Bought my first Bass ...

[JereFuzz]

Picked up a TBRX174EW (Yamaha) from GC. I remember playing other basses and feeling really uncomfortable but this bass is smooth, for a bass . Yamaha, IMO, makes the best entry level instruments. This is an entry level bass but it feels really well-made, per Yamaha's great rep for QC. So what is the "theory" behind bass? How should I start practicing? Coincidentally, I was listening to some Primus while driving back home from buying the bass and .... not willing to put in the time to play like that

[Mudfuzz]

Congrats on acquiring a useful instrument
To understand Claypool you have to understand Johnson

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xlzGsTMqZ8g[/youtube]
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ofe8J7gBJsI[/youtube]

To understand Johnson you haver to understand Graham

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_lIbvj2EBqM[/youtube]
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6YO4rC3ZB7g[/youtube]

[JereFuzz]

Congrats on acquiring a useful instrument
To understand Claypool you have to understand Johnson

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xlzGsTMqZ8g[/youtube]
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ofe8J7gBJsI[/youtube]

To understand Johnson you haver to understand Graham

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_lIbvj2EBqM[/youtube]
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6YO4rC3ZB7g[/youtube]

looks painful

[JereFuzz]

Congrats on acquiring a useful instrument
To understand Claypool you have to understand Johnson

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xlzGsTMqZ8g[/youtube]
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ofe8J7gBJsI[/youtube]

To understand Johnson you haver to understand Graham

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_lIbvj2EBqM[/youtube]
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6YO4rC3ZB7g[/youtube]

Megadeth's Dawn Patrol is a simple great "bass song":

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IyMTYXUXYvs[/youtube]

[Bassist_Diver]

When I was teaching this was always the progression I gave my students when starting out on bass:

1) Scales! G major, A major, C major, D major, A minor, D minor, Bb minor, in that order

2) Basic time keeping song:
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XmSdTa9kaiQ[/youtube]
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RRQswKjgF0E[/youtube]

3) Hooks/melodies:
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qFhM1XZsh6o[/youtube]
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h_D3VFfhvs4[/youtube]
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QYHxGBH6o4M[/youtube]
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L2VZjE6JdHg[/youtube]

4) Metal/fun:
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2G5rfPISIwo[/youtube]
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wG_R5n9yIPg[/youtube]
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C6jElKMMOWM[/youtube]
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SiPl3rQZ6f0[/youtube]
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qN5zw04WxCc[/youtube]

[JereFuzz]

When I was teaching this was always the progression I gave my students when starting out on bass:

1) Scales! G major, A major, C major, D major, A minor, D minor, Bb minor, in that order

2) Basic time keeping song:
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XmSdTa9kaiQ[/youtube]
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RRQswKjgF0E[/youtube]

3) Hooks/melodies:
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qFhM1XZsh6o[/youtube]
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h_D3VFfhvs4[/youtube]
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QYHxGBH6o4M[/youtube]
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L2VZjE6JdHg[/youtube]

4) Metal/fun:
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2G5rfPISIwo[/youtube]
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wG_R5n9yIPg[/youtube]
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C6jElKMMOWM[/youtube]
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SiPl3rQZ6f0[/youtube]
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qN5zw04WxCc[/youtube]

thanks for the stuff ... what's your thoughts on what sort of sound system to play through for bass? Do you find PA systems adequate?

[Bassist_Diver]

thanks for the stuff ... what's your thoughts on what sort of sound system to play through for bass? Do you find PA systems adequate?

I haven't had a problem with any sort of PA system as long as you're using a good DI. The Tech21 SansAmp BDDI is one of the go-to preamp/DI pedals out there, or you can always mic an amp if you need to.

[JereFuzz]

thanks for the stuff ... what's your thoughts on what sort of sound system to play through for bass? Do you find PA systems adequate?

I haven't had a problem with any sort of PA system as long as you're using a good DI. The Tech21 SansAmp BDDI is one of the go-to preamp/DI pedals out there, or you can always mic an amp if you need to.

Cool ... I have a PA and it has an “instrument” input and I found the sound to be fine (for a non-bassist’s ear) ... tech21 makes great stuff ...