beginners recomendation

[fuyung]

Gents/Ladies I would imagine this ques get's asked by every beginner bass player that uses this forum, having said that, can anyone make a recomendation on any books for learning how to play electric bass. For anyone replying I'll warn you know I have zero experience in playing any instruments.

 

Thank you

[fuyung]

POWER TO THE PEOPLE

[Whacked]

A teacher

 

The Hal Leonard books by Ed Friedland are good too

 

And Welcome to the Lowdown

[RHINO_ROB]

Bass Guitar for Dummies.

 

or the Ed Friedland/Hal Leonard books. (the first book also has a companion DVD available.)

 

And welcome.

[Rocky McDougall]

Seeing that you are in Las Vegas, I am sure you are surrounded by excellant musicians / teachers. By all means get the book, it is full of great information. Your teacher can help you avoid picking up bad habits and explain any the learning process. Ideally you need the book a good teacher and a burining desire to practice and learn. Welcome to the Forum, there are many here that can help and encourage you.

Rocky

[fuyung]

Thanks for the reply, i'll consider a teacher or lessons as time goes, but I have an immediate need to understand what I'm trying to accomplish....ie "this is a key you use it to start the car, this is the brake you use it to stop the car, hopefully reading a few good books will make that happen.

[fuyung]

I saw that book about 2 months ago and believe it or not it was a slight challenge for me to get a clear understanding of what the author was talking about, I'll try and find it in town. thanks

[fuyung]

Thanks, I agree there are a probably an abundance of good teachers/musicians here in Vegas, I need learn the bass playing community here in Vegas. Thanks again more to come

[Rocky McDougall]

We have several members of this Forum in Las Vegas. If you feel as though you need a little personal guidance I'm sure they would happy to help.

Rocky

[JonathanD]

Power to the few bald men with money!

[fuyung]

Thanks Rocky I'll keep my eyes open

[mcbn]

Skip the books. Move to Austin, TX and take lessons from Ed Friedland.

 

Okay, maybe just get his books and a local teacher.

[yourlord]

Here's the basics to get started.

 

If you are right handed, you finger or fret the note with your left hand, and pick/pluck, etc with the right.

 

The standard notes played on the strings when open(nothing being fingered/fretted with the left hand) are, from thickest to thinest:

 

On 4-string: E-A-D-G

On 5-string: B-E-A-D-G

On 6-string: B-E-A-D-G-C

 

each fret on the fingerboard delimits a half-step. On the 'E' string starting from open and working your way up would be: E-F-F#(sharp)-G-G#-A-A#-B-C-C#-D-D#-E

 

Note the 12th fret is an octave (12 half steps) above the open E and is therefore an E as well.

 

This pattern applies to each string, for example the A string is:

A-A#-B-C-C#-D-D#-E-F-F#-G-G#-A

 

The other oddity you may have noticed is there is no sharp between B and C, and E and F. That is just one of those theory things you'll figure out later (technically E-sharp would the same as F, and F-flat is the same as E.)

 

You now know as much as I did when I started!!

 

[henrysb3]

You didn't mention whether or what equipment you have. One thing you need is a tuner that responds to the frequencies of a bass, which didn't really exist until a short while ago. Previous to that, musicians used organic tuners that lived between their ears. Speaking of ears, try training them along with your fingers. Listen to music that you like and try to separate out the bass line from the rest of the music. It will change with the rest of the instruments.

 

Try to match single notes with sounds on your bass. Do this at a fairly low volume, both as a service to your ears and any family/neighbors who might not care for your choice of music. Earphones are great for this if you can mix in your playing, something you may need help getting set up. If you don't have an amp, the Fender B-Dec does this and much more for new players. I've never used one, but my son has a G-Dec (for guitar) and it's a really innovative product.

 

Having a teacher, even for a short while, is very valuable. Many professionals go back to a teacher from time to time to get a different set of eyes and ears observing their playing. Learning is not something you do once and you're done, it continues (or should continue) for a lifetime.

[yourlord]

Learning is not something you do once and you're done, it continues (or should continue) for a lifetime.

 

More true words have never been spoken. And it applies to much more than just music.

[fuyung]

The screen name matches, I will allow this to sink in for a few days, I follow everything that you wrote in your reply, it was quite easier than the language found in the few books I have browsed through at music stores. thanks

[fuyung]

My better half puy a fender or squire bass pack on layaway i should have it in a month, in the mean time I wanted to read up and find out anything I could to get started. i appreciate the help

[fuyung]

I may just bve headed to Austin i hear the living's good and housing is reasonable

[fuyung]

is it me and my small hands or is the E string a bastard to finger/fret. i would imagine it's a matter of repetitive motion and practice to get accustomed to the mechanics. right now i've starting in 1st or half position and trying to play three notes a string. I read the fingering should be 1 2 4, for me its more like 1 2 3&4 can't seem to get the digits to work together. also my thumb seems to want to stay in one psition it on the neck, it does/should slide along the neck ?

[The Geoff]

You are experiencing 'learning pains'.

 

 

G.

[Bottomgottem]

Using 3 & 4 together is OK in the lower positions. Particularly if you have smallish hands.

[cblinkdude182]

Ya the thumb slides quite a bit depending on the notes your playing.