Another n00b wanting to learn the bass

[FuseG4]

How are you gentlemen.

Anyways I've been lurking in this Bassment room and listening to my favorite music and lately the sound of electric bass is just makin me itch.

I want to start simple. No questions about tone or gear. Gonna grab an affinity p bass and a rumble 15. Enough to learn to play the NOTES

My taste in music is rock, blues, punk and ska punk. I feel like the bass will give me a new challenge while reinforcing music knowledge that I hope can work it's way into my 6 string playing too.

You guys know some good books or DVDs to launch my learning?

Anyways looking to hopefully purchase the bass at least before the end of August. I'm stoked!!1!

My list of bass heroes is growing but so far I like Bill Wyman, John Entwistle, Mike Dirnt, Flea, U-ta from Buck-Tick, Nikki Sixx, Geddy Lee, and Jay Bentley.

Anyways just wanted to say hi and I hope to get to know you guys in the bass forum better and I look forward to learning the bass!

 

[Falloffthebonetone]

Re: Another n00b wanting to learn the bass

Do you already know guitar? If so a LOT carries over.

 

[Funkfingers]

Re: Another n00b wanting to learn the bass

Do you wish to play Low Register Guitar things or do you think of bass in a wider sense?

The price of a brand new Squier Affinity P or J Bass should land you a pre-owned example of a better quality instrument. e.g. Ibanez Soundgear, Cort Action, Yamaha RBX. In the longer term, such an instrument would make a fine host for pickup upgrades.

 

[BlueTalon]

Re: Another n00b wanting to learn the bass

Hi Fuse. You said no questions about gear, but if I could recommend something to you, when you get your bass, don't get the uber-cheap stuff. Nothing wrong with Squier, but rather than getting a bass from their Affinity line, move up to their Classic Vibe or Vintage Modified line. As a guitar player, you already know the quality of your guitar makes a big difference. You could get lucky with an Affinity, but it's likely to be the difference between a bass you might outgrow in a couple of months vs a bass you might outgrow in a couple of years.

 

[FuseG4]

Re: Another n00b wanting to learn the bass

Thanks guys! I'll re evaluate my affinity decision. And I want to learn to keep the groove and not treat it like a 6 string. I wanna get beyond playing the root and the fifth while reinforcing the melody and keep fills simple and sparse. Not wanking around like I'm the front man or nothing, if that makes sense?
I'll check out the basses you all mentioned

 

[FuseG4]

Re: Another n00b wanting to learn the bass

Do you already know guitar? If so a LOT carries over.

I don't claim to be a master or even close and I don't know a ton of songs note for note but I really enjoy doing my best rendition of my favorite songs and I know some chords, some scales, a little theory (I want to learn more theory as time permits!) and some riffs and licks. I play as a hobbyist, I mostly just enjoy hearing and playing "my version" of the songs I love in front of an amp as loud as I can crank it at any given time.

Do you wish to play Low Register Guitar things or do you think of bass in a wider sense?

The price of a brand new Squier Affinity P or J Bass should land you a pre-owned example of a better quality instrument. e.g. Ibanez Soundgear, Cort Action, Yamaha RBX. In the longer term, such an instrument would make a fine host for pickup upgrades.

I looked up some of those basses and to be honest, looks are important to me, and I dig the p bass, jazz bass, stingray, EB, and rickenbacker 4001/4003 shape the most. But you got me thinking about new things.

but I'm a little confused, what is playing the bass like a low registered guitar like? Do people do that? What's that sound like, is it desirable at all? I always thought the bass was the "foundation".

Hi Fuse. You said no questions about gear, but if I could recommend something to you, when you get your bass, don't get the uber-cheap stuff. Nothing wrong with Squier, but rather than getting a bass from their Affinity line, move up to their Classic Vibe or Vintage Modified line. As a guitar player, you already know the quality of your guitar makes a big difference. You could get lucky with an Affinity, but it's likely to be the difference between a bass you might outgrow in a couple of months vs a bass you might outgrow in a couple of years.

And I guess I didn't mean that YOU can't ask ME questions about gear or tone or my choices on those, but that I at the time thought I didn't have questions on gear or tone. I really just want to learn bass as "from the ground up" as possible, without overthinking tone or gear like I did in my early guitar days. I mean I still GAS sometimes. Sometimes a lot. But I don't trade guitars and amps around like I used to and I don't blame my gear for what I can't play like I did when I started.
And again I think I see what you guys are saying. I'll try to buy the best bass I can afford. The Squier vintage modified PJ looks HOT to me.

thanks for your support everyone. I want this to be fun and interesting and so far it is and I don't even have a bass yet.

 

[blueman335]

Re: Another n00b wanting to learn the bass

Hi Fuse. You said no questions about gear, but if I could recommend something to you, when you get your bass, don't get the uber-cheap stuff. Nothing wrong with Squier, but rather than getting a bass from their Affinity line, move up to their Classic Vibe or Vintage Modified line. As a guitar player, you already know the quality of your guitar makes a big difference. You could get lucky with an Affinity, but it's likely to be the difference between a bass you might outgrow in a couple of months vs a bass you might outgrow in a couple of years.

+1. Squire Classic Vibe models are decent these days. I upgraded my CV '70's Jazz Bass with a pair of used Fender Geddy Lee PU's.

As another guitarist learning bass, 4 strings are MUCH easier to make the conversion with, as at least you have a reference point with the low E string. With a 5 string bass, I have to stop and think what note the frets are.

 

[Funkfingers]

Re: Another n00b wanting to learn the bass

Thinking, eh? :scratchch



Fuse. By "low register guitar things", I meant plectrum style and, probably, playing in unison with the guitar riff. In short, Metal.

Most of the bassists named checked in your OP go way beyond this. They think outside the box and, in some cases, attack their strings in unconventional ways. Some of your listed bassists came to the instrument from double bass rather than guitar. The mindset is different. Jack Bruce is a good example of this. In my opinion, the supreme* example is James Jamerson.

*Pun only partially intended!

 

[FuseG4]

Re: Another n00b wanting to learn the bass

Yup definitely looking to do the 4 string bass.

 

[Rich_S]

Re: Another n00b wanting to learn the bass

Squier CV FTW. My son has a secksie sonic blue CV '60s P-bass and it's awesome. Also upgradeable if you so desire.

 

[marcboomer]

Re: Another n00b wanting to learn the bass

As far as helpful tools to use as you grow on the instrument, I gained a lot of knowledge and enjoyment learning from the DVD, CD Series called "Standing in the Shadows of Motown".

 

[FuseG4]

Re: Another n00b wanting to learn the bass

As far as helpful tools to use as you grow on the instrument, I gained a lot of knowledge and enjoyment learning from the DVD, CD Series called "Standing in the Shadows of Motown".

I'll look into that thanks!

 

[uOpt]

Re: Another n00b wanting to learn the bass

Not to bring out the gearslut, but really cheap basses can destroy the fun, worse than guitar (as long as a guitar has usable frets). Obviously anything with scale length != 34" should be out.

Kramer Focus, Ibanez Roadstar and the like can be had for $250 or so.

Oh and get good strings.

 

[blueman335]

Re: Another n00b wanting to learn the bass

\Obviously anything with scale length != 34" should be out.

Not so obvious. I don't even know what this means. Is this a typo or two, or is it in code?

 

[Funkfingers]

Re: Another n00b wanting to learn the bass

My guess is that the exclamation mark and equals sign together were intended to be a mathematical symbol. Candidates include the ones for "less than or equal to" and "greater than or equal to".

IMO, either of these scale length assertions is bogus. Nothing wrong with shorter scale lengths. Indeed, Bill Wyman has been strongly associated with them. Nothing wrong with longer than standard scale lengths either. The increased string tension helps with a heavy gauge low string.

 

[hydro]

Re: Another n00b wanting to learn the bass

I want to learn to keep the groove and not treat it like a 6 string. [/QUOTE

You are already a better bass player than me! (I am a frustrated bass player who turned to guitar).

Welcome to the forum and all the best!

 

[hydro]

Re: Another n00b wanting to learn the bass

Also I would never presume to know anything at all about bass gear (or any other kind of gear for that matter) but I have always enjoyed playing the Ibanez SR series basses, many of which are inexpensive and are very playable.

 

[dystrust]

Re: Another n00b wanting to learn the bass

!= means not equal. It's pretty standard programming notation which is where I know it from.

I really like Ibanez SRs for inexpensive basses. I bought longcat's SR400 used from Guitar Center for $160 shipped including an EMG P/J set.

 

[Funkfingers]

Re: Another n00b wanting to learn the bass

≠
(alt + =)

 

[BlueTalon]

Re: Another n00b wanting to learn the bass

While a short scale bass is a viable option, life is just easier with a 34" scale bass. Get used to playing one, and you can play anywhere someone has a bass to play, and buying strings is a breeze.