was never fully appreciated while he was living, unfortunately.

I am a guitarist, but I love playing bass when I get a chance. I approach it much like I would the guitar, playing riffs and locking into a groove. I love the sound of a bassline playing through chord progressions, with a lot of chromatic riffs.

[paologregorio]

Remember to lock in with the drummer-it's crucial!

[jps]

Here are three drummers who you can try and lock in with:

[antipodean]

Here are three drummers who you can try and lock in with:

Those guys look a lot more evolved than the last few drummers I've worked with.....

Jake,

Great to see you taking up the most noble of instruments!

So much good advice already.... A biggy is - start simple, and don't be afraid to play simple, even when you can play like the late great Mr Entwhistle. My biggest gripe is bassists who play overly ornate "look at me" runs when they don't do the song any service. The bass player there to lock in the tempo and feel with the drummer and make the song work, not to use the song as a vehicle for their ego.

Given your musical tastes, I'd suggest to start out with some early-mid '60s lines - pre "Rubber Soul" Beatles and very early Who (e.g. "Can't Explain") have very economical but incredibly effective bass lines, then graduate to more "riffy" Motown, Memphis and later '60s invasion music. If you can master this, you have a great platform to build on. As far as pick vs fingers - start out with the pick if that's more comfortable, as the stress on your fretting hand will be enough to deal with initially, but as you grow in confidence, try to play some fingerstyle - it offers a sound that the pick can't reproduce.

I'd leave the whole slapping/popping business for later....

[JakeK]

Thanks for the suggestions. Does a '60s piggyback Fender Bassman sound like the ideal amp for me? Can handle both guitar and bass frequencies...

By the way, pictures! (Ignore my messy music room)

[woodyng]

i 2nd what evan said-i've been playing for a really long time,my heroes were some of the busiest players on the planet,and in almost every situation i have been in,i tend to play a simple bassline,paying a lot of attention to locking in with the drummer . of course,you can still be melodic and catchy without being overly busy...a bassline i'm having to learn is phil lynott's "dancing in the moonlight",a relatively simple,but syncopated little number....

[sloop_john_b]

Does a '60s piggyback Fender Bassman sound like the ideal amp for me?

I doubt it! Buying a bass amp is not like buying a guitar amp, in the sense that in the guitar world, the old technology (i.e. tube amps) is still what most guitar players want. Companies like Markbass (personal fave), Eden, Carvin, and many others are making great sounding, inexpensive, reliable bass amps. What's your budget?