At 4/28/09 12:25 AM, HeavenDuff wrote:
I'm considering starting to play bass guitar.
any tips guys?
Learn how to slap, fingerstyle, and pick; don't get good at one particular style at the expense of others. As well, make use of "grace" and "ghost" notes, and in a related note, do lots of hammer ons and pull offs. Even if they don't sound that great at first, it's a wonderful way to build up finger strength and technique. As well, do several styles of accompinament, such as doing arpeggios and I-IV-III or V-III-I progressions.
like techniques, easy songs to get started
Thrash is a good starter, like Sodom or early Slayer. As well, Iron Maiden is perfect, as Steve Harris writes some damn tasty but delightfully simple bass lines. Gorgoroth and Dissection work as well, or really, any band where the bass functions as a foil to the guitars instead of simply hiding behind them.
what are the good amps and bass?
As far as amps go, I use the same amp for my guitars as my bass, and that's a Crate 150W powerblock with a homemade 15" woofer/4" tweeter speaker. As far as basses go, if you want a 6 string, a Carvin is the way to go, or a Rogue if you don't have the $$ for a Carvin. If you want a 5 string, get an Ibanez with a bridge humbucker and you definitely can't go wrong there. If 4 strings are your thing, get a fender P/J bass (P/J referring to the pickup configuration; a P pickup is that split pickup you see on Fender P-basses, among other, whereas J pickups are bass single coil pickups) and you definitely will love playing it.
thanks boys.
No problem. I love spreading the joy known as music to as many people as possible.
