Lessons

[psalms_37]

Hello all,
   I am looking for a bassist located in the Los Angeles area to help me learn the structure of gospel music. I play for my church the way I learn how to play songs is by following whatever the keyboardist bass hand is playing. Im also open to doing lessons via web cam. Please help me enhance my praise. Thanks

[Torch7]

That's exactly the way I got started.  Following fingers.

I am not in the LA area... but I have a few of questions for you. 

Does the pad chords with their left hand, or actually run lines?
Do you understand Scales and Harmony?
Do you guys have a time set aside for rehearsal?

Based on your answers I could possibly give some suggestions for figuring things out, until you find a teacher.

[yep]

Today (5/23/10) was the first time I played in church and it was a lil overwhelming, all the people looking at u as this is the first most of the congration has ever seen or herd u play the bass.  I could not get a rehearsal in before playing so that made it much worse. To top that off the keyboardist knew very little about, scales, Major, Minor chord formulas just what he learned from YouTube. That’s fine I have learned most of what I know from YouTube, but I now understand the importance of scales and understanding your fret board.

What can I do to get better and to help the others so we can get better together?

[betnich]

If the keyboard player is doing pad chords in the LH, usually you can go by the lowest note they play...unless they are doing something like rootless tritone voicings...

[floaded27]

Today (5/23/10) was the first time I played in church and it was a lil overwhelming, all the people looking at u as this is the first most of the congration has ever seen or herd u play the bass.  I could not get a rehearsal in before playing so that made it much worse. To top that off the keyboardist knew very little about, scales, Major, Minor chord formulas just what he learned from YouTube. That’s fine I have learned most of what I know from YouTube, but I now understand the importance of scales and understanding your fret board.

What can I do to get better and to help the others so we can get better together?

i would say get to learning  those scales and Maj and Min chord formulas. since neither of you know those, this would be the best place to start as well as have a basis for communication. I would also do some ear training exercises. For example get a singer and ask them to sing a note, the keyboardist forms a chord around that note, and you find the bass note for that chord, without asking. This will help you both hear the music.

As for the rest, a lot of the getting better has to be done independently. The keyboardist cant get you familiar with your fretboard, nor can you help them with forming chords. So individual practice time has to be done. Instead of just simply mimicking something someone does on youtube, take time to explore what exactly you are doing (and how it relates to the music). thats a starting point.

[kevmove02]

I wholeheartedly agree that you should memorize the notes on the fretboard, then learn chord structures as quickly as possible. While the learning songs on youtube gets you quick results, it leaves you out in the cold if they change keys. I remember practicing my heart out to learn "Now Behold the Lamb" by Kirk Franklin. I thought I had the bassline down until the director decided we should play it in another key. Because I didn't really practice chord shapes, I didn't have a clue. After that embarassing experience, I went home and practiced chords, arpeggios, common chord progressions and turnarounds. I'm still working out transposing, but I think I know enough not to get caught with my pants down, figuratively speaking. While you are waiting on a teacher, check out http://www.studybass.com. That should get you enough theory to go with the videos.