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Bass for the slow learner
Wash
Sweet ChristmasRegistered User regular
Sweet ChristmasRegistered User regular
So last year I got a bass for Christmas and I can hardly play. I only practiced randomly before, and would stop playing for months - mainly due to time issues - but now I've got the time to play and I really want to learn.
Some problems I've had so far are:
-I've had trouble reading tabs (I can read sheet music just fine, though)
-I've been using my fingers, not a pick, and whenever I pluck a string and go to play a note on another string, the first string is still reverberating. I figure I'm supposed to do something to the string after plucking, before moving on to the next note, to stop the string from ringing longer than I want, but so far anything I've tried hasn't been smoothly done.
-Quite often after plucking a string - even the few times I've used the pick - I'll hit the string next to it by accident. There's not a lot of space between strings, so is not hitting other strings something that happens with practice or are there any helpful tips to avoid doing so?
-This problem isn't directly related to playing the bass, but I've had trouble in the past when I was taking piano lessons, finding a reasonable amount of time to just sit down and practice. I'd like to know how long any musicians here, particularly guitar and bass players, think beginners should practice daily/ weekly.
I'm interested in any helpful bass websites, but particularly tips from people here who actually play bass. I'd also like names of songs that have simple, easy to learn bass lines for beginners like me.
Some problems I've had so far are:
-I've had trouble reading tabs (I can read sheet music just fine, though)
-I've been using my fingers, not a pick, and whenever I pluck a string and go to play a note on another string, the first string is still reverberating. I figure I'm supposed to do something to the string after plucking, before moving on to the next note, to stop the string from ringing longer than I want, but so far anything I've tried hasn't been smoothly done.
-Quite often after plucking a string - even the few times I've used the pick - I'll hit the string next to it by accident. There's not a lot of space between strings, so is not hitting other strings something that happens with practice or are there any helpful tips to avoid doing so?
-This problem isn't directly related to playing the bass, but I've had trouble in the past when I was taking piano lessons, finding a reasonable amount of time to just sit down and practice. I'd like to know how long any musicians here, particularly guitar and bass players, think beginners should practice daily/ weekly.
I'm interested in any helpful bass websites, but particularly tips from people here who actually play bass. I'd also like names of songs that have simple, easy to learn bass lines for beginners like me.
Wash on
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Also, if you are lacking stuff to play that isn't scales and all the boring technical etudes, head on over to mutopia or something and print off some orchestral bass parts or left hand piano bits, and learn those. It'll force you to play in keys you probably would otherwise not play in, and it'll improve your sight reading, which is very important.
Good luck.
Bass is more about scales and intervals than chords, and more about playing one note at a time than strumming. As such, I'd recommend just skipping the pick completely and using your finger(s).
As for killing a note, if you're shifting horizontally to a new string, just lift the finger on the fretboard. Do it quickly so there's no buzzing. For faster passages, on a bass guitar I've found it's generally easier to shift up&down the neck, as you're naturally killing the note by going to a higher/lower position, but it's also just as likely that you lose your place.
A good exercise in general are playing octaves, both for key signatures and just the two notes. Octaves are set up on the neck to be 2 strings over and "2 spots" down, so it's a good stretch and a good way to practice both lifting your fingers and shifting across strings. On upright, shifting up and down and moving horizontally across the fingerboard and keeping good tonality is key, so a standard exercise is, say, G > G1 > F > G1 > C > D > G. You'll march across the fretboard and can get used to the different strings. And it translates to every other note, as well.
When you are playing with your fingers, you're supposed you have your thumb anchored on the next string down. So if you're plucking on the A string, your thumb is supposed to be anchored on E. Playing on D, thumb anchored on A. Your thumb acts as a mute, so if you accidentally hit the string, it makes no sound. When you're playing on E, you're anchored on the part of the pickup that's sticking out past the strings. This of course has no muting effect, but it gets you in the habit of placing your thumb properly.
Check out this site: http://www.studybass.com/lessons/
Exactly how are you "plucking" the string? Because you don't really need to pluck in the traditional sense (using your thumb & index finger to pull a string up and let go). Starting out, you can just alternate between your index and middle finger to run past a string. It will still reverberate if you don't mute it, but it makes much less noise when you let go of the fret. It's also hard to accidentally hit a string when you're playing that way, since your fingers just rest on the lower string instead of striking it to make a noise, which is why I question how you're plucking.
Good sites:
YouTube "Bass lessons" and you have plenty of material
http://www.cyberfretbass.com/
http://www.activebass.com/
http://www.ultimate-guitar.com <--for tabs
When plucking I've been pressing the pad of my index finger on the string, pressing down while moving my finger in towards my thumb and off the string, then alternating with my middle finger, which was how I was told to play.
Oh, and thanks for all the advice so far, guys. I really appreciate it.
I'll agree with this. The only use I have for tabs is determining the notes. And then I usually just transcribe it on over, since it's a lot easier on a sheet.
No, your not supposed to use your thumb to mute all the strings. It's also not what study bass tells you to do.
Yes, you could move your thumb all the way around, but that is so much unnecessary shifting it's not even funny.
If your playing the E string, your fretting hand can keep the other strings muted if you need to, but, it's really not that necessary.
If you are playing the A string, your let your plucking fingers roll over the A string and then stop firmly against the E string, muting it. The other strings can be muted by hand.
For the D string, you let your plucking fingers mute the A, and you let your thumb down to rest on top of the E to mute it.
The G string is where it can get tricky. There are two choices here, ring finger muting and the wandering thumb. Your plucking fingers will mute D, your thumb will mute E and you're ring finger will mute A or, your thumb/palm will mute E and A and your plucking fingers will mute D.
You should practice being able to go from any string open to any other string, without any overlap between the notes and without any noticeable pauses between the notes.
Going up a string (in note, but physically down) on the bass is easy, because by plucking the next string you are muting the one you were just playing. Using your fretting hand is key for muting is key for going the opposite direction. Probably the trickiest jump is going from the A string to the G string with no pause or overlap, but just practice.