The Saint Posted May 28, 2012 Share Posted May 28, 2012 Having spent the last 40 years bashing the hell out of guitars, I've recently decided to try my hand at learning the bass. When I started out on guitar,a friend told me the best way to learn was by playing along to records. Remember them..?? It helped me get going, although I'm still playing at the same standard! But it helped with chord changes and hearing them coming. So following on from that theme, what songs would you recommend for a beginner to play along to? I've got 'Stand by Me' but I need a few more. You know the sort of thing, a song you probably hate playing live because it's so repetitive, but has a simple bass line that doesn't change too much during the verse and chorus but will help get my fingers landing on the right fret. Any suggestions? Ta Graham Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
icastle Posted May 28, 2012 Share Posted May 28, 2012 Brown Eyed Girl? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lxxwj Posted May 28, 2012 Share Posted May 28, 2012 What's a record? I suggest anything by Rage Against the Machine (if you're into that kind of stuff), it's really fun/energetic and easy to improvise over. Other easy stuff: Smiths, Nirvana, Pixies. Moderate stuff: Franz Ferdinand, Strokes, Death From above 1979, etc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lozz196 Posted May 28, 2012 Share Posted May 28, 2012 Depends on musical tastes, but AC/DC are a great band to play along with. Not particularly difficult basslines, so a good way to develop timing and groove, without having to be complicated as well. Likewise The Ramones. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Saint Posted May 28, 2012 Author Share Posted May 28, 2012 Thanks, I'm thinking of something well known that doesn't gallop along too much. I have a couple of books/CD's and I'm about to start lessons next week My tastes are mainly blues (so 12 bars are on the list!) but anything that has a repetitive bass line that I can pick up easily, bearing in mind this is the first time I've played bass. Keep 'em coming... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thunderpaws Posted May 28, 2012 Share Posted May 28, 2012 Just been playing along to Feeder Buck Rogers....quality, really quite easy Pearl Jam....lots of groove and not too super difficult for most of us Cream....if you like your blues there are a few that groove and are not to hard to learn There are millions! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Silvia Bluejay Posted May 28, 2012 Share Posted May 28, 2012 Some of the first songs I learned at my beginners course were In The Midnight Hour, Seven Nation Army, Lithium, Beat It, Stir It Up and Gimme Some Lovin'. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GarethFlatlands Posted May 28, 2012 Share Posted May 28, 2012 Love Cats! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mudpup Posted May 28, 2012 Share Posted May 28, 2012 Foo Fighters singles. Rope, Learning to Fly, Pretender, Times Like These are all pretty straightforward but sound like theres more going on than there really is. Nate really got the less is more thing happening there! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deepbass5 Posted May 28, 2012 Share Posted May 28, 2012 Hi, I always recommend and used Madonna’s [b]Isla Bonita[/b]. It is a reasonable pace but is great for your left hand to get use to arpeggio shapes major and minor both forward and backwards without moving your hand. http://youtu.be/zpzdgmqIHOQ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gary mac Posted May 28, 2012 Share Posted May 28, 2012 [quote name='Mudpup' timestamp='1338236350' post='1671424'] Foo Fighters singles. Rope, Learning to Fly, Pretender, Times Like These are all pretty straightforward but sound like theres more going on than there really is. Nate really got the less is more thing happening there! [/quote] Times Like These might be a bit challenging timing wise Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mudpup Posted May 28, 2012 Share Posted May 28, 2012 Its just a chunk of "7's" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Ed Posted May 28, 2012 Share Posted May 28, 2012 How about [i]Born Under A Bad Sign [/i]if it's blues you're after. It's a classic, and an opportunity to play along with Duck Dunn or Jack Bruce. It's not a really difficult one, even I can play along with it. Good luck. Mike Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
psychojoy Posted May 28, 2012 Share Posted May 28, 2012 Pentatonic stuff is always a good start. Cochise by Audioslave Hair of the Dog by Nazareth Black Night by Deep Purple I'm not sure what I can provide in the blues arena though..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
waynepunkdude Posted May 28, 2012 Share Posted May 28, 2012 Sittin' on the Dock of the Bay. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GregBass Posted May 28, 2012 Share Posted May 28, 2012 If you want blues stuff, early Fleetwood Mac could be good for you. Also, Check Berry. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Musky Posted May 28, 2012 Share Posted May 28, 2012 (edited) [quote name='The Saint' timestamp='1338233303' post='1671331'] Thanks, I'm thinking of something well known that doesn't gallop along too much. I have a couple of books/CD's and I'm about to start lessons next week My tastes are mainly blues (so 12 bars are on the list!) but anything that has a repetitive bass line that I can pick up easily, bearing in mind this is the first time I've played bass. Keep 'em coming... [/quote] I recently talked someone through Just Got Back From Baby's by ZZ Top, which seems to be the sort of thing you're looking for. [url="http://basschat.co.uk/topic/176755-help-or-advise-required/"]http://basschat.co.u...dvise-required/[/url] [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7c070W9BpyM[/media] Oh, and an edit just to agree with Lozz - timing and groove are probably the most important things you can learn on bass. Edited May 28, 2012 by Musky Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flyfisher Posted May 28, 2012 Share Posted May 28, 2012 I used to play along to JJ Cale's 'Pack My Jack' when learning walking blues lines. Bizarrely, the only link I could find had it being used as the soundtrack for this youtube appreciation of some newsreader. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=elVre2Uf1ME Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul S Posted May 29, 2012 Share Posted May 29, 2012 Anything by Status Quo. That's what I did! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fretmeister Posted May 29, 2012 Share Posted May 29, 2012 Come as you are - Bev Knight. Lovely bass line. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dave_bass5 Posted May 29, 2012 Share Posted May 29, 2012 In the Midnight Hour has a great, repetitive bass line. My current fav is Lets get retarded by the Black eyed peas. fantastic bass line IMO. This website has some good, easy to follow video lessons on it. [url="http://www.how-to-play-bass.com/songs-group.html"]http://www.how-to-play-bass.com/songs-group.html[/url] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deefer_dog Posted May 29, 2012 Share Posted May 29, 2012 Isn't she lovely is always good to learn. I think the first song I ever learned was ( don't laugh ) - Papa Roach: Last resort. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tredders Posted May 29, 2012 Share Posted May 29, 2012 Subscribe to this guy on Youtube. He's got nearly 900 songs on there - just him and his acoustic guitar. Just add bass for instant rehearsal experience. Apart from the fact you can turn his volume down without causing an argument! http://www.youtube.com/user/georgiarose16/videos Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xgsjx Posted May 29, 2012 Share Posted May 29, 2012 I'm gonna go out & suggest learning all of your favourite songs that you currently play on guitar. Learn the basslines to them, you know the chord changes already! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stag Posted May 31, 2012 Share Posted May 31, 2012 Hendrix amd Cream would be a good start point Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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