Somewhat new bass player.

[davidpwns]

Well I've been playing bass for about half a year,and I'd say I'm decent.

Its just I've never had lessons or even really bought but one lesson book,and just wanted to know general things and/or things to practice to become a better bass player (i.e songs to practice,fingering techniques,etc).

Any tips?

(Also I currently have a Dean 4-string Playmate bass,its kind of shitty but It's all I can afford right now.)

[Pelican Man]

Get lessons. Even if you think you're pretty good, lessons will help a lot. A teacher will be able to show you proper technique.

Slapping and popping are pretty good to learn, and it's also a good way to show off. Tapping as well, but it isn't so important, as most basslines won't utilize it, but it's still fun to learn.

Learning theory will help you out a lot in improvising basslines and runs, and make songwriting a lot easier.

Lastly, practice for at least one straight hour a day, every day. If you want to keep improving, it's important that you keep playing. If you get to a point where you think you're "good enough", then stop playing as much, you'll gradually get shit.

Ooh, learn scales, too.

[BassBastard]

Everything Pelican Man said.

Then-
Warm up with stretching exercises. Lear to play finger style before relying on a pick for speed. Take time to learn scales at every position on the neck. The pattern for the "C" scale will be the same starting on the A string in the third fret and the 15th. Find the same scale on the E string etc. (8th fret)

Focus on tone and consistency before speed.

Been subscribed to the magazine for about ten years, the web sites offer a ton of info and lessons.
www.bassplayer.com
www.bassplayer.tv

[davidpwns]

Thanks,appreciate the tips.

Oh,I have a question.Should I learn sheet music as well as tabs or could I survive simply on tabs?

[Greger]

Learn Sheet music, it'll help you progress even further and will improve your ear eventually, tabs are often pretty wrong too.

[BassBastard]

I agree with Greger. Also, learn Piano. Just the basics. Then you can reference both Clefs while writing/learning bass lines.

[Pelican Man]

Oh,I have a question.Should I learn sheet music as well as tabs or could I survive simply on tabs?

You could survive quite easily with just tabs, these days it's often difficult to FIND sheet music for some songs, yet tabs for that same song would be everywhere.

BUT, learning how to read and write sheet music will help your musicianship a great deal, so it's worth the time you'll invest, if you choose to do so.

[Spang53]

I suggest learning scales everyway possible. Learn how to play every scale two octaves four different wyas each and you'll know where all the notes are on the neck. learn scale modes to. there are seven modes to each scale. all a mode is is starting a scale on a different note. Like starting a C scale on a D. If you learn all the modes it'll help. Also listen to good bass players, like VIctor Wooten, Marcus Miller, Les Claypool, and CLiff Burton.

[TheTacticalBadger]

If your looking for basslines to learn, I would recommend something funky like Parliament or maybe even James Brown. Great grooves and will give you a feel for a genre you might not learn otherwise. You can carry funk techniques over to other styles too.

[WoeStorm]

It's easy to find a dozen tabs for the same song and have it be different every time. Go for sheet music, it's nice and reliable.

[SourChicken]

I played piano for 4 years, then switched to bass, and played off of tabs consistently for about a year. Afterwards, I basically forgot how to read sheet music.
Tabs are the devil. If you want to learn to play something, then start learning it by ear (easier said than done, but worth the effort). Find the same scale on the E string etc. (8th fret)
Isn't it the 7th?

[FloydFan]

About tabs, i have a program, Guitar Pro, which lets you get online tabs from websites like 911 tabs and ultimate-guitar, but they show the tabs in standard and tab form. You can play the tabs in midi and play along to get the rythm. You can also write your own music with the software. Its pretty kickass.

[tank0ticz]

If you do get lessons, for christ sakes read the music not the tabs. That way, once you get better you can join your school band (I'm assuming your in school). It sounds gay but it will help you ALOT.

[exetra]

Isn't it the 7th?

7th is B.

Learn to read both tabs and sheet music. Tabs are useful and widely available but they are not convention, if you walk into a job as a session musician you'll be given sheet music more often than anything else.

[SourChicken]

Everything Pelican Man said.

Then-
Warm up with stretching exercises. Lear to play finger style before relying on a pick for speed. Take time to learn scales at every position on the neck. The pattern for the "C" scale will be the same starting on the A string in the third fret and the 15th. Find the same scale on the E string etc. (8th fret)


Isn't it the 7th?

7th is B.

The 7th fret of A is E
The 7th chord of A is B

So we were both right, kinda.

But that exercise is kind of bogus, in my most excellent opinion (TWO BILL AND TED REFERENCES IN ONE! You're welcome.)

[The_Solipsist]

The 7th fret of A is E
The 7th chord of A is B

So we were both right, kinda.

But that exercise is kind of bogus, in my most excellent opinion (TWO BILL AND TED REFERENCES IN ONE! You're welcome.)

Wait, wait, wait. Which 7th chord?

The 7th interval of A major is G#, A minor is G.

B would be the 2nd interval in both, and it'd be a diminished chord in A minor and a minor chord in A major.

[exetra]

Find the same scale on the E string etc. (8th fret)

Talking about playing C scales. The 8th fret on the E string is C, so the 7th is B.

[SourChicken]

Yeah but he was talking about the A string

And I accidentally went forward in the scale instead of back...

[exetra]

Find the same scale on the E string etc.

... And the E string too, apparently.

[Pelican Man]

Oh shut up SourChicken. You were wrong, just admit it and stop arguing a point no one cares about.

[SourChicken]

Okay, now I understood what he was talking about
I thought he meant E scales, that's why I said 7th fret on the A string
I got it wrong, I'm sorry.