Beginner Resources, and a Newbie's Guide to the Bass Forum

[LightRaven]

Welcome to the Bass Forum at musicianforums.com.

I am LightRaven, the moderator of this forum, along with WhoDoVooDoo. Here are some tips about our beloved bass forum.

Please Visit the Bass Forum ARCHIVE. It is a work constantly in progress, but it is in that thread that you will find the links to the most sought out websites and other important and helpful threads we have to offer.

Please refrain from making a Pick Vs. Fingers thread. We have bassists who perfer one or the other.. or both, but it usually turns out to be a big flame fest.

"Flaming" is basically bashing other member's viewpoints, tastes in music, etc. Please try to respect everyone here, regardless of their opinions and other things, and the same courtesy shall be extended to you.

Please refrain from making a Best Bassist thread... again... it is a matter of opinion and an arguement will usually break out. This isn't neccessary.

When you decide to make your threads, please try to keep the thread title relevant to your post. A "Please Help" thread might not get many responses because people don't have time to go browsing through threads they aren't sure will interest them. A "do you think......?" thread will also not get many responses. If you have a specific question... state it in the title... those who have knowledge will be happy to help.

Know that there is a difference between the two buttons that say post new thread or post reply (something to that effect). If you are within a thread and you wish to make a comment... click the button that pertains to replying to that thread. Clicking on the Make new thread button will make a completely separate thread... not in correlation to the topic you wished to comment on. Good Humored flaming might take place otherwise.

It is also a bad idea to ask how good you are by listing off songs you can play. We don't judge by song lists... it doesn't really mean anything. If you wish to further yourself.. don't hesitate to ask what you possibly should be working on. But do not ask us to judge you. We don't like to.. and then there are always the possibility of some jerk trying to flame you because you "suck." We are here to further our education and help people..... not shoot people down.

If you have any questions or comments, feel free to email me at [email]Light_Raven@hotmail.com[/email]

Welcome and Enjoy your stay here. We have alot to learn from each other!

LightRaven

[WhoDoVooDoo]

Since we seem to have an influx of newbies, I'm going to add a few things here...

- Please don't bring back old threads unless they have some type of relevance to a question you have. The search function was not re-enabled so you could say "wow! this thread is OLD."

- Use proper grammer, or at least something close. Posting incoherently doesn't help your question get answered any faster.

- Try to show some respect to other people on the boards. People have opinions, and they are free to express them. Random negative comments are not appreciated. I don't care if there are arguments, just make sure to state your case...not just "you suck" or "you're wrong."

- On a similar note, don't post unless you have something quasi-constructive to say. "I don't know" or just posting the smilie doesn't help anybody.

Heather and I can't be here to moderate 24/7, but we really shouldn't have to be. The forum should be able to run fairly smoothly (for the most part) on it's own. Occassional lapses are bound to happen, and that's no big deal -- that's why we're here. Someone is around to get rid of the junk most of the time. We're just trying to keep "the junk" a minimum.

[WhoDoVooDoo]

and I forgot...

Tab Requests go in the Tab Request Thread, which can be found in the ARCHIVE or the Tab Talk Forum.

Requests for tabs will be deleted...or possibly moved.

[Wintermute]

Also:

As a general rule, 'Worst Bassist' threads are treated the same as 'Best Bassist' threads (i.e. not allowed)

And if you have a question to ask, it may save time to check if it's been explained in the [url=http://www.musicianforums.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=58]Lessons And Articles[/url] subforum.

I can also be contacted at [email]wintermute.mx@gmail.com[/email]

[Spazzout22]

You know, I'm sure this could easily go in the Lessons, or the Resources page. Unfortunaly, no one reads there apparently, so I've taken it Upon myself to make this thread.

It seems like we get a lot of the same questions here in the Beginner Questions section of the bass forum. So I've decided to post some resources you may or may not know exist.

General beginner FAQ
http://www.peterduncan.net/bass_faqs.html

For Slaping:
http://www.musicianforums.com/forums/article.php?a=35
http://www.musicianforums.com/forums/article.php?a=49

For Double Thumping:
http://www.musicianforums.com/forums/article.php?a=47

for Music Theory:
http://www.musicianforums.com/forums/article.php?a=26
http://www.musicianforums.com/forums/article.php?a=197
http://www.musicianforums.com/forums/article.php?a=192
http://www.musicianforums.com/forums/article.php?a=168
http://www.musictheory.net/
http://www.emusictheory.com/learning.html

For Purchasing an Instrument:
Http://www.musiciansfriend.com
http://www.music123.com
http://www.ebay.com

Tuning (I know, but we get this question a lot!)

http://www.musicianforums.com/forums/article.php?a=64

Standard tuning of the Bass is (From highest to Lowest): GDAE for a 4 string, GDAEB for a 5, CGDAE for a 5 tenor, and CGDAEB for a 6 string, I guess for a 7 it would be FCGDAEB.

It's best practice to get a tuner, they're inexpensive and can help your ear ear out while still getting your bass in tune.

Cleaning Fretboards and Strings:

Personally I just wipe um down with a cloth with rubbing alcohol. If you don't want to risk it, there's fretboard cleaner you can buy at your local music store. If you feel the need to clean your strings, boil them in some water, let um cool, and put them back on your bass.

For those looking for Electronics of Amps explained:
http://www.musicianforums.com/forums/article.php?a=32

Passive Verses Active:

http://musicianforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=310023

You know that your bass is Active if it has a Battery in it. If it doesn't, then it's passive. The Active and Passive chanels on your amp corrospond with what kind of bass you have.

If you're looking for some good songs to learn:
http://www.musicianforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=234756

If you want tabs to a certain song, Please POST THEM HERE:
http://www.musicianforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=174562



I think that's all for now. If anyone has ANYTHING else they want to see on here/ want to add to here, please feel free to bug me untill I do. If anyone has any questions you can IM me at SoPuAtZ . Christabber is another great resource and you can IM him at Chris18hi .

While i'm on that note. If you want to talk to an MXer that isn't Chris or I:
http://www.musicianforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=255187
http://www.musicianforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=247914

Ya, I hope this helps people a lot. Because it took me a whole 3 min to find all this information, and another 5 to write up this thread. And that's a freeking long time in my book.

Ok, i just remembered about this:

Practicing:
When you practice something, use a metranome (sp?). Seriously. It can be boring as watching paint dry, but it'll help. First, when you can't play something, slow it way down. To the point where you have no trouble playing the piece. aka (i know i'm drilling this, but man it's really hard to do) don't think you can play it, know you can. Even if the half note is 146 bpm, and you have to take the eighth note at 60 bpm, just do it. Then SLOWLY speed it up. That's a MAX of 5 BPM. If you find that you're having trouble at a certain speed, go back. It also helps to play it in half time, then double speed it. Hope that helps.

~~Art~~

PS, this thread is not the place to post questions unless it directly relates to something posted here! If you have a general question "I've looked everywhere but I still can't find ____ can you help me?" etc, start a new thread. thanks!

[Rickenbacker2112]

i just began and on the tabs there are x's now it sais that their like muted slashes or something, but how do i play it?

[Spazzout22]

Originally Posted by Rickenbacker2112

i just began and on the tabs there are x's now it sais that their like muted slashes or something, but how do i play it?

Funny, did you even read this thread?

Originally Posted by Lightraven

Know that there is a difference between the two buttons that say post new thread or post reply (something to that effect). If you are within a thread and you wish to make a comment... click the button that pertains to replying to that thread. Clicking on the Make new thread button will make a completely separate thread... not in correlation to the topic you wished to comment on. Good Humored flaming might take place otherwise.

Check that out. Try making a new thread, instead of posting in here

[Ilujnastray]

I'm hoping this is the right place to ask this, because I did check the links and browse the forums before deciding to ask. I'm new, beginning, obviously. I'd love nothing more than to get a teacher but at the moment, I can't afford one.

So I was wondering if there are any mistakes self-taught bassists generally make that I should look out for? Or just any warnings about what many beginners do that I shouldn't? I do, at some point, plan on getting professional instruction and I don't want to waste time or money fixing problems that could have been prevented.

[Hydroponicman]

Hey i was wondering i wanted a good jam session with my buddy that plays guitar i know my notes decent all the modes and all the minor pentatonic just wanting to have some fun what can i lay down to give a good groove for him to solo with i also know the blues notes. should i use some triads arppegios or what? can i just use the scales?

[Downwithcopps]

Can't go wrong when you memorize the scales. Its easier to follow when you're able to play the scales on different strings/ in different ways

[Downwithcopps]

Originally Posted by Hydroponicman

Hey i was wondering i wanted a good jam session with my buddy that plays guitar i know my notes decent all the modes and all the minor pentatonic just wanting to have some fun what can i lay down to give a good groove for him to solo with i also know the blues notes. should i use some triads arppegios or what? can i just use the scales?

1-3-5-6-8-6-5-3-1 ...1st being the 1 note of a scale..hit each twice..first long then short..thats how i blues it

[Dr. Ugs]

Could u link a cleaning guide for strings and fretboard?

[Spazzout22]

Originally Posted by Dr. Ugs

Could u link a cleaning guide for strings and fretboard?

done, right above amp electronics.

[Dr. Ugs]

all the links below "for Music theory" that are linked within this forum are now dead links.

[mullets suk]

hey spazz some of the links dont work. the ones i checked was elctro amps and the tuning, there are possibly other to.

[systemfreak79]

this is an awesome thread with many good tips and things. but i am a four string fender person. and i want to buy a five string, but i have very little money. ($100-200) and i need some tips on what to buy. i was looking at an esp ltd five string bass. is this good?
and
how do i change pickups on my bass guitar?

[hobo with bass]

Originally Posted by systemfreak79

this is an awesome thread with many good tips and things. but i am a four string fender person. and i want to buy a five string, but i have very little money. ($100-200) and i need some tips on what to buy. i was looking at an esp ltd five string bass. is this good?
and
how do i change pickups on my bass guitar?

what are pick ups?

[Wintermute]

Originally Posted by hobo with bass

what are pick ups?

http://www.musicianforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=314357

Knock yourself out.

(please.)

[uberj4]

does bass really suck as much as ive been told, coz i heard your jus failed guitarists/ idiots

[BassIsPrettyCool]

^Yup, you got it!