How do I play bass?

Question

I have been playing guitar for about six years now. I have messed around with bass for a while but just started taking it seriously a few weeks ago. I have very large hands and long, strong fingers, so I can play better than a normal amateur might. I already know all the theory behind playing (chord structures and roots, scales, keys/modes, chromatics, etc,), and I have a good handle on the rhythm end of playing. But is there anything I should know as I go into this? What good habits should I be forming early and what bad habits should I be avoiding? I always play with all four fingers on the fretboard, with each finger corresponding to its fret (i.e. first position: 1st finger, 1st fret; 2nd finger, 2nd fret, etc.) and I almost despise the use of a pick. I want to get into some jazz, blues, or R&B (I know that's "blues" again, but...), and anything really rhythmic and groovy, but also upbeat and interesting. Although my roots are mostly in shitty punkish stuff. Any advice? Songs?Tips?

Tim:

I'm saying, "I know a lot about what I'm doing, so I'm not looking for the basics. Here is what I do know, now fill in the gaps and tell me what I don't know."

People like you piss me off more than words could ever, ever describe.

Answer 1

Don't anchor your right thumb on the body, anchor it on the string (or 2 strings) below (literally up from) the one you are playing.

In other words, if you are playing on the D string, anchor your thumb to either the A or the E string (or both by resting it in between). If you are playing on the G string, anchor your thumb on the D or the A (or both like before). You could even lay your thumb flat across all the lower strings with just the tip touching your nearest string. I do all three thumb anchor types described.

I do this personally because it keeps the lower strings from vibrating aimlessly. And don't worry, it will feel natural after you do it for a while. I actually change my thumb anchor when my right hand changes positions on the strings. I HATE open strings ringing out.

Not only that, but if you do ever play in thumbstyle or slap, your thumb will be right there ready to articulate.
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Just don't get into the habit of "thinking" like a guitarist. I don't mean this to be insulting, but most guitarists (even ones considered "good") don't do much in the way of supporting a groove. Many guitarists just "lay" on top and take a lot of rhythmic and tonal liberties because the bass and drums are carrying the foundation of the song. It's super-important to lock into the drummer's groove FIRST. All this is done while literally holding the tonal foundation of the song intact. So, all though a bass player can take liberties here and there, it is MUCH more important to be solid (even if it means repetitive) than to be flashy.

Also, I know this sounds terribly stupid, but the most important place for ANY bass line is beat 1. To demonstrate this, just take ANY groovy bassline that you know. Now, with the drums still going, break it down into simpler and simpler pieces until you are just playing the note (short) that begins each measure. Notice how the GROOVE is still there!!!

Also, you said you had long fingers. One of the WORST ways to limit your fingers' movement is by putting your thumb all the way over the top of the neck. I don't know if you do this or not, but if you ALWAYS make sure your thumb is BEHIND the neck, you will find that the angles and mechanics behind your fingering will be much more conducive to finger placement and motion.

Hope that helps!

****bass player for 14 yrs*****

Answer 2

Nobody would say a harmonica is harder than a flute or recorder just because it doesn't require the use of finger placement, but when it comes to guitar & bass apparently less strings=easier. I'd see it the opposite way, a much harder challenge is to write a good lead on bass with 4 strings than a good lead on a 6 string guitar. As for whather its easier, not at all a bass presents just as many difficulties in its own areas as a guitar does. Also any half decent bassist will not imitate the guitar throughout the entire song but make the guitarist play around the scales & chords the bassist is presenting. John Paul Jones Flea Bootsy Collins Pino Palladino Jaco Wooten Mark King want me too keep suggesting?:P

Answer 3

Bass is primarily a "support" instrument, so unless you can play like Billy Sheehan, etc., chances are you have to absolutely LOCK ON to the beat and can't "dance around it" like a lead guitar player can. If you are playing with superior musicians you can probably get away with it, but I can tell you from personal experience that when playing with other musicians that don't have a "built-in metronome" you will screw up their timing if you waver from the beat in the slightest. You HAVE to lock on to the "pocket" almost all of the time - the drums and the bass are considered the "rhythm section" so the other musicians usually follow the beat set by the drums and the bass. I've been told I play bass like a lead guitar player (it was meant as a compliment, and I AM a lead guitar player!), but that usually would NOT work. Lock on to the groove, stay in the pocket, listen to the drummer. You can play as fancy as you want to get, but remember that the idea is to make the overall sound as good as possible, so don't play "over" anybody - play WITH them, and you will not only make them look and sound better, it will make YOU sound better too.

Answer 4

Playing along with cd's is always good. The bass guitarist with Ian Drury and the Blockheads is good (Wot a Waste) as is (not r&b) UB40's. For funky slap bass then try Level 42. My personal favourite are the bass guitarists with early 70s soul groups (intro to Papa was a Rolling Stone, simple but classic). More off the wall are the likes of National Health (jazz rock). If you can't find something challenging out of that lot...but I play metal/rock ballad bass with a pick, so what do I know,lol.

Answer 5

As a guitarist that played bass in a band for a while i would say the best thing would be to play with a drummer, the ability to mesh with a drummer(as a bass player has to for the entire band to sound good) is crucial. I found it difficult because i was comming at it with the mindset of a guitarist. You have to keep time in a different way. So if you can find a drummer to jam with if you dont already have one would be the most helpful thing, especially if you have all the basics covered.

Answer 6

So what your saying is; "I don't want you to think I don't know what I'm doing. Because I know exactly what I'm doing. But how do I do it?"

Good for you, fella.