Members Kongle Posted August 23, 2005 Members Posted August 23, 2005 Hey guys! I'm getting myself a brand new bass guitar and therefore need some advice. This is my first bass and I've just started learning how to play. So far I've ordered: Bass guitar (a Peavey) Strap Cable Tuner Bass Stand And I will loan an amp from a friend. Do I need something more?If you have some advice for a fresh bass player I'll gladly receive them:D Thank you so much for reading my post!
Members dert_stylus Posted August 23, 2005 Members Posted August 23, 2005 LESSONS ! AT LEAST A FEW !!! BEST INVESTMENT YOU WILL EVER MAKE !!
Members james on bass Posted August 23, 2005 Members Posted August 23, 2005 Welcome to our frequencies! +1 on a couple of lessons. Lots of passion and perseverance as well. Oh yeah, you'll need a preamp with that. Also - stay away from Lug!
Members twostone Posted August 23, 2005 Members Posted August 23, 2005 To me the most freakin importants is TUNING and that goes for all musician's nothing worse then being out of tune with a band. Tuner's help but I've seen guys use tuners but be out of tune with each other and they sound like {censored}.
Members NV43345 Posted August 23, 2005 Members Posted August 23, 2005 You will need a case or Gig Bag if the Bass does not come with one. Stay at it and dont worry it will get easier the more you practice. +1 on the lessons, find a local Bass player willing to show you how to play. Bass players are a tight bunch and we are always willing to help another Bass player.
Members Ron C Posted August 23, 2005 Members Posted August 23, 2005 Lessons and an evil grin on your face!
Members Perfessor Posted August 23, 2005 Members Posted August 23, 2005 Work. Listen. Watch. Work some more. Learn to read.
Members Thrash Jazz Posted August 23, 2005 Members Posted August 23, 2005 Originally posted by james on bass Also - stay away from Lug! Actually, his stuff can be a valuable learning tool.. Try listening to one or two Lug mp3's. If you survive with your eardrums and/or digestive system intact, avoid doing everything that he did, and do everything he didn't do. In all seriousness, though, a few lessons can be a blessing as they'll help you avoid bad habits. Also, learn to read music - it will come in handy.
Members lug Posted August 23, 2005 Members Posted August 23, 2005 Yeh, stay away from me, funny-colored fontman!
Members Fran da Man Posted August 23, 2005 Members Posted August 23, 2005 Originally posted by twostone To me the most freakin importants is TUNING and that goes for all musician's nothing worse then being out of tune with a band. Tuner's help but I've seen guys use tuners but be out of tune with each other and they sound like {censored}. Main thing with a band being out of tune...believe it or not different tuners will make that difference. Meaning if bass uses a pedal tuner, the git a handheld, and the ryhtm using a diferent pedal, someones going to be short a few cents somewhere. Or better yet everybody taking a tuned
Members Kongle Posted August 23, 2005 Author Members Posted August 23, 2005 Thanks for all the answers. LESSONS = important (noted!) And tuning. Is it just me or is it a bit difficult to tune a bass manually? I have done it, but it took me way more time to get it right than tuning a guitar would. Does it get better with practise or is it simply harder? I have ordered a gig bag as well, just forgot to put it down! I am already in a band, so one of my best friends play bass, and has already helped me a lot. So you are right when you say bass players are helpful. Without his help things would have been difficult and far more confusing! I know how to read chords, tabs (bass and guitar) and have played the piano for 11 years, so I think I'll do fine...or what? Oh, and one more thing: What is a pre-amp? I have a feeling I should know that by now..
Members Bluescout Posted August 23, 2005 Members Posted August 23, 2005 Sounds like you have started out exactly the same as I did. I got a cheap bass, cord, strap and tuner. I borrowed amps, other basses and rubbed elbows with every bass player I knew to get a few hints and tips out of them. The most important thing for ME was to keep it fun. I played with tunes on the radio and MP3s mostly. Don't get ahead of yourself by loading yourself up with lessons and expensive equipment.
Members kilmister Posted August 23, 2005 Members Posted August 23, 2005 Originally posted by Bluescout Don't get ahead of yourself by loading yourself up with lessons and expensive equipment. I think lessons are a good idea for some basics, but I definately agree about the equipment. All the cool stuff in the world will still sound like crap if you can't play.
Members Kongle Posted August 23, 2005 Author Members Posted August 23, 2005 Yeah... First out I thought of buying a Fender Aerodyne, but came to realize that hey, I only need a bass I can learn to play on. So I figured a pretty little peavey would do the trick. Keeping it fun will definitly be important. Once I get the hang of it I will sing as I play (probably on stage as well), because singing is really what I do! And if I combine two things I love and like I think it'll be fun.
Members 1tallbassguy Posted August 23, 2005 Members Posted August 23, 2005 I'm suprised this hasn't been mentioned yet, but, get yourself a metronome. This will help you learn to keep a rythm. Use it when you practice. There is a virtual metronome here: http://www.ori.org/~kenl/qt/metronome.html
Members rovito Posted August 23, 2005 Members Posted August 23, 2005 Please remember that you are not a guitar player. The differance is like football and baseball. They both are played on a field. They both use a ball but the objective is totally differant. If you play piano you already get the left hand vs right hand. Always be the left hand.
Members Thrash Jazz Posted August 24, 2005 Members Posted August 24, 2005 Originally posted by Kongle Thanks for all the answers. LESSONS = important (noted!) And tuning. Is it just me or is it a bit difficult to tune a bass manually? I have done it, but it took me way more time to get it right than tuning a guitar would. Does it get better with practise or is it simply harder? I have ordered a gig bag as well, just forgot to put it down! I am already in a band, so one of my best friends play bass, and has already helped me a lot. So you are right when you say bass players are helpful. Without his help things would have been difficult and far more confusing! I know how to read chords, tabs (bass and guitar) and have played the piano for 11 years, so I think I'll do fine...or what? Oh, and one more thing: What is a pre-amp? I have a feeling I should know that by now.. The main thing I have seen with piano players turned bass players is that they have trouble getting their hands to work together at the same time (I have the opposite problem with playing piano). That will get better with practice. As for tuning, the lower frequencies in particular can be a bit tricky to distinguish at first, but with practice it will get easier. Just listen for the beats, and fine-tune until they go away. If you play piano you should find reading bass tunes easy - only one clef and one note at a time (usually)... A preamp is a tone-shaping device that you can run before your amp for more sound options, or with a power amp. "You'll need a preamp with that" is an inside joke which you are now a part of
Members Kongle Posted August 24, 2005 Author Members Posted August 24, 2005 Thank you so much! I can't wait till my bass arrives.. I've ordered it from the US, and I live in Norway (north of Europe) so I guess I'll have to wait a week or two. Anyone who has a good advice on what amp to buy? I want maybe a 15-30watts, won't use it on stage. And cheap but still of some quality. Please remember that you are not a guitar player. Yes, I know the phenomenon with bass players trying to be guitar players on their bass. Very annoying and not so good for the ear. If I wanted to play guitar, I would have done that instead. Bass rules.
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