Bass Guitar (Advice Needed)

Hobart · 07-07-2004 5:37pm #1

I bought a bass guitar and amp about 2 years ago. I have had no formal lessons/training in how to play, and I would not know an A chord from a G (if there is such a thing in bass). the reason I bought the guitar is 2 fold:

1) I have always harboured an ambition to play bass

2) I wanted a hobby and thought why not?

I have now come to the realisation that I need some direction/lessons in this (bring on the guffa's). I never thought it was simple, and while I know I will never be a Phil Lynott, I would like to have some competence in this instrument. So I have 2 questions:

1) Where would I go to get some good tution on this particular instrument?

2) What would be the perfect guitar to buy for this? (Yes I have a bass, but it's a freetless one and I have been told to not start on it)

ferdi · 08-07-2004 12:32am

if you learned on a fretless, it'd be harder but it'd really stand to you, you'd become a better player for it.

but since its easier to start plaing a fretted bass, good ones to start on are, in decending price order:

Fender Mexican Precision Bass/Jazz Bass - http://www.music123.com/Fender-Standard-Jazz-Bass-i18067.music

ibanez SR 300DX - http://www.music123.com/Ibanez-SR300DX-i38819.music

OLP MM2 StingRay - http://www.music123.com/OLP-MM2-i22858.music

Yamaha RBX 360 - http://www.music123.com/Yamaha-RBX370-i133159.music

Squier Affinity Series Jazz Bass/P-Bass Bass - http://www.music123.com/Squier-Affinity-P-Bass-i63535.music

get a tutor book/video and teach yourself, its more fun, go to waltons - http://www.newschool.ie/

Doctor J · 08-07-2004 9:43am

What Ferdi said...

Also, whoever told you not to start on fretless is a wuss. Fretless is substantially harder to start off on, merely because you have to be more accurate where you place your fingers on the fret(less)board. Fretted and fretless bass are different instruments anyway, they require different styles of play and a different frame of mind too. With a fretless you can be much more expressive, it's a wonderful instrument to learn.

As for tuition, buy a book that will teach you the basics, how to tune and basic technique. From there, I'd recommend you learn by ear. Watch live performances of bands/bassists you like and see what they do and how they do it. Take bits and pieces of every technique which feels right to you and make your own technique. There are very few good bass teachers out there so you'll probably end up learing one person's style and their preferred choice of music.

You're into Lizzy, so first off work out 'Don't Believe A Word' - it's in A and every other note is found in the A minor scale. Nail that and you'll see how it all falls into place and you'll know you can do other tunes just as well. Good luck.

Hobart · 08-07-2004 10:31am

Thanks for the replies guys, and the linkage ferdi. I have no real "fear" of learing on the fretless bass. It's more a question of impatience with me. I (hope) I will master the fretless bass but I do want to have at least a begineers competence before I decide to take this on. WRT the linkage ferdi, is more expensive necessarily better? If you had to pick one from the above, and money was not an option, which one would you pick?

Doctor J · 08-07-2004 10:47am

The Mexican Fender Jazz is a bass that will do eveything you want. Depending on your budget, I'd recommend trawling through Buy & Sell for a Japanese Fender Jazz or Precision or an 80's Squier Jazz.

http://basspalace.com/dynamic/displaybass/4StringBass/3550

http://basspalace.com/dynamic/displaybass/4StringBass/3518

http://basspalace.com/dynamic/displaybass/4StringBass/3463

http://basspalace.com/dynamic/displaybass/4StringBass/3524

http://basspalace.com/dynamic/displaybass/4StringBass/3146

http://basspalace.com/dynamic/displaybass/4StringBass/3400

http://basspalace.com/dynamic/displaybass/4StringBass/3282

and of course, check out Chris' site

http://www.chrisguitars.com/bass.html

Eoin Madsen · 09-07-2004 1:59pm

I seem to say this kind of thing a lot lately...

but I know a very good bass guitar teacher in Kildare. If you're interested send me an email: eoin@avaricestudio.com and I'll send you contact details.

Regarding a bass, I'd go with the Fender Standard (Mexican) Jazz bass myself. I think you may get one cheaper from http://thomann.de over music123.com - accounting for shipping and tax - but I'm not sure. It'd be worth checking anyway. Remember to slap 25% (21% VAT, 4% Customs) on to anything you buy from the USA. And shipping charges are taxable too. If cash is not much of an issue get an American Standard instead of a Mex!

Doctor J · 09-07-2004 2:24pm

Or thisG&L for slightly more than a Mex Jazz

Hobart · 09-07-2004 4:34pm

Thanks again guys for the replies, mail sent Eoin.

marvin2k · 12-07-2004 9:46pm

A couple of important things for any bass player to note .

Try and feel the groove . This means just clear your mind and go with the music and just feel it . Its all inside ya , the bass is just a piece of wood which translates it out of ya .who cares if you can solo like **** if you cant feel it youl ruin the song and make the bass too busy .
develop a good ear . If your at home in front of the telly throw the bass up on your lap and try and play along with ads and jingles , or anything on the radio , even hip hop and dance can have some nice bass lines .
Try and always be playing with some ppl even on a casual basis if your not in a group ,Even a little kid nextdoor with his new drumset or a mate on a Guitar just anything to get ya used to keeping rhythmn or following chords

good bands that i recommend ya listening to for nice bass besides the obvious -
The police
Duran Duran
Maybe later - Rancid

oh and keep at it never give up ,never play music for anything but fun, enjoy it and have a Laugh!

Bass Guitar (Advice Needed)

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