Learning to Play The Bass: Help?

[Nomi]

A couple of buddies and myself have been noodling around with some songs (just for fun, mind you) and since there are just the three of us we are all pulling double/triple instrument duty. So I've been the singer/mediocre second guitar, but we need a bass, so I'm going to be the singer/noob bass guitar girl.
I've been pretty tempted just to rely on tabs, but I know I should be at least studying a few scales. Any advice or tips from what I'm sure are many bass guitar players out there on the DIS? I'm not going to be doing anything fancy anytime soon, just the basics.

 

[moon]

I don't know anything about playing bass, but I thought I'd provide you with a link to a video of Paul McCartney giving a bass lesson.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=obFcsEtFIKA

I don't know if it will help you, but in any case I'm pretty sure there are more lessons on Youtube. YT seems to have lessons for everything!

HTH

 

[Micca]

Can''t really help, but good for you for giving it a shot. I've always thought playing bass would be really fun.

 

[GeorgeG]

You'd be surprised how many bass players got started switching from other instruments to fill the "we need a bass player" dilemna in bands. I played trumpet and guitar in a busy wedding band for many years until some friends needed a bass player for another band. After several weeks of pestering, I went out and bought a bass and have played more bass than trumpet and guitar combined ever since.

You will find yourself listening to music differently. You'll hear the bass lines more than you used to. Just play along as often as you can and learn the scales in all the different keys. Once you get used to playing scales in different keys you will find short-cuts from different fret positions. I don't know what kind of music you like to play, but be open to different styles and you'll find that most of the basics are the same.

A huge plus for bass players is learning to read bass clef (F clef) music. You can get by with tabs and playing by ear, but there is a lot of demand for bass players that can read. In any event, and like anything else, the more you do it, the better you will get.

Welcome to the world of bass.

 

[Nomi]

Thank you! I did learn to read bass clef a long long (not that long) time ago when I was in high school, but I think I ever so conveniently forgotten. Great advice though! I can certainly learn it again (unless by brain has deteriorated too much).