Coilte

"Aka Moon" are one of my favourite non-guitar bands. [url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SByT3uLFiY0"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SByT3uLFiY0[/url]

[quote name='BassTractor' timestamp='1374053263' post='2144622'] You do not seriously mean to express that you really believe that any of us really give a sjit, do you? I hope not. [/quote] Well..I was not certain. Thanks for clarifying.

[quote name='iceonaboy' timestamp='1374055443' post='2144667'] Fair point mate but there are indeed lessons for beginners in books and videos too. [/quote] I agree, but in my experience with lessons on You Tube (dont get me wrong, there are good lessons here) there are very few [b]structured [/b]ones. Often, you might get one or two beginner lessons, then you are left high and dry, with no follow through.

[quote name='iceonaboy' timestamp='1374054332' post='2144643'] Loads of videos on yoo choob and loads of books out there. [/quote] Indeed there is, and this is the problem. For someone just starting out, like the OP, there is so much lessons/information out there, that it can be overwhelming and hard to know where to start. Also the majority of lessons on You Tube are "one offs". If you dont know the basics, you may not understand the concept of what is being taught. This is why I posted the "StudyBass" site for the OP. Each lesson builds on what went before.

Perhaps you could ask specific questions as to what baffles you at present ? This is the trouble with learning alone, especially when you are starting out, i.e. you cant ask a book any questions. In the mean time here are two links which might be of help. The "StudyBass" site is especially good. In the exercises, if you put the cursor arrow over the notes, it gives the sound of that note. Start at the beginning and slowly work your way through the lessons. [url="http://www.studybass.com/study-guide/"]http://www.studybass.com/study-guide/[/url] [url="http://www.billygreen.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/Music%20Theory%20-%20Basic,%20Intermediate,%20Advanced.pdf"]http://www.billygree...%20Advanced.pdf[/url] FWIW, some advice I would give is first, dont rely too much on tabs. Instead develop your ear by trying to work out the bass line for songs yourself, and play along. Secondly, you have only being playing for a few weeks, so naturally, you are going to be confused about a lot of things. Be patient and take things in baby steps. If you do, things will start to click into place and you will start getting those "light bulb" moments. Best of luck with it.

Re "Gorgomyte" : Who gives a f**k about the name ? If indeed it does what it says on the tin, (sachet !) then it truely is a break through. Personally, I am just curious as to how such a "miracle" can remain virtually unknown for any length of time.

[quote name='Beedster' timestamp='1373896497' post='2142783'] Ha ha, as soon as I saw the title I knew the content! Drummers, says it all [/quote] In fairness, in my experience anyway, drummers are not the only culprits. I remember a similar type thread in a local forum here in Ireland, where the exact same accusations were being made against....believe it or not...[i]bassists ! [/i]

Seems to be par for the course in my experience. As for your regular drummer not being able to make the rehearsal. Does not the rehearsal room supply the drum kit, and he brings his snare and cymbals ? If so could you all not arrange to collect him and his gear and give him a lift to the rehearsal ? (assuming at least one of you owns a car).

[quote name='gafbass02' timestamp='1373800270' post='2141671'] It's all about gorgomyte. [/quote] That stuff seems almost too good to be true. Makes you wonder why it is not more widely known.

Yes, the bass is a different animal to the guitar and requires a different technique for both hands. For the plucking hand, try the "Floating Thumb" technique. It is a great way to mute, and as the wrist is straight, you avoid possible injury problems later on. Here is the Floating Thumb demonstrated : [url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PPVMBPmrblU"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PPVMBPmrblU[/url] As we are talking about technique, here is a clip for safe left hand technique : [url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VRkSsapYYsA"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VRkSsapYYsA[/url]

[quote name='woodster' timestamp='1373709974' post='2140778'] Search on eBay for 'fingerboard guard'. They make a metal plate with a slot that sits over your fret and protects the board whilst you clean in. Really useful. [/quote] Another +1 for these. I use them in conjunction with good ol' "Brasso" to polish my frets. Then buff them with a clean cloth. They come up a treat.

In case you decide to go for the Thomastik Jazz Flats, beware that they are [i]very[/i] low tension. This is not to everyone's liking. It is the main reason why a lot of people dont like them. Great strings though.

I have just being checking out this book. Any reviews I have read have been very good. I have just ordered a copy. Thanks for the heads up. On the subject of books...I have just finished reading "Chicago" ex drummer Danny Seraphine's book about his time with the band. An interesting read for any "Chicago" fans out there. [url="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Street-Player-Polymeric-Industrial-Applications/dp/0470416831"]http://www.amazon.co...s/dp/0470416831[/url]

Oi tink u knead two con cen trait on ur grammer and speling, my gud man !!!

I dont think this is a good idea. If everyone here were to "get cheeky" then the whole forum would be choked with "Musicians Wanted" posts. Sorry, I just dont think it belongs here.

IMO the best place to start would be playing walking bass to standards, like for instance "Autumn Leaves", Take the A Train", "Freddy Freeloader", "All Blues", "I've got Rhythm" etc. It woud be a good idea to get a book to get you off to a good start. I found this one to be very good. It has a play along CD with jazz standards. The bass can be isolated. It gives scale numbers, but it would be a good idea to learn to read . Most of the material in the book is in 4/4 so it is reasonably straight forward from a reading point of view. Here is the book : [url="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Walking-Jazz-Lines-Bass-Hungerford/dp/0786659963/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1371802205&sr=8-1&keywords=walking+jazz+lines+for+bass"]http://www.amazon.co...+lines+for+bass[/url] Here is another site that may be of help : [url="http://www.learnjazzstandards.com/index-of-jazz-standards/index-of-jazz-standards/"]http://www.learnjazz...jazz-standards/[/url] Best of luck with it. Dave Marks has a series of lessons on Walking Bass here : [url="http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=dave+marks+walking+bass+lesson+01&oq=dave+marks+walking+bass&gs_l=youtube.1.0.0l4.3107.10405.0.13360.23.12.0.11.11.1.624.2404.0j10j1j5-1.12.0...0.0...1ac.1.11.youtube.Y4Gb6bsdlWE"]http://www.youtube.c...ube.Y4Gb6bsdlWE[/url]

[quote name='timmo' timestamp='1371759758' post='2117911'] As soon as I find out what a root flat 7th, I will have a go. [/quote] "Study Bass" is a great all round site. Here it explains intervals. In the diagrams, if you put the cursor arrow over the note, it gives the sound of that note. [url="http://www.studybass.com/lessons/intervals/"]http://www.studybass...sons/intervals/[/url]

[quote name='Hector' timestamp='1371753170' post='2117799'] Today, I had a gig where my soloing and walking lines came directly out of my head and through the bass with little effort and no 'conscious' thinking - almost as if playing by pure instinct or as if singing. This is the first time that has happened, and the feeling was indescribably wonderful. I expect I'll be chasing that for years to come. [/quote] Great stuff !! This is what playing an instrument is all about.

[quote name='ambient' timestamp='1371728567' post='2117399'] But the child learns what the words he's copying mean. You wouldn't get very far speaking words that you know know the meaning off. [/quote] In the comparison between speaking words to communicate and music/theory, I would equate knowing music theory with knowing that a certain word is a noun, pronoun, verb adjective etc., or being able to spell a given word. A child will know for example how to pronounce the word "cat" because he has heard others saying the word. He will aslo know that it represents a furry animal. However, he may not know how to spell the word or that it is a noun. IMO this is similar to what I described earlier about my learning "Sunshine of Your Love". While I did not know the actual notes I was playing, I knew they were the correct way to play the riff, because my ear told me so. BTW, I dont for one minute mean to say that playing by ear is better than knowing theory. The more tools you have to hand the easier and more enjoyable the "job" will be. I was merely trying to explain what playing by ear was, to a person here in this thread who said they did not "get it".

[quote name='timmo' timestamp='1371666259' post='2116830'] [i]I know that people can play by ear, but really my question is, how much do you need to know before you can play by ear.I assume no one can listen to a piece of music and pick up a bass,for the first time or any instrument and know what to play. Surely you must be able to know your way around the fret board and know exactly what the note sounds like[/i] [/quote] There is no doubt that knowing your fretboard and some theory is an asset when playing music. No one picks up a bass or any instrument for the first time and automatically knows what to play. Like I said earlier, playing by ear is a matter of listening closely and trying to copy. One of the first riffs I learned to play was "Sunshine of Your Love" by CREAM. I had no idea about any notes on the fretboard, or what the actual notes I was playing were. I simply kept searching the FB for the right notes, and after a while of trial and error and many playbacks ( plus a lot of patience) my ears and fingers were in agreement, and I nailed the riff. I used this method with lots of songs, and over time patterns began to emerge and it got a bit easier. Being an old dinosaur, I did not have much choice back then, as there was no Internet resources for instruction and very few teachers, even if I had the money to pay for one. In a way, I am glad I was forced to work things out for myself. This is why beginners are constantly advised not to be overly dependent on tabs as they impede the development of the ear. So, with this groundwork under my belt, things could only get better when I started learning the fretboard and some basic theory.

[quote name='timmo' timestamp='1371650446' post='2116617'] I don`t really understand the playing by ear thing. Surely you need the basic theory to know what you are hearing? How would someone know what note is being played if they don`t know how to play a bass? How do you get to play by ear and know what notes to play? [/quote] You dont have to be able to read and write in order to speak and communicate with people. A child learns to say "da da" and "ma ma" etc., long before it learns the alphabet. He does it by listening closely and then copying.

Here's hoping that all the "problems" life throws at you, will be so trivial.

[quote name='White Cloud' timestamp='1371494129' post='2114619'] I recall someone raving about the recent(ish) Jack Bruce autobiography. Sorry but I cant remember the title. [/quote] A great read !! [url="http://www.amazon.com/Bruce-Composing-Himself-Harry-Shapiro/dp/1906002266"]http://www.amazon.com/Bruce-Composing-Himself-Harry-Shapiro/dp/1906002266[/url]

[quote name='Conan' timestamp='1371480693' post='2114356'] Does this mean that you do most of your playing in a sitting position? Could that be a factor? I know that I find it much more awkward when I play sitting down... [/quote] This is an important point IMO. OP, while there is no doubt that some people find it more [b]comfortable [/b]to play either a jazz or precision neck, pain should not be a factor when playing either neck size. Perhaps your technique, stance, height you wear the bass, sitting (slouching) on a soft couch when playing, etc., could be a factor. While there are no rules as such, it is generally accepted that wearing the bass at about belt buckle height is an ideal compromise. Also, the bass should be at the same height when both sitting and standing and the strap should be worn even when sitting. Idealy, the latter should be on a chair with a back on it. Both wrists should be as straight as possible.

If a song came on the radio, others would be humming the melody while I always found myself humming the bass lines. The bass guitar itself (i.e. only four strings, etc) had nothing to do with it. I just loved the sound and how the bass "fitted in" to the music. My early influences regarding bassists would include Jack Bruce, Glenn Cornick (Jethro Tull), and Peter Cetera on the early "Chicago" albums. I think from the above, that you can guess my "vintage".