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May 2008
Posts: 160
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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December 2003
Posts: 13996
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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November 2005
Posts: 4832
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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December 2004
Posts: 4394
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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May 2003
Posts: 4389
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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August 2005
Posts: 3736
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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November 2004
Posts: 4413
| You're my hero muzz. |
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December 2001
Posts: 10583
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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December 2006
Posts: 6996
Location: Jet City | Al, you forgot Stu Hamm, Billy Sheehan, Steve Harris, and Cliff Burton |
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September 2006
Posts: 713
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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April 2008
Posts: 288
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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December 2001
Posts: 10583
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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December 2001
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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September 2003
Posts: 9301
Location: south east Michigan | Or Nowhere Man |
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September 2008
Posts: 757
Location: Melbourne Australia | You can throw in the driving rythms of John McVie |
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September 2006
Posts: 713
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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May 2004
Posts: 383
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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May 2003
Posts: 4389
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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November 2005
Posts: 1126
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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January 2004
Posts: 627
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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October 2008
Posts: 7
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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August 2005
Posts: 3736
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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September 2006
Posts: 10777
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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April 2006
Posts: 1017
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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August 2005
Posts: 3736
Location: Sunshine State, Australia | Stick with it Arthur. |
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Learning to play bass?
