Really Screwed Myself This Time

[Dookiedude3005]

Ok, I used to be a bassist for a pop-punk(i was an ok player, didn't play anything too hard so i didn't really push my potential). That band broke up so for the past 5 months I haven't played the bass and focused on the drums. Now my friend wants me to be in a punk/ska band and the old bass player he had before was really good and i've never been able to play ska stuff(walking/moving basslines). Some of the stuff will be straight ahead follwing ryhtm guitar stuff but he wants me to throw in some flashy Anti-flag type stuff.

So I picked up the bass and i'm not even close to what i used to so my question is:
What can I do to prepare myself and get my skills back and even go past my old self so i can play this crazy ska stuff? Exercises and stuff I should do you know?

[Bass_swede]

Listen to alot of punk-ska like NOFX, early Millencolin, Less than jake etc. Then look up the tabs and learn it, look what patterns and different rythms that are used. DON'T just look up one or two songs or else you will be stuck to how they are being arranged. And even though you can look at others works to get inspiration, you have to be creative yourself, that is a great aspect of being a musician.

Good luck! :wave:

[Misanthropic]

Anti-Flag sounds a lot harder than it is. Nevertheless he has some catchy lines...

[TheBassman238]

To get urself started do finger excersizes and once you start to get back into the swing of things look a some songs you admire on a bass level in the genre and see what there doing and make it into your own style/liking....

-TBM

[Jaded]

Listen to some Catch 22.

[Alex]

first of all, ska is really easy so it shouldnt be to hard. secondly, just keep playing bass untill u can play that sh1t

[Dookiedude3005]

thanks guys

I had no idea how bad i had it til i picked my bass and tried to play something...and i couldn't.

Any particular exercises for the fret hand(considering i use a pick), like should no scales and stretch my hand and just walk up and down the neck(cuz my pinky is really weak, so weak i can't even use it right now....god damn drums!)

[thelowsoundofbass]

just pratice scales and what not. all ska is about is having the best timeing possable, i could prolly play 3 notes all song for a ska band and make it sound good because of the timeing of them. so work with a metronom, also listen to lots of it and keep the groove going and be tight

lowsound

[Mr. Pickle]

so you got to a place you liked with bass, stopped playing, now you want to get back where you were...?... the only way to get back to YOUR old level is to do the same stuff you did before.

[Left Shoe]

Listen to some Catch 22.
yes listen to this guy, their bass player "mingus", no not that mingus, definitley a solid player

[Manticore Guy]

yes listen to this guy, their bass player "mingus", no not that mingus, definitley a solid player

Most definetely, especially on walking away
:cool:

[:amaze:]

It is pertinent that you know at least your major scale to make a decent ska line. That's pretty much it, though.




:amaze: