I didnt want to start another thread to ask one question and end up starting another thread to ask another question so I decided that maybe this would be a good idea to have in the bass forum like in the guitar forum so random BASS related questions could be asked here.

Anyway, I was wondering would there be enough string tension in a 4 string bass with a scale length of 34" with string guages .055, .075, .90 and .110 or would a 4 string bass with a 35" scale length be better with those same guages for tuning to BEAD?
Also, i would like to keep it 4 strings instead of 5. Thanks.

you cant tune bass string that low or they will get pulled into the pickups. Your gonna need some seriousl beefing up to your tuss rod and the actual BEA and D strings for this conversion...if that is what you were asking because you werent very clear.

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I'll try to clear it up. Basically, will the bass be playable if I use guages 55-110 on a 34" scale bass tuned to BEAD? and if not, how about on a 35" scale bass?
I hope thats clearer now.

Buy a set of fives and just put the B string on there.

I have played my 4-string Warwick with a 105 set in B many times.
The 105 is too thin to handle the B, so I've replaced it with a 130.
But the best solution is to buy a 5-string set and to adjust the bass a tad

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i just tuned my old bass to B with normal 4 string set..the sound was just a little "clickty" but i didnt mind that..i would reccomend u getting a normal 5 string

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i just got a bass saturday i am trying to teach myself to play is their any songs i should try to learn to make myself well better at the bass

opeth and some primus

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start with something simple. try and get a solid feel for keeping good time before you learn anything else, its crucial.

If you are just starting out I would recommend something along the lines of more bass oriented music, such as funk or perhaps maybe some driving blues. Something with a good driving rhythm.

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thanx guys

It is important that you dont go straight to the advanced stuff like primus.. it will mess up your technique and your playing will be very sloppy, so start off with some easy grooving stuff, solid funk lines, easy blues walks.. mess about with the Major and Minor scales, and use a metronome! (http://www.metronomeonline.com/ - this one is easy to use online) but if you can afford it get a nice metronome.

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whoa! that thing is cool!

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Maybe someone ever compared Peavey Cirrus 4 string and Ibanez BTB400QM and can tell me which one of those is better?

people have different tastes.
Personally If I had the choice, I'd take the cirrus, just because it looks better and its a top of the line model for that company. But some people think differently, you need to go try this stuff out for yourself.

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what is the point of a metronome?

A Metronome helps your rhythm, you can practice scales/arpeggio's along to it, slowed down riffs that your learning, it will improve your playing and general timing ..A LOT.

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Do you play a note on the click?

haha, ok...ask your parents for bass lessons. NOW.

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'In the winter
Birds fly south
I like black cock
In my mouth

In the lake
There are bass
I like to take it
In my ass

In the cupboard
There's a plate
Make me cum
By the prostate'

lol... I love that, where the hell did it come from?

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pst said it somewhere obviously

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I know this has been asked plenty of times but should I stick with two fingers or should I learn to use three? If I did try and use three I would have to relearn everything because it would be a whole different way of playing the song.

Just use two fingers, there's no need to use the third one if its not essential + you'll get a better attack with two fingers. I only use three fingers for triplets

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not true, webster gets a weaker attack with 3 fingers because he only uses em for galloping patterns, you can achieve the same attack with 3 as long as you take it slow learning it and making sure everything you do isnt a triplet.
Ive recently meed working on a pseudo 4 finger tech.
ring middle index middle.
go look up and watch john myungs 3 finger technique on youtube.

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didnt want to make a new thread for this.
I really wnat to buy a decent 4 string.
I have a good 5,6, and fretless 4 already and I just would like a standard 4 to complete my set up.
http://www.musiciansfriend.com/prod...Bass?sku=512700
thats my first choice, I really like the tone switch on the front and it even has fine tunings on the back panel. and for 600 bucks I dont think I'll find any better
I was also looking at a few fenders, but they really didnt scream anything special.

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Of course. Your the man here, but take note that everyone doesnt really want to take bass playing as a fucking dayjob. Of course everything can be solved by practise, practise, practise. This is just personal reference though, I dont see any reason to use three fingers full time, as you can achieve enough with two (take a look at Sean Malone)

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i never said anything about 3 fingers being the "end all be all" best technique. but when someone says you cant get as good of an attack using 3 as you would using index and middle, its just plain wrong.

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I was only directing the post to Requiem though, guess I should've been more accurate. I'm sure he'll achieve a better attack with two fingers, if say, he rehearses 2 hours a day on his 'attack' etc. when compared to three fingers. This is why I posted it and what I was going after for

Not saying you are wrong. Of course you are able to achieve the same attack with three fingers.. Yes, I'm sure I could achieve the same attack with my toes or balls, if I'd be willing to put in the time needed for it. End of it for now, ok

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now requiems bass is going to smell like balls and feet....

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steve digorio also uses that "style" 3 finger technique

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Im planning on buying a bass and have narrowed it down to these 2 choices:
Jackson C20 Concert Bass

or

ESP B50 Bass

I know both of them arent great basses, but thats not what im looking for. I just want a decent bass that I can practice on, nothing special. They are both entirely passive regarding electronics and pickups. The Jackson has J and P pickups and the ESP has J and reverse P pickups.

Any opinions about which one to choose would be appreciated.

I prefer ESP.

get the jackson, those low end esp's are a money pit.

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My scale book came in, finally. I don't know where to start! There is so much. Which would be best to start with C, E, etc?

doesnt matter at all dude... lol

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a year or two ago i had the exact same dilemma, and i was suprised how fast i could relearn to get that third finger in there. epitaph is right, you will get a more consistent tone out of a two finger approach (or the ultimate in consistency, a one finger/thumb approach). the three finger has advantages and disadvantages. its great for triplets or pounding away on one string, but it gives me some trouble if im doing alot of string skipping in a piece. i would definitely learn to use the ring finger reasonably well, its a nice thing to have in your bag of tricks.

Plus that Jackson isn't necessarily low-end.

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i cant speak for their basses, but ive got a jackson guitar, and it is an excellent instrument. i probably sound like a broken record on the subject, but if im buying a low end bass (under a grand) im buying a fender.

Can somebody tell me what would be the best amplifiers for bass guitars?

Is Marshal a fine amplifier?

Aguilar, EBS, SWR, Epifani, Ampeg, Trace Elliot.. are some of the best bass amplifiers out there..

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How to read bass tabs?
In the easiest way...

the numbers on the tab correspond to the frets on your bass. i.e., "0" is an open note, and "3" is the third fret, etc.

Good Lord, thanks mate. That's why I'm getting a hard time on reading on bass tabs. Because of those numbers. Not like the drum tabs is so easy to read.

I plan on buying a low-end bass (4-string), I'd say around $500-700. What manufacturers are the best to go with when it comes to cheaper basses?

Squier basses are good for beginners. Check them out at the link below :

http://www.squierguitars.com/produc...?section=basses

(There are 2 pages)

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Oh well for that budget, just go look for $1000-dollar basses on 2nd-hand sites.

Or MusicMan-subs. But really, going for 2nd-hand 1K-basses would be the best deal now.

Oh and hmmm, the Squier-basses on that site (almost) all have Agathis-wood. Well if you use pedals and stuff that's not too bad, but it adds nothing to the tone, and dents easily.

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I think I'll go with the second hand thing, because I really don't mind if it's used as long as it functions correctly. Finding a good one may be tricky though, since I'd like to try it before buying, and I doubt there are too many people in Finland selling second-hand basses :P. Squier remains a good option.

What would you recommend for $1000 basses?

Edit: What's the difference between precision basses and jazz basses?

Oh, and thanks for the help so far.

Well, Jazz-basses are reknown for their slight 'growling' tone. Bands like Interpol use this bass, and it's characteristic sound is really heard there.
But they're barely used in metal, and if you watch Sepultura's live DVD you should understand why.

Precision basses, well, they have the bass-tone you probably think of when you hear the word "bass". Nowadays a lot of players seem to evade them cause, well, almost any record up to say 2000* features a Precision-bass. Their tone is very "meat and potatoes", so some might find their sound unspectacular.

Well, the 2nd-hand thing... Is there a guitar-store in your neighbourhood? If yes, just go there, test some $700-$1000 basses. If you find a 700 one that is reeaaal good, you can buy that one there.

If you find a $1000, then note down the name and search it online on second-hand sites.

Also, while you're there, try as many pickup-configurations as possible (also then you'll hear the difference between P- and J-basses first hand).


*Going out on a limb here but you get it.

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We have several music stores here, so that's not a problem. The thing is, I'm but a simple guitarist, and I probably can't tell (yet) whether a bass is good just by playing it . But I suppose I'll try though, and if I don't notice any difference between high-end models and the cheap ones, then I guess there's no harm in buying a low-end one.

Thanks for the advice!

Okay, simple.

First ask to play the cheapest Stagg they have, I'm totally serious.

You'll see how the neck is miles away from the strings. And when you try to bend a note, you'll have that disgusting feeling of "...am I scraping the wood off of the fretboard with the string now?".
The toneknobs will be attached to the bass-guitar, but that's it.
See how much the tone knobs do to effectively change your tone (and I'm talking, try getting a good tone out of it that isn't everything 100% open)
Try the tuners, do they feel sturdy? Probably not. Also, string tension should be pretty sloppy.

And then work your way up. How much every bass plays better and has better options etc.

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Cagayake girls rock.
try it play on bass.
you'll see it very hard






Rock'n Music

Id go with the BTB but thats just me I prefer Ibanez, I was looking to get a BTB when I bought my SR405qm but the shop didnt have it in a 5 string so I "settled" for the bass im playing now.
Before I bought my Ibanez SR405qm, was playing a Squire P bass , a washburn bass and a peavey, all 4 strings and still got them laying around gathering dust never touch them any more, But that is a prefferance as stated above you should try both and decide for your self for you the peavey may be the perfect bass and for me it would be fire wood.

Also, i would like to keep it 4 strings instead of 5. Thanks.