My friends are working on starting a band and need a bass player and for some reason they decided that I should join them and play bass, though I’ve never picked up a bass in my life…I have wanted to learn for a while though, so it’s good now I have a reason to! Anyway, a few questions:
1) Do I need to go out and actually get a bass to learn?
I know that I definitely will if I get serious about it, or if/as the band does more, but for now my only guitar knowledge at all is some basic chords on an acoustic 6-string and some music theory that I got from piano and voice lessons. I don’t want to pay (or ask my parents to pay, I’m 15) for a bass when I don’t even know if I’ll like it (I’m almost positive I will though) or if I’ll be good at it. I know that the bass and regular guitar are totally different instruments, but for the very beginnings of learning and seeing if bass playing is something I want to really try, would it be alright to start on my 6-string acoustic and just ignore two of the strings to start learning bass basics?
2) How hard is it to learn bass/how long does it take?
3) Is it possible to self-teach yourself bass with books and such? I don’t have the time or the money for "real" bass lessons, but my friends brother just learned and his some books he said he’d give me.
4) What is a not-too-expensive but still good quality bass for a beginner for when/if I do decide to get one?
:] thanks!
1 yes you should have a real bass to play on. Borrow a friends or rent one from a store
#2 Bass is physically harder to play than guitar due to the larger strings and neck. It is mentally a bit easier though since you are only playing one note at a time
#3 It is possible to teach yourself since you already know some guitar and piano basics but lessons would help
#4 The most popular bass in the world (and most copied) is the Fender Precision (P-bass) It is the first electric bass guitar ever made and is still the industry standard. The Fender company makes a very inexpensive version of it known as the squire that sells for under $200. There are many very good copies of it too that are about the same price.
Remember that a bass guitar needs a bass amp and if you are playing with a full drumset than you will need one capable of putting out at least 50-100 watts just to be heard over the drums
This can get expensive so look around for some good deals on a used amp. All together you will be spending about $300 for a bass and amp capable of jamming with a band
Related posts:
You can learn from home. Having a good bass course can help too. I like the Bass Guitar Secrets course. I’ve had it for over a year now, and I love it. Breaks things down very well, shows you some cool tips, fills, and teaches you how to jam with just about anyone.
1 yes you should have a real bass to play on. Borrow a friends or rent one from a store
#2 Bass is physically harder to play than guitar due to the larger strings and neck. It is mentally a bit easier though since you are only playing one note at a time
#3 It is possible to teach yourself since you already know some guitar and piano basics but lessons would help
#4 The most popular bass in the world (and most copied) is the Fender Precision (P-bass) It is the first electric bass guitar ever made and is still the industry standard. The Fender company makes a very inexpensive version of it known as the squire that sells for under $200. There are many very good copies of it too that are about the same price.
Remember that a bass guitar needs a bass amp and if you are playing with a full drumset than you will need one capable of putting out at least 50-100 watts just to be heard over the drums
This can get expensive so look around for some good deals on a used amp. All together you will be spending about $300 for a bass and amp capable of jamming with a band
References :
G.I.T. grad 30+ yrs playing/teaching
http://www.youtube.com/user/gtarczar
i’m going to go ahead and answer questions 1 and 4 at the same time here. you do need a bass to learn, and it doesnt have to be incredibly expensive. if you are going to get one to learn/play in a band, but don’t know if you will like it, you need to find a balance between quality and cheap price, because you want something that you will be able to use and that will work well but if you find you don’t like it you don’t want to have wasted a large sum. i personally recomend a fender (NOT squire) standard jazz bass, and if you go to a Guitar Center store in your area you can probably find a good deal on one new or an even better deal on one used (maybe $250-$300). (that is a reliable store and they will also be happy to help you every step of the way) i personally would stay away from ibanez, because altho some of them are good instruments, their lower end basses are poorly made. some people will suggest them and say that they are good to start with, but i strongly disagree. fender is a solid built and very reliable guitar and a standard (not even an american standard, but a mexican model) will last for decades. just stay away from squires (fender’s lesser brand), they are useless.
now for question 2. altho the basics of bass are fairly simple, as you expand to different playing styles you will find there is a lot to learn. how long it takes to learn depends on how good you want to be and what style you play, as there are many different techniques that can take time to master. just laying down a simple rock or pop bassline however can be as simple as playin the 1st and 5th of every chord. the time it takes to learn depends a lot on your definition of learning the instrument.
lastly, your third question. again, learning notes and basic concepts can be easily learned from books, but techniques will be better taught by a teacher, and having a teacher is good because he can correct you if you are developing improper or sloppy habits and is just overall a good resource to have as you learn the instrument. however, a teacher isn’t a necessity for just learning the basics of the bass, as these can be gathered from books and internet resources.
sorry that this was such a long response! i hope that this has helped, and good luck to you as you learn the bass, as well as to your friends as y’all begin your band!
References :
I am a bassist who gigs with many different groups and is recording with a band.