I recently started learning bass...

mr dave · 02-05-2009, 04:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GuitarBizarre

...You're a freak Dave. You always take the exact opposite approach I do to guitar or whatever. I have no idea how you do it. It astounds me :lol:

I started playing guitar, my dad showed me 4 open chords that he had to re-show me every time I picked it up for about a week. I just strummed those along for a couple of months and then I learned how to read tab and Learned a typically terrible cover version of Smells like Teen Spirit.

hehe it's all good.

i did know how to play the guitar prior to picking up the bass though. by that point my perspective had changed hehe

i actually started playing guitar in the same way as you only it was my uncle and he lent me a chord book. told me to come back in a week. said 'yup' those are your chords, that's pretty much it. go to 'er

thank god for guitar world magazine in the days before OLGA hehe

ElephantSack · 03-26-2009, 03:43 PM

The first song I learned was "Roadhouse Blues" by The Doors. That was when I was 8. So, 14 almost 15 years ago. Wicked simple.
Some other easy ones are "Hey Joe" by The Jimi Hendrix Experience,
"Sunshine of Your Love" by Cream
"Keep on Rockin' in the Free World" by Neil Young
"Gloria" is possibly the easiest song ever.
Best of luck, and keep the faith!

KelticKalamity · 03-26-2009, 04:39 PM

Radar Love
Green-Eyed Lady
Suzie Q
Funk #49
Ramble On
The Story in Your Eyes
Day Tripper

And of course....
Iron Man
Smoke on the Water

DMBassDude · 03-31-2009, 10:09 AM

Well, i learned alll the crap on an instructional dvd before learning any actual songs. I play 'em by ear.

crash_override · 03-31-2009, 11:20 AM

Long Train Runnin' is an easy one I learned early on.
Sunshine of you Love

Basically I recommend playing music that you really like. That way you don't lose interest.

Blue · 03-31-2009, 11:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mr dave

i think it's really futile to try learning a list of random tunes from strangers unless you've already tapped out everything you already like (which you haven't mentioned yet). if i've said it once....

playing music is not a competition

no one will care what tunes you know how to play unless you're auditioning for a cover band. stick with what YOU like, it'll make learning the instrument far more rewarding.

personally i'm also against getting a list of the simplest tunes to start with. i've always gone straight for the pinnacle of what i wanted to achieve in the moment with the knowledge that i would ultimately 'fail' as a beginner. first tune i tried learning on bass was 'higher ground' by the chili peppers. hard as hell when you've never slapped or popped, but i stuck with it for a while, and when i tried the 'simpler' RHCP tunes i breezed through them.

as opposed to having a steady climb i started at a personal peak (and struggled), but you better believe by the time i revisited that peak i SMOKED that bass line.

I'm the same way in a lot of senses. The first thing I started learning was the intro solo to Shine On You Crazy Diamond, which I suppose is really quite simplistic, but it was the reason I was playing, and it was my inspiration (well, Floyd in general). It also started my playing career off by doing a lot of bending, which I'm quite grateful for now because my bending and vibrato comes quite easy to me.

Years prior to this, someone tried to teach me some White Stripes song on the low E string, and I instantly lost interest. It wasn't until I heard Gilmour play that I found what I was looking for. I actually didn't learn any chords for the first little while that I played, though that came back to bite me later because I learned my rhythmic sense was absolutely awful.

I also agree with starting at the pinnacle. I didn't consciously do it at the time, but I definitely started with all the stuff that I wanted to end up doing, though I guess in my case I'm kind of lucky Pink Floyd is rather simplistic music.

03-26-2009, 04:39 PM	#13 (permalink)
KelticKalamity Groupie Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 27	Radar Love Green-Eyed Lady Suzie Q Funk #49 Ramble On The Story in Your Eyes Day Tripper And of course.... Iron Man Smoke on the Water __________________ The hole is more honorable than the patch.

03-31-2009, 10:09 AM	#14 (permalink)
DMBassDude Get Thrashed Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Colorado. Posts: 79	Well, i learned alll the crap on an instructional dvd before learning any actual songs. I play 'em by ear. __________________ "psh... we'll be fine..." -Titanic capitain, 1912

03-26-2009, 03:43 PM	#12 (permalink)
ElephantSack Man vs. Wild Turkey Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: ATX Posts: 948	The first song I learned was "Roadhouse Blues" by The Doors. That was when I was 8. So, 14 almost 15 years ago. Wicked simple. Some other easy ones are "Hey Joe" by The Jimi Hendrix Experience, "Sunshine of Your Love" by Cream "Keep on Rockin' in the Free World" by Neil Young "Gloria" is possibly the easiest song ever. Best of luck, and keep the faith!

03-31-2009, 11:20 AM	#15 (permalink)
crash_override Seemingly Silenced Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Everett, WA Posts: 2,312	Long Train Runnin' is an easy one I learned early on. Sunshine of you Love Basically I recommend playing music that you really like. That way you don't lose interest.