Learning bass?

[Rob MacKillop]

Ah, Danny’s a great player and teacher. Good in any clef.

[skykomishone]

My first attempt at bass was the pedals on my older brother's Hammond B3. I was still in my teens, and it sounded very cool, and tricky to do. Trying to coordinate that left foot (the right foot works the volume pedal), left hand, and right hand, doing something musical at the same time was an amazing challenge, inspired by Jimmy Smith and his organ grinding, and jazz standards he was doing with Kenny Burrell. It was a blast. My brother and I had a trio, with a drummer, me on guitar, him on the Hammond. That might be what got me initially interested in bass. Over the years, I've picked up a bass occasionally, but rarely read bass clef, and if I do, it's painfully difficult, so I don't. I play by ear, and learn by listening, and watching good players. I got lucky recently and picked up an upright bass from a friend at a great deal. I learned a few things.

Some of what I learned is that I had to invest in getting the bass set up correctly by a good luthier and fitted with the right gauge of strings to lessen the stress on my left hand. There was some back and forth counseling between me and a few real, and gracious, jazz bass players about this because I don't want to injure my ancient and well worn hands that I like to use playing guitar with mainly. If you watch upright bass players, there is a lot going on with those chops. Setup is important. My upright bass is now not painful to play and sounds much better. Just like my archtop guitars. Nothing worse than a poor setup.

That's my story. Rob, you are amazing brother! Never cease to amaze me!

[Lionelsax]

Musings whilst recovering from COVID:

In a recent lesson, my guitar teacher suggested I work on a bass part for Bluesette.

That didn’t seem too hard. Frankly, there was a bit of, “is that all there is to it?”

For those who play guitar and bass, assuming a decent knowledge of the fretboard and music theory (and I know bass clef) how difficult is it to pick up (electric) bass? Not Jaco level, but maybe in response to “Does anybody here play bass?”, one might with hesitation respond: “I play a bit.”

First you don't really need a bass to play the bass.
If you already play the guitar, play bass lines, it's better if you write them.
Use open strings whenever you can, even if you play something in Db.
The more difficult at first is to get the articulation and the fluency.
It will help you to be a better guitarist.
If you really want to play the bass, buy a bass guitar and even a double bass.
You won't regret it.

[Rob MacKillop]

If you want a really easy-to-play bass that sounds great and is low priced, I highly recommend the wonderfully named Dead On ‘58 Longhorn from Danelectro. It’s a short-scale bass, great for guitarist’s hands, and can sound fantastic for jazz. I know, because that’s what I play.

After trying a few books, I’d say those by Danny Zeimann are the best. You can buy pdf versions from his website - www.Danny Ziemann.com - and sound files too. That said, I have hard copies, and am glad I do. Danny is of the Barry Harris school in many respects, admitting so in his Introduction.

On a basic level walking bass is not hard, but the best players are artists:

[Bob_Ross]

Use open strings whenever you can, even if you play something in Db.

As someone whose primary instrument is bass, I would be cautious about ^^^that advice.
Certainly when starting out, and especially when playing upright, or fretless bass guitar, it's a prudent idea to incorporate open strings ...as an intonation reference.
But the timbral difference between open and stopped strings is often conspicuous, so as soon as you can get comfortable playing without too many open strings, the consistency of your sound will be improved. And most bandleaders (and audio engineers) are looking for consistency/uniformity from the bass player.

[Lionelsax]

As someone whose primary instrument is bass, I would be cautious about ^^^that advice.
Certainly when starting out, and especially when playing upright, or fretless bass guitar, it's a prudent idea to incorporate open strings ...as an intonation reference.
But the timbral difference between open and stopped strings is often conspicuous, so as soon as you can get comfortable playing without too many open strings, the consistency of your sound will be improved. And most bandleaders (and audio engineers) are looking for consistency/uniformity from the bass player.

So they should love machines and synth bass.
Open strings, drops or other human playing are the characteristics of a good bass.
Open strings avoid the player to think in positions, patterns and shapes.
In a jazz style, they would probably hate the uniformity you're talking about.
Well, everything is possible, if you say it, it might be true but for me it is definitely not a pleasant sound.
It might be good for pop music but I doubt it's good for jazz.

[Lionelsax]

Use open strings !
It will sound more authentic and jazzy.

Don't use positions, you will go nowhere with those in a jazz style.
It sounds sterile and shallow.

Use open strings !

It's good for articulation.

[Lionelsax]

Well, I know some won't trust me.
Maybe you will trust the great Jim Stinnett (RIP).

I've been playing the bass guitar for 20 years now.
Believe me, real jazz players use open strings whenever they can.
Those who don't... Don't make shine the music.

I've been playing the double bass for more than a year now.
If haven't done all I've done on the bass guitar, I wouldn't play the double bass now and wouldn't play with all the people I play with now.

[akubra]

Believe me, real jazz players use open strings whenever they can.
Those who don't... Don't make shine the music.

If you play electric bass, playing open strings or not, has nothing to do with being real jazz player. You can play wherever you want on the neck and still shine. Ask this guy:

[Lionelsax]

If you play electric bass, playing open strings or not, has nothing to do with being real jazz player. You can play wherever you want on the neck and still shine. Ask this guy:

You make it shine the way you want but he'll be probably fired by Bob's sound engineer.

[Lionelsax]

My God ! It's hard to find something that's obvious for all bass players who are really into jazz.
I don't mean guitarists that pick a bass for fun.

On the double bass or on a bass guitar, it's exactly the same.
I basically play the same on double bass or on bass guitar.
Sometimes, bands want a double bass because they think it's better but you can actually sound good or better with the right thinking when you pick the bass guitar.
That's my point, the bass guitar is something else than a guitar tuned an octave down.
I saw a lot of situations where the bass player was lost and so guitarists, why ?
Because they were thinking in position, everything was relative to positions, not the notes.
That's very crucial if you want to play the bass.
Take a tune in Bb then play it in C, don't play the same shapes two frets higher but incorpore open strings in order to be aware of what it's really about.
I prefer posting something from someone else than me because my experience is irrelevant since you think I'm a clown.
Well... The quality of his video... His talking is more interesting.

It took me time to play the bass but it has been my method, believe me, it's efficient.

I'm not great but I know what I'm doing.

Do whatever you want.
I did it, you can do it with guitar concepts (shapes and position) but believe me you'll be in a cage (caged).

Maybe you want to watch and hear someone else.

The same technique can be used on the electric bass.
Maybe it's not easy the first time but soon you will see the light and more ! Your guitar playing will improve !
Why ? You will know your neck.
Shapes come from the neck not the opposite (I'm not sure everyone understands what I mean).

I won't repeat "open strings".