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Location: Montana | Hi, I'm considering buying a bass and learning to play and I'd like to hear of others experiences and advice. I'm a solid beginner/intermediate at guitar and my motivation to play bass is primarily to play with my son and his buddies who all play guitar much better than I. But my interest is still primarily guitar so I don't want to take away too much of my guitar time learning either. So what do you think, can a guitarist get to a playable level on bass fairly quickly? Any advice on buying a beginner's bass?
Thanks for your advice!
Scott |
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Location: Upper Left USA | for about $350 you can get something shiny at Guitar Center, etc.
But if you want some raw Four-on-the-Floor power look for the Magnums here for a little bit more.
I am considering selling a PF Proto (thru neck, US made, Big pickups in the right place).
I would also take a look at Paul Dowthwaite's site I have listed below! Great history. |
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Location: Campbell River, British Columbia | A - Always buy the best instrument you can afford.
B - Bass is a percussion instrument, not a melodic instrument. Your new best buddy in the band is the drummer, it's the two of you against the rest that makes people dance.
C - See Standing In The Shadows Of Motown. Pay attention to anything about James Jamerson.
D - Play fewer notes, more rhythms. |
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Location: East Tennessee | Originally posted by fillhixx:
...Your new best buddy in the band is the drummer....
I guess that beats having the Banjo player as your best friend.
BTW: Good advice about James Jamerson. |
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Location: Capital District, NY, USA Minor Outlying Islands | Any advice on buying a beginner's bass? See above. Pick your combo first, get a compressor, get the best you can afford. Outside of the band context, bass is boring (for me), why not play a mando? |
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Location: Sunshine State, Australia | Start from day one using your fingers, not a pick.
It'll feel awkward at first, but pay of in bucketloads in a very short time.
DO NOT wimp out and go back to using a pick. |
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| You're my hero muzz. |
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Location: NJ | Originally posted by fillhixx:
B - Bass is a percussion instrument, not a melodic instrument. .
. stanley clarke
jaco pastorious
victor wooten
bootsy collins
jack bruce
john entwistle
les claypool
jack cassady
etc etc etc would probably all disagree |
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Location: Jet City | Al, you forgot Stu Hamm, Billy Sheehan, Steve Harris, and Cliff Burton |
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Location: Alberta, Canada | All these guys mentioned, while "very good" musicians, are front men. They are not filling the niche that most bass players do.
Good bass playing can be as simple or complex as you feel the need to make it.
Fillhixx, was spot on with his comment.
I'd recommend you find a seasoned bass player to assist you in finding a decent instrument. Explain your budget limitations and have him/her work with in it. They'll be able to give the yay/nay on whether it will meet your needs and not be a boat anchor you'll regret buying.
Enjoy the quest and the journey. Bass can be as fun as acoustic but only in an environment where you can play with a group. I find it very boring without accompanyment. Playing in a group will speed your learning alot. |
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Location: New Hampshire, USA | Originally posted by fillhixx:
Bass is a percussion instrument, not a melodic instrument. Cue up Something by the Beatles on a good pair of headphones, listen to just the bass, and say that again. I dare ya!
;) |
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Location: NJ | also add
geddy lee
berry oakley
chris squire
tony levin
chuck rainey
flea
carole kaye
will lee
charlie mingus
john paul jones |
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Posts: 10583
Location: NJ | Originally posted by colt357:
All these guys mentioned, while "very good" musicians, are front men. They are not filling the niche that most bass players do.
Good bass playing can be as simple or complex as you feel the need to make it.
Fillhixx, was spot on with his comment.
strongly disagree
jaco was not the frontman in weather report
nor was stanley clarke in return to forever
daltry was the front man in the who
george clinton in parliament funkadelic
grace slick in jefferson airplane
plant in led zep
see my point?
the idea that a bass player just plays
boom boom boom
to the down beat is boring and not very musical.
sure that is what most bass players do but why be most bass players??? |
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Location: south east Michigan | Or Nowhere Man |
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Location: Melbourne Australia | You can throw in the driving rythms of John McVie |
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Location: Alberta, Canada | Al, I see your point and if the original poster was a seasoned bass player I would give no argument. For someone just starting out, I think Fillhixx's advice to follow the drummer is sound, provided it is a good drummer. Basics first, is all.
I think we are just chasing different dogs. Frontmen was perhaps a poor choice of words. These players all took the instrument to a different level.
Jaco is a pretty daunting example to give a person who is just wanting to take up the instrument, and I felt might disscourage someone wanting to take it up. Although it does demonstrate what can be achieved, and could be inspiring. |
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Location: Indiana | Sometimes when playing , you will will find it more important what you don't play than what you do play. Also, I have been playing for 40+ plus years and still use a pick 90% of the time. I really have found no advantage of fingers over pick or vice versa. As far as beginner bass, for not much more $$$$ you can get a great bass that will be all you will ever need. I have around 30 basses. Several high dollar ones(Alembic,Steinberger,Modulus etc.) Cannot honestly say that they are any better than my G&L SB2 (my personal fave)that I have all of $300 in. All the advice above also very good. Wish I had got a Magnum when I had the chance.
Bill |
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Location: Capital District, NY, USA Minor Outlying Islands | I think fil was trying to make a point by exagerating ...
To me the bass player, at least when starting out, has to keep locked to the rhythm and provide the chordal bed. After that comes the gravey like stanley clark's stuff. For a beginner, think Ramones ... |
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Location: Omaha, NE | All this hair splitting misses the point: If you have a bass and a kick drum, you've got all you really need. Everything else is icing on the cake. |
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Location: Cherry Hill, NJ | I have a lot of respect for good bass players, since I've added bass tracks on home recordings. I'm not a bug fan of bass players who try and play the bass like a lead guitar, or bang the sh*t out of the strings. Some of the most tasteful bass players are Paul McCartney and John Entwistle, and all the bass players that have appeared on Steely Dan albums. Do not try to play the bass like a guitar. Use your fingers, not your thumb. |
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Location: Soquel, CA | As a seasoned bass player, I highly reccomend something from the Rondo line.
http://www.rondomusic.com/bassguitars4.html
Cheap, incredibly efficient, and it gets the job done.
Also, be sure to check out Talkbass.com. You'll find all the help you need and then some! |
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Location: Sunshine State, Australia | Originally posted by beatlejuice53:
I have been playing for 40+ plus years and still use a pick 90% of the time. You've made that choice.
For someone just starting out they should ONLY use their fingers until they're comfortable with it. Then, later, they have a choice whether to use a pick or not. If they don't force themselves to use their fingers now, they won't get that choice. |
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Location: Keepin' It Weird in Portland, OR | Not really a Bass story, but I learned to play guitar with a pick.
Had I learned to use my fingers instead, I would probably be be able to finger-pick now.
Anybody can use a pick... Go for the fingers first. |
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Location: Budd Lake, NJ | I've got a 5-string Steinberger cheapie that was about $350.00 5 or 6 years ago; it's light, does what I need it to do, and I haven't regretted getting it. (I do run it through a Zoom processor to give it some more mojo.)
I had the opportunity to play an Ovation bass years ago, and loved it--but the thing was pretty heavy around your neck after awhile.
Any decently-equipped music store should have a selection of beginner bass books that have teaching cds with them. They run in the area of $20.00, give or take.
--Karen |
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Location: Sunshine State, Australia | Stick with it Arthur. |
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Location: Flushing, MI | After putting up with, and firing a lot of bassists that do that "boopity bippity bop" thing over and over non-stop, I've come to REALLY appreciate the rare bassist that unashamedly uses a plectrum - God bless them all! My current bassist uses plectrum only.
It's a matter of personal preference. I started playing bass in my moms church at age 10, using a pick. Today when I play bass, it's 99.9 % fingers or thumb - a lot of thumb actually (going for a specific tone). I say go with whatever is most comfortable with you. Each has a unique tone.
As for spending time learning bass vs. guitar, I always viewed the two side by side. As a kid, whenever I was learning something on the guitar, it was important for me to figure out what to do with the bass line as well. The same thing with the drums too, but I'm not a very good drummer. |
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Location: Florida Central Gulf Coast | Originally posted by Old Man Arthur:
Anybody can use a pick... Ya really know how to hurt a guy... 
:D |
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Location: 6 String Ranch | learn how to play guitar first. then bass.
Everyone knows that.
How many bass players does it take to change a light bulb? Only one, but the guitar player has to show him how to do it. |
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Location: Latitude 39.56819, Longitude -105.080066 | I played bass for 20+ years and used both a pic and fingers. It really depends on the sound you are looking for. Since we played a lot of progrock and our original stuff tended to lean that way, I used a pick the majority of the time.
You can't get a Squire or Entwistle sound using your fingers. Some may disagree but they are wrong :cool: . |
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Location: Campbell River, British Columbia | Originally posted by alpep:
Originally posted by fillhixx:
B - Bass is a percussion instrument, not a melodic instrument. .. stanley clarke
jaco pastorious
victor wooten
bootsy collins
jack bruce
john entwistle
les claypool
jack cassady
etc etc etc would probably all disagree
In the meantime, he won't be competing with the lead player and singer for the melody line.
I am currently helping a friend learn upright bass and that's his major hangup. Most of what he hears in a song is the melody line, he plays along with that, and the rhythm of the song gets lost.
I play with a pick sometimes later in the night when my hands are tired. It's only become an issue as I get older. |
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Location: NJ | guess what.
even a drum can be a melodic instrument.
it is all in the player.
sure play to the root and 5th lock in with the drummer and you got it.
but what I object to is the use of "blanket statements" they always bothered me. Perhaps blame it on the teacher in me. I don't know.
I worked with a woman once who would come out with stupid stuff like "American's believe" and I would say but I don't agree or believe that. And she would stop dead in her tracks. By the time the end of the school year happened she would start to say "American's except Alex believe" kinda ludicrious but it illustrates my point. |
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Location: Campbell River, British Columbia | I agree. All blanket statements are false.
Sounds like the start of a beer fueled agreement to me....... 
However; like teaching phonics and spelling, if you have good fundamentals you will never go wrong.
I used to cringe at all the ski instructors teaching beginners to snowplow so that, years later when they're out of control at high speed and revert-in-panic to basic training....they cross their tips, throw a ski, and maybe tear a knee or hip joint if they don't pile into a tree first.
Build on basics. Jam with Jaco after you've got the beat in your blood. |
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Location: 6 String Ranch | I saw Entwhistle using his fingers most of the time |
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Location: Lake Hiawatha, New Jersey | Originally posted by fillhixx:
All blanket statements are false.
Isn't that a blanket statement?
;) |
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Location: Boise, Idaho | I sang bass. The bass is the foundation for the melody and harmonies. That was when I was a teenager and wanted to play and sing lead.
Drummers are the ones that can't carry a tune or read music, but, hopefully, have a sense of rhythm. I didn't say anything about a blanket there. |
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Location: Indiana | Hopefully this will come off as disagreeing agreeably...
First, "Drummers are the ones that can't carry a tune or read music". While I've certainly known many drummer's who couldn't sing, most professional's read very well. In fact, I've worked with many drummer's who had a deeper knowledge of music theory than the rest of the band.
As for the pick verses finger conversation, we're talking two distinctly different styles/sounds here--- not right or wrong. While playing with a pick is definitely in the minority in this era of bassists, there are still times when it is THE sound needed for a particular track.
Remember, Carol Kay played on literally thousands of hit records, commercials, movie and TV scores... all with a pick.
Today's 2 cents from the peanut gallery. |
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Location: Boise, Idaho | If my daughter ever dumps her drummer boyfriend my attitude might change, but my sarcasm probably won't. |
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Location: SoCal | Originally posted by Mauvais Beal:
I saw Entwhistle using his fingers most of the time Yeah, but did he always know what key he was playing in?
You guys should see and hear Keller play bass when he gets wound up. Pretty damned good and very melodic..... |
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Location: Atlanta, GA. | Lead bass with Bass pick.
Rythym bass with fingers.
How's 'zat? |
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Location: 6 String Ranch | Moody, John actually said that. |
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Location: Campbell River, British Columbia | Slap and pop takes both thumb and fingers.
But this thread was for someone starting out.
I stand by my position as 'stand alone' information
though almost everyone's point of view has some
validity. (Except Marks view on drummers, but he
has no perspective on the matter at the moment.) |
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Location: Montana | Thanks for the feedback! I think I'll go for it. So I'm assuming that the place to start for a beginner is a 4 string electric rather than the 4+ stringed or acoustic/electric? I've never seen or heard one of the acoustic/electric types played but I can't really see the advantage as I'll be playing with electric guitars. And I assume that more strings just makes a wider neck and more complexity for a beginner. |
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Location: Sunshine State, Australia | Some of you are missing my point. I never said fingers are better than pick, and my input was not intentded to provoke debate about which method is better. I use both methods too - depends on the song and what 'feel' I'm striving for.
My point is, he's learning. Using a pick is easy, let's face it. We can all use a pick. Using individual fingers is harder.
All I'm saying is, while you're learning, just use your fingers. When you feel comfortable/competent, use whatever string striking method suits the song/style you're playing.
Learning fingerstyle (guitar OR bass) is difficult and time consuming. No-one needs to 'learn' how to use a pick. Before you all jump on me with examples and contradictions, remember we're talking about beginners here. |
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Location: Sunshine State, Australia | Scott, don't start off with an acoustic bass. You'll more than likely get drowned out by the acoustic guitars if you're jammin' and need some amplification - just to be heard.
So, if you're gonna need a practice amp just to be heard, you may as well buy a regular electric bass to start with.
My suggestion, without knowing what style of music you're into, would be a traditional 4 string. I had a 5 string once and only used it on 2 songs.
To get back to one of your original questions, "can a guitarist get to a playable level on bass fairly quickly?"
Absolutely!  |
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Location: Montana | OK, I know that this is not the "for sale" section but there's lots of bass players/owners on this thread so here goes. I have a very beautiful hand drum of this variety:
http://www.joyfuldrums.com/
Anyone have a playable bass that they would be interested in a trade or partial trade for a hand drum? |
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Location: enid, ok | Man! No love for Percy Jones... |
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Location: East Wenatchee, WA | I taught myself bass in the 8th grade on a beat up cheap electric with the top 2 strings broken...thus....a four string bass.
I am not by any stretch anything more than an intermediate bass player, but still consider it my primary instrument.
I am a HUGE Carvin fan which is no secret, and Carvin basses are possibly the most bang for the buck you can find. Especially four string older versions.
I also owned a Washburn ABT B100 for many years and found it to be a decent instrument and you can get them in the $200 range used.
My LB75P was picked up on the bay for $675 and it is a gorgeous all walnut number.
You ask how to start playing bass. First lesson for casual playing is to remember that the RIGHT chord is the bass cord when presented like this D/F#. Next lesson is yes....same bar chord fingerings work on the bottom four notes of a chord for bass applications. Finally, try to move away from using your thumb on the bass, but rather, your index and middle finger for your picking. Many folks moving from guitar to bass, use only their thumb to pluck the strings...break that habit early. Okay to use the thumb, but fingers will give you more flexibility as you expand.
Again...I am no expert and perhaps this post proves that, but hopefully all input is welcome. |
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| Originally posted by alpep:
the idea that a bass player just plays
boom boom boom
to the down beat is boring and not very musical.
sure that is what most bass players do but why be most bass players??? Because that's what bass does. It is a support instrument and as someone wisely pointed out, a percussive instrument - a powerful one at that.
Even in the most skilled hands, ie those of Pastorious, Wooten, et al, lead bass is interesting for about 30 seconds. |
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Learning to play bass?