I think I might be a real bassist now. I'm not saying I'm a good bassist. But I think I might be "serviceable". And after only a couple of weeks of bass ownership. It probably helps that I've played some guitar over the past 12-ish years and drums over the past 25 - so I'm not a total n00b.
Last night, I turned on an original song by a friend of mine with the thought of composing a bass line. Was going to go back to an email exchange where we figured out what the chords were. But instead, I thought I could do without that.
Guess what.
I did it! I found the root notes of the chords fairly easily using the little understanding of progressions I'd gained over the last week-ish. Then I cam up with patterns for each chord using my recent learning about chord structures on the bass as well as octaves. All of a sudden...
BOOM!
I had a real bass line. And then I had an alternate line, too. Took all of about 5 minutes to come up with both. So I plugged into the mic input on my laptop, fired up Audacity, and recorded a new track along with the song.
Now I have to figure out how to do this with decent sound quality because, frankly, the quality of the bass sound sucked using this method - it's practically unlistenable. But, what the heck...I'm a real bassist now. I'll figure it out.
Tuesday, October 25, 2011
Sunday, October 23, 2011
Rio!
Last week, I tried getting through just one bar of a tab for Duran Duran's "Rio". Before I go any further, indulge me this explanation.
Though Duran Duran is considered a pop or pretty-boy band, the musicianship was considerable - especially with the guitarist (Andy Taylor) and bassist (John Taylor). It was, in fact, while listening to Duran Duran songs in my youth that I first really noticed the bass guitar and found paying more attention to it. John Taylor played some seriously funky lines that belied the seeming simplicity of the songs. The reasons so many of their songs shone so brightly were the bass lines and guitar tracks.
So, now that I'm really making a go of the bass, I want to see if I can play some of those songs and decided to start with "Rio". Reading the tabs made me fairly ill. I couldn't figure out what notes went where and how on Earth I could make it sound right. So I searched online for video lessons of the song.
There were a few. And watching them was humbling. I felt quite far from being able to play like that. All sorts of muting the strings and moving the left hand all over the fret board. Oy vey. that was when I decided I needed to learn more about scales and intervals. I somehow felt like I just needed to practice to create some muscle memory so that moving around the fret board that quickly would be less of a problem.
On to tonight. Went through several pages of a book dedicated to practicing chord intervals and repeated them over and over for about 30 minutes. Fairly boring stuff but I saw progress and that kept me going. But after 30 minutes, I felt like I'd had enough for one night and went back to playing songs. Got through my usuals and saw a marked improvement in my smoothness playing "I Got You (I Feel Good)" and "Don't Stop Believing". So I decided to go back to Rio and see what I could make of it and, guess what...I got through the 1st 2 measures. Then I got through 4 and then a whole verse. I quit while I was ahead and ended my session without getting into the chorus.
Granted, it wasn't the smoothest playing in the universe, but what a feeling of accomplishment. I keep seeing progress and it's keeping me going.
Up next:
Though Duran Duran is considered a pop or pretty-boy band, the musicianship was considerable - especially with the guitarist (Andy Taylor) and bassist (John Taylor). It was, in fact, while listening to Duran Duran songs in my youth that I first really noticed the bass guitar and found paying more attention to it. John Taylor played some seriously funky lines that belied the seeming simplicity of the songs. The reasons so many of their songs shone so brightly were the bass lines and guitar tracks.
So, now that I'm really making a go of the bass, I want to see if I can play some of those songs and decided to start with "Rio". Reading the tabs made me fairly ill. I couldn't figure out what notes went where and how on Earth I could make it sound right. So I searched online for video lessons of the song.
There were a few. And watching them was humbling. I felt quite far from being able to play like that. All sorts of muting the strings and moving the left hand all over the fret board. Oy vey. that was when I decided I needed to learn more about scales and intervals. I somehow felt like I just needed to practice to create some muscle memory so that moving around the fret board that quickly would be less of a problem.
On to tonight. Went through several pages of a book dedicated to practicing chord intervals and repeated them over and over for about 30 minutes. Fairly boring stuff but I saw progress and that kept me going. But after 30 minutes, I felt like I'd had enough for one night and went back to playing songs. Got through my usuals and saw a marked improvement in my smoothness playing "I Got You (I Feel Good)" and "Don't Stop Believing". So I decided to go back to Rio and see what I could make of it and, guess what...I got through the 1st 2 measures. Then I got through 4 and then a whole verse. I quit while I was ahead and ended my session without getting into the chorus.
Granted, it wasn't the smoothest playing in the universe, but what a feeling of accomplishment. I keep seeing progress and it's keeping me going.
Up next:
- More practice with intervals and maybe scales
- Continued improvement with "Rio"
- Trying to come up with a bass line for Skika's song called "Traveling Capo"
Monday, October 17, 2011
Pictures
I don't have any photos of the actual bass I own. But here's a stock photo I found online of the exact same thing. It's the Sterling by Music Man SB14. Mine's in like-new condition so there's no real difference.
And this is the amp that I won on eBay - assuming the seller was honest. It's a Crate BT15 - 15 watts and a single 8" speaker - pretty much a pure practice amp and that's all I care to have. Again, just a stock photo:
And this is the amp that I won on eBay - assuming the seller was honest. It's a Crate BT15 - 15 watts and a single 8" speaker - pretty much a pure practice amp and that's all I care to have. Again, just a stock photo:
That Was Fast
Got through my first book on beginning bass guitar. It was short. Not a ton of detail but a nice way to get started.
Unfortunately, most of the pages were devoted to rhythm studies. This is a good thing for a beginner's book since bass is a rhythm section instrument. But as a reasonably educated drummer for 25 years (I took lessons for about 4 years), I'm very well versed in rhythm and reading rhythm notation. So a good part of this book was a waste for me.
But still, the parts on chords, octaves, etc, though short, were extremely useful and helped me get much more comfortable with understanding the fret board better as well as how to easily find notes within a chord structure and the octaves. When I listen to the radio now, I can very clearly hear that so many bass lines are written very simply based on the structures of the chords played by the rhythm guitar and/or keyboards.
So, on to the next book. I want to get more into the chord structures and learning fingering patterns around them. I have a couple other books that are good for beginners (including a "...For Dummies" book) that I'll peruse over the next couple of nights to see which will serve my immediate purpose.
In related news, I should have a practice amp very soon. Won it on eBay. Not that I want to play out loud, but I want to be able to clearly hear what it sounds like when I'm playing and plugging headphones directly into the bass just isn't cutting it. I hope I can get it before leaving for LA (on business) next week.
Unfortunately, most of the pages were devoted to rhythm studies. This is a good thing for a beginner's book since bass is a rhythm section instrument. But as a reasonably educated drummer for 25 years (I took lessons for about 4 years), I'm very well versed in rhythm and reading rhythm notation. So a good part of this book was a waste for me.
But still, the parts on chords, octaves, etc, though short, were extremely useful and helped me get much more comfortable with understanding the fret board better as well as how to easily find notes within a chord structure and the octaves. When I listen to the radio now, I can very clearly hear that so many bass lines are written very simply based on the structures of the chords played by the rhythm guitar and/or keyboards.
So, on to the next book. I want to get more into the chord structures and learning fingering patterns around them. I have a couple other books that are good for beginners (including a "...For Dummies" book) that I'll peruse over the next couple of nights to see which will serve my immediate purpose.
In related news, I should have a practice amp very soon. Won it on eBay. Not that I want to play out loud, but I want to be able to clearly hear what it sounds like when I'm playing and plugging headphones directly into the bass just isn't cutting it. I hope I can get it before leaving for LA (on business) next week.
Friday, October 14, 2011
Progress Again
As planned, my practice last night consisted of chord structures and understanding the fret board (OK - that wasn't planned but is necessary).
I learned the notes of the G and C major chords and played some grooves around them as written in the book I'm using. I don't remember what book it is because it's a home and I'm not.
I intend to progress in the book next time I practice but also go back and review what I already did. It's funny, I'm finding some similarities in how I was when I was first learning the drums. I suspect it's like almost anyone else. I do some structured practice but still need to play songs. So, after the lessons in the book, I went back to the James Brown tune and just kept playing it - the difference was I was listening through headphones.
Before last night, I was only hearing the raw sounds of the strings - not very loud with a solid-body bass. But I found my 1/8" to 1/4" jack converter and plugged in my headphones last night and heard the sound with the electronics for the first time. Wow. Sounded so cool.
As for tonight, we've got plans and I won't likely be home until close to 11:00 or midnight. So I don't imagine I'll be putting in any bass time. Will try and get some more done over the weekend.
I learned the notes of the G and C major chords and played some grooves around them as written in the book I'm using. I don't remember what book it is because it's a home and I'm not.
I intend to progress in the book next time I practice but also go back and review what I already did. It's funny, I'm finding some similarities in how I was when I was first learning the drums. I suspect it's like almost anyone else. I do some structured practice but still need to play songs. So, after the lessons in the book, I went back to the James Brown tune and just kept playing it - the difference was I was listening through headphones.
Before last night, I was only hearing the raw sounds of the strings - not very loud with a solid-body bass. But I found my 1/8" to 1/4" jack converter and plugged in my headphones last night and heard the sound with the electronics for the first time. Wow. Sounded so cool.
As for tonight, we've got plans and I won't likely be home until close to 11:00 or midnight. So I don't imagine I'll be putting in any bass time. Will try and get some more done over the weekend.
Thursday, October 13, 2011
So What Now?
Went through a whole bunch of tabs last night. Spent most of my time on James Brown's "I Got You (I Feel Good)". Fun song in general and a fun song on the bass. I can't play it perfectly, but I think I did pretty well for never having owned a bass before this week.
That said, after a few days of going through online tabs, I'm feeling like I'm hitting my first plateau. Seems early to be hitting plateaus, but it's not like I'm a total newbie. I've played some guitar and have been a drummer for 25 years. So I've been a part of music - or music has been a part of me - for a long time and the instrument is far from foreign to me.
I feel like I need to do something to take a step toward real improvement rather than just being a casual player. I have a few books I've downloaded and think I'll spend some time with them.
It seems the consensus among expert bassists (based on my own online research) is that understanding chord structures is more important than scales. Bassists tend to not play scales so much as tailoring bass lines around the notes within the chords being played by the other instruments in the band. So, for example, if the rhythm guitar is hammering on a C Major chord, the bassist should base the bass line n the notes in that chord starting with the major triad - the 1, 3, and 5 in this case.
I know chords on the guitar - at least, I know how to play them. I don't know the notes contained within them. I think this is what I'll try and learn next and I'll see if the books I have contain sections focused on that aspect of playing. I know at least one of them is good in this way.
Looking forward to learning some new things tonight.
That said, after a few days of going through online tabs, I'm feeling like I'm hitting my first plateau. Seems early to be hitting plateaus, but it's not like I'm a total newbie. I've played some guitar and have been a drummer for 25 years. So I've been a part of music - or music has been a part of me - for a long time and the instrument is far from foreign to me.
I feel like I need to do something to take a step toward real improvement rather than just being a casual player. I have a few books I've downloaded and think I'll spend some time with them.
It seems the consensus among expert bassists (based on my own online research) is that understanding chord structures is more important than scales. Bassists tend to not play scales so much as tailoring bass lines around the notes within the chords being played by the other instruments in the band. So, for example, if the rhythm guitar is hammering on a C Major chord, the bassist should base the bass line n the notes in that chord starting with the major triad - the 1, 3, and 5 in this case.
I know chords on the guitar - at least, I know how to play them. I don't know the notes contained within them. I think this is what I'll try and learn next and I'll see if the books I have contain sections focused on that aspect of playing. I know at least one of them is good in this way.
Looking forward to learning some new things tonight.
Tuesday, October 11, 2011
First Things First
A little about me. I've been a drummer for about 25 years. At one time I was very good - good enough that I probably could've taken a shot at making music my career. I haven't given up on the drums completely but it's pretty much on the back burner now.
I still have my kit. Just got it a couple years ago. It's a Yamaha Maple Custom Absolute - Yamaha's top of the line. Got a great deal on it used and sold my Pacific CX kit to my friend, drummer, and former band mate, Lou. It's not one of those huge monster kits...just what I need to play the way I like. Same with the cymbals. I pretty much love all my cymbals.
Anyway, at one time, I was very good. I was playing Rush, Yes, Genesis, Mahavishnu Orchestra, Zappa, the Dixie Dregs - challenging stuff to play. I also spent time improving my groove playing Led Zeppelin and almost anything Jeff Porcaro played on. Now, I would consider myself a solid, dependable drummer. Far from flashy...someone who can lock in with the bassist and help create a strong rhythm section.
It's also a very demanding instrument. Gigging is a royal pain - so much time spent getting the kit ready to pack in the car, packing it up, setting it up at the venue, tearing it down afterwards, packing the car, driving home, unpacking the car, putting the stuff back in the basement. Plus, the actual playing can be exhausting - especially when my sciatica kicks in. All four limbs always going at once and glued to the drum seat.
So, all that coupled with having not played in a couple years and not being willing to cough up the dough for a good electronic kit, I think I've lost my passion for it.
This makes the switch to bass easier. It's new and exciting. I already know a few songs - or at least parts of songs. I can also write on the bass. If I think of a melody suited to the instrument, I can pretty much play it. So some recording could be in my future. We'll see.
I went to ultimate-guitar.com and got a bunch of bass tabs from there to save on my Kindle (for portability - the formatting gets lost a little so it's not ideal and not recommended). Just learned James Brown's I Feel Good a little while ago. There's a sense of accomplishment I felt from that little bit that I haven't felt from the drums in a very long time. I don't think I could ever get that feeling from the drums again. I've gotten as good as I care to be on the drums and, for the music I like, there's not much new stuff for me to learn. Any practice would be to improve my technique to some unknown end - I hate soloing and don't plan on playing Dream Theater songs so, what's the point?
With this new instrument, there's a whole new mountain to climb with a new set of milestones.
I still have my kit. Just got it a couple years ago. It's a Yamaha Maple Custom Absolute - Yamaha's top of the line. Got a great deal on it used and sold my Pacific CX kit to my friend, drummer, and former band mate, Lou. It's not one of those huge monster kits...just what I need to play the way I like. Same with the cymbals. I pretty much love all my cymbals.
Anyway, at one time, I was very good. I was playing Rush, Yes, Genesis, Mahavishnu Orchestra, Zappa, the Dixie Dregs - challenging stuff to play. I also spent time improving my groove playing Led Zeppelin and almost anything Jeff Porcaro played on. Now, I would consider myself a solid, dependable drummer. Far from flashy...someone who can lock in with the bassist and help create a strong rhythm section.
It's also a very demanding instrument. Gigging is a royal pain - so much time spent getting the kit ready to pack in the car, packing it up, setting it up at the venue, tearing it down afterwards, packing the car, driving home, unpacking the car, putting the stuff back in the basement. Plus, the actual playing can be exhausting - especially when my sciatica kicks in. All four limbs always going at once and glued to the drum seat.
So, all that coupled with having not played in a couple years and not being willing to cough up the dough for a good electronic kit, I think I've lost my passion for it.
This makes the switch to bass easier. It's new and exciting. I already know a few songs - or at least parts of songs. I can also write on the bass. If I think of a melody suited to the instrument, I can pretty much play it. So some recording could be in my future. We'll see.
I went to ultimate-guitar.com and got a bunch of bass tabs from there to save on my Kindle (for portability - the formatting gets lost a little so it's not ideal and not recommended). Just learned James Brown's I Feel Good a little while ago. There's a sense of accomplishment I felt from that little bit that I haven't felt from the drums in a very long time. I don't think I could ever get that feeling from the drums again. I've gotten as good as I care to be on the drums and, for the music I like, there's not much new stuff for me to learn. Any practice would be to improve my technique to some unknown end - I hate soloing and don't plan on playing Dream Theater songs so, what's the point?
With this new instrument, there's a whole new mountain to climb with a new set of milestones.
Awdio Sawce...WTF?
First, the name. I was talking with a co-worker about music and tried saying "audio source". I had just a little spittle trying to escape my mouth while I was talking and the combination of that and my natural Staten Island/New Jersey accent lead to the words coming out like "audio sauce". Then I futzed with the spelling. There. Now no more questions.
I just bought a new bass. The thing is beautiful. It's a used Sterling by Music Man SB14. Blue body with a white pickguard. When I look at it, I can't believe it's used - no blemishes and still has the original battery and strings.
But I'm not a bassist - at least, not yet. I've played drums for about 25 years. I'm not as good as I once was and haven't actually played my kit in about 2 years. I've explored electronic kits but they're expensive and I can't really see myself banging around on a loud acoustic kit by myself at this point in my life and I don't want to commit to a band.
So I've decided to take on a new instrument - one that can be practiced quietly. I've played some guitar but always find myself picking it like a bass and more interested in playing bass lines. so this seems like a natural move.
I figure I can use this space to document my trials and tribulations with the new axe. I downloaded some beginners' books and tabs and put them on my Kindle. Let's see where this goes.
I just bought a new bass. The thing is beautiful. It's a used Sterling by Music Man SB14. Blue body with a white pickguard. When I look at it, I can't believe it's used - no blemishes and still has the original battery and strings.
But I'm not a bassist - at least, not yet. I've played drums for about 25 years. I'm not as good as I once was and haven't actually played my kit in about 2 years. I've explored electronic kits but they're expensive and I can't really see myself banging around on a loud acoustic kit by myself at this point in my life and I don't want to commit to a band.
So I've decided to take on a new instrument - one that can be practiced quietly. I've played some guitar but always find myself picking it like a bass and more interested in playing bass lines. so this seems like a natural move.
I figure I can use this space to document my trials and tribulations with the new axe. I downloaded some beginners' books and tabs and put them on my Kindle. Let's see where this goes.
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