Learning to play Bass?

[phantomtek]

Hi guys,

Been trying at my guitar for a while now, but after pissing about a bit and plucking it like a bass I reckon I will probably get further with an actual bass guitar. Plus I've always really liked the sound of the bass but the sound of people like Kirk Hammett busting out a ripping riff compared to the relative boredom experienced listening to Newstead (Although an unfair comparison, I know) made me choose to buy an electric guitar. After listening to and learning more about people like Mike King and Cliff Burton, bass seems more appealing. Added to the fact me and my housemate have both chosen to learn an instrument during the holidays and he chose electric guitar, I'm thinking seen as I can't have the drumset I want, a bass guitar will compliment his instrument just fine.

Anyway, after searching the forum, there isn't much about actually learning to play bass, how difficult is it? I'm thinking of just getting a cheap one from cash converters or gumtree to learn on, are the leads for the amps the same? As I already have a decentish amp that I could use!

What are good Metallica songs to start with? I want to play Pulling Teeth or Orion but I think I'll start abit easier for now! I would also consider songs by The Jam or The Police, as Sting and Bruce Foxton were decent bassists, any songs named must be by a band I like or I won't have the motivation to play them!

I wasn't going to make a thread, but then I found this thread on a similar subject and decided the comical overwriting of the originally posted pictures was too much to resist, but it didn't warrant its own thread.

https://www.bikechatforums.com/viewtopic.php?t=94541&highlight=bass+guitar

Keep scrolling down, its worth it, christ knows what thread that picture was for!

Cheers guys!

[Flip]

Enter Sandman?

[phantomtek]

[Flip]

Well here's a load of Metallica bass stuff.

https://www.youtube.com/profile?user=dxbrbnkhd&view=videos#uploads/0/iJ56Z3mtMA0

[phantomtek]

[KLR600]

Ah, another guitarist coming to the darkside...

Don't think bass is easier than guitar just because there's less strings. When you get past the basics it's just as hard as guitar and you also have a much more important role within a band playing bass than you do playing guitar (fact!).

Do yourself a massive favour and have a few lessons to begin with. You can try and learn as much as you like from all the tutorial books and dvd's and youtube and whatnot but when you're just starting out I'd really recommend you go for a few lessons just so you can start learning the right way. I got one of those tutorial books with my first bass and then started on lessons a few weeks later. Although I'd only learnt a few exercises from the book I spent the first few lessons unlearning bad habits! Yeah sure there's gifted bassists who never had a formal lesson in their lives and the Stones never learnt theory yadda yadda but getting help with the basics from the beginning makes everything after that a million times easier.

After you've nailed the basics is when you should be looking to learn songs that you like as you'll be better prepared to play them and more likely to succeed and then more likely to carry on playing! You wouldn't jump on a bike and be able to kneedown straight away for example. Metallica songs aren't really beginner friendly from what I understand (I never really got into the whole Metallica scene but I know a lot of bassists cite Cliff Burton as an influence) so don't be dis-heartened if you can't play them straight away. Also, a lot of Metallica songs require down tuning or extended range basses which is a lot of info to be processing when you've just got over what the strings are called!

Guitar and bass leads are the same but be carefull about what amps you put a bass through as it'll blow a guitar speaker if you crank it too much and will generally sound a bit pants through a small guitar amp anyway. Cash converter basses are generally crap. Can you not stretch to a Squier or a beginner Ibanez bass? You'd be looking at around £150/200 but it'd be an infinitely more playable bass than something you'd find in cash converters.

[GhostRider]

The intro to "My Friend of Misery". It's so easy even my penis can do it, and it sounds pretty cool too! (the song....not my penis... it doesn't make noises....which I find rather unfortunate after thinking about it)

GhostRider
____________________
I have all the characteristics of a human being: blood, flesh, skin, hair; but not a single, clear, identifiable emotion, except for greed and disgust. Something horrible is happening inside of me and I don't know why. My nightly bloodlust has overflown into my days. I feel lethal, on the verge of frenzy. I think my mask of sanity is about to slip.

[Flip]

Personally, I'm pleased that I have a quiet penis. The last thing you wan to hear is your cocks muffled mumblings during sex.

[Howling TerrorOutOfOffice]

Hi, good advice from KLR600, i'm self-taught and wish i'd been shown how to hold the bass properly. 4fret stretches would of been easier thats for sure. Its all about technique and timing with the bass, (never ) You can get away with murder when playing guitar, but mess up the timing and the drummer will batter you. Sorry i'm rambling...yeah get lessons before buying.
My suggestions for a first Bass would be a Cort Action IV(Korean built maybe,but to a higher standard than most(i know i've tried lots in the 150-250 bracket)) As for amps, well i just played on a lovely little practice amp by Line6 (LOWDOWN LD15) £80

Respect the Bass

Pat
____________________
Diabolical homemade music Bandcamp and Soundcloud
Singer songwriter, Artist and allround good bloke Listen to Andrew Susan Johnston here
The Harry Turner Project

[phantomtek]

Cheers guys, answered all my questions and more! Think I will leave it for now then, until I have saved up for a better guitar. Maybe will have a few lessons too, though at £25 each it will just be a few haha.

Post as many pictures as you guys want! Especially of your Roland if you still have it, I'm so jealous!

[phantomtek]

Cash Converters have a good condition Ibanez Gio for £90....is this the sort of thing that would be good to learn on? After a quick Google I see it is the budget line that Ibanez make, so not sure!

[youdrovemetoi...]

what guitar have you got? i'm in the opposite situation, got an electric shine bass with 50w peavy amp and would prefer guitar.
possibility for a straight swap here i guess..?

[Howling TerrorOutOfOffice]

When i'm after some new kit its not always possible to try it out, so i resort to review searches..Try Harmony Central user reviews...it helps a bit, be aware of gushing reviews from teens(their 1st instrument seems to be the best... EVER)

Pat
Any instrument that has the power to make you lose control of your bowels is underrated.
____________________
Diabolical homemade music Bandcamp and Soundcloud
Singer songwriter, Artist and allround good bloke Listen to Andrew Susan Johnston here
The Harry Turner Project

[phantomtek]

[youdrovemetoi...]

not a great fan of stagg, was hoping you'd say squier!
what amp have you got with it?

[phantomtek]

[wreckage]

If you want a decent enough Bass, you could do a lot worse than a Dean Metalman,
Dean was good enough for Dime, well before some twat shot him anyway,
Even the budget Dean bass's are good enough to take you from learning to giging without having to buy another bass..
And they look damned hot too...
____________________
One day I'll take my test again, honest

[Flip]

Dean guitars, f*ck me they made some money since Dime was shot. I bet they're chuffed to f*ck.

[wreckage]

[hellkat]

How about Nice n Sleazy - Stranglers.


Nice and sleazy nice and sleazy duzzit duzzit duzzit every time.

Bass = officially sexy
(hellkat seal of approval)
____________________
Not nearly as interesting in real life.

[wreckage]

Bass all the way if you ask me, If i didn't drink so bloody much in the Crobar I'd have my Dean ML Metalman 2 By now..
____________________
One day I'll take my test again, honest

[Howling TerrorOutOfOffice]

Is she trying to get out of that clitoris
Liberation for women
That's what I preach




https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aMo9BVYzCI0



Pat
A BlackBelt Bass player is sexy even for a hetro like me
____________________
Diabolical homemade music Bandcamp and Soundcloud
Singer songwriter, Artist and allround good bloke Listen to Andrew Susan Johnston here
The Harry Turner Project

[GhostRider]

[Flip]

Either Dean are the greatest guitars in the world or everyone is jumping on a band wagon. I need to play one to find out.

[phantomtek]

Just an update on this, turns out a mate was selling a bass and amp fairly cheap so I decided to jump at it whilst I could, as the price I got it for even if it was turd I could still probably sell it on for the same price, and the amp is a bass amp so it makes it easier for me. It is in great condition and I have been playing it all morning and I gotta say I love it! So much better for me than guitar, going to keep practicing and save up for some lessons too, found a good site to teach me in the meantime and I have Guitar Pro which also helps alot.

Already learnt 'Walking on the Moon' and had a bash at 'Orion' (No chance )

Any other songs you can think of that are easy for beginners on both guitar and bass let me know!

Cheers guys, seems like I've found my true calling in my musical life