It is currently Mon Mar 16, 2020 4:40 pm

All times are UTC - 7 hours



Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 10 posts ] 
Author Message
Post subject: I don't know how to play the bass!
Posted: Mon Jul 13, 2009 4:45 pm
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist
User avatar

Joined: Mon Jul 13, 2009 10:44 am
Posts: 22
yeah, I know, im a n00b. but heres my story:

I signed up to volunteer at my library, to teach some kids how to play the guitar. Ive been playing guitar for a couple ofyears now, and Ive played a few shows here and there. I also play the violin. It would be great if guitar kids actually signed up for the program though! I now have to teach a young kid how to play the bass.
basically what i know from experience (and by experience, i mean talking to bass players at shows and stuff) is that dont put your thumb on the neck almost parallel to it. basically how to hold a guitar. and i know that its E A D G, the reverse of the violin.

now, this kid wants to learn ACDC. i would love to comply, but i dont listen to ACDC. i listen to SRV, Buddy Guy, John Mayer, Clapton, Trucks, etcetcetc, guitar people. not bass people. i do appreciate bassists! dont get me wrong! you guys put the thump n' funk in music. without you, my solos would be weird and totally un-organized.

that being said- PLEASE HELP ME! WHAT DO I TEACH HIM!?

i know how to read tab, and i use ultimate-guitar.com to get tabs for myself. ive printed out a few ACDC tabs to teach this kid-- he is a complete beginner (although he apparantly used to play a horn of somesort) and i guess i could teach him that. but i would love to teach him something that he could really use, and practice... some scales maybe?

my first scale that i really learned on the guitar was the Am Penatonic Scale... do basses have any equivalent? what was the first thing you learned on bass? help me out guys!


Top
Profile
Fender Play Winter Sale 2020
Post subject:
Posted: Tue Jul 14, 2009 5:48 pm
Offline
Professional Musician
Professional Musician
User avatar

Joined: Tue Nov 27, 2007 12:52 pm
Posts: 2588
Location: Out there on the road
IMO Basic fingering and scales would be a good start.
Also learning easy, simple songs to maintain interest.
Remember, Rome was not built in one day.
A few websites to help you out......

http://www.studybass.com/

http://www.activebass.com/

http://www.cyberfretbass.com/

http://www.adamnitti.com/index.shtml

http://www.bass-lessons.com/index.html

http://www.dmanlamius.com/

http://www.brotherdave.com/

A great beginner play-along book that I always recommend:
http://www.amazon.com/Leonard-Bass-Meth ... 0793563836


Top
Profile
Post subject:
Posted: Tue Jul 14, 2009 6:01 pm
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist
User avatar

Joined: Mon Jul 13, 2009 10:44 am
Posts: 22
THANK YOU! 42 views and only one reply... thanks! thank you so much!!!!!!!!


this is EXACTLY what I needed!
(or thought i needed, lol!)

but seriously! KUDOS!


Top
Profile
Post subject:
Posted: Tue Jul 14, 2009 6:11 pm
Offline
Professional Musician
Professional Musician
User avatar

Joined: Tue Nov 27, 2007 12:52 pm
Posts: 2588
Location: Out there on the road
No Problem. :D

BTW Welcome to the Forum.


Top
Profile
Post subject:
Posted: Tue Jul 14, 2009 9:28 pm
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist

Joined: Sun Aug 24, 2008 3:35 pm
Posts: 8
Teach him Mary Had a Little Lamb by SRV. That will keep his interest up. ;)


Top
Profile
Post subject:
Posted: Thu Jul 16, 2009 1:58 am
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist

Joined: Sat May 30, 2009 3:39 pm
Posts: 13
Hi,(':lol:')
I highly suggest getting the DVD called introduction to Bass Guitar for beginners by Bert Casey. You can get at most music stores if you cant find
it there you can go online to www.cvls.com . It's a great DVD for anyone wanting to learn to play the Bass.
Good Luck!!!!!!! :).


Top
Profile
Post subject:
Posted: Thu Jul 16, 2009 3:54 pm
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist

Joined: Sun Aug 24, 2008 3:35 pm
Posts: 8
There is also a lot of instruction on youtube. You may have to search around but it is there. A lot of is advnced or moderate in difficulty. Another issue is you need some sort of base knowledge to be able to do what is taught or not develop bad habits. I know others who have had no lessons, like me, and play fine but systematic instruction helps bad habits not occur. They are difficult to break once you get used to playing with them.

Good luck


Top
Profile
Post subject:
Posted: Fri Jul 17, 2009 9:54 am
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist
User avatar

Joined: Mon Jul 13, 2009 10:44 am
Posts: 22
swipter wrote:
There is also a lot of instruction on youtube. You may have to search around but it is there. A lot of is advnced or moderate in difficulty. Another issue is you need some sort of base knowledge to be able to do what is taught or not develop bad habits. I know others who have had no lessons, like me, and play fine but systematic instruction helps bad habits not occur. They are difficult to break once you get used to playing with them.

Good luck



first off, thanks everyone who posted, its been helping alot!

and ive been making sure this kid doesnt mess up his fretting hand postition, that seems to be his main problem


Top
Profile
Post subject:
Posted: Thu Jul 30, 2009 1:20 am
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist
User avatar

Joined: Wed Jul 30, 2008 8:42 am
Posts: 18
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Believe it or not, the "Idiots" and "Dummy" books for Bass Guitar are a pretty good way to learn. You should look at those and the "Everything Bass Guitar" book. I would also recommend "The Bass Deck" as a teaching tool. It's kind of like a deck of cards shaped like a bass neck which splays out with the all of the scales and patterns you need to know, along with exercises to practice.


Top
Profile
Post subject:
Posted: Sat Aug 01, 2009 12:27 am
Offline
Rock Star
Rock Star
User avatar

Joined: Thu Aug 07, 2008 3:12 pm
Posts: 6355
Location: Albemarle, NC
Ditto on the BASS DECK cards that AKAGROUCHO mentioned.

Thanks ZOD for recommending my site. The precise link to the online education index on my site is:

http://brotherdave.com/add_ed.htm

The Carol Kaye introductory materials are first rate, and way different from anything else out here. She really knows what she's doing.

And yes, the DUMMY book is way better than I thought it would be.

I suggest the following course of action:

1. Get the kid playing TAB of songs they know and love to keep their interest up, but YOU MUST emphasize to them that playing TAB is not the path to success as a bassist, but is merely a way to have fun quickly and easily. Tab is sort of like a "Fun With Dick And Jane" primer compared to the meat and potatoes of bass theory which would compare more to "War & Peace."

2. For real success they must buckle down and learn their scales, learn to read music, learn different rhythms, etc...which they'll never learn from TAB. However it is important they still have FUN by playing their favorite songs to keep their interest up at least some of the time.

3. Encourage them to broaden their horizons into other genres of music.

4. Once they have the scales, modes, rhythms down, encourage them to develop their own individual style. All great bassists have their own signature style.


Top
Profile
Display posts from previous:  Sort by  
Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 10 posts ] 

All times are UTC - 7 hours

Fender Play Winter Sale 2020

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 2 guests


You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum

Search for:
Jump to: