Hi Guys,

Can you help me out with the following:

I'm a pianist and just bought a ibanez soundgear sr-505.

I know how music theoy works but I need a good site/dvd/vhs to learn how to play with the right technique.

Any suggestions?

Thanks !

Do they have any at your local library that you could check out and try? If you do a search, I'm sure you'll find posts where people here have mentioned they've got programs like that, and I hope they'll chime in.

In general, advice to me has been to get an actual instructor, because a canned program can't tell you if you have bad posture or if you're doing something that could make your learning/playing more difficult than it has to be.

In my case, I tried three instructors who had very differing approaches. The one I stayed with concentrates first on specific goals or issues I have, next on things he notices I need practice in, and third in music theory and how the bass applies in different types of music. This instructor keeps me motivated, challenged, and noticeably improving. Another instructor was so rigid and negative I considered giving up music altogether.

I found the "Bass Guitar for Dummies" book to be very helpful and informative, and the Hal Leonard bass instruction books have good exercises.

Congratulations on your new bass, and welcome to the camp!

Thanks Elwood,

Actualy, I've gone through all the books on bass in our library (about 30) and all of them had 90 percent info I didn't need.

I'll look into the bass guitar for dummies.

aNy dvd suggestions?

I know where you're coming from as I have a student in a similar position. I'm teaching him primarily technique, groove/feel, bassline construction and 'thinking-like-a-bass-player'. I'd suggest a private teacher is probably the best way for you to go.

In the meantime, check out http://www.garywillis.com
and but Standing in the Shadows of Motown to learn how basslines are constructed. (Hey, you probably know all that though).

Then have a search on this forum for technique threads e.g. ghost notes, left-hand muting, palm muting. I'm fairly certain you'll learn more here than in almost any book.

Here's a thread to start with:

Click here!

I used FastTrack Bass 1 and when they say ground zero, they aren't lying. I knew absolutely NOTHING about music a year and a half ago so I bought another "beginner" book and I was lost do to the fact that it seems that some books assume that the reader has some musical knowledge. I bought the FastTrack book and it was a godsend to me.

Know I'm going though FastTrack Bass 2 and Beginning Electric Bass . The latter of which was the one that originally mystified me. Well, some parts still do, just not as much.

Cheers
Newf

Yes learn one scale, all over the neck, just one. Back and forth, up and down, inverted, with doubles triples, quads, up to sixteenths notes, but just one scale. That's very important. Once you know one scale, you know them all, because on the guitar, they're all the same, unlike the piano.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d4S9ymJCoS4

I used to play piano first before I picked up bass. The first song I ever learnt to play was Aeroplane by the Chili Peppers (and I didnt learn it that well hehe) There are quite a few useful books out there. I never really bought any books on technique. i just went index and middle fingers and tried to play 8th notes on a single string and changed my hand position around till I found it comfortable, then I did the same thing with a chromatic scale across the strings and once again once I had a comfortable hand position I simply used that.

Theres no right or wrong way tbh. Bernard Edwards used to play songs using only his index finger and going up and down on the tip of the finger like a pick and yet he came out with some brilliant bass lines. Ive seen some good players that use just one finger. Ive seen players who use three. Ive seen players who play a fingerstyle with their thumb only. Even if you look in a book for "good hand position" u still will find your strings buzzing against the fretboard and notes coming out unevenly at the begining.

I would say concentrate on trying to play bass lines, the hand position will follow. Once you have your own system, look at it from a critical point of view and think on what u can improve, what you can adjust, if there are any other considerations: string attack, muting the open strings etc etc etc. Then revise and keep practicing. What works for some people wont work for everyone. That being said this is simply my opinion. Theres nothing wrong with doing some research to try and get started on the right foot. Just have a good look around because the more you know about various approaches, the better equipped you will be to choose your own path as it were.

Hail,

You are ahead of the game if you have played piano and have an understanding of music theory. As you mentioned, technique is what you are looking for. "Bass for Dummies" is a great book. It has a great explanation of hand position/technique and then explains how to play to different types of music. I do suggest that.

As far as DVD's or CD's, I am totally self taught and did not know anything about theory, therefore I started off with an interactive CD called "E media Bass Meathod, vol 1". I loved it.

Good luck and welcome to the Low End.

Matt

Thanks you all. You sure are helpfull :-)

Peter murray pm'ed me about his book Essential Bass Technique.
I looked at his site, and ordered it right away.

These sites I just found are also helpful:

http://www.studybass.com/

and

http://www.wheatdesign.com/bassbook/index.php

Phil, I think you're right about the teacher, just to hear to hear what I'm doing wrong ;-)

Thanks again.

This is strange...

I posted a reply
The main page says I'm the last poster, but there is no post added ?

1. Find a good local teacher if possible.
2. Instruction books can help with proper technique.
3. Watch videos of great bass players on the internet, You can learn much from them when it comes to technique, posture, hand positions, etc.
4. Play along with recorded music and as soon as possible, record your own playing.
Self evaluation is one of the best teachers.
Rocky

ok. now it's there...