Author Topic: Bassists assemble! (Read 3597 times)

badgermark · « **on:** January 18, 2008, 08:33:08 PM »

After playing guitar for 5 years I'm getting me a bass. Buying a Yamaha thing cheap off a friend, what are some essential bass songs/techniques to learn?

Any closet 4-stringers here? I know Steve is, he doesn't count though (as he is old and doesn't own a humbucker... it's less surprising really).

Spitfire · « **Reply #1 on:** January 18, 2008, 08:50:47 PM »

white rabbit!!!!

Philly Q · « **Reply #2 on:** January 18, 2008, 08:57:57 PM »

I've got a bass (and had a couple of others until recently), but I can't play it any better than I can guitar. :(

I'll be interested to see what essential songs/techniques tips you get.

Jonny · « **Reply #3 on:** January 18, 2008, 09:16:18 PM »

Use your fingers! As in, learn how to use them.

Seek and Destroy is a good song to learn with your fingers (you might not like the song though)

And RHCP have good songs to learn off from.

WezV · « **Reply #4 on:** January 18, 2008, 09:58:06 PM »

i must admit i prefer to make basses but prefer playing guitar... i can never make a bass sound good, and thats me not the basses before anyone says it
:P
I know my basses sound good when others play them but i have no subtlety in my picking technique when using my fingers.

It looks like i will be doing a 6 string bass for someone soon, possibly fanned fret and hopefully a single cut modern design with the body extending quite far up the neck.. the prospect excites me a lot.. there is a lot more freedom of design when making a bass. mainly because bassists are more accepting of weird stuff

38thBeatle · « **Reply #5 on:** January 18, 2008, 11:41:36 PM »

I shall rise above young Mark's tasteless jibes at my age and still give advice.

Depends what sort of bass player you want to be really-tis a broad church. Personally, I go for a bit of funk and a bit of melody. I would say listen to what bass players do.RHCPs are a good source of ideas as has been suggested. There is way more to it than picking the root note of the chord and plugging away at that. Explore the notes of the chord-try to listen to themes within a chord sequence and perhaps bring it out in the bass but do not forget that you have to hold the rhythm down too.Play with a pick if you want to. I use one for some stuff cos I like the tone.There are snobs who eschew them. Work on your timing. I am tired right now so I shall shut up but hopefully that is something to be getting on with young fellow-me-lad.

badgermark · « **Reply #6 on:** January 18, 2008, 11:44:48 PM »

Groovy. Was a big RHCP fan when I was a lad, so shall learn some of their later stuff. Popping and slapping seems akin to tapping.

Also tempted by using a pick, finger snobs be dammed! Can see me noodling around for ages... Exciting.

Philly Q · « **Reply #7 on:** January 18, 2008, 11:45:54 PM »

Quote from: 38thBeatle

I shall rise above young Mark's tasteless jibes at my age

Rock on, Mr 38th. I'm old too. But I do own a lot of humbuckers.

FELINEGUITARS · « **Reply #8 on:** January 18, 2008, 11:47:27 PM »

Old blues / R&B - like Stax stuff is always good

John Deacon from Queen was way underrated - very melodic indeed.

badgermark · « **Reply #9 on:** January 18, 2008, 11:47:40 PM »

Sorry, was compelled to pick on Steve. Bloody 4 way switching tele fanatic. I lost three hours of my life wiring up a bloody tele with a 4 way sodding switch.

Philly Q · « **Reply #10 on:** January 18, 2008, 11:51:57 PM »

Quote from: badgermark

I lost three hours of my life wiring up a bloody tele with a 4 way sodding switch.

Only three?

badgermark · « **Reply #11 on:** January 19, 2008, 12:03:41 AM »

Quote from: Philly Q

Quote from: badgermark
I lost three hours of my life wiring up a bloody tele with a 4 way sodding switch.

Only three?

Tis the fiddlily little jumper parts that killed me. Scrabbling for cable wasn't fun.

What I really want is to learn some sleazy hip-hop bass lines. Oh yes, i like hip-hop.

38thBeatle · « **Reply #12 on:** January 19, 2008, 08:05:51 AM »

Ah you see, fitting that 4 way switch has done you a favour in a zen like kind of way. Being biased, I'd say listen to McCartney but also Ronnie Lane in his Faces and Small Faces days.

_tom_ · « **Reply #13 on:** January 19, 2008, 11:00:56 AM »

Everyone always seems to assume that bass is way easier than guitar, but I find it the opposite, I cant play bass to save my life :( I did some "fake" bass on my latest recording up in the Players forum (neck LP pickup into a bass model in amplitube), but I'm not used to playing it and my rhythm has got a bit sloppy, and you can hear the whole song go "thin" when I miss a note, even though technically the notes are really simple you can hear the mistake and you can really miss it in the song.. so yeah I guess my advice as a guitarist who's tried to play bass is that your picking needs to be as tight as a camels arse in a sandstorm, otherwise itl just sound cr@p, in my experience.

gwEm · « **Reply #14 on:** January 19, 2008, 11:05:50 AM »

I think its easier to get on to the first rung of the ladder with bass, but its a very different instrument past there.

I have a P-Bass and occasionally get it out. I like to use a 2pence piece as a pick - which i know is wrong. The electric bass is definately a physical instrument, and versatile for a number of styles like hip-hop and funk.