I want to leard how to play bass guitar is there recomendations you can give newbie?

BlackMiles said:

Start on guitar first for a while. Bass will mash up your fingers to begin with anyway but it helps if you build up a resilience to guitar strings first.

cloud9mission said:

Hmmm, I don't think I can agree with that.
I never played guitar before I learned bass and I still suck at the guitar.

The advice that I would give you is to just buy a cheap bass which plays well (look if the strings are not too far from the neck). I started on a Hohner Arbor MX1 which I bought second hand for about $120 and I still use it occasionally.
Maybe buy a lighter set of strings to make things easier (like 040 or even 035).

Whatever you do, *ALWAYS* practice with a drummachine or even a metronome. Being steady and tight is the most important thing of a bass player IMO. Try to learn some easy grooves that you dig. You digging the grooves you practice is *very* important.

If possible, record your practice sessions. Be your own worst critic.

Then learn some scales too, practice them on 1 string, over 2 strings, and practice to play them keeping your left hand in the same position.

Stay away from a plectrum. It sounds like shit

And dont forget - baby steps. Don't go trying to sound like Flea before you learn Bootsy. Finger playing is definitely the way to go - more control, but it requires a lot of practice.

What kind of music are you wanting to play? If it's rock, then DO use a pick.

cloud's suggestion about learning guitar first has it's merits. Do you want to be able to comprehend what you're doing? Do you want to be able to embellish on a bass line? or are you just wanting to learn to play exactly the way the record goes? If you want to be creative in your playing, knowing guitar couldn't hurt, but there's millions of rock solid bass players out there that have never touched a guitar, and don't WANT to touch one.

Strange, I'll admit. But then again, bass players are strange.

What was the question again?

Yo Mayne get yo self a nice lil' ol Squier Jazz bass & after about 2 weeks of good practice your fingaz will build up a resistance to them bass strangs !!!
Ps how ya doin' ? Has Ronnie talked to ya bout our new jams ?
KUZADELIC

Yeah, I'm just heavily biased against using a pick, just a personal opinion so never mind me.
However, I don't think finger playing is more difficult than using a pick. I never used a pick and I still suck when it comes to playing with a pick. I suppose it's just what you're used to.
*shrug*.

Of course it helps when you can play a little guiter. It also helps when you can play some drums (in my opinion, it helps even more)
Just learn to play what you *want* to learn, and don't learn guitar just because it *might* help learning the bass, because if you don't like playing guitar it will just put you off while learning the guitar is not really necessary.

Moral of the comments - Just play something and you will find your groove

Kuz said:

Kuz whats up i got copy of your new material Damn!!!!! its funky
hey next time your down in south fla u need to call me

I have another ? maybe you guys can provide more info what is difference between fender jazz bass & p bass

BlackMiles said:

As far as I know, an original precision bass was the first electric bass with frets (hence 'precision') and had only one pick-up, and the jazz was kind of like a follow up and had different shape (both body and neck) and 2 pick-ups. Later precision bass guitars also came with 2 pick-ups which make them sound more like a jazz and are often referred to as 'JP' (Jazz-Precision).
For that funky sound (esp. for slapping), go for either a jazz or a JP, but *always* play on them first before buying. Fenders often vary wildly in both build quality and sound.

If you go for a squier, try to find an early japanese one; they are *much* better than new squiers (which are not bad given the price, probably good for a first bass) and often even better than many fenders (esp. more exotic fenders like indonesian ones which most of the time just suck).
The bass I used on the track 'High Steppin Lady' was a first issue japanese squier JP with EMG pick-ups. You can tell it's a first issue jap squier because the the tuning knobs turn the wrong way
[This message was edited Fri May 14 18:14:31 2004 by erikd]

erikd said:

After hearing Erik playing tha bass on High Steppin Lady... I think I'm gonna just give up on it and HIRE the man for all MY bass tracks!!!! Yeah, boyeeeee!!!!

--Julian--

www.soundclick.com/julianchristian