AM1

I'll rest when I'm dead.

[quote name='ped' post='374019' date='Jan 8 2009, 01:40 PM']I think a list of stickies would be more appropriate, some essential reading for beginners perhaps. I don't think the environment here is the least bit hostile towards beginners - quite the opposite. I will see what the others think about it! ped[/quote] Again, it's not necessarily about the environment or hostility. It's about facilitating a part of the community where beginners can identify each other and interact, it is useful to be able to identify with one's beginner peer group. Also, most beginners do the gauntlet of new player resources and can share tips on what they have found useful. Wasting hours searching through forums isn't conducive to progressing as a player, that's wasted practice time. Rgds AM

[quote name='ped' post='373996' date='Jan 8 2009, 01:29 PM']We are all beginners at something, so there are no 'stupid' questions. Just ask away and dive in. If someone tries to make you feel stupid, feel sorry for them. ped[/quote] Is this a yes or a no? It's not about who makes who feel stupid, it's about providing a platform for beginners to get to know each other and new beginners to quickly and easily find information that will be useful. Also, reviews of beginner resources, books, etc can be retained in one place. Is this board going to facilitate that or not? Just put yourself into the mindset of a beginner for a few minutes and look at the forum as if you had just started. Then, see if you can present a convincing argument for not building a beginner sub-forum.

[quote name='dood' post='373957' date='Jan 8 2009, 12:53 PM']It does make me think that sometimes people are afraid to ask questions in case they get flamed or berated..[/quote] Yes. [quote name='dood' post='373957' date='Jan 8 2009, 12:53 PM']but, we know that sort of flaming behaviour is down to a minority who can't seem to engage in communication in an adult fashion and they should be ignored.[/quote] They should be ignored but in practical terms that doesn't alter the fact that beginners have no ringfenced area to go and ask stupid questions without being shot down. [quote name='dood' post='373957' date='Jan 8 2009, 12:53 PM']I really want everyone to be able to be included in the forum and not to feel that they will be leapt on for asking a simple question.[/quote] So, build in a simple, small beginner sub-forum. Honestly, my perspective of the forum as a beginner is that there are endless discussions on gear (I'm no stranger to that in other hobbies) but when starting out, I want to learn the fundamental basics, not extensive technical debates. Plus when someone new intro's themselves and says they are a new player, you can direct them to the beginner's section, which hopefully will have lots of useful stickies on all those burning questions... Rgds AM

[quote name='ped' post='373926' date='Jan 8 2009, 12:06 PM']We don't want to draw lines between abilities on the forum as much as we don't want to divide the forum with some being 'supporting members' and so forth. I don't think there is any question you couldn't ask about beginner things that wouldn't be answered to the fullest in any current forum.[/quote] Ped I'm a beginner and happy to nail my colours to the mast as exactly that, as are the other beginners I've exchanged PMs with. There are plenty of other beginners here, many of whom don't post much, if at all. So it is exactly the lack of drawing lines that is discouraging to participation of a wider member cross-section. A dedicated beginner forum gives the people starting out the chance to identify each other, interact and share tips. Dividing ability is a lesser concern than the current position, which is a distinct lack of an appropriate section for new members to engage in debates with their beginner peer group and seek advice from the more experienced (without people wading in to throw missiles from the peanut gallery). Beginners want to primarily learn to play, not engage in endless technical debates. It is really surprising that the board doesn't already have a sub-forum for new players. Is this a forum only for people who want to discuss the virtues of various gear or can we have a section for new players?

[quote name='agroupuk' post='373081' date='Jan 7 2009, 02:19 PM']Hey all, Does anyone have a decent fretboard diagram with all the notes marked on it they could post on this thread (4 string) - or link to it? I need to print one out here at work and I cannot find anything of much use online... maybe I am just crap at searching.[/quote] Hi Working on exactly the same thing myself. This is an excellent resource: [url="http://www.studybass.com/tools/chord-scale-note-printer/"]http://www.studybass.com/tools/chord-scale-note-printer/[/url] You can choose chords/scales in any key and then just input these and a plotted fretboard will appear with all the root notes, which you can print. I found this better than just a straight fretboard diagram as you can use the input variables to understand the relationships between strings/frets in various keys/modes. Regards AM

[quote name='MythSte' post='373750' date='Jan 8 2009, 01:11 AM']I can make some loops for ya, i'll get on it tonight [/quote] Yes! Please, more loops!! Loops are cooooollll!!!!

[quote name='drumbloke' post='373334' date='Jan 7 2009, 06:30 PM']Hello! Drummer here, thought i would do a bit of spying on the bass fraternity. [/quote] A recent conversation between a band I know, whilst discussing trying out new drummers. "What should we ask them" "Hmmm....have they got any court dates coming up!" Couldn't stop laughing! Soooo....there's only one reason for a drummer to come snooping here and that's because the dark side of the low notes is calling your name :-)

For Mods...any chance of setting up a beginner forum section? I have found that there are a multitude of bass books for beginners, I would like to review a few that I have found excellent and useful. A beginner's forum will enable new people to instantly find that type of information. Also, a dedicated section will save us beginners bombarding the same poor peeps with idiot level questions Cheers AM

Another vote for no, please don't get rid of this!

I got this DIVA CD off Santa and at first glance thought there was nothing on it really that I was particularly interested in and it would do for something new to listen to while driving. But, I put it on while playing earlier and listened to Cher, Strong Enough and the bassline is excellent!!!!! That's exactly the sound I like, slinky sliding basslines. Anyone know the bass player is?

Bought Steve's Tascam just before Christmas and he very kindly put it in same day post so I got it in time to take it away with me during Crimbo. Steve was great to deal with, the Tascam arrived quickly, was very well packed, worked properly and in excellent condition. The Tascam is addictive and lethal for time-stealing though! Cheers Steve.

[quote name='Brother Jones' post='364511' date='Dec 27 2008, 10:59 PM']The first three Police albums.[/quote] I salute you on a fine, fine choice.

[quote name='skankdelvar' post='364394' date='Dec 27 2008, 06:58 PM']While I should declare an interest (see posts above), the same thought has been growing on me. I'm 'ignoring' their posts now, but I'm wondering if this is either a fibber, a Troll and / or a previously banned member.[/quote] Therein lies a striking indictment of the ethos of the forum. Anyone with a challenging mind is instantly transmogrified into an object of suspicion. I am none of the above, just a new member with a long standing passion for music.

[quote name='Paul S' post='364388' date='Dec 27 2008, 06:51 PM']You know I am deeply suspicious of all this. AM1 claims to have been playing bass for just a few weeks. And claims, in other threads (remember - all doctors are c*nts!) that practising for more than just a little while causes wrist pain. Yet here we have someone also claiming to be attending a rehearsal for which they are attempting to learn a whole list of tunes by pracitising many hours a day. Wish I could have been that proficient after just a few weeks! So AM1 claims they have had a bass for just a few weeks but already asking advice about the choice between a Warwick and a Fender? How does anyone know they will get on with playing the bass after such a short time, let alone start splashing out on some top end prices? There's an awful lot of contradictions going on. Also - I have been a member of all sorts of forums on a wide range of subjects for a number of years and have never encountered anyone who has caused so much irritation within just a few days of joining just by their bad attitude. Frankly I don't believe anything he/she writes is the truth and that AM1 has no other agenda here than to cause trouble. I reckon the best thing to do is completely ignore AM1 and eventually they will go and bother another forum somewhere else.[/quote] Hi Although new to the bass, it is not my first instrument and I have been playing music on and off for almost 20 years. There is no question that I will continue, it was only a matter of not having any free time before due to working away from home constantly and other hobbies taking up every free moment. The wrist problem is still not resolved but I have found workarounds, enabling me now to do a good few hours of practice every day. A few hours of practice is nothing compared to the 8 hour + stints I used to do. The difference is that now I have this problem with my wrist, which has never, until now, restricted my ability to play music for long periods. Warwick and Fenders can be bought at reasonable prices second hand. A good quality instrument encourages you to pick it up often and play it, therefore I see it as a worthwhile investment. By the way, if you think music is expensive, you don't even want to know the cost of my other hobbies! Regards AM

[quote name='Eight' post='364371' date='Dec 27 2008, 06:34 PM']Hi all, I just bought my first bass guitar and am sorting out a teacher for the new year, but in the mean time I've just been practicing some of the boring (but necessary) stuff like scales, learning the fretboard notes etc. etc. I was wondering if anyone can recommend some good rock/metal/blues songs to try as I'm having real problems here. Every time I think of something I find the tab is woefully incorrect; or I can't make out the bassline well enough on the track to decipher the tab; or the songs I have the "dots" for are too hard; or all of the above. Such a newbie post I know, but I'm feeling a little demotivated now and thought it'd be better to try and remedy the situation even if it meant embarrassing myself here.[/quote] Hi Eight and welcome! I'm in a similar position to yourself, don't be embarrassed, everyone has to start somewhere. I have a list of songs that are very easy along with some written guidance on how to play them. This will get the motivation up as these are easy enough to get quick results with and play along to tracks. If you PM me your email address, I'll send it all. Regards AM

[quote name='budget bassist' post='364362' date='Dec 27 2008, 06:31 PM']doesn't mean you can be rude tho them, which you were,[/quote] Where? [quote name='budget bassist' post='364362' date='Dec 27 2008, 06:31 PM']and i didn't see anyone "personally insulting you".[/quote] May I suggest revisiting the first page of the thread, for the avoidance of doubt. [quote name='budget bassist' post='364362' date='Dec 27 2008, 06:31 PM']and it's certainly nothing to get worked up over[/quote] No one is in the slightest worked up...except possibly your good self.

[quote name='budget bassist' post='364343' date='Dec 27 2008, 06:15 PM']You're obviously missing the point entirely.... I'm not even going to bother.[/quote] A polite request was made, which you and others, spectacularly failed to answer, choosing instead to initiate a semantic debate over learning styles. I already opened a thread recently with regards to learning styles. When it was pointed out that this thread was purely to located good sources of written music, several commentators elected to personally insult me. Clearly these responses are a function of a further inability to recognise the real, substantive issue, that of the failure to answer the question, which was the whole point of the thread. Quite clearly, the inability of others to answer the actual question asked, does not constitute ME missing any point. Regards AM

[quote name='budget bassist' post='364340' date='Dec 27 2008, 06:12 PM']I didn't say anything about your original post, try nearly every post afterwards. If you can't see the problem, then i don't think there's much point in arguing with you in all honesty, though clearly my opinion is not dissimilar to others that have posted in this thread. Something to think about maybe?[/quote] A simple request was made, in the original post. The latent failure of subsequent commentators to answer the actual question asked, along with my noting of such, does not constitute an issue on my part.

[quote name='budget bassist' post='364336' date='Dec 27 2008, 06:08 PM']Honestly, i don't care how long you've been playing music, and my age is totally irrelevant and beside the point, which you quite clearly seem to be missing. Maybe if you were a bit more polite to people on here, you would receive the help you asked for.[/quote] Could you explain which part of my original post in this thread was impolite?

[quote name='budget bassist' post='364331' date='Dec 27 2008, 06:04 PM']I couldn't care less, she's been rude (totally unprovoked) to members in a number of different threads and i'm getting a bit tired of it.[/quote] Pot, kettle, black, my dear boy.

[quote name='Rowbee' post='364325' date='Dec 27 2008, 05:58 PM']Apologies, I must have missed that. The irony that Budget Bassist refers to in his first paragraph wasn't lost on me either but perhaps he could've been slightly less inflamatory.[/quote] Puts it into a highly amusing context. Since I realised I have been playing music (in other guises) longer than the young Budget Bassist has been alive, I elected to give his inflammatory comments the attention they deserved.

[quote name='skankdelvar' post='364208' date='Dec 27 2008, 03:07 PM']Truth hurts, doesn't it?[/quote] YOUR truth is somewhat different to my truth. [quote name='skankdelvar' post='364208' date='Dec 27 2008, 03:07 PM']There's nothing personal about this, because I don't know you personally. And I don't need to make assumptions when I can see your words on the page.[/quote] Yet you chose to make a determination, with specificity to my character. To insult me is a compliment as it means you cannot rebut the truth. [quote name='skankdelvar' post='364208' date='Dec 27 2008, 03:07 PM']I also note your sarcastic use of the word 'respectful'. That's probably what's missing from your flamey responses to other people.[/quote] It was polite, more assumptions. As to "flames" - it was your good self whom elucidated your opinions about my personal character, you will note that I refrain from such behaviour. [quote name='skankdelvar' post='364208' date='Dec 27 2008, 03:07 PM']FWIW, ignoring your posts from now on as they are, IMO, value-free.[/quote] That is entirely your prerogative.

[quote name='Rowbee' post='364273' date='Dec 27 2008, 04:42 PM']Although deviating from the initial discussion, that's an interesting argument. Although learning songs would only be part of what should be practiced in a structured study time, can it really be said that learning a song by ear means there is less of a conscious awareness of what key or notes and intervals are being played? I personally disagree and if I learn a song without written notation, I can still hear the root of each chord. Using my own acquired theory, I can still hear what scales apply and why certain note choices work? Perhaps something for another thread. [/quote] Hello again I'm still learning the fretboard and only picked up the bass a few weeks ago. So, I am playing by ear and pretty much clueless as to the notes/key most of the time. Same as you, I can still hear what notes work etc but no idea what they are unless I work it out.

[quote name='Rowbee' post='364226' date='Dec 27 2008, 03:30 PM']On this occasion, given the necessity for learning these songs very quickly, my suggestion might not help but I would thoroughly recommend getting hold of a Tascam Bass Trainer - They are fantastic for learning those difficult passages by slowing down and/or looping.[/quote] Hi Yes, the Tascam is fantastic, I bought Steve's just before Christmas, who very kindly got it in the same day post so I could take it away with me for the hols. That reminds me, I need to go and make a feedback thread! Tascam has some excellent functionality, it is dangerous though, since I got it, I have gone on a frenzy of copying CD tracks over and instead of proper structured practice, my free time is vanishing into a bermuda triangle of playing along with countless songs. In fact that is what I have been doing all day so far instead of the proper practice tasks I should be doing! The Tascam is truly a device of deep joy but I am cursing it already for all the lost time! So are the two friends who I have blown out meeting I'm already in the danger zone of playing along with tunes on Tascam and having no idea what notes I'm playing or in what key! Cheers AM