MikeTheMisfit

Hi guys, I record my bass covers in the old fashioned way with my bass into an amp and the song through an external speaker.

I've heard of the terms Direct Interface and 'DAW' I think it is. But for the life of me I cannot work out how all that works (I'm so incompetent when it comes to technology).

Other people get perfect recording sound by plugging their bass into a DI so you can hear the bass and song perfectly.

Could somebody explain to me in the most simple layman terms possible how it works? I'd really appreciate it. Thanks.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=agY5Xoz6Pgw

Thank you to everyone who took the time to reply, I really appreciate it.

I've decided to go with the Behringer BDI clone because I don't have much money to splash out.

It should be arriving today so I'm pretty excited. 

16 minutes ago, Lw. said:

Pedals that just add fuzz do tend to strip the bass out. I used to use a Dave Hall Amps pedal that was good, have also used a Big Muff Deluxe (this model has something it it to keep the bass frequencies in, I can't remember what it's called) to similar results. 

 

Depending on the type of metal, it's not a bad idea to just leave the bass clean & let the guitarists do the distortion. 

I get what you mean by keeping it clean so not to interfere with the guitars, but there's clean and then there's ridiculously clean like my amp.

I'm sure even the cleanest of metal bassists have at least a tiny bit of drive or gain.

9 minutes ago, Thor said:

What sound are you trying to achieve?  Any examples?

 

 

David Elleffson, Jason Newstead, Ian Hill. I suppose an 80's metal sound.

I just want to add a bit of grit, nothing fancy.

I have a very standard amp with no drive or gain dials. It's a very flat sound.

I've looked at pedals to try and help me get the growl needed for metal but I've been told that pedals tend to hurt the low end.

What is your advice? Do you get the growl from your amp/pedals/both?

As someone who knows next to nothing about Reggae, could somebody point me in the right direction? Where should i start?

I've looked at a few Spotify playlists but i'd rather take advice from the folk on here.

Dood, I actually really like your laid back, unedited style. I've never been a fan of those super quick talking, choppy fake happy people. 

While I understand that those types of people do get a lot more traction on youtube, I think you're a breath of fresh air. 

Next time I log in to youtube, you have a new subscriber 👍

8 minutes ago, asingardenof said:

Payback is a much better wedding song IMO

Haunting the Chapel is surely the most appropriate. Something for the grandmothers.

Are there any monthly Bass magazines that you would recommend?

Also, which websites dedicated to Bass do you frequent?

Slayer - Raining Blood

Trust me, they'll love that.

7 hours ago, MothMan said:

The only bass I've got that's named is Mothman, cause that's what it was named by the builder. Here's a pic of it with my cat, Bubba.

 

 

Awesome Bass. Awesome cat.

13 minutes ago, Baloney Balderdash said:

You don't need that big a motion with your fingers, you'll waste energy and speed by pulling your fingers so far back after actually stroking the strings.

 

That and loosing accuracy as well.

 

Practice using smaller more delicate motions.

 

You can still play aggressively, just doing so with much more efficiency and accuracy, without loosing more energy or straining more than actually strictly  needed.

 

I think you've just helped me massively when you said 'pulling your fingers so far back'.

I think I've been more concerned with pulling UP through the string and getting stuck underneath. 

I have my bass in my lap now and I'm playing much smoother when i hit the front of the string rather than hooking under.

Thanks man.

The new Judas Priest singles. They've still got it.

How do you embed youtube vids on here? I can only get it to show the link.

21 minutes ago, bertbass said:

If play fine with a pick, just use the pick and adjust your tone controls to the desired sound.

There's just something about playing with a pick that i don't enjoy. As silly as it sounds, it feels like a barrier between me and the Bass.

Using fingers just feels 'right'.

23 minutes ago, RAY AGAINST THE MACHINE said:

Lots of good advice already 

What kind of music are you into ? Who are your bass influences ? 
The reason I ask this , is that you may ( or probably ) find  a beginners lesson on you tube by one of your favourite bass players.You'll definitely get a feee lesson from 'unknown ' but brilliant teachers on there anyhow .

 

Fwiw, when I first started attempting to play bass I started off with a plectrum . This was about a yea or so before I started going to go to gigs . Then I saw Steve Harris at the music machine / marquee etc and thought I'd better do fingers instead . Troubl is , his style of finger playing is advanced / unique so I was playing out of sync . 
Years later I stumbled across  Rudy sarzo hot licks video . VHS , way before internet . A little cheesy , but it improved my playing a lot ..

That was before I had proper 1 on 1 tuition ( wish I kept that up ) . 
In my latter days while gigging I ended up doing both .  

One other thing to mention , is that being relaxed about it all is key . It's very easy to get tense and putting undue pressure on yourself by being annoyed by making mistakes ( if that makes sense) .. 

I listen to Metal and Hard Rock mostly. I adore Steve Harris like yourself and Geezer Butler. Their style is just incredible to me.

I shall seek out the hot licks video and take as many youtube lessons as possible. I'm sure it's simply a practice thing. I'm trying to run before i can walk.

4 hours ago, Lozz196 said:

For years I tried and swiftly gave up playing finger style. I then left my last band, tamed the way I played then found that it was trying to replicate that really hard digging in aggression with a pick that I was having problems with, not actually playing with fingers. From there on I’ve managed to get to grips with it. I still prefer using a pick tho, always will.

Do you play quite softly with your fingers then? Perhaps i am plucking too hard.

10 hours ago, tauzero said:

Is this anything to do with the angle that you're plucking the strings at? It sounds like you might be plucking towards the body of the bass (in which case the E string would get in the way as soon as you moved to the A string), rather than pretty much parallel to the face. If it's not a physical stop, I don't know - maybe spend a while just plucking on the A string until you get comfortable with it, then move to the D and G and do the same thing. It sounds a weird sort of blockage though.

I think it's to do with range of motion. On the E string there's nothing stopping my fingers from doing what they want. But on the higher strings, the almost immediate connection with the lower string throws my rhythm off. I'm sure it's just a case of needing to practice and practice.

I've been learning Bass for a few months now and ideally I want to play fingerstyle because I find it a more pleasant sound than using a pick.

But I lose my motivation quickly because my fingers seem to get stuck. I'm fine on the E string, my fingers feel free and loose but as soon as I go to the higher strings my fingers seem to get 'stuck' as if the lower string is stopping me somehow.

Is this normal for beginners? Did you experience it and how did you fix it? Cheers.

Kind of embarrassed because I'm a beginner but what better place to get some constructive criticism.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kXTbrmcfG8U

I don't own a Bass yet, I really am literally just starting on this adventure.

The bass that I have my eye on is the Vintage V40 and the amps that are in my price range are things like the Laney LX10B.

I will absolutely buy the Sennheiser HD206, they really are a bargain and I own Sennheisers already so I know I like them.

Edit: I also see that Harley Benton do a nice bargain bass too. That could be an option.

21 minutes ago, PaulThePlug said:

Hi Mike...

I'm usually just unplugged... or headphones via a Zoom B1on... lot of Basschat love for the Zoom BFour... or a 'lil EHX Headphone amp...

 

The Vox amplug are prone to breaking,

 

 

I did think about the Vox amplug but it limits you a bit more. At least if I buy an amp and headphones I can have the option of playing out loud if I ever had the opportunity.

I don't have much money, what would be your recommendations for budget bass amps and budget bass headphones.

Nice to meet you. I've been playing guitar for 2 years (as bad as the day I started). I went against my gut instinct of playing the Bass because I have neighbours and I just couldn't see any viable way to play without causing upset. So I bought a guitar instead and have struggled along with that for a while. 

I originally played drums which is why I think the Bass appeals more to me, perhaps it's a rhythm thing, I'm not sure.

I am finally taking the plunge into the world of Bass but I was hoping first to get advice from those of you with neighbours. How do you practice? Are you always plugged in to headphones? If so, does this affect your ability to learn. I'd be really grateful for your input, and I hope to stick around here for a long time. Cheers

Mike.