Home › Forums › Active Melody Forum Announcements › Learning Bass
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November 23, 2020 at 12:59 pm #220308
Hey everyone, I have been playing guitar for 3 years and love it. I have been an AM since April and love Brian’s lessons. I was thinking of purchasing and learning to play bass. I think it would improve my timing and try to learn by ear what key a song is in. Can anyone advise if bass is easier??? and what brand of guitar should I buy. Also, is there another online site that you would recommend. Something like Active Melody but for Bass.
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November 23, 2020 at 1:26 pm #220309
A couple of years ago we had a monthly challenge that, to me, really needed a nice bass line. I had never touched a bass before, but I went out and bought the cheapest 5 string bass I could find, which happened to be an Aria. I could immediately play some simple bass lines on it, because – after all – it’s just like the lower strings of a guitar (plus a low B string, in this case). Then later I wanted to learn slap bass, and walking bass, so I just watched a few Youtube videos on how to do it. For general bass lessons, “Scott’s Bass Lessons” are always good. Bass is really fun for me, and I’m sure it would be for you also. Looking back, I wish I had bought a short scale 4 string bass. Reason: They have slightly thinner strings and a thinner neck, making them really easy to play. My friend has one, and I can easily play complex licks up high on the neck on it, just like a guitar. Search Youtube for “short scale bass vs long scale” and you will be enlightened.
Sunjamr Steve
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November 23, 2020 at 5:59 pm #220340
Laura, I’ve been doing some research on Bass guitars and been looking at used ones at the pawnshop here. ( still can’t find one that’s not defective )
I feel I’ll probably end up buying a new Squier short neck bass. Good reviews on them. One thing I’ve noticed is that the prices of them high sky rocketed recently.
So it’s best to shop online and get a good feel for current prices. If possible, I’m I plan to buy just a single pickup type bass.
I just placed an order for the amp. Here is what I’m buying: Fender Rumble Studio 40. It cost about $300 USD ( in this country ) with free shipping. Sweet Water has them for $400, (was surprise to see that price ) so you really have to shop around. In Asia here, we get the Fender models made in Vietnam. I’ve had no problems with the quality coming out of Vietnam. Great workmanship and speakers are I think very good.
Good luck, oh and that would be a nice Christmas present for you.The melody of the notes is what expresses the art of music . 🙂 6stringerPete
It really is all about ”melody”. The melody comes from a language from our heart. Our heart is the muscle in music harmony. The melody is the sweetness that it pumps into our musical thoughts on the fretboard. 🙂 6 stringer Pete
Pete
Active Melody
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November 24, 2020 at 1:49 pm #220372
Yep, the bass my friend has is a Squier short scale, and it is a pleasure to play. Well-made, light weight, thin neck. And one pickup is all you need. Bass is bass.
Sunjamr Steve
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November 23, 2020 at 8:28 pm #220349
Laura,
I would recommend the Ibanez Mikro short scale Bass. It sells for $179.00 US on Sweetwater and most other sites that carry Ibanez. It’s a great value, well made. I know several guitarists who play the short scale Mikro and love it.
Also amp wise, the Yamaha THR10c which many Active Melody folks use and swear, by has a Bass option on it. It’s reasonably priced and can be used for guitar, especially blues, and will handle a Bass. Sometimes you can blow out your speakers if you use a Bass on a guitar amplifier but the THR10 is an exception to that.
Gene
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November 24, 2020 at 11:39 am #220367
Any online courses I can sign up for. Wished AM had a Bass course. Thanks for the info.
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November 24, 2020 at 12:09 pm #220369
Laura,
There are a ton of them online. One I’ve seen is bass buzz.com, they have a beginning course and a bunch of other courses.
Gene
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November 24, 2020 at 5:36 pm #220397
Any online courses I can sign up for. Wished AM had a Bass course. Thanks for the info.
I have played bass for many years and have tried most of the online courses at one time or another. Feel free to PM if you are have questions. It boils down to what type of music you want to play.
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November 25, 2020 at 5:38 am #220424
Thank you Doug, was there one course that you found to be helpful, along the lines of Active Melody. Brian’s method of instruction has helped me improve tremendously. I’m not sure how to PM you on this site. Thank you for your help. Also, any Bass/Amp you recommend. I rather get a good one, durable because I plan to learn it and stay with it like I did with the guitars.
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November 25, 2020 at 9:48 am #220441
Laura,
There’s a great joke about a boy learning to play the bass where after his first lesson dad asks him how the lesson went and he says, “It went good I learned my first note.”
After the 2nd lesson he replies, “I learned another note today,” and after the 3rd lesson he says, “I learned a 3rd note today.”
On the week of the 4th lesson dad asks him how the lesson went and he says, “Oh, I could not make my lesson I had a gig!”
On the serious side if you go to the Sweetwater site and click on bass guitars they have a video about things to know when buying a bass. It’s well worth watching.
Happy shopping.
Gene
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November 25, 2020 at 11:55 am #220447
Great video thank you so very much.
Laura
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November 25, 2020 at 9:31 pm #220499
I found ebass guitar with James Eager helpful, Scott’s bass lessons is the biggest. It really depends on what style you want to play. I have found nothing to compare to Active melody
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November 28, 2020 at 11:23 am #221911
Hi Laura, I started out playing guitar and switched to bass because everyone wanted to play guitar and no one wanted to be “stuck” with playing bass. Same story with Paul McCartney and the Beatles. It was much easier to play bass in bands because you basically play the root note of the chords and don’t have to learn all of the chords and lead guitar parts. I later switched back to guitar because I was usually a better guitarist than the other guys in the band. I was back to learning all of the chords and lead parts. Much more work. Playing bass, as long as you hold down the root, you can freely improvise fills and nobody will notice if it’s not note-for-note. The main job is to hold down the bottom, and lock-in with the drummer. I send you a link to the style of James Jamerson, THE BASS MAN. Keep learning 6-string too, because guitarists make the best bass players.
Good luck on your journey.
Ralph P.
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November 28, 2020 at 11:32 am #221926
Hi Laura, I forgot to include two other points about playing bass. Bass players are always in demand, and it’s much easier to find a gig playing bass than for a lead guitarist. The other point is you have to carry the biggest, heaviest amp. I don’t miss that.
Ralph P.
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