Bass Guitar Players
 

Any of you fellow B&G members play the Bass Guitar?

I'm jumping on the self taught bandwagon and would appreciate any insight some of you may have. I've been reading and am familiar with some of the nuances, I do not read music, I'm not looking for the easiest way but rather the most effective way to learn.

Present skill level.... Pink Floyd's Money almost sounds like Money.

Best teaching tool?
Any Apps you could recommend?

Bass Guitar Players
 

I kid you not but my son learned scratch Bass from the latest guitar hero game. It lets you plug the guitar directly into the xbox. He knows a few songs now but it will only teach you minimal.


But I think if you learn to read music your skill level will be much higher. And it isn't really too hard.

Good luck!

Re: Bass Guitar Players
 

Thanks! I agree that learning to read music would be the best route, that would still leave me learning to play the instrument. Baby steps ;)

When you say, "latest guitar hero game", I haven't seen one come out in a while, I've looked and I know there is t one for xbox one yet.... I need to dig I to it as that's a damn good idea.

Re: Bass Guitar Players
 

Sorry Oak. Not guitar hero. It's called Rocksmith.

Re: Bass Guitar Players
 

Thanks, I'll look into it.

Re: Bass Guitar Players
 

Balls! I packed to my 360 when the One came out.

Re: Bass Guitar Players
 

There is a PC version.

Re: Bass Guitar Players
 

If you really want to learn, like from the ground up, go to Guitar Center and let them recommend a book, or better yet take some lessons. That is if you really want to learn. It isn't hard to learn to read music, and honestly you can do that reading a book, but music theory is quite another animal. Take it from a self-taught guitar player. If I could only go back 20 years to learn theory...

Outside the theory, technique matters too, and you can learn a lot about that through a good teacher.

Just don't give up. That'd my advice, regardless of which method you go with. Stay with it. The world needs more bass players!

Re: Bass Guitar Players
 

Im with you on this. I've been playing guitar for 20 years and was self-taught from a book by Mel Bay. I learned bass along the way because its similar to guitar (bass has the same tunings as the top 4 strings on a guitar,only its 2 octaves lower),and that intrigued me to learn to play it. I was fortunate to play trumpet in a school band for two years where I learned music theory. I took more theory classes later on after I sterted playing guitar. My point is ,Oak, even though I dont think you should take theory classes(unless you want to),I would suggest learning some basics of music theory to get a better understanding of what your doing. You never know where your playing will take you, and you will be better off having that knowledge. But no matter what classes you take or who you get to teach you,or however you learn......nothing is better than practicing. Spend as much time on that instrument as you can!

Re: Bass Guitar Players
 

Honestly I tried to teach my self guitar about 8 years ago and got frustrated and gave it up. My frustration was a combination of a few things, not being able to read music, no understanding of technique, but honestly I think my biggest obstacle was that I am not physically suited for the guitar.. Ill rephrase, Bass is probably better suited for me to learn on. A good friend of mine recommended trying the bass and I will stick with it until i am buried or Hendrix tells me to put it away.

Basically I have meat paws lol. It effects more than just fret work, I stay away from some pistols as well because my thumbs are short... seriously my wife doesn't have large hands by any means but my thumbs are 3/4 in shorter than hers... When I hold a Sig-Sauer in my hand my thumb doesn't reach the decocker unless I rotate the pistol in my palm.

What I am learning on is a 2014 Gibson SB, the neck felt thinner than most of the other Basses I picked up and from all of the reviews I read its probably a good fit for me. It is a little pricier than most learners but having dealt with guitars before I knew what my target was. I wanted to hit between having to tune every day and $900... it also needed to be something i could live with, i am not a flashy person, no reds, blues, or glittery purples.
Gibson SG Special Bass - 2014, Chocolate Satin | Sweetwater.com

Houston Guitar Centers are usually understaffed for the number of customers but ill see if I can flag someone down... I have learned that Youtube also has a wealth of instruction... But your right, I need to find a teacher.