Don't let people put you off playing bass if you want. Guitar players that think guitarists are better bass players than bassists can't know what they're talking about. It's all because of rock taking over and screwing bass and guitar playing up. I don't have anything against rock because good rock music is as good as good any music but you can't learn anything from it and it very simple. Proper bass players can swing things, fill out the song with an appropriate bottom end, improvise walking bass lines and all the things. You don't learn anything from sticking to root notes of whatever chord the guitar player is playing.

Real bass playing it very different from guitar playing and don't anyone put you down for either playing bass or wanting to play bass. This coming from someone who is primarily a guitar player... guitar is not more important than bass and bass is not more important than guitar. The only thing similar between the two is the construction and the technique, they both have different uses.

ok, definitely bass lessons. i'll work on it. what, would you say, is the best way to learn? going to music classes, learning off the web, having a friend personally teach you, ect.

Well some of the most important things that lots of people do when they start and is detrimental to them is the following:

* Not using their ears. Musics an art based on sound so this seems obvious but it causes problems. You should learn songs by ear and be able to tune your instrument by ear. Looking at tabs or a tuner is detrimental to your true ability. It all this that stops you from hearing what you want to play then playing it... how you to do the ears you ask... well the next bullet point will explain.

* Learn your major scale. Everything in music comes from the major scale. The idea is you learn to hear what we call intervals. An interval is basically a distance in sound between two different notes. Do interval training (there is software to help this out there if you want assistance so then you can hear the difference between all 12 intervals). The idea being since all songs are made of intervals, then anything you hear on a song or in your head you can play instantly. Beats tab eh? Even if you can just remember the song in your head because you can hear intervals you can just play it instanly, no having to learn or practise songs and you can jam with anyone easily and have far more creative freedom.

* Learn chord construction... even for a bass player this is important as you'll likely to have to play real chord following basslines sometime.

Apart from that do the usual like timing practise and stuff. Playing along to records is a good way to get your technique up and apart from that keep at it. Follow this advice hopefully you should avoid all the stuff that limits a lot of modern players such as not being able to tune their guitar without looking at a needle inside a little box, or having to resort to being spoonfed how to play the simplest of things because they can't work out stuff by ear,

I hope this helps.

wow.....a lot......of.......big words........lol i can figure it out(eventually) thanks a bunch!

Those weren't big words, it was simply more than a 10 word explanation.

sometime how i can hear the bass in a song is i just make the sound of a bass in my head and keep making it until i can hear the bass in the song.

oh, sorry. what i meant to say is that some of those words aren't in my vocabulary. I have absolutely no music experience, and barely any music knowledge. I plan to enroll in music lessons next semester because i don't even know how to read music (pathetic) but i'm willing to learn.

It's okay I don't expect people who are just starting to know what all the words mean but if the music lessons are any good you learn what they mean from them.

thanks a bunch! i'll look it up asap.:D

Trust me bass is awesome!
get a hofner X_X

hm......people are recomending several different kinds. which should i go with?

Watever u want

That is a question only you can answer by going to a music store and holding some different basses in your hands. Check out what basses your favorite musicians play and if you like that sound look at one of those. Buying an instrument is an investment and shouldn't be answered by strangers on a forum.

ok. I will totally go do that.........as soon as i get to drive to a music store.......as soon as i get a car.......as soon as i get a license........as soon as i get a permit.........alright, i'll just look it up online.
has anyone been to ultimate guitar website? someone told me to go there earlier so i made became a member and all that. now what?

:rolleyes: ok, nevermind. i'm asking so many annoying questions when I'm too lazy to look it up myself. from now on, i'll only post serious concerns and problems i come across if i can't handle it on my own. thank you all for your guidance and patience so far!:D

Hofners are good bass' but are out a beginners price range. If you can get one for a decent price I think the Squier vintage modifieds or classic vibes are great bass'.

YouTube - Squier Classic Vibe Basses

That's the classic vibes. I have a vintage modified and it's great. They aren't quite the fenders but are damn close.

EDIT: Give ultimate-guitar a miss. Far too much emphasis on tab and wrong horrible things like that.

EDIT 2: Sorry pressed quote instead of edit the first time... so sorry for the extra post.

ok. it was kinda confusing anyway. but then, everything confuses me(lol.........but sometimes its not so funny.........)
so without that, how do i go about learning? i want to start from scratch, with the absolute basics.
"now class, pay attention. This is an instrument called BASS" oohs and ahs throughout class of idiots like me "it has strings!" gasps throughout class.......
a little excaggerated, but you get the point.

i think rogues are better than squiers personally

Do that to start learning.

also you should not use a pick

you should start of playing with your thumb(mostly on the e string)

and your index and middle finger (ADG mostly)

but whatever your comfortable with first

The whole don't play with a pick thing also makes no sense. Everyone used a pick pretty much until the rolling stones came along. Learning to use both is of course the best option since both give different tones and work best for different things but use whatevers most comfortable for you as your main.

are there any books i can buy that will help me?

no way play with apick



also i say we move this to a "i want to buy a bass thread" instead of a

"music career in japan thread"

i should make one, or there's ALREADY one? i want to be sure before i post something stupid. again.

I don't know of any good books as I've never used any however after you get your bass I recommend studying this website.

Ricci Adams' Musictheory.net

And then use their trainers especially things like their interval ear trainer. Use it so much and you will be able to play anything you hear instantly which is the aim (I think we can all agree that it is a great skill).

If you tell me how much you are willing to spend I can give you a more specific model of bass that would okay for beginners.

i'm looking for cheap but effective. how much do they usually cost?

It doesn't make too much of a difference when you're starting what model you pick up as long it's at least decent.

Anyhoo if you have the extra cash go for this (I bought it over the fender because it was cheaper and easily as good).

Buy Squier by Fender Vintage Modified '70s Jazz Bass | 4 String Electric Bass | Musician's Friend

But if you just want a basic but solid beginners guitar I honestly don't think there's a problem with the affinity p-bass. It does a good variety of styles.

Buy Squier by Fender Affinity Series P Bass | 4 String Electric Bass | Musician's Friend

If you want for an extra $100 (I think, I'm trying to think in american prices here so bear with me) or so you can get a pack with the affinity p bass, an amp, strap, lead, some headphones and carry case. The, amp, cables and so forth aren't great but are fine for a beginner.

headphones? :confused:

Ones with a bigger jack end so you can plug it into your amp for late night practise or for if your parents don't like you playing plugged in a lot.

Buy Rogue LX200B Series II Bass Guitar | 4 String Electric Bass | Musician's Friend

Pretty Decent bass for the money. I still have this bass and it sounds great.

also pick or fingers is fine
but i reccomend balancing between both of them

make a purevolume.com account. not only will people for record lables in japan see it, and listen to your music, but all of the record companies in the world! just a suggestion though. =] :ywave: :ywave: :vsign: :vsign:

If that's rogue is decent like you say then it looks like a very good deal.

oh trust me it is

i want a hofner though!

I've always wanted to play a hofner viola bass but have got the chance to. They're not too expensive but apparently are very good.

they are
the cheapeest one is a 349 dollars

I'm a bassist and proud of it! I love making really complex bass lines and playing that with the guitar players iinstead of doing broing roots all the time. I've been playing for about five year. I have an Ibanez SRX500 playing through a Fender Bassman amp. I love my bass so much.

The bassist in my band has an SRX. But anyhoo playing complex basslines just so your not playing root notes isn't necessarily a good thing. Remember that a good musician gives the song what's needed and know more... also be aware of what your instruments role in the band is. For example if your playing a simple rock shuffle the bass should be pumping the rhythm and filling out the bottom end, as soon as you try and do anything fancy or twiddle or whatever then you screw everything up.

Just a reminder as I've played with many musicians who can obviously play but screw everything up by being too flashy and also ignorant to the feel of the song.

EDIT: Sorry I forgot about the hofner discussion. They are cheap for a professional grade bass is what I mean.

OKAY THANK YOU I NEED TO CHECK IT OUT.

and I will also use all the information given. thank you all for helping me get started. when i'm good enough, perhaps i'll join a band as well. i never had any intention of starting my own, you know, because i'm so clueless:D but one day i'll contribute to a band that needs me! YEAH!!!! ........or not. But i can PRETEND they need me! YEAH!:vsign: