seashell

I wonder if these would be any good? [url="http://leftyfretz.com/guitar-bass-fret-note-labels-stickers/"]http://leftyfretz.com/guitar-bass-fret-note-labels-stickers/[/url] It does say they are un-peelable as well.

'White Rabbit', Jefferson Airplane

As another learner I'd say, get lessons if you possibly can! Even if you can only afford one lesson to get you out of the starting blocks. Teechas rool!

I've been learning for 6 months. I voted for 'instrumental tutor' as it is from my tutor that I learned everything I know and he is what inspires me to keep going. However, what motivated me to start in the first place was something all together different. (Apologies for boring anyone on here who already knows this story!). My ex (a drummer and sometime acoustic guitarist) bought a bass a few years ago and tried to encourage me to play it. I tinkered about for a bit but never really got going. Then when the ex moved out he left the bass behind. I decided I would learn to play it - somehow in an act of defiance really. Just to prove that I wasn't going to sit round moping, but would do something really different. Tinkered around with books but didn't get anywhere, so eventually booked some lessons. That's when the motivation really kicked in. Because after the first lesson I could actually play something that sounded a little bit musical. And the tutor was so encouraging and also has a real love for the instrument. Which all rubs off. It makes me want to practice so that I can show him that I've improved between each lesson - even if only a little bit. I would now always recommend lessons if you can possibly afford it. When you think of how much it costs to have driving lessons or get your hair cut by a professional stylist, paying a highly qualified and experienced musician to give you a tailor made lesson is really good value. Especially when you take into account not only the hour he spends with you but also all the prep that goes beforehand. (Lesson plan, handouts Cds and all).

[quote name='Faithless' post='1327317' date='Aug 4 2011, 04:27 PM']If you're frustrated when practising, you're probably doing the wrong stuff - that's why a good teacher is invaluable. And he doesnt have to be a bassplayer necessarily..[/quote] Definitely agree about the teacher. I have a great teacher, very inspirational. But I do admit to feeling frustrated at times when practising. maybe I'm trying to run before I can walk. One of the many good things about going to lessons regularly is that I never want to turn up not having improved at all since last time (I'm going fortnightly at the moment). So it's really good motivation. Always come out of the lesson feeling great and eager to pracice new stuff

This is a really interesting thread for a beginner like me. I think when practising I start off feeling frustrated that I can't do it properly. Then feel really pleased if it starts to sound better. Then notice that it still sounds a bit ropey and needs more practice. So then go back to feeling frustrated. You could probably draw some sort of diagram to illustrate this frustrated - pleased - frustrated circle! But I always 'reward' myself at the end of each session by playing something really fun and trying not to worry if it goes wrong or not. (At the moment, this would be 'Enter Sandman' by Metallica!) But then you play it once and think 'ok, if I just did it again and concentrated more, maybe I wouldn't have played all those bum notes in the middle'. So then you're back to practicing again! Another diagram may be called for

At my very first (and so far only!) gig this happened: It was just me on bass and my mate (singer and songwriter of dubious comedy songs) on guitar, bass drum and kazoo. With the kazoo in a harmonica harness. Just before his big kazoo solo (yeah, I know but this is comedy) the harness slipped and the kazoo swivelled round to the back of his neck. So he took both hands off the guitar to retrieve it. He just shouted 'carry on, Shell' over his shoulder and I had to play a bit on my own while he sorted himself out. Luckily it was simple blues in F so sounded OK on its own. I probably only played about a bar before he sorted himself out, but to me if felt like an eternity. My first bass solo

[quote name='4 Strings' post='1320927' date='Jul 29 2011, 10:50 PM']No new suggestions from me as its Andy Fraser (surely the coolest ever) and our friends Phil L and Norman W-R. >Edit: Looking at that pic again, even kids don't have waists like that nowadays. Thanks MacDonalds.[/quote] Oo yes, definitely

Welcome! Well I started as a total beginner 6 months ago. Like you, am over 50. Unlike you, could not play any other instruments at all. Started with an old Marlin Sidewinder which my ex had bought for about £90 (I think). Knowing nothing about basses I was completely happy with it. Since frequenting Basschat I find that the general opinion is that they are somewhat crap. However, it was fine for me. After a few lessons I could pick it up and get something out of it that sounded approximately like music, and this made me hugely thrilled. A couple of months ago I traded up to a second hand Fender Precision (Mexican) which I got for £325. It definitely sounds better than the Marlin and is somewhat lighter. However I don't think its that that much easier to play than the Marlin, it just sounds nicer (or maybe my playng's improved!) So in my experience, it's fine to start on something cheap. On the other hand you may want to trade up pretty quickly if you want to be seen out in public with it. One of the reasons I changed was that I had a little gig coming up and didn't want people to mock my instrument as well as my playing, I'm semi obessessed with the bass playing now. Partially because I am surprised and delighted that I could learn something new at my time of life! I'm sure you'll get on really well with it because you already have that musical experience. But I'd definitely recommend lessons if you can afford them. In fact I'd rather spend money on a good teacher than an expensive instrument. The knowldege and experience a good teacher can pass on is invaluable! Good luck with it all.

Is there a definite date for this yet? I'd be quite interested but haven't really got a free weekend in September.

Medium. I can't have it too high or the 'embonpoint' gets in the way!

Hiya and welcome from another one of those people with strange bumps...

What a lovely compliment to you that is! I can see why she wants the notes not the tab.. they look prettier :-)

[quote name='tauzero' post='1307194' date='Jul 17 2011, 10:48 PM']It finished up as a rather annoying and upsetting gig. It was the celebration of the first anniversary of a landlord taking over a pub (the Horseshoe on the Alcester Road in Birmingham), and he booked the rock/blues covers band to alternate with his resident DJ. We were at the back of the lounge - the pub has narrow everything, rooms, passages, and minds. There was a minor hitch when smoke started appearing from one of the speaker leads running to the monitors for the vocal PA. Not entirely sure what had happened, I unplugged the lead and carried on, we coped without monitors. After the first set we went outside. Mrs Zero wasn't with us when some big bloke said "You need a singer". After he said this for the second time, I said "we're happy with the one we've got, ta". Later, one woman wanted to get up and sing with us so Mrs Zero let her, then a couple of girls did the same, and then the big bloke started shouting abuse at them. We finished our second set to some applause and loud booing from this bloke. Mrs Zero told me that afterwards he'd followed her up the room, repeatedly saying "fat bitch, you can't sing". My opinion was that he was a cloth-eared ignorant bullying cnut. We decided that if we ever played there again, it would be without sharing with the resident DJ - it seemed that a lot of the people were there for him, including the obnoxious shitbag. Personally, I'd be happy never to play there again. It did upset Mrs Zero quite a bit - her self-confidence can occasionally be shaky, the legacy of bullying former partners, and she needed quite a bit of reassurance.[/quote] What a nightmare. I know this pub and always thought it looked a bit dodgy. Have only been in once or twice and it was quite uneventful, but there was never a good atmosphere. I'll definitely avoid it in future. That fat bloke sounds like a typical Druids Heathen (local reference!). Why do some people seem to enjoy being obnoxious?

Me too, left hander playing right handed. I reckoned you have to use both hands anyway, so you might as well use your 'best' had for the fingerboard.

[quote name='silddx' post='1303012' date='Jul 13 2011, 11:21 PM']Excellent! So that's two of us who will turn up in ladies clothes and make up [/quote] I'll probably also turn up in ladies clothes and make up. What with being a lady and all...

I agree with everyone who says it's is all down to your particular learning style. My learning style resonds to lessons with a teacher, definitely. The main reasons being: - my teacher showed me in 5 mins some things it would have taken me 5 hours to figure out for myself - lessons motivate me to keep pracitising. I would hate to turn up for a lesson not having improved at all from the last time. - Personally, I am quite motivated by praise so as long as my teacher keeps giving me little pats on the head from time to time I keep up my levels of enthusiasm - teacher is introducing me to many types of good music! If I was teaching myself I would probably just be sticking to rock and blues, blissfully unaware of what else I was missing - the theory is so much easier when explained in person rather than trying to read it all from a book. All of the above just MHO of course.

Thanks for the encouragement guys OK, put me down on the list: 01. Silverfoxnik: Roscoe Beck V, BC Rich Eagle, Yamaha TRB5 with Norstrand p/ups and Auderre pre, Hughes & Kettner Bassbass 600 head & SWR Triad.. plus old Peavey Head and 1x15 for the Jamming Room (unless anyone has something else we can use that's better?) 02. EssentialTension: Fender Precision 62, Fender TF Fretless P, Lakland Decade, Mesa Walkabout 12. 03. Waynepunkdude : Arsenal shirt, Nick Cave underpants, Sunburst Musicman Sterling H and Ampeg SVT 2pro G&K Neo412 04. Clarky: Currently Ampeg Baby Bass, Acoustic Image/Euphonic Audio rig; By September, who knows (watch the FS forum) 05. Truckstop: MIM Fender Jazz V, pimped Kay 2B; Gem/Ampeg rig; some effects 06. Urb - either Sei Jazz or Singlecut - and maybe some pedals - possible Genz Shuttle 9 07. dc2009 - Warwick CS Corvette $$ 5, Epi TB Vs (Reverse and non-reverse), my Dean if anyone actually wants a go, Trace Head, Marshall cab (heavy and big), various pedals. 08.Shockwave - Pedulla MVP5 Mean Green machine. 09. Sibob - '71 Precision, '73 Jazz, MIA Jazz 5 if there's interest, Barefaced Compact, Orange Terror, Pedal-board if there's interest. 10. MacDaddy - Custom Shuker & Hamer Blitz or Iceni custom. 11. Essexbasscat Roadworn somethingorother + Gs112. Amp - not sure which one yet 12. Plux - Berg HT210 & HT115 Hartke LH500 Ibanez BTB 13. 51m0n - Berg ae410, MB, Focusrite and Roscoe 14.seashell - MIM Fender Precision + some sort of Marshall practice amp (I'll look it up tonight) 15. 16. 17. 18. 19. 20. 21. 22. 23. 24. 25. 26. 27. 28. 29. 30.

Sounds really interesting and only just down the road from where my Dad lives. Are you planning on doing anything suitable for beginners? I'm sure I could learn loads from you all, but just a bit concerned it might all go right over my head and I'd feel a bit of a berk.

Nothing Else Matters, Metallica. Thought I'd have a bash at it cos I love the song and it's slow!

Ha ha, that's brill! Really made me smile

I sang backing vocals on one song at the little gig we did Sunday. But it was just during the chorus, and very simple and quite similar to what I was playing. Nevertheless, I amazed myself with the fact I could do it at all! No-one would ever want to hear me sing lead vocals though. I can keep in tune but my voice sounds all feeble and warbly. Not very rock and roll!

Thanks Len! Well I got a text from the singer/songwriter yesterday saying 'bloody well done last night, how does it feel to be a musician?'. I was dead chuffed. He said he'd like me to play with him again which is great. But it depends on the occasion really. He's mostly just a one man act and just brings in guests if the occasion demands. So I think I'll just kep practicising and see what happens.

Last night was my FIRST EVER gig, so I am just relieved i got through it. I've only been learning since February. I have good friend who writes and sings comedy songs and he asked me to play bass on 5 songs at a charity gig. He was on guitar,bass drum and kazoo and there was also a banjo player. Well, I hit a few bum notes but at least I didn't drop anything or fall over! I had to stop playing completely during the banjo 'solo' as he seemed to be swithching from G to D in a totally random fashion that I just couldn't grasp!! Luckily I knew most of the people in the audience so they were all very complimentary afterwards. And we raised £100 for the charity which was the main thing. I've been doing acting and dancing since the age six, so am quite used to performing, but this was a whole new thing for me! I have never been so nervous in my life! But of course am now hoping there will be an opportunity for another one, now I've been bitten by the bug!

Looks like she forgot her PE kit and they made her do it in vest and pants. Only she forgot her vest as well....