Taking up bass guitar

[thelastresort]

Hi all

Basically I have two months off so summer so I'm trying my best not to waste it away doing stuff like listening to the Eagles 24/7 (:D), and as such I'm planning to take up playing bass, which I've known I've wanted to do for about six months or more. I was just wondering if anyone else on here does or did and would be willing to answers any questions I have?

Cheers

[WalshFan88]

Hi TLR,

While I hardly consider sitting listening to the Eagles all summer a waste (:p), I'm glad to hear your interest in bass guitar.

My main instrument is 6 string electric, but I do have a bass and play bass.

I'd love to answer what I can about bass and perhaps link you to people who know more than I on the subject, and other websites.

I learned to play guitar myself, I never cared for school, so I wasn't about to put myself through another form of it! I started playing the year after high school so I got a late start. I actually took lessons when I was younger but blew it off. It took something else to get me to play, and I did so by myself with the help of the internet and slowing down songs and learning them.

While it's easier for guitarists to pick up bass because some of the notes are the same than it is to start from scratch, bass is far from a simple instrument and is a crucial aspect to music and is very respectable from my point of view. While a lot of people might play a bass, there is a difference between that and really playing bass being a great rhythm section. Very good to hear of someone interested in it!

[MaryCalifornia]

Someone else on here plays bass - is it Thirsty & Hot? Or TJH? One of them has the instrument and plays it.

[Prettymaid]

It's Grey Sadler! Does she still come around?

[MaryCalifornia]

Thank you, PM! I don't know why I came up with T&H, is GS in NYC?

[Prettymaid]

Thank you, PM! I don't know why I came up with T&H, is GS in NYC?

Nope, she's in TN

[tjh532]

Someone else on here plays bass - is it Thirsty & Hot? Or TJH? One of them has the instrument and plays it.

Haha - I wish it was me :)

[thelastresort]

Hi TLR,

While I hardly consider sitting listening to the Eagles all summer a waste (:p), I'm glad to hear your interest in bass guitar.

My main instrument is 6 string electric, but I do have a bass and play bass.

I'd love to answer what I can about bass and perhaps link you to people who know more than I on the subject, and other websites.

I learned to play guitar myself, I never cared for school, so I wasn't about to put myself through another form of it! I started playing the year after high school so I got a late start. I actually took lessons when I was younger but blew it off. It took something else to get me to play, and I did so by myself with the help of the internet and slowing down songs and learning them.

While it's easier for guitarists to pick up bass because some of the notes are the same than it is to start from scratch, bass is far from a simple instrument and is a crucial aspect to music and is very respectable from my point of view. While a lot of people might play a bass, there is a difference between that and really playing bass being a great rhythm section. Very good to hear of someone interested in it!

It isn't a waste I'd agree, but it was I spend the other ten months of the year doing! :lol:

I went for a bit of a mooch around a couple of local towns's music shops and just kinda got a feel for them. Found a damn sexy black Yamaha for £160 but I thought best not buy one that expensive already :lol:

I was primarily wondering where you would start out re: equipment and how much you'd say to spend when there's no guarantee I'll keep on at it as anything more than a personal hobby. I do want to teach myself / look up on the internet for videos etc, I hated being personally tutored when I did guitar at secondary school. Also wondered if you could recommend someone / a band who have decent bass songs for starters? One of the things I didn't like doing guitar was plodding along doing Christmas carols and that kind of carry on.

Cheers

[WalshFan88]

I was primarily wondering where you would start out re: equipment and how much you'd say to spend when there's no guarantee I'll keep on at it as anything more than a personal hobby. I do want to teach myself / look up on the internet for videos etc, I hated being personally tutored when I did guitar at secondary school.

My advice to anyone picking up any kind of guitar (electric, acoustic, or bass) is that it stays in tune decently well and is comfortable in your hands. Otherwise it will be a constant struggle and it will make you NOT want to play. Every guitar neck is a little bit different, especially when comparing different models and brands. I prefer thin necks even though I have huge hands. But over the years I've learned to adjust to new necks quickly on new guitars.

Also wondered if you could recommend someone / a band who have decent bass songs for starters? One of the things I didn't like doing guitar was plodding along doing Christmas carols and that kind of carry on.

That's a tougher question as I'm not a bass guru. I mean when I think of simple bass lines I think of stuff like "Sunshine Of Your Love", which is a bit complex. I'm sure you could find some stuff on YouTube.


....

[Grey Sadler]

I thought I felt my ears burning!! :D

Well...my first piece of advice is to find a teacher and practice daily (unfortunately, the practice sessions are the thorn in my side...trying to balance things out when school starts so that I'm actually awake long enough to practice)...I'm taking classes at a local music school once a week, and my teacher has been pretty patient with me--he's working on scales and intervals with me as well as some popular classics (including songs by our boys!!)

As far as equipment, I found a Peavey Fury at a garage sale 2 years ago for $150 USD, then picked up a 30 watt practice amp for around $100...I think I've put just enough money into the gear to not feel bad if I wasn't able to continue. If you can't swing an amp yet, there's a little device for iPhones called an iRig that will run from your guitar and play through headphones or speakers (FYI you'll have to buy the additional bass amp for the app)...whatever you decide, good luck TLR!! :thumbsup:

[sodascouts]

Hey GS! I was hoping you'd have some advice!

[Prettymaid]

I thought I felt my ears burning!! :D


Nice to see you, GS! :mrgreen:

[zeldabjr]

Good luck TLR with the bass!!!

[thelastresort]

Thanks for the advice and well wishes all. Quick update - Santa very kindly delivered the item in the link below last week, so it's all systems go now. Also got a book on basic bass and ones on blues bass (since practically every other genre of bass can be related back to it), an amp and all the other bits and bobs necessary. Have had a browse of some tabs online for Eagles, Black Sabbath and Judas Priest music as that's the work I'm most familiar with and it's helped me to pick up how everything sounds and the structure of tablature etc. The majority of Eagles stuff is solid, I never realised until now just how hard TBS must work during concerts! :hilarious:

Will keep you all posted on progress etc. I plan on being able to play at least one line of Eagles stuff by Christmas 2015 ;)

http://i.imgur.com/rO1Xt2T.jpg

[DJ]

Thanks for the advice and well wishes all. Quick update - Santa very kindly delivered the item in the link below last week, so it's all systems go now. Also got a book on basic bass and ones on blues bass (since practically every other genre of bass can be related back to it), an amp and all the other bits and bobs necessary. Have had a browse of some tabs online for Eagles, Black Sabbath and Judas Priest music as that's the work I'm most familiar with and it's helped me to pick up how everything sounds and the structure of tablature etc. The majority of Eagles stuff is solid, I never realised until now just how hard TBS must work during concerts! :hilarious:

Will keep you all posted on progress etc. I plan on being able to play at least one line of Eagles stuff by Christmas 2015 ;)

http://i.imgur.com/rO1Xt2T.jpg

My daughter took it for 2 yrs in High School, it's tough. Gotta love those bass players :love:

[Ive always been a dreamer]

Awesome tlr. Good luck in mastering it!

[WalshFan88]

Very cool TLR! Have fun!

[Glennsallnighter]

Love your bass TLR, good luck learning to master it!

[Jonny Come Lately]

Hope you enjoy playing the bass tlr! It's a greatly underrated instrument in the wider world in my view, I can think of several songs which are greatly enhanced by excellent bass playing (not least Outlaw Man).

Although I am not a musician myself, my suggestion as to a good place to start would be to try to play songs which have simple yet prominent bass parts so you can easily hear what it is you're trying to play - unfortunately I lack the technical expertise to determine what a simple bass part to play is so I can't help you there. I am aware that some players remove the bass from songs so they can play the bass parts.

[Glennsallnighter]

Good advice. I'm sure too there are some suitable (free) videos online where you can learn and also watch the pros! I find watching a good guitar player play his instrument works wonders (Hence my reason for having Eagles DVDs on all the time. lol)