Coilte

You say that you feel the bass is good enough for you to learn on. What more do you need to know ?

[quote name='discreet' timestamp='1420297774' post='2647748'] One of the cardinal errors made by many members of this forum (myself included) is to put the acquisition of new equipment before doing anything about improving playing skills. You can buy a very good used bass indeed for £300 - you will have to become a top-drawer player to actually [i]need [/i]anything that costs a lot more than that. And you can keep Mrs Bad Sign happy at the same time. [/quote] +1. A top of the range bass wont sound so top of the range in inexperienced hands. So my recommendation is to go for option B. Spend some of the remainder on lessons. FWIW.. as far as bass choices is concerned, check out the G&L Tribute range.

[quote name='JapanAxe' timestamp='1420293576' post='2647620'] Beaten to the StudyBass link by 3 minutes! [/quote] [size=4] Sorry about that....!!... but yes...the lessons are well presented and easy to understand.[/size] [size=4]I certainly learned a lot from it.[/size]

[quote name='Evil Undead' timestamp='1420239478' post='2647178'] If it helps explain what I'm after... I'd love to be able to listen to a song, identify the key and know what chords apply and what notes would fit. [/quote] A few lessons from a teacher is always going to be well worth your while. Learning some basic theory is also well worth the time and effort. Having said the above, you can also do a lot on your own to achieve the goal you mention. Try playing along to some simple songs that you like. With trial and error, try to work out the bass lines. There are lots of clips on You Tube with bass covers of songs, where the bass is easy to hear. Though you might not care much for blues music, IMO it is a great genre for learning basic bass lines. Search You Tube for names like Buddy Guy, Peter Greene, Eric Clapton and BB King. Once you learn some basic theory, the penny will drop and you will begin to recognize certain chords and patterns that come up often. Until you do get a teacher, a good site to slowly work through (start at the very beginning of the lessons) is : [url="http://www.studybass.com/study-guide/"]http://www.studybass.com/study-guide/[/url] The great thing about this site is that it starts with the basics and gradually builds from there, so there are no gaps in the learning process.

It is quite possible to play fast by plucking. The key is to alternate the fingers. Start slow and build up the tempo gradually. Playing with a pick is also a great "tool" to have at your disposal. Dont get too hung up on speed, both from the point of view of learning and playing. Two years is still quite a small amount of time to be playing. Progress happens very gradually. The height you wear the bass at is a personal matter. Too high and the plucking hand wrist is bent. Too low, it's the same for the fretting hand. To avoid injury problems later on, try to keep both wrists as straight as possible. So a comfortable compromise is required. Here is a link to Carol Kaye's pick method (see tips #26 & 27) https://www.carolkaye.com/www/education/tips1.htm These are also worth a look. [url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PPVMBPmrblU"]https://www.youtube....h?v=PPVMBPmrblU[/url] [url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IZ7E3tukRPM"]https://www.youtube....h?v=IZ7E3tukRPM[/url] [url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uIYuqTsUlyM"]https://www.youtube....h?v=uIYuqTsUlyM[/url]

Here is an interesting and useful article from Talk Bass on practice in general. http://www.talkbass.com/threads/doing-it-the-slow-way-guide-to-practicing-by-joe-solomon.125537/

This is my favourite demo of the song : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=opDEoTZnrwg

[quote name='Bassjon' timestamp='1420104789' post='2645512'] Practice your 16th note grooves, that will build up your right hand dexterity [/quote] Thanks. I'll certainly do that ! [size=4] [/size]

[quote name='Truckstop' timestamp='1419545846' post='2640868'] You need the gunk to play the funk! [/quote] Sorry, but that's total BS IMO, even if it did come for Mr Jamerson. Fair enough, if someone prefers not to clean their bass, but coming up with silly excuses like this, not to ... [size=4] [/size]

[quote name='Defo' timestamp='1419506899' post='2640476'] The MIM was awful, felt cheap and nasty, I would have been much better off spending my cash on an Ibanez. [/quote] ...or better still....a Tribute G&L JB2. [size=4] [/size] [size=4]http://www.glguitars.com/instruments/TributeSeries/basses/JB-2_new/index.asp[/size]

Many Happy Returns to one and all !!! [size=4] [/size]

A varnished neck should only require a slightly moistened clean cotton cloth.

[quote name='Lynottfan' timestamp='1419103393' post='2636657'] Gotcha always springs to mind [/quote] Yeah, another great one.... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gsJ4pALlbEM Gotta say though, that I prefer the version as played here by it's composer Tom Scott, from the CD "Blow it Out". Chuck Rainey is in the bass chair on this track : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nsrPBS-99Ew

[quote name='Coilte' timestamp='1419015442' post='2635795'] I always thought that Carol Kaye played on a lot of those USA police series. Certainly does not sound like her in this one. Anyone have any ideas who the bassist is ? [/quote] Did a bit of research. Looks like I was right about Ms. Kaye. According to Wikipedia that's her. Check four paragraphs down : [url="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carol_Kaye"]http://en.wikipedia....wiki/Carol_Kaye[/url]

[quote name='Number6' timestamp='1419014432' post='2635780'] And one of my favourite back in the day shows..... [/quote] Yeah, I loved that show. That's the first time I've heard the theme in it's entirety. Great theme and nice bass playing. I always thought that Carol Kaye played on a lot of those USA police series. Certainly does not sound like her in this one. Anyone have any ideas who the bassist is ?

IMO the early "Crusaders" albums are great !! Here's a taster : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5DqfX6PJZQE

People keep talking about the amp(s) as if it was to blame. The problem lies with the knob at the front[size=4] [/size] [size=4][size=2]To be taken as you see fit !!![/size][/size]

[quote name='essexbasscat' timestamp='1418573232' post='2631279'] What are the volume requirements of the venue ? are enthusiastic volume control settings likely to get a repeat booking ? or lose it ? Does loud volume invite an audience in ? or repel them ? Are you there to entertain an audience, or for reasons more personal to the band members ? Is the guitarist interested in these questions and the answers to them ? [/quote] +1. If, instead on upping the volume to match, more band members diplomatically asked the offending member to turn down, then everyone, both punters and band members, would be a lot happier.....and a lot less deaf... [size=4] [/size] [size=4]If he refuses to turn it down....show him the door.[/size]

[quote name='Bassjon' timestamp='1418559876' post='2631124'] . I understand the idea of walking jazz, I just have trouble applying it! [/quote] In that case perhaps a book is not what you need, but a lot of listening... to the likes of Paul Chambers, Ron Carter etc.

I agree. I find that most pub gig bands play much too loud. If it was loud on stage, from the punters location it would sound even louder. If your guitarist cant get the sound he wants without "roof lifting" volume then he hasn't a clue how to E.Q. his sound. My own band is not off the hook either. I notice the excess volume especially at rehearsals. The guitarist has often asked me to up the volume on my bass. I usually refuse, asking him to drop his instead.

[quote name='All thumbs' timestamp='1418311485' post='2629055'] I hope you joking! :-) Just in case you're not.... ...I've felt like that a LOT when I watch some of the players there are out there on YouTube etc. BUT I've come to accept (and enjoy) that we all have different aptitudes (keeping it bass related) for different aspects of playing and that's what makes us all different. All the time I hear other bassists and think, "I couldn't do that - ever", but I'll have a go, even if I get nowhere near! My understanding of jazz harmony for example is no-where near where I'd like it to be, but on the on the other hand I've seen one of the most accomplished jazz bassists in the country struggle to play 'That's Alright Mama' where I know I'd have nailed it! Honestly - keep doing and ENJOYING what you're doing! Try and stretch yourself by all means, but never give up - it's all about having fun. Some of the best bass playing, and music in general, is technically unbelievably simple - but it is steeped in emotion and conviction, that's where it's at! [/quote] Good post !! @6feet7 : The only way you will get close to nailing it is by giving it your best shot.....regularly. [size=4] [/size][size=4]See my post above. I have being coming back to it on a regular basis for quite a while now. I'm not there yet by any means, but I'm enjoying the challenge. [/size] [size=4]Try it with a metronome at a comfortable tempo. As you progress, up the tempo by about five or ten BPM's. This combined with a bit of time and patience thrown in, and you should see progress. [/size]

[quote name='Lozz196' timestamp='1400189765' post='2451760'] looking forward to a few hours (or is that days/weeks/years) practice on it. [/quote] [size=4] Could well be any of the above.[/size] [size=4]​It's a great song and a very [/size]challenging bass line. With me, it's a kind of on going project where I come back to it frequently. I play it slowly and build up the tempo. I can get tantalizingly close to getting it clean and flowing smoothly, but find it hard to sustain this for the entire song. Someday.....

The Ed Friedland walking bass book that Hector recommended is a great one. However as you say you are starting from the ground up, IMO "Walking Jazz Lines for Bass" would be better to start with. Ed's book would be a good follow up. http://www.amazon.co.uk/Walking-Jazz-Lines-Bass-Hungerford/dp/0786659963

[quote name='savasalpai' timestamp='1418303534' post='2628949'] im very upset with bass i cant play it and cant understand theory [/quote] Why are you upset with the bass ? You cant understand theory because you are new player and have not learned any yet. Surely you did not think that you could just come along, pick up the bass and proceed to play like... (insert favourite bass idol here).. ? It takes lots of [u]time, patience, and practice[/u] to become accomplished on ANY instrument. Solution to lack of basic theory......work on the "Studybass" site I linked earlier [quote name='savasalpai' timestamp='1418313572' post='2629093'] and what about my video? pls mention about chords and accompanying to chords or tracks [/quote] You said earlier that you have no knowledge of theory, so mentioning chords is not going to do you much good. That video requires you to make up your own bass lines. You cant do this without some basic theory knowledge. Why dont you pick a fairly simple song that you like and try to pick out the bass lines by trial and error ? This will be a good exercise in developing your ear. Combine this with fifteen minutes to a half an hour a day on the "Studybass" site and you will have a good practice schedule to start you off.

[quote name='Twincam' timestamp='1418318876' post='2629161'] I have a suggestion that you look up simple bass lessons on you tube. Things like, Walking on the moon by the Police, and other easy to follow lessons. This will help you build your memory up. Then go from there. I memorized 50 fairly easy songs before i moved onto trying to remember more complicated songs. [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jqFWDMPjKJU[/media] And the same song but with tabs you can jam along to. [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K_28XIVn7Zw[/media] [/quote] IMO those are not really lessons.... but demonstrations. No doubt it is good to develop your ear by playing along to songs. It is also a good idea when trying to play along, to try to figure things out for yourself. It all depends on what the OP wants from, and how far he wants to take his bass playing.