I've recently started playing bass, so far I've self taught myself a couple of easy songs (Money, Iron Man, Walk, etc...) as well as some basic theory (major, minor and blues scales). Now I have two basic questions:

One, can you all recommend me some intermediately difficult songs to learn? Something that is a bit more difficult than what I've been learning, but still within my means. Preferably a couple of songs from several different styles.

Two, I was wondering how each of you approach writing your own music. I have tried to come up with some riffs of my own, with horrific results. Can any of you provide me with some tips for writing original music?

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Try to learn "Black Label" by lamb of god. You should have the intro down perfectly in less than a minute. The rest of the song is really fun to play too. As for writing your own songs, don't worry that the stuff you make up now sounds like shit. Everyone has sucked when they started out. I have found that the mroe songs I learn how to play, the more ideas come to mind when you are trying to write stuff. So frequent tab sites, especially this one.

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Chromatic Fantasy by Jaco Pastorius
Doesnt matter if you play it half the speed, its still a great piece and fun to play.

EDIT: There is definatly no rush in trying to learn that song either

Anything by Rush, particularly "Red Barchetta", are great songs to hone your bass skills on.

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+1,

Infact just study Jaco Pastorius, the bass will become so much more meaningful to you then. on www.youtube.com there are tons of pages of videos of his solo's/weather report performances, it should lift you with inspiration.

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Paranoid is fairly easy (though I had difficulty at it when I first started).

Some Megadeth off of "World Needs a Hero" is fairly easy, like most of Dread and the Fugitive Mind and some of Disconnect.

Try some Type O Negative also. The song Black Number One has an easy to learn bass line.

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try playing some pantera songs....simple stuff with nice grooves

playing jaco would be a lil tough imo for u at the moment but definately watch the vids or try playing some of his stuff at half speed like mentioned earlier

earn more theory check out activebass.com learn more scales,modes...check out the lessons there also

try playing death- philosopher,spirit crusher, songs on symbolic etc

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You could try playing punk or early metal(black sabbath, ozzy, iron maiden) to get a good feel on the timing of notes.

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could anybody teach me how to play the bass guitar!!!? LOL, I am really a drummer but I wanted to learn this instrument! What should I do!?

http://www.activebass.com http://www.studybass.com read through those websites.

And most importantly get a teacher!

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Yea learn some Death becare some of their songs are fucking hard.Rush is also good learn some classic rock get better timing.

its not easy, no matter what your people hurrd ya.
we cant just tell you over the net.
practice, practice, and play with decent-respectful technique.

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Yea I need to work on that, my technique is horribly disrespectful.

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im not so much smashing his picking, but that hes a slipknot m(f)aggot

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Nice one

Find a friend with one.

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and beat him off

In my opinion, to get "better" at bass, don't play a lot of metal. You'll get speed, but that is a ton less important. Metal is fun as hell to play, though. But when you're "practicing" rather than "playing" (as said by Theory in Practice's guitarist), it's best to play stuff like rush and the beatles. Playing too much metal can result in a sloppy way of playing. It did that to me.

+1 to who said rush; that was the catylist of improving my ability when i was new-ish. Whether or not you're actually at that level is questionable. I would also recommend doing various excersises to improve endurance, etc. Congratz on taking the initiative to learn scales already.

As for making your own songs, yes they will be bad. It's only because of your lack of experience with guitars/bass/drums and stuff. It will get much better, trust me (even if you only play bass, you will develop preference in sounds of all different kinds of instruments that are involved in the music you listen to/play). All i do when i make my own riffs/songs is i experiment. At your level it may just be a bunch of random notes, but when you learn to distinguish the different intervals in your head then it will become much easier.

Hope this helps



P.S. ......don't use a pick. What? Someone had to say it.

nah i dont play sloppy you have to learn stuff that has a good beat like Crypopsy,Death,Athiest

i unfortunately haven't discovered the godliness of cryptopsy until recently They're actually awesome when you can hear something other than the drums (Once was Not)

Death would actually be pretty good, if he can play their stuff. Atheist i have yet to hear

man your really missing out you got MSN ill add you and send you some songs

the chicken-jaco pasterious
uber fun song

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stop saying uber

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yea seriously

haha i see what u mean my last two posts had it in there.

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yes, if you dont stop im gonna start constantly saying things like "omg" and "hella" and "praise jesus"

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Yea the did but the main question is where the fuck have you been

that too

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i've been buisy, band at school and out of school is starting to look like its about to take off.

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Its good to have you back this forum is dying fast.

I wouldnt say dying, although it surely has slowed down over the past month

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Maybe this will be a good month for use.Lets pass up the drum forums total post.

lol with the 3 of us?

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thanks

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Great song yes! the feel and fills that jaco puts into are great, try and find the 'Birthday concert' live version with 'Weather Report'

And keep on topic please guys.

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yea, my teacher showed us that version in class. it was crazy. they got some kick ass dynamics.

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Yup, beatles are nice, Is it important not to use a pick while practicing!?
Why you'd say so!?

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in my opinion yes
im not trying to start an argument but none of the bass "gods" ever use a pick

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using your fingers allows for much more variety in the tone of your notes. i would suggest learning to play fingerstyle, especially if youre just starting out. best of luck with your playing.

im having trouble with something


its whenever your doing a pattern where you skip strings...for example


---77--77--77-
-00--00--00---

I just cant seem t get my fingers to jump the string(s) like I need them to
anyone got a practice technique for this?

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Use your index finger for the E string, and middle finger for the A string, that way you dont have to skip strings as both your fingers are already there above the string.

Start slow, and build up every 10bpm or less.

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one finger on each string?
Is that technique going to get me up to that
----44--44-
-----------
--22--22---
speed like in change of seasons that myung does?
because i need the speed too

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Yeah if you practice it like i said, start slow on a metronome and gradually build up getting faster, then your fingers can reach most speeds that myung or any other bassist does.

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Ill try that, thanks alot

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im having the same problem

I prefer switching fingers for every note. Then again playing 4 fingers is weird.
---77--77--77-
-00--00--00---
-imrpimrpimrp(where i=index m=middle r=ring and p=pinky)
It seems to me that my method is a bit harder than the one finger per string technique, especially for stuff where you play one note on each string and swith the the other string, like this for ex:

-7-7-7-7
--------
5-5-5-5-
--------
But when you get to trickier patterns I think always switching fingers turns into an advantage:

-57-57-57-57
------------
5--5--5--5--
------------
imrpimrpimrp

Here I just need to keep moving through the imrp pattern so I don't have to figuring out if I should do i-m-r-i-m-r or some other strange pattern. I just play the way I usually do, I don't have to think about it.
Of course it's really up to the individual to choose which is better, I just find that mine is worse at some particular patterns but more versatile for strange or changing patterns.

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or you could do the circle of 5ths(4ths way down). or another drill i like to do depends on how many strings u got. i can do it on a five string with eas. it looks like -17-16-17-15-17-14-17-13-17-12-17-17--17--------------------------------------------------
------------------------17--16--15---------------------------------
-------------------------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------------------------

etc

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(starting on g instead of c)circle of 5ths/4ths(way down)

----------------------------------------------------------------------
---5---7---9---11----13----15---15----13----11---9---7---5---5-----
-3---5---7---9----11----13----15---13----11----9---7---5---3-------
----------------------------------------------------------------------

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----------------
--5-5-5--------
---------------
-3-3-3---------
TITITI thats how I play patterns that are single like that. k.i.s.s.

--------------- for this u use
--57-57-57-57-
--------------
-3--3--3--3--
TIMTIMTIMTIM haha

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I need some exercises for endurance.i can only play for like 30 minutes before im working a sweet and my arm is killing me(the one i pick with)

stop picking...
just sit infront of the t.v. and alternate fingers at a moderately fast speed.
you might not notice it but this will build speed and endurance at the same time

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once u get a constant speed try dynamic level then move onto pops/slaps.
what kind of bass player uses a pick?!?!?!

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super geniousoids who know fucking everything like valtiel
valtiel: that isnt an insult you really are pretty fucking knowledgeable(what the hell did I just do to this word?!) about your tech shit

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I dont use a pick all right ill take your advice,but saying i used i pick insulted me

Hey you said picking lol

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damn I thought you knew me better.Also any advice on making your reach further i can only reach from the 1st fret to the third im so close to the fourth but not there any adivce?

before you start playing try stretching 1-5 that way 1-4 should be easy,
I can almost accurately do a pull off from 6 to 1 after warming up with this technique for 3 years, also extensive practice will slightly grow your fingers

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i think something just broke

haha probably a cramp, eat a banana and drink some water and keep practicing

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i thinkthis works to


---------------1234-------
----------1234--------
-----1234-----------
1234-----------------

then back around

try mixing up the pattern ex:
1324...1423...4231...etc
make your fingers more independant, not just used to climbimg up 4 fretts

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thanks for the tips i know these will work.I did the stretch now i can get 1-4 easy.

Go take bass lessons.

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fuck you.Why would you say that?

Because they usually help? lol christ, what am I? Captain Evil?

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yea I live in a small town trust me i would of done that a long time ago.

well, your welcome
BB your not captain evil, your captain alcohol

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I took bass lessons for two years, and played the clarinet for 5 years.

I kinda want to get back into lessons, but it's hard finding a teacher to your liking.

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Well thanks for the compliment. And btw, I only use a pick when ive been playing for so long that my finger tips get worn out.

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That's really common man..christ, if you plucked with your fingers you would see that so much more so.

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I think you misread my post. I am a fingerstyle player. I dont like the way a bass sounds with a pick, I only use one when ive been jammin with a band or something and my fingertips get too sore from playing fingerstyle for 2-3 hours straight. Plus, I tend to play too hard sometimes anyways, which wears your fingers out much faster

Plus you quoted me way out of context. Do you honestly think I would touch this beauty with a pick?

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Yes.

I didn't read your previous posts. How old are you? Nice bass.

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oh...
you bastard

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Ah, ok now I know!

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omg wow, that is freakin gorgeous

I think i should find out where you live

Hey Flynn! Congratulations on deciding to play bass. I bought my first bass like twenty years ago. I was in a band three weeks later and I have been playing in bands ever since.
I think the most important thing for you to learn now is how to play with others. Find a guitar player and learn how to follow his chord changes. The most important thing for a bass player is hitting the root on time. If you don't do that the guitars and the drums sound out of time and then it all falls to shit.
Get familiar with the fingerboard and learn where each note is without looking (you can't hit the root if you don't know where it is right?). When you are more comfortable keeping time you will learn how to fill that time between hitting the root with passing tones or scales, arpeggios and all that shit.
First make sure you keep good time and hit the root. Good luck!