I Need Some Direction!!!!

[Manatee]

I don't know where to go im stuck in like a cycle of learning nothingness...I mean i have all the resources a bunch of books and tabs. I know where i want to go but i need directions. For example...I love fusion/funk bass and blues bass...Blues i got covered pretty much but before i can do that fusion and funk i need jazz...and like i dont know if i should learn songs that bores the hell out of me but it might be useful...but i have two books umm...Classic funk/rnb bass and Funk and disco...they are just a bunch of riffs how do i use that...then i have the ultimate jazz bassist book should i do that first? I know i want to have stamina and go fast and be an awesome slapper which is why i have a bunch of Zeppelin, Jaco, Queen, and Red Hot Chilli Peppers tabs..I need to know what to do im stuck in a bubble of misdirection. Sorry for such a long post.

[RHINO_ROB]

Go Find A Teacher. Seriously. Just pay for a couple of lessons to help get you going in the right direction.

[Manatee]

times r hard and my parents aint gonna pay for lessons maybe in the future if i find a job yes but i got a find a way to work with wat i have

[Luke73]

I know i want to have stamina and go fast and be an awesome slapper which is why i have a bunch of Zeppelin, Jaco, Queen, and Red Hot Chilli Peppers tabs..

 

Kids..........

 

Don't do tabs.

 

(learn standard notation).

[Manatee]

im not that stupid reading music i know ive been practicing that in other ways...

[RHINO_ROB]

What is the breakdown of your current practice schedule?

 

How long do you practice on any given thing before you move on?

 

How much time do you devote to learning new things?

 

How much time do you devote to learning new songs? They can be any songs, songs that you like. Try to learn them by ear as opposed to getting the sheet music. The point is to develop your ear learning the song is secondary.

 

It could be as simple as redistributing your time to different areas. Try to find new ways to make the parts you find boring into something fun or a challenge. Also remember sometimes you have to suffer through the boring parts.

 

To go fast you must start slow. Work on clarity and accuracy before you increase the tempo. You can play fast but if you can't understand it is it actually music?

 

Slapping is just a technique, one of many that you will learn. If you don't have something to say then it is just pointless. Work on your vocabulary.

[moot]

What is the breakdown of your current practice schedule?

 

How long do you practice on any given thing before you move on?

 

How much time do you devote to learning new things?

 

How much time do you devote to learning new songs? They can be any songs, songs that you like. Try to learn them by ear as opposed to getting the sheet music. The point is to develop your ear learning the song is secondary.

 

It could be as simple as redistributing your time to different areas. Try to find new ways to make the parts you find boring into something fun or a challenge. Also remember sometimes you have to suffer through the boring parts.

 

To go fast you must start slow. Work on clarity and accuracy before you increase the tempo. You can play fast but if you can't understand it is it actually music?

 

Slapping is just a technique, one of many that you will learn. If you don't have something to say then it is just pointless. Work on your vocabulary.

Post of the month.

[Manatee]

that makes sense

 

[Jode]

If there is a jazz program of any kind at your local comunity college, join it. My bass playing skyrocketed when I dumped myself into a college jazz band, barely knowing how to read for bass and barely knowing how to swing. It will force you to sharpen your chops - you have to read, and you have to be responsible to a bandleader.

 

Many schools offer a jazz improvisation class - take it. My first assignment in that class was to learn the melody and trumpet solo from Miles Davis's "So What." It was the single most educational and inspirational thing I've ever done on the bass. It was a different instrument after that.

[EddiePlaysBass]

Manatee, are you in a band? If not, join one. Or join two :grin:

[b5pilot]

What is the breakdown of your current practice schedule?

 

How long do you practice on any given thing before you move on?

 

How much time do you devote to learning new things?

 

How much time do you devote to learning new songs? They can be any songs, songs that you like. Try to learn them by ear as opposed to getting the sheet music. The point is to develop your ear learning the song is secondary.

 

It could be as simple as redistributing your time to different areas. Try to find new ways to make the parts you find boring into something fun or a challenge. Also remember sometimes you have to suffer through the boring parts.

 

To go fast you must start slow. Work on clarity and accuracy before you increase the tempo. You can play fast but if you can't understand it is it actually music?

 

Slapping is just a technique, one of many that you will learn. If you don't have something to say then it is just pointless. Work on your vocabulary.

 

+1. Great points!

[jeremy c]

Learn your songs by ear. Music is something that people hear. Musicians are supposed to hear it better than non-musicians. Learn entire albums by groups you like. It will be frustrating at first and take a long time. You will eventually get better at it.

 

When you are in a band, you will be playing for a minimum of an hour straight at a time. You need to build up your endurance.

 

If you want to play funky parts, they have to groove. Pick a nice funky riff. Play it for 15 minutes straight. Can you play it exactly the same for that amount of time? Does the tempo stay exactly in the same place? Would the rhythm you are playing inspire someone to dance?

[Manatee]

is there anything like that for 17 year olds i mean when i go to college sure jazz programs im sure are available ill have to look into that...Umm im not so into bands just yet cuz im a get stuck playing powerchord rock which i got sick of very quickly.

[jeremy c]

In California a 17 year old can take a class at a community college. Some of the colleges around here have jazz band classes in the evening and have people of all ages in them.

[jlrush]

Welcome to the forum Manatee.

You've recieved good advice from several seasoned veterans and at least one music teacher. Hang around awhile. Listen and learn. With the proper motivation you can go as far as you want.

Jim

[Eric VB]

In California a 17 year old can take a class at a community college. Some of the colleges around here have jazz band classes in the evening and have people of all ages in them.

In addition there may be community jazz bands in your area.

[Eric VB]

I know i want to have stamina and go fast and be an awesome slapper which is why i have a bunch of Zeppelin, Jaco, Queen, and Red Hot Chilli Peppers tabs.

John Paul Jones (Led Zeppelin) and John Deacon (Queen) don't strike me as fast, slap, or fusion/funk/jazz players.

 

There's always a gap between learning a skill and learning how to apply it.

 

In school we first learn arithmetic skills like addition and multiplication without knowing how to apply those skills. Later on (hopefully) we see how these skills are useful. For example, to compute how much a booking agent's cut is, when a 4-hour gig will end if it starts at 9:30 pm, etc.

 

The merit of learning a bunch of riffs is questionable. Maybe you can use them note-for-note while improvising. Maybe if you have a good grasp of music (and music theory) you can learn stylistic idiosyncrasies from a book of riffs, i.e. how to sound "funky" or "jazzy". They might be useful in the context of private lessons.

 

More useful, perhaps, is learning scales and music theory. And how to apply that.

 

Some Led Zeppelin songs are classified as "blues-based rock". On a number of these Jones just uses a minor blues scale, often over a twelve-bar blues progression. If you can understand this then the songs are no longer just a random jumble of notes to memorize.

[Phil W]

Take the advice above and also play along with records by ear. Don't get stuck on riffs too much. Learn some theory. Get a metronome and practise playing in time with that (especially with the click on 2 and 4). Try playing really slowly at first and then speed up.

 

 

[EddiePlaysBass]

Umm im not so into bands just yet cuz im a get stuck playing powerchord rock which i got sick of very quickly.

 

??

 

Find a band that suits you.

 

And if you can't find one, start a band that suits you. You'll learn even more, trust me.

[Tom Capasso]

Are you part of the music department in your school? If not, talk to some teachers in that area - explain that you'd like to learn theory and see what classes they offer. A basic theory course will be a great start.

 

Best of luck!

Tom

[picker]

Manatee, are you in a band? If not, join one. Or join two :grin:

 

Post of the day #2. That is the straight shizzle, dude. You'll learn tons more playing with people than by yourself.

[Cthulhu Fhtagn]

I learned more in one year playing in a "boring" classic rock band with long-time gigging musicians than I did playing by myself in a garage for six years.

 

You don't get better playing by yourself. (NOT the same as "practicing"). You get better getting your butt kicked every week by playing in a band that consists of real, gigging musician.

 

Craig's List, Musician's Forest, Blog sites ran by odd Canadian Guitarists who think they are journalists, your local ad rag will have musicians looking for other musicians for bands, jams and open mics. Start playing with anyone. As Randy Bachman sez: "... you can go far if you get in with the right bunch of fellows". Get up with some musicians, keep your mind and ears open.

 

My son was about your age five years ago when he was making the next jump in his guitar playing. We played open mic and jams and he grew disenchanted because "everyone always wants to play 'E-A-G' chords" Truth be told, he doesn't play E-A-G chords very well and his guitars are often untouched when I visit.

 

This doesn't happen overnight, but one day it WILL click!

[wraub]

When I was just a young bass player, back in the day, when electricity was new and the turntable was fresh and all that, I would play along with record after record, whether I really liked the record or not. Rush, Yes, Parliament/Funkadelic, Chicago, James Taylor, Queen, Gentle Giant, whatever. Averaged 8-9 hours a day, for reals.

 

All I got out of it was a great ear, good time, chops, and blisters. Lots of blisters.

 

As you are 17, about where I was back then, I'd also advise you do the same now. Gotta be easier now what with CDs and remote control. I definitely scratched a lot of records moving the needle back and forth.

 

Ditto, join a college jazz band. Coincidentally, I also worked my way through "So What". Did a lot for me.

YMMV, as always.

 

Good Luck.

 

Peace,

 

wraub

[Bottomgottem]

In California a 17 year old can take a class at a community college. Some of the colleges around here have jazz band classes in the evening and have people of all ages in them.

 

If he can pay for a community college class, he can pay for lessons.

[jeremy c]

Community college classes in California are a lot cheaper than private lessons.