Learning Bass Guitar

Bucket · 24 Oct 2009 at 16:07

I've fancied picking up the bass for a while - mainly as i've got an Ibanez laying about doing nothing that I took off a mate on the cheap.

I'm a drummer, and i'm pretty bored of not having an instrument to play when i'm just chilling in my room at night, not wanting to disturb the neighbors.

I don't want to have lessons, never did for the drums either.

The main way i'll be going about things is just learning songs by tab, and practicing over and over until I get it really.

Now I understand that probably isn't the best way as it probably restricts me to not having the creative freedom and being able to improvise, but i'd like to do it that way to get down the basics.

So, any tips and DOs and DONTs when trying to learn and play bass?
Any song recommendations to learn?
I'll play pretty much any kind of music also, prefferably not metal!

I'm also not really interested in slap bass.

Thanks.

NickK · 24 Oct 2009 at 17:20

The One.

firthy15 · 24 Oct 2009 at 20:40

Haha that's brillliant

Bucket · 24 Oct 2009 at 20:59

NickK, I thank you.

Best video I have EVER seen. FUNK.

NickK · 24 Oct 2009 at 22:47

Your welcome

hehe

NickK · 24 Oct 2009 at 23:43

Personally I don't think you'll have much problem - you have the drums that give you the timing and groove.

simisker · 25 Oct 2009 at 00:29

NickK said:
[youtube John Entwistle Bass Solo]

Live bass solos: because your older fans will be grateful for the toilet break.

Bucket, you can't beat playing along with stuff - not only does it help you develop your ear, but it also builds up our chops. If you don't want to disturb the neighbours, get something that you can feed audio into, like a Pocket Pod [I've not used one, so it's not a specific recommendation] and some closed-back headphones for the necessary low-end oomph.

aslco · 25 Oct 2009 at 01:20

Heey i play the Bass and am pretty good apparantly according to my band who thought i'd been playing for years after i'd only played for 6 months when i first joined them.

I basically started with just tabs on the internet. There are some really easy basslines to start out with.

Kings of Leon - Use Somebody is one of the first basslines i learnt.... EAAASSYYYY

Bass always seemed a lot more natural and easy for me to pick up than the acoustic i had had before it.

Infact i had barely progressed with the Acoustic in 2 months, played bass straight for a week as i got addicted and then when i next picked up the acoustic i suddenly fealt like i could play!!

Bucket · 25 Oct 2009 at 09:24

Thanks guys.

Is there any sort of exercises/routines you can do that 'loosen' up your fingers so to speak?

Perhaps not the right term, but I mean to improve technique. As I know, it takes a long time, and it's a lot of practice from learning the drums without lessons, but i'll stick by it!

Any recommendations apart from Kings Of Leon?

Thanks for all the tips.