New Bass, New Bass Player

[skychurch]

Greetings,

I just bought my first bass and absolutely love it. Actually, it's my second bass. I started with a Squire Vintage Modified J Bass. I had it for a week and quickly realized that I would outgrow it in a very short time. I spent 4 hours setting it up to Fender specs but it still wasn't what I was looking for. I have some very nice 6 strings so I suppose I have been spoiled.

I returned the Squire and bought a Rickenbacker 4003 in Fireglo. Last weekend, I spent the entire day at Wildwood Guitars (highly recommended) playing their 3 4003's. The one I liked the best has the most incredible natural sustain I have ever heard (without even being plugged in!). The only problem with it was it had a small defect behind the horn where the lacquer is coming off the binding. They said that they could repair it but I'm so anal retentive I knew that it would bother me. If anyone can live with that minor defect, they are selling it as a Scratch and Dent for $1,449.00 (Fireglo #1319683). Schweeeet bass!

I chose my second favorite of the lot. It wasn't quite as punchy nor as as bright as my favored but I liked the sound anyway. Mine has a bit more growl but the first has the sustain and that Ric punch that is to die for.

Anyway, I have been playing guitar for over 40 years and have always loved bass. When I play in a band situation, my focus is always on the bass. Secondarily, I hear the drummer's right hand. The rest of the band is a blend for me.

I have filled in on bass in the past but always sound like a guitar player playing bass (as is to be expected). I now want to learn to play bass like a bass player. I know music theory, scales (modes), arpeggios and all that but need to learn to put that knowledge into bass lines.

I play with a pick (which I like the sound) but also want to learn how to play finger style as I like that sound, too.

Any suggestions on the best way to learn proper finger technique and how to play bass lines rather than guitar lines?

Thanks for the suggestions,
Jim

[songdog]

That's a really nice looking instrument! Rickenbacker definitely got the magic back on Fireglo (there was a period when I thought it didn't look so great); and the dramatic and striking grain in the fingerboard is almost getting to be a trademark Rick look.

When I play in a band situation, my focus is always on the bass. Secondarily, I hear the drummer's right hand. The rest of the band is a blend for me.

I have filled in on bass in the past but always sound like a guitar player playing bass (as is to be expected). I now want to learn to play bass like a bass player. I know music theory, scales (modes), arpeggios and all that but need to learn to put that knowledge into bass lines.

I play with a pick (which I like the sound) but also want to learn how to play finger style as I like that sound, too.

Any suggestions on the best way to learn proper finger technique and how to play bass lines rather than guitar lines?

I started playing bass finger style... I wish someone had told me back then about "floating thumb" technique (go search on that other forum where people "talk bass").

As for "how to play bass lines", listen intensively to bass players you like, learn their lines, and then incorporate that into your style. And remember that you don't need to play as many notes as you did on guitar!

[jdawe]

Lovely 4003 you got yourself.

I took up bass (very casually) a couple of years ago after playing guitar for 30+ years. After poking around the internet I followed some of the free "how to play bass" lessons on www.studybass.com, and learned how to play finger style with the "floating thumb technique". It felt awkward at first but I got used to it very quickly with a bit of practice and I can now do it reasonably competently. (I also play with a pick about half the time). I suspect it is more difficult to pick up the "floating thumb technique" once you've learned to play with your thumb anchored, so I think it is worth putting in the extra effort to start out playing that way. After a few days it feels completely natural and I think it may have some real advantages in terms of ease of muting and avoiding hand strain.

[fluffy]

Congratulations and welcome to the fold it's always nice to move into Rickenbacker-dom but I will speak in defense of Squiers in that they are great to modify and a reasonable alternative if you ever need to play a gig that would risk the health and welfare of your very expensive bass

[kiramdear]

Not to try to cause you regret, as you've got a first class instrument there. But next time you're shopping consider that a good hand could make an undetectable repair of a small chip in the varnish when it is over the binding. That's an easy one.

[antonius]

Congratulations on getting your Rickenbacker. You say it doesn't sound quite as good as the other one you tried. It could be that with some subtle tweaking of the rods, action, getting the right strings, etc, that you'll find the sweet spot and it will sound just as good as the other one. And as you get used to playing it you'll discover how to bring the best out of it too. So enjoy!

I would recommend the floating thumb technique. I play 50/50 pick and fingers, but a few years ago I decided to re-learn my finger technique as I wasn't happy with it and soon adapted to the floating thumb technique. There is little agreement on what is the 'proper' way so just find what works for you. www.studybass.com has some good interactive lessons and exercises. Definitely worth a look. Other than that just study the bassplayers and basslines that inspire you and find your own way and your own sound. Enjoy!

[ram]

Welcome to the forum... Congratulations, nice looking bass!

[cjj]

Yes, congrats on a beautiful Fireglo 4003 and welcome to the RRF! Wildwood is truly a class act, great people to work with!

[woodyng]

Welcome and Congrats on getting that gorgeous Fireglo! I never formally studied the techniques of bass playing,but naturally went to the floating thumb method on my own rather quickly. I love to play with a pick,and will usually do so on one or 2 songs per night,but overall find i am more comfortable playing fingerstyle. As with anything,the more you practice,the better you will be at figuring out what works best for you. When i hear how well Macca's and Squire's bass lines pop out with their pick playing,it makes me want to pursue that technique even more. Have fun with it!
Ps after 30 some years of playing mostly bass,i am buying a 6 string guitar to try to learn,so i am doing the reverse of your situation....

[skychurch]

Thanks for all the input, I really appreciate it. I checked out www.studybass.com and it's excellent. I also found scottsbasslessons.com which is also excellent. I think I have a lot of information to keep me busy for a while. I was practicing bass all weekend and it's great fun.

The Squier was actually quite nice for $300 but even after I set it up to Fender specs, I found that my hand/fingers hurt after about 5 minutes of playing. The strings seem to be harder to fret than the Rick. I'm 58 and my hands aren't as strong as they used to be. I can play the Ric for 3 hours and my hands don't hurt. I've been wanting a Rick for about 40 years so decided to bite the bullet and just get a great bass from the start. I always seem to start my sights out low and end up spending a lot more than I planned on. The wife was encouraging so I couldn't pass it up

Thanks for the suggestion on floating thumb method. Since I'm new to this, I think this is the direction I will go. I am thinking that this method would be easier if I remove the treble pickup cover. Do others using the floating thumb method find this to be the case?

Jim

[jps]

Thanks for the suggestion on floating thumb method. Since I'm new to this, I think this is the direction I will go. I am thinking that this method would be easier if I remove the treble pickup cover. Do others using the floating thumb method find this to be the case?

Jim

Welcome, Jim!

The pickup cover should not be a hindrance to any kind of playing style. Look to all the great bassist of the '60s in particular that used Rick basses with horseshoe pickups in them, like Macca and Chris Squire for two prime examples. For the first few years that I played bass I primarily used a pick but over time I started using my fingers more and rarely use a pick these days. I use a floating thumb approach as this, for one thing, creates less tension in the plucking hand, especially when doing string crossings; with your thumb anchored to one position the shape of your hand changes constantly while playing creating quite a bit of tension, not so when your thumb is relaxed. Another very useful thing is that the thumb can act as a mute to dampen the lower strings as you go up to the higher strings, just rest the back/side of your thumb on them. I also tend to use a lot of the string for plucking, sometimes going up to the 12 fret depending on the tone I am seeking particularly when playing fretless basses.

[skychurch]

Jeffrey,

Thanks for the pictures, that's very helpful.

Jim

[skychurch]

Ps after 30 some years of playing mostly bass,i am buying a 6 string guitar to try to learn,so i am doing the reverse of your situation....

Thanks woody, I appreciate the feedback.
If you're wanting to learn 6 string, I highly recommend a training course called Plane Talk.
http://www.thatllteachyou.com/

I taught guitar for many years and always found the CAGED system to be the best tool for learning your way around the guitar. Kirk Lorange came up with a method he calls Plane Talk. I call it the simplified CAGED method. My wife bought it for me a few years ago. At first read I thought that I already knew everything he was talking about but due to many recommendations from respected friends, I read it a second time. It was then that the light bulb went off. There's nothing new or revolutionary, it's just a relatively simplified method to learn the chord tones up and down the neck in a very logical way (which leads to the associated scales). It's not a "learn guitar in a week" method but the information is amazingly laid out.

Where the CAGED system talks about the 5 chord shapes, Plane Talk takes it down to 3 (because the shapes A and G, D and C are the basically the same). Anywho, I think it is a great way to learn the guitar neck. If you already know the chord tones, arpeggios and scales from bass, this should help to see those same ideas on all 6 strings.

If you're not interested, check out the CAGED system. It's all over the internet.

Jim

[8mileshigher]

Welcome aboard the RRF, Skychurch, and enjoy your new 4003 ! ! !

[antonius]

Thanks for the suggestion on floating thumb method. Since I'm new to this, I think this is the direction I will go. I am thinking that this method would be easier if I remove the treble pickup cover. Do others using the floating thumb method find this to be the case?

The pickup cover shouldn't really hinder your playing in any style. However, for me, the main reason to take off the pickup cover is that it gives you more tonal options, and I find that I often pluck/pick over that area as I like the feel and tone I get there. I like to be able to play anywhere between the bridge and the fretboard. It's a matter of personal taste, but it can't hurt to try it with it with it off. Conversely, I guess the cover gives you another place to anchor your hand if you need that when playing with pick. My 1975 4001 never had the cover when I bought it so I've never had to make that decision...