Triumph_Rock

Well what a range of answers, makes for interesting reading, seeing what songs or parts of songs people learned when they where starting out, or out of necessity for a band performance in three weeks time even though they had only just started to learn bass guitar! I will have to listen to some of the songs. See what I think, I've yet to learn my first song. It might be a Black Sabbath song, I like Geezer Butlers playing style, Maybe even a Megadeth song as David Ellefson uses a bass with humbuckers or maybe Cream. Cream because I like there music and Jack Bruce used an EB Bass guitar. Maybe a Motorhead song as I'm a big fan, what ever I pick will have to be easy.

So I thought this might be an interesting topic for folks to talk about, maybe take some people back. What was the first song you learned to play on bass guitar? Was it the killer tune you just had to learn? Or the bands choice? Or did you learn it just because you digged the bassist who composed the music!? Lets here the stories!?

The amp has just been packaged for return. Thomann were really good, they asked for some video's of what the amp was doing or wasn't. Saw the video's and have agreed to the return. They have also paid for the return postage.

If an amp keeps blowing fuses then there is something else wrong with it else where, if the Trace were mine and I bought it new, I'd be sending it back. And ask for a refund or replacement... By swapping the power leads should of eliminated the fuse, atleast the fuse in the plugs, thats what most people think of when you say check the fuse on electrical household equipment. If there is a fuse else where built into the amp, I certainly am not taking the amp apart as that would void the warranty.

Thomann included a UK specific plug with the amp, and also it came with the EU plug. I have used both plugs and have the same results with the amp. There is no selector switch for changing power setting, and it has the correct power rating for the UK.

Unfortunately I contacted Thomann yesterday night by email, about a replacement, they have not got back to me today. Which is surprising. I think I will have to phone them. See what they say. If no luck that route, I will contact Warwick directly as I registered for there 4 year warranty on there website lastnight. Rotten luck I'm having.

Yeah so I see there is loads of experience here. I've been researching learning resources tonight, think I will use jamplay.com, it looks like a very well structured website, and loads of famous teachers to boot, and loads of useful features. Hopefully it will be second time lucky with the amp.

Hi Stew, I learned Trombone in school long ago, no previous guitar experience. This will be my first adventure into bass guitar playing. Unfortunately keen to get learning, I plugged my amp in and switched it on, and there was a loud pop from the amp ( when it pops the speaker moves very quickly ), it admits a loud humming sound at first, which has now gone, but when connected to the bass, no sound comes from the bass guitar at all. So its looks like the amp is broken. Already sent an email asking for a replacement. I wish I could get a Warwick BC80 locally but I can't...

Hi Guys, If you want to see photo's of my new bass guitar and amp, head on over to

Well here it is, photo's of my Westfield EB3 Bass guitar, and my Warwick BC80 amp. Now just to start to learn to play the bass! The adventure begins 😀

Good point about the difference, I haven't read music for a very long time, so I'm rusty. Hopefully if I learn the bass clef, my past experience at school wont hinder me.

Quite an interesting read, this ere thread. As somebody that was classically trained in Trombone at school I have a keen interest on this. I've been toying with the idea of which route to go down, debating it in my head, as somebody that has just picked up a bass guitar. Do I go down the play by ear root, or sight reading root? ( rhetorical question ). I mean being able to sight read, and if you are a good to very good sight reader, you should be able to put the notation of any style of music in front of you and play. Do I think it will hinder creativity? Yes/No. I think creativity is a very personal thing, and whilst theory might help one person, it might hinder another. I think it all comes down to if the person is an inspired type. And musical theory is huge, its not just being able to read musical notation. Some people might find a theory like playing root notes and 5th notes around the drummers snare drum, symbol or hi-hat , very helpful, other might find it a burden! David

Most of my equipment will probably be for " display purposes only "

Are complete beginners aloud to come along? If so I'll be bringing a Westfield EB3 Bass, Warwick BC80, and headphones.

Hi Richard, Thanks for pointing me in the direction of learning resources, I will definitely check them out. There seems to be quite a lot of learning resources these days, Fender even has an app on Google play store. Thinking to come to the Big Fat SW Bash, does it matter what my playing level is? Is it a big jam session or are there lectures? Managed to pick up the bass guitar today, the amp has shipped, so hopefully it will arrive soon. When I have it all I will post photos. David

Thanks for the welcome Richard, I've been well aware of Absolute Music for quite some time. I've known for the secondhand Westfield EB3 on there website for quite sometime, over a year in fact. I am surprised they did not sell it already. I did find a new Westfield EB3 for sale in Scotland in music shop in Glasgow, for quite a bit less than there secondhand price, what I didn't know at the time was that the Westfield EB3 bass Absolute Music were selling came with a tweed hard case. I used Absolute Music price match feature on there website. They did indeed match the price, and given that it came with the tweed hard case, which in and off its self is worth quite a bit of money. I thought it was a bargain! Yesterday when I popped over to visit in person, they demoed it for me through a Fender Rumble 40 bass amp. It did indeed sound good! Picked a Fender guitar cable to go with it, when I go back to collect it, I will pick up a strap! David

Firewind - Ode to Leonidas

@ezbass I'll post picks when I have the bass and amp. I can't collect the bass guitar until the first of August because of my work schedule. First song I will try to learn on it is Black Sabbath Paranoid! Might be a bit ambitus!

Well I've just got my first bass guitar, the first song I want to learn is Black Sabbat Paranoid. Lets see how that goes! Hopefully not to ambitious.

What does "NBD" mean?

Well never say never, finally got myself sorted out now. I got a secondhand Westfield EB3 bass guitar from Absolute Music. And after listening to loads of sound bites and videos, I bought a Warwick BC80 combo amp online from Thomann. Reason I went with the Warwick, it had the cleanest natural, undistorted sound of any I heard online. David