THESE FORUMS NOW CLOSED (read only)

  • 28 Mar 2024, 09:00
  • Welcome, Guest
Please login or register.

Login with username, password and session length
Advanced search  
Pages: 1 [2] 3   Go Down

Author Topic: Teaching myself bass guitar...  (Read 45284 times)

Misereatur

  • Duck attack survivor
  • *****
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 1,839
  • Quicksand my butt
Re: Teaching myself bass guitar...
« Reply #50 on: 25 Jun 2008, 15:51 »

Absolutely.

That was the worst post we've had here in a while.
Logged
FREE JAZZ ISN'T FREE!

I am a music republican.

parm

  • Obscure cultural reference
  • **
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 144
Re: Teaching myself bass guitar...
« Reply #51 on: 26 Jun 2008, 00:33 »

What them two ^ said.

Bass is awesome. I started out on piano, then migrated to guitar, and finally to bass. And after about 10 years of playing in various bands on and off I finally think I'm maybe beginning to get the hand of what playing bass might be all about. It's that moment when you and the drummer lock eyes for a moment and acknowledge that baby, the two of you got a groove thang goin' on, ohhh yeah, and that's what makes it all worthwhile.

Of course, if you're playing with a shitty drummer, it's no fun at all.
Logged
You've got spunk and balls, Jen. And I like that in a woman.

Mars

  • Emoticontraindication
  • *
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 64
Re: Teaching myself bass guitar...
« Reply #52 on: 26 Jun 2008, 22:37 »

Me too!

I play guitar and piano in addition to bass. I do so because I'm interested in all three instruments. One or the other may get more lovin' in the short-term, but if I thought any of them were boring I wouldn't play them

Bass can be boring. If you're one of those bassists who only plays 1-5-1 ad nauseum, you'll probably get bored. If that's the case, you're doing it wrong.

Listen to some Geddy Lee/Jaco Pastorius/Flea/Lemmy/your-bass-hero-of-choice to discover how unboring bass can be.
Logged

parm

  • Obscure cultural reference
  • **
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 144
Re: Teaching myself bass guitar...
« Reply #53 on: 27 Jun 2008, 02:05 »

Listen to some Geddy Lee/Jaco Pastorius/Flea/Lemmy/your-bass-hero-of-choice to discover how unboring bass can be.

Bakithi Kumalo!
Logged
You've got spunk and balls, Jen. And I like that in a woman.

Spluff

  • William Gibson's Babydaddy
  • *****
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 2,410
  • it is time to party
Re: Teaching myself bass guitar...
« Reply #54 on: 27 Jun 2008, 02:36 »

Les Claypool sucks.
Logged
[16:27] Ozy:  has joined the room
[16:27] Quietus: porn necklace!
[16:27] Quietus: Shove it up yer vag!
[16:27] Ozy: has left the room

Albatron

  • Obscure cultural reference
  • **
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 148
Re: Teaching myself bass guitar...
« Reply #55 on: 27 Jun 2008, 07:59 »

Yay I'm not boring then, I usually play 3-5-3-5-7-9-7-9-12 or something like that on the g string for one of my bands "songs"

Steve Harris from Iron Maiden is probably my favorite bassist, hes a god, but I'm not near that skill level at all.

I can't really play the piano, but its been really helpful training my ear to recognize notes and their differences.
Logged

parm

  • Obscure cultural reference
  • **
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 144
Re: Teaching myself bass guitar...
« Reply #56 on: 27 Jun 2008, 08:43 »

Yay I'm not boring then, I usually play 3-5-3-5-7-9-7-9-12 or something like that on the g string for one of my bands "songs"

By "1-5-1", Mars meant people that only play chordal roots and fifths; the 1 and 5 don't refer to fret positions.
Logged
You've got spunk and balls, Jen. And I like that in a woman.

Thrillho

  • Global Moderator
  • Awakened
  • ****
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 13,130
  • Tall. Beets.
Re: Teaching myself bass guitar...
« Reply #57 on: 27 Jun 2008, 12:12 »

Les Claypool sucks.

*kicks you in the crotch until you puke*
Logged
In the end, the thing people will remember is kindness.

Albatron

  • Obscure cultural reference
  • **
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 148
Re: Teaching myself bass guitar...
« Reply #58 on: 27 Jun 2008, 14:16 »

Yay I'm not boring then, I usually play 3-5-3-5-7-9-7-9-12 or something like that on the g string for one of my bands "songs"

By "1-5-1", Mars meant people that only play chordal roots and fifths; the 1 and 5 don't refer to fret positions.

haha, see what I get for tryin to look cool. Something new to learn though.
Logged

Thrillho

  • Global Moderator
  • Awakened
  • ****
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 13,130
  • Tall. Beets.
Re: Teaching myself bass guitar...
« Reply #59 on: 27 Jun 2008, 14:57 »

Note: writing tabs out of context with no rhythm is not a pathway to cool  :wink:
Logged
In the end, the thing people will remember is kindness.

Spluff

  • William Gibson's Babydaddy
  • *****
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 2,410
  • it is time to party
Re: Teaching myself bass guitar...
« Reply #60 on: 27 Jun 2008, 18:37 »

Les Claypool sucks.

*kicks you in the crotch until you puke*

In case you misunderstood, Primus' motto is 'Primus sucks'. I just adapted that to Les Claypool - I do not actually think he is bad.
Logged
[16:27] Ozy:  has joined the room
[16:27] Quietus: porn necklace!
[16:27] Quietus: Shove it up yer vag!
[16:27] Ozy: has left the room

Mars

  • Emoticontraindication
  • *
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 64
Re: Teaching myself bass guitar...
« Reply #61 on: 27 Jun 2008, 18:49 »

Yay I'm not boring then, I usually play 3-5-3-5-7-9-7-9-12 or something like that on the g string for one of my bands "songs"

By "1-5-1", Mars meant people that only play chordal roots and fifths; the 1 and 5 don't refer to fret positions.

Although if we take his line as an intervalar transcription it could make for something interesting.

Mediant-dominant-mediant-dominant-suboctave-superoctave-etc-etc

I don't know how good it would sound. I may have to try this and report back.

@Albatron: music has it's own terminology. It takes a while to learn. If you hadn't figured it out yet, I've been doing this for a short while now and so my terminology may be more advanced. I also have some level of classical and theoretical training which means that some of my terminology may even go beyond that of the standard rock musician. None of this is strictly necessary; you'll learn what you need to know as you go along.

Regarding the line you posted, I'd probably drop that an octave and play it entirely in open or first position. Mind, that's just me and it'll depend on  you and your band's style.
Logged

Thrillho

  • Global Moderator
  • Awakened
  • ****
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 13,130
  • Tall. Beets.
Re: Teaching myself bass guitar...
« Reply #62 on: 28 Jun 2008, 07:24 »

Les Claypool sucks.

*kicks you in the crotch until you puke*

In case you misunderstood, Primus' motto is 'Primus sucks'. I just adapted that to Les Claypool - I do not actually think he is bad.

My bad. I have only a passing knowledge of Primus, but what I do know is they are pretty damn talented musicians.
Logged
In the end, the thing people will remember is kindness.

Alex C

  • comeback tour!
  • *****
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 5,915
Re: Teaching myself bass guitar...
« Reply #63 on: 28 Jun 2008, 10:50 »

Apparently, Larry Graham does not believe the bass is a boring instrument.

Seriously, I'm pretty convinced he has more fun during that 55 seconds than I've ever had in my entire life. I could watch that clip all day just because I like to see people loving what they do.
Logged
the ship has Dr. Pepper but not Mr. Pibb; it's an absolute goddamned travesty

Albatron

  • Obscure cultural reference
  • **
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 148
Re: Teaching myself bass guitar...
« Reply #64 on: 28 Jun 2008, 16:23 »

Thats talent, but I don't really like slap bass a whole lot. This John Entwhistle bass solo is more my thing http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TVl39LBZGMw&feature=related or Cliff Burton esque stuff.

Thanks for the idea Mars
« Last Edit: 28 Jun 2008, 16:36 by Albatron »
Logged

Alex C

  • comeback tour!
  • *****
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 5,915
Re: Teaching myself bass guitar...
« Reply #65 on: 28 Jun 2008, 17:08 »

I'm not a big fan of slap either, actually, but funk in general is chock full of good examples of bass players taking on extremely prominent roles in a song whereas Burton and Entwhistle are more like strange but wonderful blips on the radar when viewed in the greater context of their respective genres.  Besides, I really meant my post in the most literal way possible: I defy you to find someone who enjoys playing an instrument more than Larry Graham.  :mrgreen:
Logged
the ship has Dr. Pepper but not Mr. Pibb; it's an absolute goddamned travesty

Albatron

  • Obscure cultural reference
  • **
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 148
Re: Teaching myself bass guitar...
« Reply #66 on: 28 Jun 2008, 19:56 »

Thats a good point. I think bass is allowed to shine more in funk because it's a big part of the funk sound. In rock, metal etc, guitar is a much bigger part of the sound for most bands.
Logged

Spluff

  • William Gibson's Babydaddy
  • *****
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 2,410
  • it is time to party
Re: Teaching myself bass guitar...
« Reply #67 on: 30 Jun 2008, 19:08 »

Thats a good point. I think bass is allowed to shine more in funk because it's a big part of the funk sound. In rock, metal etc, guitar is a much bigger part of the sound for most bands.

It looks like Primus thinks that most metal could be improved by the addition of prominent basslines, too.
Logged
[16:27] Ozy:  has joined the room
[16:27] Quietus: porn necklace!
[16:27] Quietus: Shove it up yer vag!
[16:27] Ozy: has left the room

Ballard

  • Older than Moses
  • *****
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 4,211
  • This is my happening and it freaks me out!
Re: Teaching myself bass guitar...
« Reply #68 on: 30 Jun 2008, 23:54 »

If you want to hear a great rock band where the bass often takes a prominent role, listen to Black Rebel Motorcycle Club. Granted, they're a power trio and the two members that don't drum both switch off on bass and guitar.
Logged
I'm like the boy who cried "you guys are faggots"

PassiveTheory

  • Guest
Re: Teaching myself bass guitar...
« Reply #69 on: 01 Jul 2008, 02:02 »

Ridiculous bass solos don't constitute fun; they're just pretentious or frenetic. Slap is sorta fun, but the novelty wears out after a year or two.

The whole idea of limiting yourself to one instrument is ridiculous. Sure it's nice to be good at something, but being able to transition from instrument to instrument is more fun and more challenging.
Logged

Alex C

  • comeback tour!
  • *****
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 5,915
Re: Teaching myself bass guitar...
« Reply #70 on: 01 Jul 2008, 05:20 »

There's nothing wrong with being a multi-instrumentalist, but there is something wrong with the blanket generalization that only playing bass is useless and boring. I also do not believe that Larry Graham was having fun because he's playing a slap bass solo. I believe Larry Graham was really having having fun because he just likes playing bass and that 90% of having fun is attitude.
Logged
the ship has Dr. Pepper but not Mr. Pibb; it's an absolute goddamned travesty

Thrillho

  • Global Moderator
  • Awakened
  • ****
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 13,130
  • Tall. Beets.
Re: Teaching myself bass guitar...
« Reply #71 on: 01 Jul 2008, 07:05 »

If you want to hear a great rock band where the bass often takes a prominent role, listen to Black Rebel Motorcycle Club. Granted, they're a power trio and the two members that don't drum both switch off on bass and guitar.

Win. BRMC have great basslines.
Logged
In the end, the thing people will remember is kindness.

ptfreak

  • Plantmonster
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 26
Re: Teaching myself bass guitar...
« Reply #72 on: 01 Jul 2008, 07:11 »

The whole idea of limiting yourself to one instrument is ridiculous. Sure it's nice to be good at something, but being able to transition from instrument to instrument is more fun and more challenging.

Only if you want that. I've talked to Victor Wooten a couple of times, and he's regarded as one of the best bass players alive, yet every time I've seen him it would seem as if he's just started out. He is always looking for new stuff to learn and he still idolizes guys that, if you talked to them, would tell you they probably idolize Vic. Learning multiple instruments can be good, but so can spending time trying to master just one, because you'll never really get there.
Logged
Hello. My name is Inigo Montoya. You killed my father. Prepare to die.

Mars

  • Emoticontraindication
  • *
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 64
Re: Teaching myself bass guitar...
« Reply #73 on: 01 Jul 2008, 09:04 »

PassiveTheory, it is my opinion that you are completely wrong.

I have just as much fun playing bass as I do playing other instruments. The fact that I choose to play other instruments doesn't mean that a bassist has to or should. In fact, there are a lot of days when I wish I wasn't a multi-instrumentalist. It's harder to progress on any one given instrument when you need to split your time between three in order to maintain proficiency.
Logged

Albatron

  • Obscure cultural reference
  • **
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 148
Re: Teaching myself bass guitar...
« Reply #74 on: 01 Jul 2008, 20:35 »

Exactly, I want to be a least somewhat proficient on bass before I start really trying to learn other instruments.

Passive Theory, about bass solos, I was just pointing out their style and talent, I didn't really mean that I wanted to be a bass soloist or something, I was pointing out that bassists like Cliff Burton and John Entwhistle prove that bass doesn't have to be boring or barely listenable showboating like some Primus or Wooten can be,   
Logged

himynameisjulien

  • Guest
Re: Teaching myself bass guitar...
« Reply #75 on: 01 Jul 2008, 22:56 »

Pick up every album by The Who ever recorded. Right now. John Entwistle is the best bassist ever, period. This is an undisputed fact. Listen to the song "My Generation", it is the reason for bass players to live. I have a hard time playing that solo on guitar, with two extra strings that are much easier to fret and pick. He was actually originally going to make the solo even more complicated, but he wanted to use a Danelectro bass, because of the twang, and kept on breaking strings. Turned out, no one dealt Dano strings, and he had to buy a new bass every time he broke a set. He ended up just making the solo easier.
Logged

Thrillho

  • Global Moderator
  • Awakened
  • ****
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 13,130
  • Tall. Beets.
Re: Teaching myself bass guitar...
« Reply #76 on: 02 Jul 2008, 05:46 »

The whole idea of limiting yourself to one instrument is ridiculous.

Unless you, I dunno... want to?
Logged
In the end, the thing people will remember is kindness.

Albatron

  • Obscure cultural reference
  • **
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 148
Re: Teaching myself bass guitar...
« Reply #77 on: 02 Jul 2008, 14:01 »

Quick question, a friend of mine keeps telling me I need to learn chords, but I know you can't play chords the same way on bass that you do on a guitar, so do I just play the notes of the chord in succession or what?
Logged

Nodaisho

  • Vulcan 3-D Chess Master
  • *****
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 3,658
Re: Teaching myself bass guitar...
« Reply #78 on: 02 Jul 2008, 14:13 »

Why can't you play chords like on a guitar? It would be more difficult, given the heavier strings, but I don't see any reason you couldn't make chords the same way as you could on the lower four strings on a guitar. I could be wrong, though, I have limited experience playing a bass.
Logged
I took a duck in the face at two hundred and fifty knots

Chad K.

  • FIGHT YOU
  • ***
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 392
    • The Riveras
Re: Teaching myself bass guitar...
« Reply #79 on: 02 Jul 2008, 16:09 »

Quick question, a friend of mine keeps telling me I need to learn chords, but I know you can't play chords the same way on bass that you do on a guitar, so do I just play the notes of the chord in succession or what?

Bassplayers tend to use the word "chord" in a different sense than its customary usage in the guitar world.  A chord is just an interaction between three or more distinct notes, which may be reflected simultaneously, or in sequence.  So, yes, one way of playing a chord is playing the notes in succession.  For example, you could play a "C", "E" and "G" in succesion over a guitar's simultaneous playing of those notes, both of which would be a C major chord.  Typically, though when people use the term "chord" they are referring to playing notes simultaneously.  It is less common to do the latter on bass, but I really love playing simultaneous chords on bass. 

Why can't you play chords like on a guitar? It would be more difficult, given the heavier strings, but I don't see any reason you couldn't make chords the same way as you could on the lower four strings on a guitar. I could be wrong, though, I have limited experience playing a bass.

Because, on ocassion it sounds like ass.  I play must simultaneous chords toward the upper register to get some definition.  You are more likely to see a bassplayer play a diad, which is a grouping of two distinct notes played simultaneously, such as a power chord.

Logged

MadassAlex

  • Bling blang blong blung
  • *****
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 1,050
  • "Tasteful"?
Re: Teaching myself bass guitar...
« Reply #80 on: 02 Jul 2008, 22:52 »

Or! Have the bass player play the 3 note in the chord while the guitarist plays a power chord.
Logged

Thrillho

  • Global Moderator
  • Awakened
  • ****
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 13,130
  • Tall. Beets.
Re: Teaching myself bass guitar...
« Reply #81 on: 03 Jul 2008, 00:22 »

There's a lot of room for it, really, but it depends on how low you go down and what your tone is like, because it can end up sounding like mud. This is why baritone guitars are tricky too, because if you're not careful you've just got mush.
Logged
In the end, the thing people will remember is kindness.

Mars

  • Emoticontraindication
  • *
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 64
Re: Teaching myself bass guitar...
« Reply #82 on: 03 Jul 2008, 00:27 »

Bassplayers tend to use the word "chord" in a different sense than its customary usage in the guitar world.  A chord is just an interaction between three or more distinct notes, which may be reflected simultaneously, or in sequence.  So, yes, one way of playing a chord is playing the notes in succession.  For example, you could play a "C", "E" and "G" in succesion over a guitar's simultaneous playing of those notes, both of which would be a C major chord.  Typically, though when people use the term "chord" they are referring to playing notes simultaneously.  It is less common to do the latter on bass, but I really love playing simultaneous chords on bass.

Technically speaking, bassists are prone to playing chords arpeggiated, which is when they're broken up into a note sequence. It's a chord subtype (or scale subtype, depending on how you want to look at it). One doesn't usually refer to a chord as 'simultaneous;' simultaneity is assumed unless a distinguishing term like broken or arpeggiated is used.

If we want to be completely accurate, C E and G together are a C Major triad; there are a bunch of other C Major chords that are not triads, so the distinction is necessary.

Why can't you play chords like on a guitar? It would be more difficult, given the heavier strings, but I don't see any reason you couldn't make chords the same way as you could on the lower four strings on a guitar. I could be wrong, though, I have limited experience playing a bass.

It's for the same reason you don't play full chords through distortion. A bass guitar is right at the bottom of the frequency range (an upright with a C extension actually gets within spitting distance of the lower limit of the human ear). At those very low frequencies, the notes are very sensitive to the minor frequency oscillations that don't matter as much for higher-pitched notes. A bassist can play something similar to power chords and have it come out okay, for largely the same reason too. Distortion causes random frequency variations that cause a normal triad to become all dischordant and ugly.

The fifth is a great interval because of the harmonic interactions that mean it basically sounds good no matter what. There's a reason they call it perfect.

Somebody mentioned a dyad, which is really a harmonic interval. Dyads will commonly resolve better than triads or other more complex chords because there's less going on in terms of frequency interaction. The perfect fifth is possibly the most famous dyad ever, but calling it a power chord is a bit of a misnomer because it really isn't a chord at all (this is why when they're tabbed out power chords are always written with a 5, ie C5 or F#5).

Or! Have the bass player play the 3 note in the chord while the guitarist plays a power chord.

I... uh.. suppose you could do that. I was going to get into reasons why this might not be a good idea, but frankly from an artistic standpoint I see no reason why it shouldn't be used. Try it and see what happens.

Man, we're bordering on some pretty wackyfun stuff here. Am I nerd for loving music theory so damn much?
Logged

Albatron

  • Obscure cultural reference
  • **
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 148
Re: Teaching myself bass guitar...
« Reply #83 on: 03 Jul 2008, 04:11 »

Maybe, but youre awesome too. You explained a lot of what I wanted to know, now I just need to learn it.
Logged

Nodaisho

  • Vulcan 3-D Chess Master
  • *****
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 3,658
Re: Teaching myself bass guitar...
« Reply #84 on: 04 Jul 2008, 14:45 »

Man, we're bordering on some pretty wackyfun stuff here. Am I nerd for loving music theory so damn much?
Yes. NEEERRRD.
Logged
I took a duck in the face at two hundred and fifty knots

Albatron

  • Obscure cultural reference
  • **
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 148
Re: Teaching myself bass guitar...
« Reply #85 on: 14 Jul 2008, 08:30 »

so I've started looking at buying a bass, anyone care to give a crash course in bass buying? What should I look for or avoid
Logged

Thrillho

  • Global Moderator
  • Awakened
  • ****
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 13,130
  • Tall. Beets.
Re: Teaching myself bass guitar...
« Reply #86 on: 14 Jul 2008, 08:45 »

I think that the fretboard becomes more important with bass than it is with guitar. Sound wise, with bass you have far more leeway than guitar - but the fretboard I think is very important. So make sure to get the right one for you. I'm not too wise on models because I couldn't give you names anyway, but telling us what you plan to play might help.
Logged
In the end, the thing people will remember is kindness.

Darkstrike

  • Guest
Re: Teaching myself bass guitar...
« Reply #87 on: 14 Jul 2008, 08:48 »

How much are you looking to spend?




PS, anyone who says bass is boring just ain't doing it right!
Logged

The Albatross

  • Guest
Re: Teaching myself bass guitar...
« Reply #88 on: 14 Jul 2008, 20:20 »

I had the advantage of playing both trumpet and tuba before picking up the bass, so got timing, notes, and most basic music theory out of the way. So, I just went straight it training my ear and learning tabs to all of my favorite songs.

www.ultimate-guitar.com

Pretty much the best site available for tabs.

As one guy said earlier, it's heavily advised to pick up guitar or some other instrument after bass/during bass. Because, not to insult, but you're probably not a prodigy like Les Claypool, Flea, or Victor Wooten.
Logged

Mars

  • Emoticontraindication
  • *
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 64
Re: Teaching myself bass guitar...
« Reply #89 on: 14 Jul 2008, 20:42 »

so I've started looking at buying a bass, anyone care to give a crash course in bass buying? What should I look for or avoid

That depends. What do you want?

I'm going to go ahead and say don't spend a fortune on your first bass. If you're asking us what to look for then there's probably not any point in buying some really expensive uber-bass and then regretting it later because you prefer the really expensive uber-5 string.

I like my basses with 4 strings and my guitars with 6. All these crazy kids adding strings willy nilly just don't make no sense to me. Just sayin'.

As a general rule, you can get some lesser known brand instruments for much lower prices that are great quality and work really well for beginners. If you really look, you can even get some off-brand stuff that rivals the top names. There's no need to go for the Fender or Rickenbacker or whatever.

Umm, in terms of specific things to look for or avoid, there's really not too much. Go try a couple out and see what works best for you. Bass guitars are mostly solid body instruments and build quality isn't so make or break as it is for guitars, since nearly everything can be adjusted anyway. Just look at different pickup configurations, scale lengths, neck profiles, etc etc and see what works best for you. You should be able to find something that suits if your music store is larger than a broom closet.

And Albatross, not to insult but if you think you have to be Victor Wooten to enjoy playing bass than you should never have picked up the instrument in the first place.

Go back to your tuba, tuba boy.
Logged

The Albatross

  • Guest
Re: Teaching myself bass guitar...
« Reply #90 on: 14 Jul 2008, 20:53 »

Haha, I've actually heard tuba boy in person.

That didn't really come across as well as I wanted it to. What I was trying to say was that expanding your instrumental variety really helps with playing the bass. Because undeniably, bass guitar is the greatest instrument around. 
Logged

Darkstrike

  • Guest
Logged

Albatron

  • Obscure cultural reference
  • **
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 148
Re: Teaching myself bass guitar...
« Reply #92 on: 15 Jul 2008, 07:59 »

I'm looking hard at that squire.

I think i want a versitile bass, I'll be playing rock or metal but that's all i know.

Albatross, I think I know what you mean. I've been fiddling around with guitar and piano, and they do help.
Logged

Darkstrike

  • Guest
Re: Teaching myself bass guitar...
« Reply #93 on: 15 Jul 2008, 08:20 »

Thats why I mentioned the P Bass, they pretty much work in any situation.

This is a more versatile P,
http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/Squier-Standard-P-Bass-Special-4String-Bass-Guitar?sku=510569

You could try a Jazz.
http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/Squier-Vintage-Modified-70s-Jazz-Bass?sku=519639
But the best thing of all to do is, go to your local shop, try out a bunch of different basses, and see which you like.

What's your price range?
What band's do you like?



Logged

Phaedra

  • Larger than most fish
  • **
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 115
Re: Teaching myself bass guitar...
« Reply #94 on: 04 Aug 2008, 19:05 »

Hello all, I am a bass newbie* and would like to know what you guys would recommend in terms of effects pedals. I'm looking for anything that'll add cool reverb/distortion/etc (the band I'm in** is a wannabe drone/post rock group). Since I know crap all about music, I don't even know where to start, so help would be appreciated. :wink:


*I've 'had' a bass for about half a year. Mostly I come home from work, look at it sadly, and am too tired to play it.
**Only one of us has been playing for longer than a few months. We have three guitars and a bass. Essentially, we're not a band, just bored kids. Kids that are over 21.
Logged

tomselleck69

  • FIGHT YOU
  • ***
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 438
  • Now We All Have Metal Skin
    • Harold Bloom
Re: Teaching myself bass guitar...
« Reply #95 on: 04 Aug 2008, 19:42 »

Boss and Ibanez make bass overdrive pedals and MXR makes a bass fuzz, all 3 can be found for under 100 bucks.

Boss pedals are pretty reliable in general. MXRs are also reliable and maybe a little more "unique" than Boss pedals. I've never used the Ibanez pedal, but I own another one from the Tone-Loc series and it is sturdy as hell, if a little hollow-sounding (it's not a distortion or a bass pedal so I don't know if there's any comparison here). The Ibanez is the cheapest, but if price is not a concern, I'd lean toward the MXR or the Boss.

Couldn't find much in the way of bass-specific reverb (except for a couple expensive ones), but I know Danelectro makes some basic reverb pedals that are both dirt cheap and very nice-sounding when a guitar is played through them.



Uh.. I mean, don't buy effects pedals until you have been playing for a while.
« Last Edit: 04 Aug 2008, 19:44 by tomselleck69 »
Logged
"Cocks." - Harold Bloom

parm

  • Obscure cultural reference
  • **
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 144
Re: Teaching myself bass guitar...
« Reply #96 on: 05 Aug 2008, 00:34 »

Uh.. I mean, don't buy effects pedals until you have been playing for a while.

This.

I use a Bass Pod XT Live for pretty well everything (I've actually been known to ditch the separate amp/cab and use in-ear monitors and the amp/cap emulation in the Pod in smaller venues; it's not ideal, but it sure does make sound engineers happy and it means you can be as loud as you like without fucking up the mix).
Logged
You've got spunk and balls, Jen. And I like that in a woman.

Phaedra

  • Larger than most fish
  • **
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 115
Re: Teaching myself bass guitar...
« Reply #97 on: 05 Aug 2008, 05:29 »

Uh.. I mean, don't buy effects pedals until you have been playing for a while.

This.

Well yeah, but it's still fun to see what's out there to be played with. I'm definitely not (and probably won't be for a number of years) confident enough to be playing to an audience; it's a dilettante hobby for me.

Addendum: Out of curiosity, what would you define as "a while"?
« Last Edit: 05 Aug 2008, 05:33 by Phaedra »
Logged

pwhodges

  • Admin emeritus
  • Awakened
  • *
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 17,241
  • I'll only say this once...
    • My home page
Re: Teaching myself bass guitar...
« Reply #98 on: 05 Aug 2008, 05:36 »

just bored kids. Kids that are over 21.

Your avatar captures that rather well.
Logged
"Being human, having your health; that's what's important."  (from: Magical Shopping Arcade Abenobashi )
"As long as we're all living, and as long as we're all having fun, that should do it, right?"  (from: The Eccentric Family )

parm

  • Obscure cultural reference
  • **
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 144
Re: Teaching myself bass guitar...
« Reply #99 on: 05 Aug 2008, 07:10 »

Uh.. I mean, don't buy effects pedals until you have been playing for a while.

This.

Well yeah, but it's still fun to see what's out there to be played with. I'm definitely not (and probably won't be for a number of years) confident enough to be playing to an audience; it's a dilettante hobby for me.

Addendum: Out of curiosity, what would you define as "a while"?

I dunno. I was going to write a load of wank about how you should get to know your instrument properly before fucking up its tone with effects, but really, if you just want to get together with some mates and jam, just go for it because if you start getting bogged down with purist muso crap now, you'll never actually enjoy to whole playing in a band thing.

So I guess my actual recommendation would be to, y'know, just do whatever now. Have fun, jam, make riotous noise that everyone else hates but you think is awesome and just enjoy that whole thing, because playing in a band is really, really fun. Then once you're more comfortable around your instrument you can start paying more attention to how it really sounds and start worrying about tone and technique and matching effects to tone and all that.
Logged
You've got spunk and balls, Jen. And I like that in a woman.
Pages: 1 [2] 3   Go Up