Starting Bass

[chuckjaywalk]

My partner traded me a Fender Vintera Mustang Bass. I have a Peavey TKO 65 amp and a Boss CS-3. I bought a pack of Dunlop .60 picks.

So umm, what now?

[Chankgeez]

Start playing!

[Gone Fission]

Play with a drummer, drum machine, or loops. Guitarists should do this, too, but bassists need to be particularly conscious of and attuned to the pulse.

[friendship]

COMMENCE TO JIGGLIN'

[friendship]

WE ARE SEX BOB-OMB

ONE TWO THREE FOUR

[Blackened Soul]

Now that you has a bass you can join in the never ending journey of interpreting the meaning of the one.. and arguing with drummers about where it is.

[coupleonapkins]

[MaxMaps]

Now that you has a bass you can join in the never ending journey of interpreting the meaning of the one.. and arguing with drummers about where it is.

Holy fuck is this true.

[DannDubbleEwe]

Djohn Djentwhistler is your band name now.

Metronome/ drum machine practice for sure, also try learning bass lines to your favorite songs…that kinda stuff.

[K2000]

A lot of it is mechanical, for me… just having the hand strength and agility to keep it going. Which is helped by having your hands on the bass a lot, even if you’re unplugged and watching TV. And dumb exercises that don’t seem to do a lot for guitar (?) like playing scales, arpeggios, fingering exercises, seem to build strength too. Different finger combinations of hammer-ons and pull offs also build strength and endurance. A lot of exercises, you can do while checking your email or whatever.

I know this sounds super basic and even insulting to serious musicians (practice while watching TV?) but if you already know what intervals sound like (from other instruments you play) I think it’s fine, and more hands on time means you will feel (literally) more comfortable playing, and IMO that’s something other people can feel.

[K2000]

Also, I agree with commencing to jiggle.

[coupleonapkins]

Everyone should practice while watching TV! Elliott Smith did that, and he wrote a lot of songs that way, too

commencing to jiggle.

[cosmicevan]

So umm, what now?

get in a band. I've been playing bass now for <gasp> 30 years since this June...and within 3 months of getting the bass, I was in a few bands. Bands ALWAYS need bass players.

That...or become a band leader and learn how to score films.