MarkCSC

One more bit of advice would be to join a band.
Three weeks after I started to play bass I joined a band.
I sucked big style!! But I learnt so much off the other guys in the band very quickly. You'll learn more about rhythm and keeping in time and you'll ever do at home.
Also if you want to go giging the buzz in amazing.

Mark

InvisibleMan

Nylon String Guitars

Ok so to recap this is what seems to be the case:

Acoustic nylon string guitars are used for Classical and Spanish music

Steel string acoustic guitars are used for folk, blues, country and acoustic rock

I really like the Spanish type playing but that aint gonna happen so i guess its the steel. Ive got loads of tunes from rock bands doing acoustic versions of their songs, i guess they are using the steel type???

muppet paster

Lots of those dodgy rock balads are played on twelve strings....

Sorry!

I used to repair guitars for a living, so if you want any set-up advice let me know.

InvisibleMan

bttt fao Mega_stream & other newbies

ok its been 4months now, so how have you all progressed?

Mega, is this you now?

Jen

Very guys - I've always wanted to learn the bass - my parents are both guitar mad, and I'd quite like to suprise them with it

I was very close to getting one last year, but then the perfect Scoob came along - so needless to say the money went on that Anyone got any tips on what to look for when looking at a bass? Just got a new job so there'll be a few more pennies coming in

Thanks

Jen

RichS

Hmmm - okay, having read back what I posted, I've obviously got that bit wrong. (Thanks Markus and Crush )

Otherwise, I think everything else I wrote was more or less right.

However I agree with the other points which have been made since.

Have fun!

ScoobyNet jam session anyone?

Rich

MarkCSC

Jen

The type of bass you buy really depends on what style you want to play and how you play.

General tips
Play it unplugged first. You are testing the bass not the shop's cool amp. If a guitar sounds good unplugged (bright clear ringing tone)it should be good through an amp.

Play lots of different types.
I personally can not get on with 20 (or is in 19, can never remember) fret basses. The balance is all wrong for me so I've got 24 frets.

Play it with a strap on.
Some basses are really heavy and you won't get a real feel for it, or the balance with out a strap.

Not sure how much you want to spend but the best basses I have ever played were Warwicks. Really lovely quick necks, really powerful sound.

Mark

http://www.warwickbass.com/

Jen

Thanks Mark - there's a good few hints there

I'll do lots of research first and then to get saving

Jen

IntegraR

Hey mega_stream, if you want it tuning, I can do that for you, bring it into work, and Ill do it quietly outside so none of the others see your guitar before its spotted on TOTP's

Also, may be able to give you some pointers on beginning to learn songs and chords, thou havent played in 5 years odd, but still, its like falling off a bicycle apparently, and Im really good at that.

BillyWhizz

been playing electric for about 11 years now..I still don't thinkI'm any good but my friends say otherwise...and so does Angel

as long as you're ready for some long hours practising and practising until you finally get it to sound summat like it supposed to and you stop when you get bored then you should get good fairly quickly.

I learnt from books and by listening to anything and everything and having a go if it sounded easy enough.

Must admit, Angel filmed me the other day as I played a bit of Satriani and I was quite impressed by myself (smug mode)

although couldn't play a fcukin note last night

RichS

You played Satriani BillyWhizz?

- what song?

jasonwrxowner

Start with the Pentatonic scales and then move onto all of the others. (List available on request)

These are the building blocks and will teach you how to move around the fretboard and also assist you later in chord/note/key identification.

InvisibleMan

ive practiced abit now, doing an evening course soon before i pick up any bad habits

RichS

Nice one

I can do a ropey version of "Always With Me, Always With You." - up until the point where it starts to get fast...