tips? tabs? a little help...

[Ibanez-chick]

I got a bass about...3-ish weeks ago, been playing...a lot more then I probally should. And I've been trying to find some easyish tabs I can learn, does any one have any tips, songs or sites that would help?

[mirach11]

one of my favorite tab sites is www.olga.net but you should try to learn to play by ear. its a good skill to learn. of course i didnt learn after just three weeks of playing, (guitar that is) but give it a try. its also more satisfying when you figure it out by yourself.

[thetikiman]

GET LESSONS!

At least a few just so that you don't start to develop any bad habits that could harm you or your playing in future.

[mirach11]

Originally posted by thetikiman
GET LESSONS!

At least a few just so that you don't start to develop any bad habits that could harm you or your playing in future.

yea that too. i'd probably have carpak tunnel syndrome by now if i didnt. but not just that they are really helpful.

[fuzzymonkey]

Originally posted by thetikiman
GET LESSONS!

At least a few just so that you don't start to develop any bad habits that could harm you or your playing in future.

Yes take lessons it will help your playing tons.

But i can give you a few things to try and get in the habit of doing.

When your playing on the E string your thumb should be resting on the pickup. and when your playing on any of the other string your thumb should be on the E string.

Umm my teacher told me when i pluck a string that the finger you plucked with should hit the string above it(dont pluck the string just use it to kinda stop your finger).

Also alternate fingers when plucking so like 1 2 1 2 1 2 1 2.

If i think of anything else i'll add it.

Oh yea are you gonna learn how to play slap?

[Ibanez-chick]

Oh yea are you gonna learn how to play slap? [/B]

wow...I'm feeling all dumb founded I havn't a clue what that is... I have some books...three to teach my self and some cds, but I don't like them...they're teaching me country stuff...*ehh* so I'm just kinda taking advice and going to web sites, learning a lot, and yes I do plan on getting lessons, for the basics at least.

[Ibanez-chick]

Originally posted by zubar
learn the bass tab to "sweet home alibama":p

NOOOOOOOo that song....I hear it every where I go...it's a unwritten law that every staction must play it 2 times a day or something....on the way to school, and the way back...eh, funny one though

[Wayjurn]

COOL! Another girl on the forums! Welcome :) :) :)

Well.. I started on the bass (my first was an Ibanez too) before I moved to guitar. I pretty much taught myself for a year. I taught myself to play by learning Metallica songs.. that was what turned me on to it in the first place. And it worked out pretty well because I bought Reload along with my first bass and kind of discovered the older albums as I progressed, oddly enough the bass lines get more complicated as you dig further into the back catalog.

Listen to your favorite songs and try to play along. Tabs will help a lot! But use tabs only to make sure you're on the right track.. it will help a lot to develop your ear, learn to isolate the bass part and understand where he's at. For tabs I recommend www.basstabarchive.com, I used to post tabs there. Yes, get lessons if you can, to make sure you're not picking up any bad habits. It will help you a lot to learn music theory.. I didn't have the patience for that and I basically learned by patterns, which isn't nearly as effective.

Practice as much as you can, as many different styles as you can. There's something new to learn everywhere. Don't be afraid to experiment either. If you can develop your own unique style then you're better than 75% of bassists out there who sound exactly like each other.

One last thing.. I know you didn't ask about gear but I want to be sure this doesn't happen to anyone else. When it comes to new instruments and amplifiers, KNOW what you are going to expect out of them before you buy them! I must have wasted over $2500 on bass gear I was completely dissatisfied with a year later. Be mature about your choices, and more importantly, do your homework and read the reviews. Ask people who know before you make any big purchases.. I hate to say it but in the world of bass, tone costs money and there are a lot of wrong pathways to take! If you pursue bass playing to the point that you are actively playing gigs in a band then you are probably going to make some major purchases. Never make a blind purchase!

Good luck!

[krw]

They are giving some good advice...
I am a semi-pro bassist and have been playing for 20+ years. New to this site though..they have some good stuff here...anyhow...take some lessons to begin with. learn some proper techniques...as one of the others was saying about how to pick a bass...there are a couple of right ways and a lot of wrong ways...the right being a pick, a rest stroke or a free stroke...don't use your thumb to pick with..it is great for slapping..but not picking...
tab is good, but learn to play by ear..and better yet...learn to read music. I played in the jazz band all through college...a jazz bass player who can read music and has descent still can get $$ in scholarship....and if you can find a combo to play in...make some killer money...it ain't rock and roll, but it is fun...
my gear: yamaha 5 sting and a peavy amp...plan and simple..
good luck on it..
kw

[bloo]

www.mxtabs.net (http://www.mxtabs.net)

[kinhad]

basically, learn every music genre, no matter how much you hate it.

[Ibanez-chick]

thankies...I think I will

[Crash]

Originally posted by Ibanez-chick
wow...I'm feeling all dumb founded I havn't a clue what that is...

I don't think anyone answered this so I guess I will. Instead of picking in which you pluck the string parrallel to the fret board, you use your thumb and strike the string vertically perpendicular to the fret board, the string will hit the frets adding alot of high overtones to the sound, this is usually accompanied by popping in which you hook a finger under one of the higher strings and pull it away from the fret board, the string will bouce back and strike the fret once again producing the high overtones. Go into any guitar store and ask to try a bass amp, almost guaranteed that the guy who hook it all up for you will test it with a slap line. You could also listen to some funk music as slap is fairly common there.

This (http://www.guitarnoise.com/audio/346/bass5.mp3) is a Slap/Pop Bass line.

[Ice age coming]

Originally posted by Ibanez-chick
I got a bass about...3-ish weeks ago, been playing...a lot more then I probally should. And I've been trying to find some easyish tabs I can learn, does any one have any tips, songs or sites that would help?

Learn every single song by Pixies!! great basslines :D