I read posts from new bass players that troubles me

[Godsbassman]

Bass playing is not that hard. Todays bass players have forgotten the role of a bass player and bass in music period. That is why so many new bass players are having hard times.

 To be a bass player, takes time its not that hard.
It's hard ,many new players are trying to play things someone that played for years have came up with or fine tuned.
When they first start playing.

1.New Bass Player should listen to Country Music. Pay close attention how the bass lines are simple and in the pocket.But Sound Great2.Learn to play ROOT NOTES Plus Root Note and OCtaves. WORK ON PLAYING ROOTS NOTES And OCtaves,There are many ways to play Root Notes. One way will be 1,4,5 LEARN EM
3.Learn Scale Mode
4.Learn Chords,many gospel song can be played by chords.
5.Speed is not everything. I was looking at a video with that Carol Kaye and Stanley Clark he was playing his heart out but she was playing Calm SLOW and was right with him and Sound just as good.
6.Stuff above are not in any order.I have lefted out other stuff to help but the above should get you started without getting you confused. Speed,Your own Grooves,Payday will come later. But it will take some work but NOT HARD just TIME.

[Dani_D]

In my case is not that I want to fly b4 I learn to walk I just do not know how to start...

I played clarinet for many years in jr and sr high...I then learn to play the sax (just be hear) and that was ez...

I then wanted to learn to play guitar...I am not an expert but I play for my worship team and I do ok...Guitar was some what EZ becasue once I learn the chords my stumming just kept getting better and better.

For some reason though, I just cant see to know where to start...I want to my the Bass Secrets Kit but I am not sure if it would be the best thing...I when to a music school but I was not happy with the format they used...

I am playing the I could find someone to mentor me thru the proccess...and I am sure god will provide...

Thanks to all of you guys that help around here...

[godsbassman2000]

Bass playing is not that hard. Todays bass players have forgotten the role of a bass player and bass in music period. That is why so many new bass players are having hard times.

 To be a bass player, takes time its not that hard.
It's hard ,many new players are trying to play things someone that played for years have came up with or fine tuned.
When they first start playing.

1.New Bass Player should listen to Country Music. Pay close attention how the bass lines are simple and in the pocket.But Sound Great2.Learn to play ROOT NOTES Plus Root Note and OCtaves. WORK ON PLAYING ROOTS NOTES And OCtaves,There are many ways to play Root Notes. One way will be 1,4,5 LEARN EM
3.Learn Scale Mode
4.Learn Chords,many gospel song can be played by chords.
5.Speed is not everything. I was looking at a video with that Carol Kaye and Stanley Clark he was playing his heart out but she was playing Calm SLOW and was right with him and Sound just as good.
6.Stuff above are not in any order.I have lefted out other stuff to help but the above should get you started without getting you confused. Speed,Your own Grooves,Payday will come later. But it will take some work but NOT HARD just TIME.

Get off of my toes. I made the mistake of not fully realizing that the bassplayers that I love to hear play put in time and effort to get to where they are. As Dani_D mentioned, had I had someone to mentor me I would be farther along than I am. But it's OK. I'm in for life (God willing). I hope that other newbies take heed to what you are saying and spend their time wiesly. Believe me, I speak as one who has made all the mistakes He's talking about. So for me, it's back to basics.


Thanks for keepin' it real!

[browntree]

I understand what Godsbassman is trying to say, but I don't believe you can make a blanket statement like that.  I've been playing for about 14 years, and it's hard to be the bass player I want to be.  I started on Sax in the 4th grade, and one could say that's not hard either.  Looking at it that way, what instrument is??  But I think it's the musicianship that's hard...technique...sound...meeting the standards you set for yourself that is hard.  We have to remember what seems like an easy concept for one is another's stumbling block. 

God Bless

[Godsbassman]

In my case is not that I want to fly b4 I learn to walk I just do not know how to start...

I played clarinet for many years in jr and sr high...I then learn to play the sax (just be hear) and that was ez...

I then wanted to learn to play guitar...I am not an expert but I play for my worship team and I do ok...Guitar was some what EZ becasue once I learn the chords my stumming just kept getting better and better.

For some reason though, I just cant see to know where to start...I want to my the Bass Secrets Kit but I am not sure if it would be the best thing...I when to a music school but I was not happy with the format they used...

I am playing the I could find someone to mentor me thru the proccess...and I am sure god will provide...

Thanks to all of you guys that help around here...

I'mnot talking about you. I'm talking about US as bass players. We have made a Art, harder because we want to be DIFFRENT and stand out. So we try to come up with doffrent ways to play just to do that.
Many have done that and have DIED WITH  THEIR SECRETS ALONE WITH THEIR SYTLES.
 And what I'm talking about is SOLO BASS PLAYING now that's hard.

But a Team Player bass player job are to fill in the CRACKS in the song,Channel your Inner feeling in your playing.
NOTE:IF YOUR GROOVE DON'T FEEL RIGHT TO YOU.IT WILL NOT SOUND RIGHT TO THEM.THAT IS HOW WE COME UP WITH OUR OWN SYTLES.FEELINGS

Listen at my Going up Yonder recording and Check out my tab for it in the Tab and Chords section up top. Simple and it will stand out because it's done mostly in the cracks of the song.
Hope this will help someone to get over the struggle
 

 I'm not good at playing the bass, but I'm willing to help anyone
 

[malthumb]

The moderator for this forum, Mysteryman, has posted some threads that are MUST DO for new bassist.

• The Blues Scale
• Practicing Triads
• 1,4,5 Progressions

Any good mentor would tell you to work on those.

If you are a beginner and don't know where to start, I'd STRONGLY suggest doing exercizes that help you learn where the notes are on your fingerboard and then doing the exercizes Mysteryman posted in those three threads.

Mysteryman - Maybe those threads are candidates for stickies??

Peace,

James

[Willie L. Terry Jr]

I feel you bassman...He had something on his heart and he let the young cats know what's up. 

Truth is...we older more seasoned player do the same thing still.  We try to learn chops that are above our skill level sometimes.  But that's the joy of it...  Yeah, beginners should start with the basics and I usually start my students off with the finger dexterity, learning 1 finger per fret so they move from note to note with little movement as possible.  That makes you quick but I also teached them scales; first major and minor scales and how to recognize them by ear, not just how to play them because the solo chops that Bassman is talking about that are so complicated come from having a combination of good ear training and theory/scales training.  The only way you can recognize a melodic minor, dorian b2 is that you hear them over and over and over.  I can pick any of the 7 relative modes out if I hear them or hear parts of them used in a run.  This helps me approach learning chops from a theory standpoint.  I would agree...that does not come over night.  Bass to me is a life long study.  I used to get fustrated easily when chops were hard to learn but now I just go with the flow.  There are months when I don't come up with anything new and there is times when the flood gates open and I got more chops than I know what to do with.  Now that's just gospel chops...

Soloing and Improv is a whole nother story.  That's derived from years of experience, years of theory...scales and modes, years of listening to different types of music and singers.

I get my solo chops from my sax player or sax players I listen to, from guitar players like George Benson or other jazz guitar players, from singers who have nice riffs like Kim Burrell, Christina Aguilara, Whitney Houston, Beyonce Knowles etc.  and last but not least and the most important of them all...I sing my own riffs and try to play them.  If you can learn to sing and play what you sing, you're just as tight with soloing as a sax player.  The challenge for us bassist is that our the message has to travel from our brains to our fingers where as a sax player's instrument is in his mouth and they are therefore able to transfer information a lot quicker.  The sax is more intimate in that the player uses his mouth.  The way a bass player bridges the gap between his fingers and his brain is by singing along with his soloing.  It's hard a first but it get's easier later.  When you get a good grasp on this year ear becomes solid and there's nothing you can't play.

Just my two cents.
T.J.

[Godsbassman]

I feel you bassman...He had something on his heart and he let the young cats know what's up. 

Truth is...we older more seasoned player do the same thing still.  We try to learn chops that are above our skill level sometimes.  But that's the joy of it...  Yeah, beginners should start with the basics and I usually start my students off with the finger dexterity, learning 1 finger per fret so they move from note to note with little movement as possible.  That makes you quick but I also teached them scales; first major and minor scales and how to recognize them by ear, not just how to play them because the solo chops that Bassman is talking about that are so complicated come from having a combination of good ear training and theory/scales training.  The only way you can recognize a melodic minor, dorian b2 is that you hear them over and over and over.  I can pick any of the 7 relative modes out if I hear them or hear parts of them used in a run.  This helps me approach learning chops from a theory standpoint.  I would agree...that does not come over night.  Bass to me is a life long study.  I used to get fustrated easily when chops were hard to learn but now I just go with the flow.  There are months when I don't come up with anything new and there is times when the flood gates open and I got more chops than I know what to do with.  Now that's just gospel chops...

Soloing and Improv is a whole nother story.  That's derived from years of experience, years of theory...scales and modes, years of listening to different types of music and singers.

I get my solo chops from my sax player or sax players I listen to, from guitar players like George Benson or other jazz guitar players, from singers who have nice riffs like Kim Burrell, Christina Aguilara, Whitney Houston, Beyonce Knowles etc.  and last but not least and the most important of them all...I sing my own riffs and try to play them.  If you can learn to sing and play what you sing, you're just as tight with soloing as a sax player.  The challenge for us bassist is that our the message has to travel from our brains to our fingers where as a sax player's instrument is in his mouth and they are therefore able to transfer information a lot quicker.  The sax is more intimate in that the player uses his mouth.  The way a bass player bridges the gap between his fingers and his brain is by singing along with his soloing.  It's hard a first but it get's easier later.  When you get a good grasp on this year ear becomes solid and there's nothing you can't play.

Just my two cents.
T.J.

What i'm saying is this. Not trying to knock anyone but what works for me or him may not work for you. Trying to force my style or someone else style to work for you,may Block your Style.
Always remember there will come a time in your music where you will struggle or you feel there's noting else left.
Treat that time like LIFE,there will come a time where you have to return to the Old HOOD or ROOT NOTE
 Other words you will have trouble coming up with a bass line for a song or can't understand how to play a line. Slap and Pop,Slides,Walking Bass Lines,Disco Bass Line or playing Fasst Riffs will not work for a song.
GO BACK TO PLAYING THE ROOT.ALWAYS WORK

[Andrzej]

Bass playing is not that hard. Todays bass players have forgotten the role of a bass player and bass in music period. That is why so many new bass players are having hard times.

I agree with you with the latter part of your statement, but to say 'Bass playing is not that hard' is quite flippant.  I have been playing bass for 13yrs and I have been making a professional career with it for over 5 of those years.  Playing the bass has been the most demanding instruments that I have ever played.  It's a very physical instrument and requires a lot of concentration as it is not a very forgiving when you make a mistake.  I had already been playing guitar very for 6yrs before I decided to switch to bass, so I already knew where all the notes were and I had already absorbed a lot of theory, so I had a headstart.  Despite my initial arrogance, I discovered very quickly that I couldn't play this instrument the same way as I could play guitar and my role as a musician was becoming very different.  It takes a lot of discipline to make sure that you hold all the other instruments together and that can be difficult to learn.  It's like speaking Spanish fluently, but using the wrong grammar.  The application of space and timing to play your grooves and meoldies doesn't come overnight.  You have to work hard at that.  Bass is traditionally not a lead instrument, so your theory application is very different, so regardless if you have had thorough experience playing another instrument before picking up the bass it feels like you are starting from the beginning again.  Anyone out there that can play piano or a wind instrument as well as bass will understand what I am talking about.  Theory for a first timer is always difficult...I don't care what you may say, you can't pursuade me otherwise on that.  How quickly an individual will learn and apply it from that point onwards is another thing, but that comes down to both practice and aptitude.  Everyone is different with regards to that.

If bass was so easy to play then everybody would be playing it.  Just look around and round up all the guitar players, drummers, keys players, horn players and bass players and split them into their groups.  I bet that the group of bassists will have the fewer numbers in their ranks.  Why?  Because bass is difficult to learn from the start and requires a lot of physical stamina from both arms and hands...that's the intial difficultly that put's people off.  I know this...I hear the same excuses every week from my drop out's at my Bass Therapy evenings.  I then find them 2-3 weeks later in the guitar or drum rooms!  Once you are off the ground then the world is your oyster, just like any other instrument.  Everyone learns at their own pace and want to take different directions to become the musician that they aspire to be.  Some paths are easy, others more difficult, but we all start to learn an instrument no matter what it might be for the challenge first and foremost.  If I wanted to play an 'easy to learn' instrument I would have bought a kazzoo or a samba whistle instead of my bass.

[jeremyr]

If bass was so easy to play then everybody would be playing it. 

that sums it up right there!!!!

[Godsbassman]

I agree with you with the latter part of your statement, but to say 'Bass playing is not that hard' is quite flippant.  I have been playing bass for 13yrs and I have been making a professional career with it for over 5 of those years.  Playing the bass has been the most demanding instruments that I have ever played.  It's a very physical instrument and requires a lot of concentration as it is not a very forgiving when you make a mistake.  I had already been playing guitar very for 6yrs before I decided to switch to bass, so I already knew where all the notes were and I had already absorbed a lot of theory, so I had a headstart.  Despite my initial arrogance, I discovered very quickly that I couldn't play this instrument the same way as I could play guitar and my role as a musician was becoming very different.  It takes a lot of discipline to make sure that you hold all the other instruments together and that can be difficult to learn.  It's like speaking Spanish fluently, but using the wrong grammar.  The application of space and timing to play your grooves and meoldies doesn't come overnight.  You have to work hard at that.  Bass is traditionally not a lead instrument, so your theory application is very different, so regardless if you have had thorough experience playing another instrument before picking up the bass it feels like you are starting from the beginning again.  Anyone out there that can play piano or a wind instrument as well as bass will understand what I am talking about.  Theory for a first timer is always difficult...I don't care what you may say, you can't pursuade me otherwise on that.  How quickly an individual will learn and apply it from that point onwards is another thing, but that comes down to both practice and aptitude.  Everyone is different with regards to that.

If bass was so easy to play then everybody would be playing it.  Just look around and round up all the guitar players, drummers, keys players, horn players and bass players and split them into their groups.  I bet that the group of bassists will have the fewer numbers in their ranks.  Why?  Because bass is difficult to learn from the start and requires a lot of physical stamina from both arms and hands...that's the intial difficultly that put's people off.  I know this...I hear the same excuses every week from my drop out's at my Bass Therapy evenings.  I then find them 2-3 weeks later in the guitar or drum rooms!  Once you are off the ground then the world is your oyster, just like any other instrument.  Everyone learns at their own pace and want to take different directions to become the musician that they aspire to be.  Some paths are easy, others more difficult, but we all start to learn an instrument no matter what it might be for the challenge first and foremost.  If I wanted to play an 'easy to learn' instrument I would have bought a kazzoo or a samba whistle instead of my bass.

It's not hard as we make it,when we try to stand out or be diffrent. Bass players can play a song so many way. We can drop in and out of the song,we can play alone with the Chorus only,we can play a slit second behind the lead,we can play only the chord changes or busy ect.
 Bass player should be the Coolest Person in the Bass. When you see a Sweaty Bass Player, he or she are out of shape or playing Way TO BUSY.
 Wait Wait! Don't shoot the messenger just Gag ME 

[B3Wannabe]

I've been thinking about this post for the past few days, and you're really right. I never thought of the bass as a complex instrument, but I realized one thing....

It doesn't take forever to get your playing to a professional level. We look at guys and say I can't do that, that dude has been playing for 45years!...but the truth is, it's not how long you've been playing but how much you practice. I've seen people pick up an instrument, piano, bass, drums and within one year, you'd think they've been playing for 10! The problem that most of us have, me included, is that we don't practice enough, or we practice poorly--and this just get's harder with age. It's true that if you're young, you have all the time in the world to practice, but once you get older and get a family, you have to fit your practices in. In my opinion, someone that has the time to REALLY practice, meaning 6-8 hours a day, you can advance to a professional level of playing within a year or two...four at the most. It doesn't matter what instrument you play. Most of it is just teaching your brain and conditioning your body to the movements. Learning to improvise is a small part of it, because when you improvise, you're using bits of patterns that you already know, just pieced together to form something that seems random to an outsider. It's all about learning the patterns.

[Godsbassman]

I've been thinking about this post for the past few days, and you're really right. I never thought of the bass as a complex instrument, but I realized one thing....

It doesn't take forever to get your playing to a professional level. We look at guys and say I can't do that, that dude has been playing for 45years!...but the truth is, it's not how long you've been playing but how much you practice. I've seen people pick up an instrument, piano, bass, drums and within one year, you'd think they've been playing for 10! The problem that most of us have, me included, is that we don't practice enough, or we practice poorly--and this just get's harder with age. It's true that if you're young, you have all the time in the world to practice, but once you get older and get a family, you have to fit your practices in. In my opinion, someone that has the time to REALLY practice, meaning 6-8 hours a day, you can advance to a professional level of playing within a year or two...four at the most. It doesn't matter what instrument you play. Most of it is just teaching your brain and conditioning your body to the movements. Learning to improvise is a small part of it, because when you improvise, you're using bits of patterns that you already know, just pieced together to form something that seems random to an outsider. It's all about learning the patterns.

Thank You, Wannabe on your thoughts. I just been playing the bass about a year on Fathers Day. It took TIME was not that hard. TIME TIME TIME when you start thinking about HARD your already have defeated yourself or put up road blocks.
 

[Browntiplocs]

I've been thinking about this post for the past few days, and you're really right. I never thought of the bass as a complex instrument, but I realized one thing....

It doesn't take forever to get your playing to a professional level. We look at guys and say I can't do that, that dude has been playing for 45years!...but the truth is, it's not how long you've been playing but how much you practice. I've seen people pick up an instrument, piano, bass, drums and within one year, you'd think they've been playing for 10! The problem that most of us have, me included, is that we don't practice enough, or we practice poorly--and this just get's harder with age. It's true that if you're young, you have all the time in the world to practice, but once you get older and get a family, you have to fit your practices in. In my opinion, someone that has the time to REALLY practice, meaning 6-8 hours a day, you can advance to a professional level of playing within a year or two...four at the most. It doesn't matter what instrument you play. Most of it is just teaching your brain and conditioning your body to the movements. Learning to improvise is a small part of it, because when you improvise, you're using bits of patterns that you already know, just pieced together to form something that seems random to an outsider. It's all about learning the patterns.

I couldn't agree with you more.......

[XtromatriX]

Practice, practice, practice!! I agree. I've seen people who've been playing a long time who don't practice much and they stay one place, but on the other hand I've seen people who have been playing for six months but seem like they've been playing much longer.

[Dani_D]

Practice, practice, practice!! I agree. I've seen people who've been playing a long time who don't practice much and they stay one place, but on the other hand I've seen people who have been playing for six months but seem like they've been playing much longer.

Practice? Are you talking about practice?....sorry I am from philly so this is close to me...