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Basically , i've decided to pick up playing the bass again and i was looking for a couple of pieces of advice.

1)what are some good songs to learn-I'm pretty open minded but i prefer metal and rock ,but i will learn nearly anything if it will benefit me.

2) what are some good exercises to do to improve general playing?

3)What is a better technique to learn -finger picking or using a plectrum.

Thanks a load dakka ,any un-releated advice is also really appreciated

Really depends on how far along you are already, but learning various funk/blues will help hone your skills, though a lot of speed metal ( Old Metalica) is fun to play as well.

Are you looking for scale excercises, dexterity?
Lot's of video on you tube and such..

http://www.monkeysee.com/play/1918-bass-fingering-and-dexterity-exercises

I prefer finger/slap...but using a pick is a bit easier if your just starting, though I find it a bit harder to " feel" things when using a pick.

FITZZ wrote: I prefer finger/slap...

I always expected as much. Of course I didn't know you played bass.

Ahtman wrote:

FITZZ wrote: I prefer finger/slap...

I always expected as much. Of course I didn't know you played bass.

... Bind/whip is even better.

Yeah, I've been playing since I was twelve...so...just over a hundred and fifty years now.

Thanks fitzz that should come in handy ,In terms of level i'm slightly above amateur.

I had a teacher but he went off the rails so lessons stopped ,which was a royal pain in the ass.

blackclaw1 wrote:Thanks fitzz that should come in handy ,In terms of level i'm slightly above amateur.

I had a teacher but he went off the rails so lessons stopped ,which was a royal pain in the ass.

Glad to help when I can.
I'm basicly self taught, spent a lot of time just sitting down with my bass and a stack of records ( yes records) and figuring things out...
I would suggest getting some copies of Guitar/Bass player magazine, they have tabulature in the back that can be helpful for learning songs, plus you can find TAB for just about any song online...after that it's just a matter of learning the songs, and developing your own styles.
Just keep at it man and good luck, and remember...Bass players " Feel" the music.

Thanks , lately i've just been at with the tabs for another one bites the dust and played that to death , its coming along nicely,i'll pick up said magazine , probably less of an advertising pamphlet than an unmentioned dwarf

blackclaw1 wrote:Thanks , lately i've just been at with the tabs for another one bites the dust and played that to death , its coming along nicely,i'll pick up said magazine , probably less of an advertising pamphlet than an unmentioned dwarf

...You'll still get clobbered with a lot of adds..but the differance is you'll find some useful stuff in along with the adds.

At least with most magazine i can get something from the adds that i might find useful rather than the passive , "you might like this " style of white dwarf

Think you might enjoy this, this man ( Larry Graham) is my inspiration...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j2_SreKsg2k

Get GuitarPro, awesome program and great for learning. What kind of bass do you have?

Pick up the instrument and play. Learn some theory too, but the main thing is making the tool become a part of your being, just like breathing. Learn to speak the language of music (where you hear it in your head and it just comes out). It's more about it being natural than any one technique. The technical aspects are very important as well, but not so important to interrupt your time really getting to be one with the instrument, or music in general IMO.

"You just pick a chord, go twang, and you've got music." ~ Sid Vicious

I used to put on Clutch and figure out the bass lines to their songs to play along. Not only am I a huge fan of Clutch, but they have a funky/rock/blues thing going on, so it varied in style greatly. I miss doing that, maybe someday Ill get a new bass (mine pretty much took a gak and is wall art now) and start doing that again. I agree with FITZZ though, that was the best way for me to learn

As for things to do to improve skill, the best thing you can do is play with other musicians. It helps train your ear, and gets you used to working with a drummer among other things. Even if you're just jamming or playing easy covers, playing with others is the fastest way to learn.

"You just pick a chord, go twang, and you've got music." ~ Sid Vicious

Sid Vicious is about the worst person to quote in this situation.

He couldn't play the bass for gak.

Chrysaor686 wrote:

"You just pick a chord, go twang, and you've got music." ~ Sid Vicious

Sid Vicious is about the worst person to quote in this situation.

He couldn't play the bass for gak.

He actually could play better than a lot of people give him credit for, not that being a competent musician had anything to do with why Sid was tapped to replace Matlock as the Sex Pistols bassist.

FITZZ wrote:

Chrysaor686 wrote:

"You just pick a chord, go twang, and you've got music." ~ Sid Vicious

Sid Vicious is about the worst person to quote in this situation.

He couldn't play the bass for gak.

He actually could play better than a lot of people give him credit for, not that being a competent musician had anything to do with why Sid was tapped to replace Matlock as the Sex Pistols bassist.

I just like the quote I admire the oldschool punk rockers in spirit, but we've obviously advanced a bit on the technical front.

Cannerus_The_Unbearable wrote:

FITZZ wrote:

Chrysaor686 wrote:

"You just pick a chord, go twang, and you've got music." ~ Sid Vicious

Sid Vicious is about the worst person to quote in this situation.

He couldn't play the bass for gak.

He actually could play better than a lot of people give him credit for, not that being a competent musician had anything to do with why Sid was tapped to replace Matlock as the Sex Pistols bassist.

I just like the quote I admire the oldschool punk rockers in spirit, but we've obviously advanced a bit on the technical front.

Sort of funny that part of what "spawned" punk was the fact that music had become to technical and bloated.

FITZZ wrote:

Chrysaor686 wrote:

"You just pick a chord, go twang, and you've got music." ~ Sid Vicious

Sid Vicious is about the worst person to quote in this situation.

He couldn't play the bass for gak.

He actually could play better than a lot of people give him credit for, not that being a competent musician had anything to do with why Sid was tapped to replace Matlock as the Sex Pistols bassist.

I beg to differ.... they used to unplug him at shows because he was so awful.

One band that really helped my learn how to bass was Black Sabbath - not that hard to play, fun to play, and everyone loves to hear Sabbath

The only way to get better is to play! And play often! Don't get discouraged...if you're having trouble, just slow the song down and play it piece by piece.

EDIT: Spelling/more advice

Well, I started with bands like System of a Down, Black Sabbath, Foghat, Deep Purple, and the like, if you're into that sort of thing. Anything related to Ozzy is a good idea, he usually keeps good bassists in tow.

As far as techniques go, just find a song that's hard to play, take it slow, and gradually work your way up. Definitely need to get a drum machine/metronome (prefereably a drum machine). Rhythm is extremely important for the bassist, and always hearing the beat and keeping it is important.

Just play songs you like a lot. Over and over. For funky fingerstyle I suggest CAKE, Chili Peppers, and The Who. Mostly CAKE.

Also, welcome to the low end.

nectarprime wrote:

FITZZ wrote:

Chrysaor686 wrote:

"You just pick a chord, go twang, and you've got music." ~ Sid Vicious

Sid Vicious is about the worst person to quote in this situation.

He couldn't play the bass for gak.

He actually could play better than a lot of people give him credit for, not that being a competent musician had anything to do with why Sid was tapped to replace Matlock as the Sex Pistols bassist.

I beg to differ.... they used to unplug him at shows because he was so awful.

Perhaps you misunderstood my point, I'm in no way at all saying Sid was a talented bass player ( or even a good one), I'm simply saying that there is a school of thought that he had absolutely no idea how to play ( see Sid & Nancy), and that's simply not the fact, he could and did learn some basic chords/ riffs ( this is an A,This is a G, this is an E...go start a band).
Now, the main reason why he'd end up getting the plug pulled on him at some shows was due to the fact that he'd be so wasted he fethed up everything he learned, it's splitting hairs I know...but there is a differance between "can't play" and " too wasted to play."
But overall....Sid wasn't a good bass player in any way shape or form...but then...he was never meant to be.

No mention of Primus/Sausage?

Ahtman wrote:No mention of Primus/Sausage?

Primus is awesome, and Les Claypool is an amazing bassist, but they're not a band to learn how to play to...he's "unconventional" slap-bassist at best

Ahtman wrote:No mention of Primus/Sausage?

Flamenco-style bass technique is an awful place to start; it will cripple your basic technique and warp your conception of the instrument completely (and it's really hard not to sound sloppy with Flamenco). It's best to get into once you have a good foundation, unless your only aspiration is to sound like Les Claypool.

Claypool's riffs can be incredibly difficult and frustrating to pull off as well; I'd stay away from them until you could place yourself at about an intermediate level. Even then, a few songs should be reserved for masters of the instrument. They also won't teach you a damn thing about rhythm or timing; Claypool tends to lead Primus, with Lalonde provide adequate background noise.

Three words:

John. Paul. Muthafething. Jones.








OK, so that's four, but still...

Albatross wrote:Three words:

John. Paul. Muthafething. Jones

Chrysaor686 wrote:

Ahtman wrote:No mention of Primus/Sausage?

Flamenco-style bass technique is an awful place to start; it will cripple your basic technique and warp your conception of the instrument completely (and it's really hard not to sound sloppy with Flamenco). It's best to get into once you have a good foundation, unless your only aspiration is to sound like Les Claypool.

Claypool's riffs can be incredibly difficult and frustrating to pull off as well; I'd stay away from them until you could place yourself at about an intermediate level. Even then, a few songs should be reserved for masters of the instrument. They also won't teach you a damn thing about rhythm or timing; Claypool tends to lead Primus, with Lalonde provide adequate background noise.

Ill agree here. Claypool is certainly one you could argue to be one of the greats on a bass, but the problem is, his skill is so friggin high, that to try and start off learning it would be very difficult and probably make you not want to play

There is alot more to being a bassist than playing fancy slap stuff. If you can play that stuff, but can't keep a groove, keep time, or lay down the foundation for a song, you're going to have a hard time finding a band.

Not that there's anything wrong with them, but bands like Primus are not the norm. Usually the bassist's usual role is to be the backbone of the rest of the sound, not the lead instrument.

I would reccomend learing some Rage Against The Machine...simple, yet awesome bass lines