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Bass players- questions for beginner
Posted on 11/14/19 at 10:59 am
Posted on 11/14/19 at 10:59 am
I'm trying to learn the bass need help understanding something.
When playing the guitar, it usually takes 2 to 4 notes to play a chord. But on bass, it's just 1 note. Is that right?
Another question: for example, if the song calls for an E, which E is it? The top open E or do you play an E made from another fret? Also if the song calls for E minor, do I just pick the E note, the root?
What should I be practicing- pick a song and play until I get it or learn scales/arpeggios?
When playing the guitar, it usually takes 2 to 4 notes to play a chord. But on bass, it's just 1 note. Is that right?
Another question: for example, if the song calls for an E, which E is it? The top open E or do you play an E made from another fret? Also if the song calls for E minor, do I just pick the E note, the root?
What should I be practicing- pick a song and play until I get it or learn scales/arpeggios?
4
Posted on 11/14/19 at 11:59 am to sodcutterjones
You usually play one note at a time, but you can play notes on the scale of the chord. You don't have to play the exact same melody or progression as the guitar. You pick which octave based on what sounds best and blends best with the guitar tones. Just avoid the boring country music polka lines.
Posted on 11/14/19 at 12:20 pm to sodcutterjones
quote:
What should I be practicing- pick a song and play until I get it or learn scales/arpeggios?
I’ve been playing bass for 35+ years, never professionally, and I rarely played/practiced scales. I learned by ear back in the old days, putting a record on and listening to it over and over. Now, I would recommend Songsterr.com or just find a bass cover on YouTube to learn it. It’s so much easier now. Good luck!
Posted on 11/14/19 at 12:24 pm to sodcutterjones
Almost all the time it is one note, the root. Rarely will a bass player chord like a guitar player. You will mostly play with the rhythm and not the melody. You can play with the chord and scale. Where you play the note just depends on how high or low you want it or where they are playing it in the song if it is a cover. Some chord notations may note E7 instead of just E and you will know that is one octave up, or 7th fret of the A string rather than open E string.
Minors only affect the bass in the notes in the chord differing. If someone says a song is in D minor, you will still start on the root note D.
I would split my time between practicing chords and scales and learning songs. Also need to learn how basic music theory applies to the songs you are learning. It will help you learn songs faster as you grasp what is going on.
Minors only affect the bass in the notes in the chord differing. If someone says a song is in D minor, you will still start on the root note D.
I would split my time between practicing chords and scales and learning songs. Also need to learn how basic music theory applies to the songs you are learning. It will help you learn songs faster as you grasp what is going on.
This post was edited on 11/14/19 at 12:28 pm
Posted on 11/14/19 at 3:40 pm to Jester
Thanks for the replies all.
Posted on 11/14/19 at 7:08 pm to sodcutterjones
First off, congratulations. Learning to play any musical instrument is an admirable goal. And you’ve chosen to learn my instrument, so welcome to the fraternity 
Someone once said that the bass guitar takes a few hours to learn and a lifetime to master - that sounds about right. The advice others have given you about learning to plunk along with a few familiar songs to get your feet wet is pretty good - I remember figuring out the bass part to “Sparks” off of The WHO’s Tommy and realizing at that moment that I had found my musical calling. Might I further suggest picking out a few songs without a bass part and play around with notes you think sound good.
If you want to get serious about bass, I recommend joining up at TalkBass - there’s a huge community of fellow bassists there, from absolute beginners like yourself all the way up to seasoned professionals, including a few you may have heard before. And there are tons of resources for practice techniques, gear reviews, band horror stories, etc.
Again, welcome to the club. And good luck !
Someone once said that the bass guitar takes a few hours to learn and a lifetime to master - that sounds about right. The advice others have given you about learning to plunk along with a few familiar songs to get your feet wet is pretty good - I remember figuring out the bass part to “Sparks” off of The WHO’s Tommy and realizing at that moment that I had found my musical calling. Might I further suggest picking out a few songs without a bass part and play around with notes you think sound good.
If you want to get serious about bass, I recommend joining up at TalkBass - there’s a huge community of fellow bassists there, from absolute beginners like yourself all the way up to seasoned professionals, including a few you may have heard before. And there are tons of resources for practice techniques, gear reviews, band horror stories, etc.
Again, welcome to the club. And good luck !
Posted on 11/15/19 at 1:39 pm to wareaglepete
quote:
Some chord notations may note E7 instead of just E and you will know that is one octave up, or 7th fret of the A string rather than open E string.
Maybe you're talking about tabs. I don't know because, though I can read music, or used to (if you don't use it you lose it), I have never used tab charts.
That said, E7 isn't generally a single note at a particular fret on a particular string, but is a chord consisting of E-G#-B-D LINK
I am not implying you don't know this, but just making note of it so as to not confuse a new player.
Posted on 11/15/19 at 2:33 pm to John Milner
You may be right Milner. I may have just been getting lucky. 
Posted on 11/15/19 at 2:49 pm to wareaglepete
but you are absolutely right insofar as, in standard tune, the 7th fret on the A string is an E, one octave higher than the open E on the low E string. Alternating from that low E to the higher E on that A string sounds very good on a bass
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