Coilte

[quote name='leschirons' timestamp='1418312358' post='2629067'] Hi, and welcome to Basschat. When anyone begins to learn an instrument, it can be very confusing and difficult. I think you are trying to learn too much, too quickly and you are getting frustrated. I would suggest (if you can afford it) that you try to find a teacher who can teach you the basics of learning to play bass. [/quote] +1 to all of the above. OP, IMO your main problem is impatience. You say you are "very new" to the bass. So relax, slow down and take things in small manageable size chunks. As quoted above, I think your best bet is to get a teacher. Even a dozen or so lessons would get you off to a great start. The main problem with learning through the likes of You Tube is that the lessons are often "one offs", i.e. knowledge wise, it starts somewhere in the middle. This results in the beginner becoming frustrated because he does not understand parts of the lesson because the ground work has not been done. What is needed is where one lesson builds on what went before, and progresses from there. If you decide to go it alone then a great site is Studybass. My advice is to start at the beginning and go through the lessons SLOWLY without skipping. http://www.studybass.com/study-guide/ Here is a link to the site :

[quote name='crez5150' timestamp='1417974644' post='2625656'] I always take a music stand with me onstage..... Mine has a mirror on it so I can look at myself while performing knowing that I'm far superior to those around me. ;o) [/quote] You're obviously a lead vocalist. So what are you doing here...on a bass forum ??? [size=4] [/size][size=4] [/size]

As you are "very new" to the bass, I would not worry too much for now, about the theory side of things. For now, get used to the feel of your bass and [u]listen closely [/u] to the twelve bar blues. Try to see/hear how the bass "fits in" to the music and how it grooves. It is important to develop your ear. If you can hear the bass clearly, then try (with trial and error) to play along by figuring out things for yourself. IMO the blues is a great form of music for learning bass lines. As for the theory side of things, obviously it is best to start at ground zero. Otherwise you will find yourself back tracking because you neglected to learn something along the way, resulting in frustration setting in. I would suggest that you start by learning the notes on your fret board. Then learn the major, minor and pentatonic scales for now. Learn how CHORD TONES are derived from scales. Chord tones are very important to the bass player. These are what we play 75% of the time. With theory, it is important to learn a little at a time, as otherwise the brain shuts down telling you....."too much Information ...!!!" [size=4] Spend about fifteen minutes to half an hour on the theory for now.[/size] [size=4]I would recommend taking even a half a dozen lessons from a good teacher. This will get you off to a good start. If you decide to go it alone, then one of the best sites is "Studybass" :[/size] [size=4][url="http://www.studybass.com/study-guide/"]http://www.studybass.com/study-guide/[/url][/size] [size=4]Start at the beginning and go through the lessons slowly. With time and patience, those twelve bar blues will give up their secrets.[/size] [size=4]Practice for about an hour or so at a time. Take a break and come back to it. A half an hour every day is better than four/five hours at week ends. [u]Regularity [/u][/size][size=4]is the key.[/size] One final thing....dont neglect safe technique. Below are some clips that deal with safe right and left hand technique. Also, warm up first by gently stretching. Check You Tube for .."hand stretches for bass/guitar". Best of luck with it !! [size=4][url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PPVMBPmrblU"]https://www.youtube....h?v=PPVMBPmrblU[/url][/size] [url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VRkSsapYYsA"]https://www.youtube....h?v=VRkSsapYYsA[/url]

[quote name='taunton-hobbit' timestamp='1417655732' post='2622838'] I use (largely) Vann Damm cables - seems to be the thing around here.... [/quote] Yep, they are the only ones that are highly recommended here on BC !!! [size=4] [/size]

[quote name='inthedoghouse' timestamp='1417601531' post='2622053'] I've been using Van Damme with Neutrik plugs for years and I have no plans to change :-) [/quote] Same here !!

Listening to blues artists/bands is the best advice and some great names have been mentioned so far. Some names I'd suggest are Buddy Guy, early Fleetwood Mac (with Peter Greene), John Mayall's Bluesbreakers and the Paul Butterfield Blues Band. While you cant beat simply listening, IMO a book worth investing in that will give you a good crash course on blues bass is Ed Friedland's "Blues Bass". Comes with a play along CD. http://www.amazon.co.uk/Blues-Bass-Essential-Techniques-Leonard/dp/0634089358/ref=asap_B001JS9DZA_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1417417058&sr=1-2

Do you warm up before a gig or practice session ? If not, try doing some gentle stretches before you even touch the bass. Search You Tube and you will find them. [size=2](Just noticed that ChrisB beat me to this suggestion !!).[/size] [size=4]Staying well hydrated also helps in preventing cramp.[/size]

[quote name='discreet' timestamp='1416743087' post='2613035'] Give the guy a break! He's probably working on the not unreasonable assumption that 90% of people on forums are full of crap! [/quote] People on forums....full of crap....???.....[i]never !!!!! [/i]

@ blue : I'd be still interested to know how you arrived at the statistics you came up with in post #66.

[quote name='neepheid' timestamp='1416686446' post='2612682'] What's that supposed to mean? That as a "once a monther" I don't get to have a valid opinion about gigging? Surely playing gigs once a month is still "gigging", no? What a bizarre thing to say. [/quote] [quote name='discreet' timestamp='1416686873' post='2612686'] Hmm, yes. How many gigs do you have to do before 'gigging' is, er... 'gigging'? Once a week? Every day? [/quote] I agree with both of the above quotes. What I'd like to know is what proof does "blue" have that the statistics he quotes are valid ? "I would say...." does not constitute proof. [size=4] [/size]

[quote name='blue' timestamp='1416523914' post='2611261'] Also I would say that about 90% of the members are non- gigging bass players including a few once a monthers. Only 10% are out there gigging on the front lines. But that 90% sure have a lot of opinions about gigging. [/quote] How did you come to this conclusion ?

[quote name='ambient' timestamp='1416570776' post='2611527'] That quickly gets pushed down the general discussion forum, and lost. Plus your postings quickly get lost amongst the others. [/quote] You could ask the mods to "pin" the forum and then "follow" any postings you are interested in.

[quote name='stuckinthepod' timestamp='1416331451' post='2609132'] Thanks Coilte. I didn't make it past those first ten minutes. [/quote] That's a pity, because Mr Baker notwithstanding, it was an enjoyable tribute to Jack Bruce.

[quote name='stuckinthepod' timestamp='1416321771' post='2609027'] too much Ginger Baker for my patience to withstand [/quote] In fairness, I dont think he was overly featured in the programme. All in all, I'd say his total contribution lasted around ten minutes or there abouts.

I would agree with chris b in that the "hard/easy" question is a relative one. It would depend on how experienced and talented the bassist is. Having said that, I'm sure the criteria for playing a given song is not whether it is easy or not, but rather what the punters want to hear.

[quote name='Lozz196' timestamp='1416313588' post='2608901'] Yep, don`t know much about him but he (Ginger Baker) came across as rather a bitter person in this. [/quote] Yes. [i]Bitterness [/i]is the word alright. If you are interested as to just how much bitterness, check out the documentary "Beware of Mr Baker". I think it is on You Tube.

[quote name='Freddy Le Cragg' timestamp='1416270267' post='2608641'] Sunshine with a Ceildh (sp?) band was pretty cool. [/quote] Same kind of thought crossed my mind....i.e. who would have thought that "Sunshine.." could sound so good with an accordion included.

[quote name='neepheid' timestamp='1416073712' post='2606641'] I think the reference was to the American tendency to refer to the entirety of the UK as "England". [/quote] OK...let me say it then....."not all of us...!!!" [size=4] [/size]

I have been a member of TB since 2007. I tend to frequent only two or three forums. Having said that, I have come to "know" a few names and will always click on their posts, as they tend to be informative and interesting. Personally, I dont feel any more (or less..) of an outsider there than I do here on BC. I am happy to be a member of both. [size=4] [/size]

[quote name='BetaFunk' timestamp='1415576840' post='2601735'] I'd still really be interested to know when Jaco studied with her. [/quote] I may have been wrong in that he actually studied [i]with[/i] her. However, on her web site it says that he studied her books and was influenced by them. Granted...not quite the same thing.

[quote name='iamtheelvy' timestamp='1415267254' post='2598498'] I have a background in music theory, sight reading etc,[/quote] I'm sure you are well up on your theory etc, but you'd need to make sure that you have the skills required[size=4] to convey it.[/size] It is one thing to know your stuff but a different thing altogether to be able to put it across in an easy to understand way.

[quote name='chris_b' timestamp='1414576937' post='2590791'] I'd be trying to work out why [i]I[/i] didn't understand what she was saying. [/quote] When I was going through her DVD, there were some sections I replayed many times trying to grasp the concept of what she was getting at. I gave up in the end. A few weeks later, a book I had ordered arrived. A few chapters in, I came across the same thing that had eluded me with the DVD. The penny dropped on the first read through it. Why ? Because it was explained in a different way. My conclusion : Carol's method books and DVD's dont explain things (at least to me) in a way that other tutorials can. YMMV.

Sometimes if you over do it the brain can go into over load and continuing with the practice can be counter productive. Carol Kaye recommends no more than an hour at a time. After that, take a break and come back to it. While it is a good thing to be determined and driven, sometimes you need to leave room to chill out.

[quote name='r16ktx' timestamp='1414940888' post='2594861'] +1 ;-) [/quote] +2. [size=4] [/size][size=4]The music I listened to from the ages of say seven to fourteen did not continue for much longer. I first picked up the bass in my teens and while I had my [/size]heroes[size=4] as far as playing went, the type of basses they used had no influence on me. Just as well, because back then the choice of basses was very limited and even if they were easily available, I could not afford one. [/size]