highwayman

Great detail & something to aspire to ref. that last post! As a beginner though I'll stick with the ring and index for the time being! Made a commitment yesterday by putting all of my plectrums into my bass's flightcase - still think that they create a badass sound, but I need to develop as a bassist.

After starting my bass playing with a plectrum (having migrated from guitar), this week I've decided to back-track a bit with a new tuition book and a resolve to try playing fingerstyle. It's going ok. in fact I'm quite enjoying it. I'm only planning on using the index and middle fingers at this stage and what I'd like to know is which one's best to lead with?

It's getting on for six months since I bought my bass. In that time I've had some lessons and also self-studied using books + CDs. Funnily enough I feel like I know less about mastering the instrument now compared to when I was first shown how to play the riff to one of my favourite songs by a tutor! I'm motivated to press on as: I love music; I love the texture and power of the bass; nothing worth doing is ever easy, and finally, it can't be impossibly complex, otherwise this site would be far less inhabited. So, I'd like to know how you've learnt please (as opposed to how you suggest I [i]should [/i]learn - the former is based on experience and of greater use to me).

IMO the Les Paul bass just looks wrong compared to the guitar (which itself looks horrendous when fitted with a Floyd Rose bridge). Merv Goldworthy of AOR royalty FM plays custom assembled five-string LP basses & obviously loves 'em.

I became disinchanted with the guitar when I realized that I could say nothing with it that my favourite players (Billy Gibbons, George Lynch, Richie Kotzen +) hadn't already done & without their natural ability. Whilst still new to the bass, I have a clear sound & style in my mind that I intend on achieving that, while maybe not reinventing the wheel, will be individually mine. That gives me a greater sense of anticipation than the guitar did.

Thanks for the replies: my bass is due to have some work done on it next week - when I get it back I'll sign up to the app for a month & see if I like it. For me, even as a beginner, complete transcription accuracy isn't essential as I hope to embellish any song I'm playing with my own ideas.

I'm a learner bassist of six months and am working my way through book one of Hal Leonard's Bass Method. I'm taking a methodical, long-term view of my learning, but sometimes the book becomes a bit 'dry' & I need other bass stimuli. I stumbled across Songsterr online whilst searching for a tab for 'Nightcall' from the film Drive. I really liked the scrolling tab & musical accompaniment and was soon trying other songs. I'm thinking of getting the app, which is £4.99 a month, as I can place my phone on my music stand & utilize the other features. Is anyone else subscribing to the app, and if so how are you finding it?

I'm learning via the Hal Leonard Bass Method books - they start you on musical notation, not tab.

Yes, they worked in mine. Maybe try one of the specialist bass-only retailers?

Special mention for MB1: he very kindly sent me some keys for my Stingray case. A gentleman & great BC ambassador.

Have done.

I bought my Stingray Classic (new version) second hand and the accompanying flight case has a lock but not the keys. The case is black molded with MUSICMAN embossed in large on the top and has a badge on the side saying 'Stingray Stingray 5' - I'd imagine it's the standard model. Are the keys universal for them & where can I get some from please (I'd like three, two minimum). Cheers

Thank you for your many fine and helpful replies. MrDave - you're right, four months is no time really: I remember being thrilled when I could string a simple bass line together. I think the fact is now I have 'a foot in the door'... I can see the size of the room - and it's big! I've been reading posts to this thread all day & have been inspired to think of strategies that will encourage me. I bought a Hercules music stand the other week and - despite the wealth of online resources/videos - I think I learn best from printed material. I've decided to seek out a notation book of mixed artists (I'm keen not to fall into the habit of using TAB) nothing too complicated, that I can 'lose' myself in. I'm thinking 80's new wave/post punk stuff perhaps - anyone know if such thing exists? Ref. bands: I'm absolutely open to the idea, though while the vast majority of my listening choices are four & five pieces, my own musical ambition is to work with a skilled synth player to create cinematic pieces: not ambient, but driving numbers with a strong, bass-driven melody. Thanks again all for inspiring me! Edit addition: Been doing a search for bass song books - if you don't like Metallica or RHCP (I don't...), then there aren't masses of printed choice (couldn't find Killing Joke, Depeche Mode or Duran Duran books for example), there is a Boz Burrell Bad Company one but it's a print-it-yourself affair. Anyway, I've ordered Best Of ZZ Top for bass, so hopefully I'll be learning & having fun.

So I've had my bass for four months now. I took some lessons with a local tutor who showed me how to play some songs (& parts of songs) that I was interested in learning & he'd write them down in tab. After about seven lessons I realized that, while it was fun to play along, I was just copying & tried a more theory based tutor for one lesson - that was dry & no fun. Hal Leonard's 'Bass For Kids' (no laughing!) has helped me grasp reading bass clef (in very basic terms) & I've just started on HL's Bass Method book one - though it's a step up (expectedly) in difficulty. I feel more comfortable playing with a plectrum - maybe when I have reached a proficient standard I'll look at finger playing, but for now I don't want to over-complicate things. What should I also be doing -along with the HL books - if I want to progress on my bass journey?

I've always thought Stingrays look badass, especially black ones. No prizes for guessing my first (& only) bass so far. Now just need to get badass....

This guy's playing makes everything sound brilliant (particularly that earlier Sly Stone number). Playing with a plectrum feels natural to me & it's good to know that BV was doing it before my main 80's influences. BTW V-Picks rule!

"Never heard of the 2 mentioned by the OP" - blue, take a listen to Paul Raven's bass on Killing Joke's 'Love Like Blood, Kings and Queens' and 'Eighties'.

Would do but can't find a bass tab..

Trying to start learning songs by ear: I've workout out that the intro & verses are G D A but would appreciate help with the chorus, bridge etc. please.

Would it be fair to say that Raven & Hook play bass in an unconventional, guitar-like way much of the time?

Gentleman, thank you.

Do -did in Raven's case- both bassists play predominately with plectrums? I've tried playing 'Love Like Blood' without one & it doesn't sound right.

Great replies thank you all - skankdelvar, I appreciate you going into so much depth. I aim to one day be a player with my own distinctive sound/style, but I think identifying these two as my main influences gives me a direction to aim for.

Although I've only recently started learning bass, I have a strong idea of the sound/style I'd like to develop and eventually make my own. I picked up the instrument due to Paul Raven's playing with Killing Joke in the mid-80's - particularly on [i]Night Time,[/i]my all time favourite bass album, and I'm also hugely admiring of Peter Hook's unique sound/style. While it's early days for me (and I appreciate the obvious answer is practice!), what elements of my playing, technique etc. should I develop in my aim to become (along with my own style) a hybrid of the aforementioned bassists?