David Taylor Posted July 7, 2014 Share Posted July 7, 2014 Heyas folks, i'm David and well as the title says i'm a total beginner, never played any instrument until now. I've been wanting to learn bass for a while, and this week while out shopping with a mate who was after a new guitar i found mine. Ended up with a left handed Hofner Ignition Violin Bass: http://www.hofner-guitars.com/electric-basses/violin-bass/ignition-violin-bass.html Fell in love with it as soon as i saw it Now just to learn to play it lol I'll probably be asking a lot of dumb questions for a while so be easy on me Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dad3353 Posted July 7, 2014 Share Posted July 7, 2014 Good evening, David, and ... [URL=http://www.smileyvault.com/][IMG]http://www.smileyvault.com/albums/userpics/14389/tekst_welkom~0.gif[/IMG][/URL] ... to the forum. Nice choice of bass. Much maligned by some, but very versatile, and based on an instrument that has been made another leftie very famous indeed. Good call. Enjoy pottering around in here; there is much to be gleaned. The usual tip for any total beginner is to advise, if possible, getting a few lessons from real bass teacher. You don't mention your whereabouts, but there's quite a few on this site, from all over the country. Might be worth a thought..? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Taylor Posted July 7, 2014 Author Share Posted July 7, 2014 (edited) Yeah i plan on getting some lessons. Sadly the teachers i've found around where i live (Wellington in Somerset) are VERY expensive. I'm hoping to catch up with a teacher that was recommend to me next week some point and see how much he's gonna charge me. £35ph for a guitar lesson seems a bit over priced to me >.< Edited July 7, 2014 by David Taylor Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kevvo66 Posted July 8, 2014 Share Posted July 8, 2014 Hiya David, and welcome to the low end in good way of course, there's plenty of advice on here any questions ask away someone will answer you no matter how silly it sounds everyone had to start learning at one point, and you never stop learning, all the best. Kev Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kevvo66 Posted July 8, 2014 Share Posted July 8, 2014 Like dad said few lessons also, I would try too find someone who teaches bass only and not a guitarist who teaches bass, bass is a completely different beast altogether!!! Thats why we love it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dad3353 Posted July 8, 2014 Share Posted July 8, 2014 (edited) Yes indeed, a dedicated bass teacher is by far preferable. To be fair, there are decent guitar/bass teachers, but it's less of a 'guarantee', unless recommended by another bass student. Here's a couple from our 'Tuition available' section... [url="http://basschat.co.uk/topic/109215-bass-tuiton-available-in-bristolsomerset/page__p__1242549__hl__somerset__fromsearch__1#entry1242549"]Bass tuition Available in Bristol/Somerset...[/url] [url="http://basschat.co.uk/topic/155599-electric-upright-bass-lessons-available-in-north-somerset-bristol-and-london-areas/page__hl__somerset__fromsearch__1"]Electric & Upright Bass Lessons available in North Somerset, Bristol and London areas...[/url] Give them a try, maybe..? An alternative, although not ideal, could be lessons through 'Skype'. This could open up some scope..? One needn't go for a long programme, either. Take a lesson or two, then practice for a few weeks, repeat and rinse..? Hope this helps. Edited July 8, 2014 by Dad3353 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Taylor Posted July 8, 2014 Author Share Posted July 8, 2014 Yeah WAAAAY to far sadly. Bristol is good 2hours away from me i only get there once in a blue moon and it's usually for a day visit when my mates are going to check out guitars. Sadly i don't drive due to epilepsy so for me it has to be REAL local, as in the Taunton/Wellington area. Since i have to rely on public transport Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dad3353 Posted July 8, 2014 Share Posted July 8, 2014 Ah..! That's one of the benefits of updating your Profile, so that we may better target replies..! In that case, 'Skype' lessons may be a way forward..? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Taylor Posted July 8, 2014 Author Share Posted July 8, 2014 I dunno about that, just seems a little weird. You can't really hear sound properly through skype and i don't even own a camera lol. I have found a couple of guys in the area that are cheaper so i'll give them a buzz later on in the day and see what they have to say. One of them actually teaches in the town i live in, so that would make life easier Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
madshadows Posted July 8, 2014 Share Posted July 8, 2014 Welcome to Basschat David John Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve-bbb Posted July 8, 2014 Share Posted July 8, 2014 (edited) dont worry about those expensive west country tutors you'll be able to afford them once you're rich and famous but in the meantime ... [url="https://www.youtube.com/user/devinebass"]https://www.youtube....user/devinebass[/url] [url="http://www.scottsbasslessons.com/"]http://www.scottsbasslessons.com/[/url] Edited July 8, 2014 by steve-bbb Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HowieBass Posted July 8, 2014 Share Posted July 8, 2014 [quote name='steve-bbb' timestamp='1404807717' post='2495798'] dont worry about those expensive west country tutors you'll be able to afford them once you're rich and famous but in the meantime ... [url="https://www.youtube.com/user/devinebass"]https://www.youtube....user/devinebass[/url] [url="http://www.scottsbasslessons.com/"]http://www.scottsbasslessons.com/[/url] [/quote] +1 There are loads of online resources these days (Basschat being the best obviously LOL) and Scott Devine offers many hours of short, focussed lessons via his website and YouTube channel. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BassTractor Posted July 8, 2014 Share Posted July 8, 2014 Welcome, David! I'm positive we have one or several people from Taunton here on BC, so you might wish to shout out to them. Other than that, I agree about getting lessons - specifically for the avoiding bad technique and possible damage bit. As to your "dumb questions", let me reiterate my standard notion that there are no dumb questions. There are only dumb people asking questions. Enjoy BC. There's a wealth of knowledge to sample from here. bert Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
discreet Posted July 8, 2014 Share Posted July 8, 2014 Welcome to the forum. I droop by here too, occasionally. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Westie9 Posted July 9, 2014 Share Posted July 9, 2014 Hi and welcome to the forum... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Taylor Posted July 9, 2014 Author Share Posted July 9, 2014 Thanks guys! Getting a bit of grief from another mate, he's a bass player in a band. Rekons the Hofner i bought was the wrong choice as a learning place. Due to it's shape. what can i say, i fell in love with it as soon as i saw it, and it was the only lefty bass they had in the store. Hell i didn't even know there was a difference between left and right handed bass lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dad3353 Posted July 9, 2014 Share Posted July 9, 2014 [quote name='David Taylor' timestamp='1404923430' post='2497053'] Thanks guys! Getting a bit of grief from another mate, he's a bass player in a band. Rekons the Hofner i bought was the wrong choice as a learning place. Due to it's shape. what can i say, i fell in love with it as soon as i saw it, and it was the only lefty bass they had in the store. Hell i didn't even know there was a difference between left and right handed bass lol [/quote] What to say..? The bloke's not helping you much, is he..? There is no difference beginning on a Hofner or a Fender or a Rickenbacker or a Wal or a Status or a Squier or a ... (the list goes on...). He plays his bass; you play yours. So..? There are more than a few amateur, semi and fully pro players out there who own and play Hofners. They are not all wrong. I'd suggest that your mate is a bit of a ... No, I shouldn't. It's rude. He may even be a nice bloke. Disclaimer: [i]I'm active on, and moderate, a Hofner collector's forum. I have several Hofner guitars and bass, as well as several other makes of both. On top of all that, I play drums. What would I know..?[/i] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ricksterphil Posted July 9, 2014 Share Posted July 9, 2014 Well done mate and I wouldn't worry about what your mate says, if you love it, you'll play it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jonnyboy Rotten Posted July 9, 2014 Share Posted July 9, 2014 Welcome mate. That's why it's YOUR bass! It probably is wrong for your mate to learn on it. If it makes you want to pick it up and play then it is 'the one'! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gapiro Posted July 9, 2014 Share Posted July 9, 2014 +1 to most points above - a few lessons is always helpful - if you get the technique right early on then you dont need to psend hours trying to fix it later. Doesn't matter what bass you play - everyone is different, although you may find that a bass teacher may suggest something different based on your body shape though later on (eg I find thin necked basses cramp my wrists up as i'm a big bloke) , at a beginner level it makes no odds - if you dont like the look of it you wont enjoy playing it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
discreet Posted July 9, 2014 Share Posted July 9, 2014 Tell your mate 'if it was good enough for McCartney...' Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Taylor Posted July 10, 2014 Author Share Posted July 10, 2014 [quote name='discreet' timestamp='1404941556' post='2497271'] Tell your mate 'if it was good enough for McCartney...' [/quote] i just realised, that could be why hehe he's not a Beatles fan Would love to have gotten one like what McCartney used, but i don't have the cash lol. Only thing i don't like about mine are the dials, which look a bit tacky, and the fact that it's misslabled, as they all are apparently. When you put switch it to 'on' you've actually turned it off lol, on the bass and treble switches Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
discreet Posted July 10, 2014 Share Posted July 10, 2014 [quote name='David Taylor' timestamp='1404992420' post='2497621'] Only thing i don't like about mine are the dials, which look a bit tacky, and the fact that it's mislabled, as they all are apparently. When you put switch it to 'on' you've actually turned it off lol... [/quote] As long as you know, it's all that counts. If you like your bass it doesn't matter what anyone else thinks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Taylor Posted July 10, 2014 Author Share Posted July 10, 2014 So i got my first lesson booked, £24 for an hour and the guy is literally right round the cornor from me (and i do mean the next street over lol) Which means he's gonna be seeing a LOT of me by accident hehe I also picked up Rocksmith 2014, from what i've read it seems like a good way to get a 'jamming' feel while playing solo, and when combined with a good teacher it apparently makes for a kick ass learning game. Guess we'll see lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheGreek Posted July 10, 2014 Share Posted July 10, 2014 Welcome to the Forum, lots of free advice and pointers available so don't worry about asking - we all started at the same place with the same (daft) questions and made the same mistakes. Hopefully you won't have to make those same mistakes and benefit from the vast wealth of experience that is Basschat... Again, welcome... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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