EJWW Posted December 25, 2020 Share Posted December 25, 2020 I've introduced my 11 year old son to the bass today and thanks to his wonderful sponge-like brain he's almost nailed his first tune at first attempt 😀 I chose Drive by the Cars for this purpose which has a simple structure, rhythm and tempo and a simple enough bass line while sounding great and is reasonably satisfying. I'd like to put together a list of similar entry level tunes for us to work through, not too fussy about genre etc. What do you suggest? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheGreek Posted December 25, 2020 Share Posted December 25, 2020 Lots of tune using the E,G,A. Gene Jeanie, Another one bites, Smoke on the water, etc. Will do wonders for his confidence... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrCrane Posted December 25, 2020 Share Posted December 25, 2020 Stand By Me 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geek99 Posted December 25, 2020 Share Posted December 25, 2020 Rhythm stick ? 6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reggaebass Posted December 25, 2020 Share Posted December 25, 2020 Stir it up -Bob Marley, it’s pretty easy and it’s got a nice feel to the Bassline 🙂 2 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bunion Posted December 25, 2020 Share Posted December 25, 2020 Come as you are - Nirvana 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doddy Posted December 25, 2020 Share Posted December 25, 2020 For kids around that age, I like to introduce them early, to a basic 12 bar pattern using just root notes at first, then root/5th. I'd also recommend showing him the names of the open strings and where they sit on the stave. For songs, it might make sense to show him some simplified versions of whatever music he's in to. Even if it's just root notes rather than the actual line, it will give him a sense of playing songs that he likes, and if he sticks with it he will learn the proper bassline later. Alternatively, just show him Smells Like Teen Spirit. 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul_5 Posted December 25, 2020 Share Posted December 25, 2020 Teach them songs that they like. 10 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Basinski Posted December 25, 2020 Share Posted December 25, 2020 Let him choose them. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NickD Posted December 25, 2020 Share Posted December 25, 2020 I'd ask him what songs he likes, then figure out what's do-able from them. I don't think there's much that sparks interest more than jamming along to something you love in the early days. (Unless he says he loves Victor Wooten, in which case teach him Mustang Sally) 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
woolf Posted December 25, 2020 Share Posted December 25, 2020 I’d agree with songs that he likes / recognises. I took acoustic guitar lessons at school when I was 10/11 and I remember having to learn things like Greensleeves. I wasn’t particularly enthused by it and ended up losing interest. It wasn’t until a few years later I realised I could learn songs that I wanted to and I was hooked. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bunion Posted December 25, 2020 Share Posted December 25, 2020 (edited) Plug in another bass or play guitar, can’t underestimate that first time feeling that your actually playing with someone rather than with a music track Edited December 25, 2020 by Bunion 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KingPrawn Posted December 25, 2020 Share Posted December 25, 2020 Get some Quo in there. Great for roots and solid playing. Both left and right hand technique. I use it loads with new students. 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geek99 Posted December 25, 2020 Share Posted December 25, 2020 2 hours ago, NickD said: (Unless he says he loves Victor Wooten, in which case teach him Mustang Sally) How does that one go again ? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bazzbass Posted December 26, 2020 Share Posted December 26, 2020 (edited) +1 for letting him pick what songs to play. You can simplify the bassline to suit. good on you for doing this. PS keep us posted on his progress Edited December 26, 2020 by bazzbass 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EJWW Posted December 26, 2020 Author Share Posted December 26, 2020 Thanks for all the suggestions so far guys. He's been learning the drums since he was 8, doing the Rockschool grades and I've supplemented this by playing along and jamming with him on bass since day one. He's got an interesting taste in music which is fairly broad but his fave is electronic music, specifically early Daft Punk 🤤. It's interesting how he gets really into this sparse music while if i show him something awesome on YouTube he's like 'meh'! He might stick to the drums (or possibly drop it at some stage i guess) but he's such a fast learner it works be a shame if he didn't at least have a crack at the greatest instrument of all during this amazing stage of his life where he can learn new things with so little effort. During 2020 he's became my main gigging partner (If you count playing in front of the cats as a gig, which I now do...). 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DiMarco Posted December 26, 2020 Share Posted December 26, 2020 Teen Town. 😁 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lownote Posted December 26, 2020 Share Posted December 26, 2020 Sorry to be late on parade, but I agree +100 with helping him find basslines for music that's cool to him and his peer group. At his age my guitar tutors featured songs that were severely uncool ('Skip to My Lou'?). Also - ensure he knows the role of the bassist in the mix. My first teachers never bothered explaining this, with the result that it actually took me a year or more to understand what I was supposed to be doing, during which time I lost two band offers because I had not the faintest idea that a solid root and and fifth would suffice. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bazzbass Posted December 26, 2020 Share Posted December 26, 2020 bonus, he can teach you drumming, to play along with him 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pappabass Posted December 28, 2020 Share Posted December 28, 2020 Dont teach him too well, or he will eventually be better than you ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ricksterphil Posted December 28, 2020 Share Posted December 28, 2020 Norman Watt-Roy's bass line to 'Hit me with your rhythm stick' 😂 ...or maybe Psycho Killer Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris_b Posted December 28, 2020 Share Posted December 28, 2020 Ask him what his favourite tune is and teach him that. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dad3353 Posted December 29, 2020 Share Posted December 29, 2020 Didn't work for me; my favourite was (and still is...) Schubert's 9th Symphony. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kiwi Posted December 29, 2020 Share Posted December 29, 2020 1 hour ago, chris_b said: Ask him what his favourite tune is and teach him that. So much this. It works for me and it works for my students. The passion keeps us going during the challenging parts and we all learn faster when we're absorbed in what we're doing, regardless of how old we are or what we're learning. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
police squad Posted December 29, 2020 Share Posted December 29, 2020 walking on the moon by the Police. Sparse and solid. Very easy to hear because of the space in the arrangement Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.