Just started Bass practice this week

heltershelton said:
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Very much this. After a few years of farting around with basses I’m in a band playing bass. I’m really enjoying it. Until I started playing bass in a band I played it like a guitar. It took a few months playing in the band to realize that the bass is really part of the percussion section. A good example is “Lonley Boy” by the Black Keys. There are sections of the song where you play 1/4 notes on the open E string. It took me a couple of weeks to nail it. It was a combination of timing and muting the string with my fretting hand after plucking the string. Looking at the music you think how simple, 1/4 notes on an open string. Do it right and the song rocks. Do it wrong and it sounds OK but no soul to it. After our practice last night both guitar players said “You rocked that bass tonight”. Our drummer was not there due to C***D so I was the rhythm section. That felt better than any compliments I’ve ever had for my guitar playing.
 
Kerry Brown said:
Very much this. After a few years of farting around with basses I’m in a band playing bass. I’m really enjoying it. Until I started playing bass in a band I played it like a guitar. It took a few months playing in the band to realize that the bass is really part of the percussion section. A good example is “Lonley Boy” by the Black Keys. There are sections of the song where you play 1/4 notes on the open E string. It took me a couple of weeks to nail it. It was a combination of timing and muting the string with my fretting hand after plucking the string. Looking at the music you think how simple, 1/4 notes on an open string. Do it right and the song rocks. Do it wrong and it sounds OK but no soul to it. After our practice last night both guitar players said “You rocked that bass tonight”. Our drummer was not there due to C***D so I was the rhythm section. That felt better than any compliments I’ve ever had for my guitar playing.
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Being recognized by your peers is the best feeling in the world, especially when you are playing bass. Its the unsung hero of the music world. Nice goin'!
 
Practice update:
So far this is about week 2.
I am practicing bass 3 times a week. The other 4 days I’m on guitar trying to learn more leads, theory and what not.
My fret work is coming back. I forgot how much more space your fingers have to cover than guitar. But the 20year rust is getting shaken off. My finger strumming needs work. Mainly strength building and endurance.
My main thing with my 5 string is the 5th string. I always played a 4 string. When I start playing and not making a conscious effort, my fingers go to that B string. In other words, muscle memory kicks in and wants that top string to be an E.
I’ll get it in time. It’s only been a couple of weeks.
But overall, I’m getting there. Even my bassline fills are sounding half decent now.
 
LiveeviL2000 said:
Practice update:
So far this is about week 2.
I am practicing bass 3 times a week. The other 4 days I’m on guitar trying to learn more leads, theory and what not.
My fret work is coming back. I forgot how much more space your fingers have to cover than guitar. But the 20year rust is getting shaken off. My finger strumming needs work. Mainly strength building and endurance.
My main thing with my 5 string is the 5th string. I always played a 4 string. When I start playing and not making a conscious effort, my fingers go to that B string. In other words, muscle memory kicks in and wants that top string to be an E.
I’ll get it in time. It’s only been a couple of weeks.
But overall, I’m getting there. Even my bassline fills are sounding half decent now.
Click to expand...
You could always just go with lighter strings and tune the top to E and on from there. Then you'd have an E-A-D-G-B bass instead of a B-E-A-D-G... this is music, rules are for breaking.
 
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