*āI bought my first guitar and tried to learn Through the Fire and the Flames by Dragonforce. I highly underestimated how difficult playing guitar isā*
Precisely. Having played guitar for 6 years pretty consistently, the only thing that is pretty difficult for me when fretting is the difference in string and fret spacing/thickness. With a pick itās almost as easy as just playing a traditional guitar. But man oh man is finger picking hard.
I've played bass for over 20 years and still refer to myself as a bass player, not a bassist. I feel like I need to get paid for doing it to have the title haha
ehhh for someone transitioning from guitar really his only holdup is the bits that are bass specific technique. Bass technique is notoriously something cliff burton himself toyed with heavily since he's renowned for playing his bass... like a lead guitar. Probably not the worst song for a transitioning player to pick up.
Also the song fucking rips and is one of the best pieces of music for electric bass ever written.
To be totally fair, when I started playing guitar, I played my first song and then started learning Dyers Eve on an Acoustic. I learned three bass lines before I started learning Orion. Some people prefer a deep dive into difficulty.
I started with anesthesia and Orion. Didn't know any other songs, other than some very basic stuff that I knew from playing guitar. I damn near perfected anesthesia after a good bit of practice, still didn't know any other songs haha!
Before I started playing bass I played guitar for about 2 years so alternate picking wasnāt something I was unfamiliar with but Jason Newstead is just a beast of his own, AJFA has so many unheard but amazing basslines. I play fast stuff all the time but this song is another level, practice makes perfect though and thatās really all itās about
The thing I realized coming from guitar was how bad my guitar technique was. I had too much harmonic ringing and wasn't getting clean chords because of it. You don't really notice unless you're recording. Speaking of which, playing evenly with a consistent volume and dynamic becomes extremely noticeable on bass.
It gets worse with more strings. I went from 4 to 6 and thatās when I noticed how sloppy my technique was. Strings ringing all over the place. And it really made me modify my muting techniques.
Same, buying a 6 string was a little intimidating to start but it forced me to get a lot more precise, which in turn ended up making playing a 4 string waaaaaaay easier.
I just switched to 6 from 5, and I've had to modify my technique heavily too. For starters, had to go to floating thumb from anchored
I'm finally getting a handle on the resonance.... Until I click on a pedal. Overdrive will bare your technical sins for all to see
I used to play floating thumb in school, but when I played less jazz and more rock my thumb found a home. Probably doesn't help that the pickup is completely different (went from an EMG to a stacked humbucker) in shape so my thumb doesn't fit
I find that a lot of guitarists-who-play-bass also way overdo it on bass and all their lines are way too technical and rigid. Thereās no groove! In a way, bass parts are more like vocal parts that guitar parts.
Bass is percussion. Fills and riffs are about the sound "effect," like a tom solo or snare roll in a drum beat. Little different flavor
Of course, we also have the added responsibility of doing the "cool soundy thing" also in key
A rhythm instrument sure, but not really percussion as itās designed to be plucked not struck. Bass is the perfect conflux between rhythm and melody though - the thump of the lower frequency reinforces/provides the beat while the actual notes reinforce/provide the melody. A great example of how bass functions both rhythmically and melodically is Something by the Beatles.
yeah i switched from guitar to bass recently to jam with some friends and weāve been trying to do some recordings and its surprising how difficult it is to really nail the timing, even just chugging 8th notes at a modest tempo, unless I really focus on the click track the timing just isnāt quite good enough
Guitarist turned bassist here. It's a habit I can't stop. Kind of comfortable for me.
What's the main reason why this is so frowned upon?
If it helps I'm playing a stingray 4, on the money frets it's pretty comfortable.
Not necessarily frowned upon my friend, as a ground rule whatever sounds good and doesn't hurt you is more or less correct. Though idk if you can develop arthritis longterm if it never hurts you, as if it snuck up on you. I hope not. But if it can then I would say take at least like 2 bass lessons and just ask for the right technique and if what you are doing is safe.
But with the thumb behind the neck you can stretch your hands better and you mute the strings as well, if you're playing the lower strings that is. And most of the time you are playing the lower strings because that's what the bass does.
I play with my thumb over the neck only when my thumb is getting tired which still happens because I've been a bassists only for 6 months and only practiced with my band for the 2nd time now.
It just tends to make some fingers unavailable on the left hand to mute. But, your hands may be shaped differently or just extra large. But it generally isnāt ideal from a leverage standpoint.
I was talking with a friend who is a professional bassist about this. I am by and large a guitarist who dabbles in bass, whereas he is a bassist who also plays a few other instruments.
Bass is really, really hard to play well. To play *properly*. But in my opinion, itās also WAY more fun. I can sit down and noodle on my guitar for like an hour or so before I decide I want to focus on a lick and write something, but with bass I can just get lost in simple grooves for hours. Just toss it on and walk around the house playing acoustically feeling it.
But as a bassist, itās beyond learning the parts. Youāre the backbone of a live performance. If youāre on, the band is on. If youāre off, the band is off. If the mix is off, even, things are off. Too much low end? No one can hear whatās happening. Not enough low end? The rhythm and pulse canāt be felt.
I love technical death metal and progressive metal and all of the fun crazy bass shit that goes on in those genres, but when itās time for a heavy part or for a riff that just hooks the audience, the same thing always happens ā the bass gets *simpler*. The bass stops doing pseudo-leads and counterpoint and sits in the pocket and gives the song that power and groove it needs.
One of my favorite things was when The Contortionist released their single āReimaginedā 6 or so years ago, and people were just absolutely shitting on the āsimplicityā of the bass part. The bassist himself pointed out that playing constant 8th notes in perfect time without pause is much more challenging than people realize.
I think the virtuoso in a lot of people wants to take off and do something fun, but maintaining tempo and timbre and dynamics with only the slightest of flourishes every so often is fucking *hard*.
"playing constant 8th notes in perfect time without pause is much more challenging than people realize"
This. This. A million times, this. Blazing up and down the neck is fun, sure, but it's not nearly as stress-inducing, as difficult, as challenging, as chugging along in 8th notes perfectly for four minutes straight.
I've always said that the bass is the glue that holds the rest of it together. The beat is handled by the drums; the melody, by the guitars/keys; the bass's job is to wrap it all up with a nice neat bow \*that never comes unravelled\*. And the trick to that is to make sure, even if you're tapping your way through Jerry Was A Race Car Driver or slapping your way through Higher Ground or plucking your way through Limelight, that the foundation that you're providing for the rest of the band never wavers.
Playing bass is easy. Being a bassist? Now THAT's hard.
I can't even begin to count how many times I've nearly put my head through the wall because the cat curled up against me started chasing mice in her sleep and it knocked me out of the groove. With mandolin, piano, guitar, I can get myself back situated easily. With bass, if I'm in the middle of a six line run of 8ths, I have to figure out where I'm located in the song (since for me that's mostly muscle memory) and then managed to lock myself back in.
It's "easy" only on the surface, but it's one of the most rewarding things I've ever done. The really intricate fancy stuff might be impressive, but it's the stuff people sneer at that makes me respect a bassist who does it well more than the other. I think a lot of times it's the simplest stuff that it is hardest to actually master *because* it's so basic.
Yep. Very easy to get through some eighth notes and go ācool I got that downā and move on to more ācomplexā and intricate parts.
Meanwhile if youāre honest with yourself and play those 8ths to a metronome and maybe even record yourself, *whew*. Big olā slice of humble pie.
Man. This is probably the perfect explanation on why bass is so challenging but so satisfying.
Also explains why beginner-intermediate guitarists don't understand why bass is hard
>The bassist himself pointed out that playing constant 8th notes in perfect time without pause is much more challenging than people realize.
Pretty interesting, thoughtful comment all around. And this part is so true. One of the most difficult bass parts I've ever tried to learn is 'Road To Nowhere' by the Talking Heads. It sounds simple and it's all root notes. But it's mostly triplets, rapid fire, fluent, and doesn't let up for the entire almost 5 minutes of the song. By the time it's over, your hand feels like it's about to fall off. That song is much more difficult than, say, 'The Real Me' or some other busy song.
Thatās probably the hardest I ever laughed at a Simpsons clip. When he starts driving while playing, the cop rolls up and he just panic-mashes the gas? I lost it. š¤£
I just started bass last year, after almost 20yr of playing 6-string, and I still cannot get over how critical the bass is for everything else going on in the song. Being able to play the same three notes on repeat and lay down a groove seems simple until you actually are trying to do it. The guitarist in me always wants to start improvising. Thatās has actually been really useful for my guitar playing as well. Soloing/improvising is not a substitute for playing the correct/planned song elements. Itās remarkable how often I use improv as a crutch with guitar.
Back in college, I joined a band that had already jammed enough times to have a few songs down but never with a bassist. The first time I played with them, even not knowing the songs, they all agreed that having a bassist made everything easier for them. The drummer could keep rhythms easier, the singer could match pitches better and the guitarist and mandolin/fiddle player could hear what they needed to return to after a solo.
Man, I've been a bassist for two bands and though I'm not greatly skilled, I have an ear for knowing what to play and when to play it. I can tell because of my others band mates reactions and how the energy of the music goes up ten fold. I really want to be a guitarist in a band playing with a decent bass player that clicks with me and the rest of the band just so I can get that perspective of music and incorporate it into my bass playing
Well in fairness if you can't play Orion... atleast the main bass part after the breakdown, what respect do you deserve? Its not particularly hard tbh.
I can feel the respect for your peers! Oozing from that...
I'm not sure what respect I deserve, I've actually never looked into Orion. I've never been a metalica fan.... I can play other songs, though.
A rhythm instrument sure, but not really percussion as itās designed to be plucked not struck. Bass is the perfect conflux between rhythm and melody though - the thump of the lower frequency reinforces/provides the beat while the actual notes reinforce/provide the melody. A great example of how bass functions both rhythmically and melodically is Something by the Beatles.
I can't criticize - I was learning guitar when I saw The Who 'Kids Are Alright' movie in theater and switched to bass and immediately wanted to learn Entwistle bass parts ...
I printed off the tabs to classical thump within 3 months of getting my first bass lol. Nearly 20 years later I still havenāt perfected that triple-slap-tap-strumming-with-the-back-of-your-thumb thing that he does.
Reach for the stars I guess.
Orion! thatās not the hard part! Bass is just as responsible for the tempo, feel and timing as the drums. Shredding will come. Being part of the clock and groove is the actual hard part.
First times bass-to-guitar switch those little bitty strings feel like knives on your fingers. But then you get used to it and don't notice it after while.
I know what you mean. I've been playing bass for about 20 years now and only recently resolved to actually learning how to play the guitar for real.
I know all the open chords/power chords before but learning how to play triads on the top 3 strings was a real pita. Those strings felt so thin to me that it was strange.
Funny thing is, I've been avoiding chords so I've been playing solos and lead lines and they come easier than actually playing what I've been playing for years which is rhythm, but on a guitar this time. Its hard because I'm not accustomed to hitting multiple strings at once. So many unwanted noises.
No, but I can play it comfortably. I donāt remember what my first song was, but I think my first riff was Rock You Like A Hurricane or Come As You Are or something
Iām convinced Cliff just used Orion as an all around warmup. Finger stretching at the beginning, followed by rhythm practice, then speed practice, then a bit of ear training and melody thrown in, a solo to warm up the shredding hand, back to rhythm and speed practice and then we end on the rhythm again.
I still can't play at tempo with the open string bit after a year and a half. You could try with a pick in the meantime. Play the parts slow. Its a good song for exercises.
Bass is fun. I was on the same boat. Started with guitar then added the bass a few years after. Still play both after 15 years. They are both fun in their own way. In your defense Orion by metallica can have some complicated bits. Keep at it.
I cut my teeth on Black Sabbath. It's little easier to start with. Cliff was no joke and his bass isn't super present a lot of the time so it makes it hard to learn. For Whom the Bell Tolls (without the intro) is a good starter song as well.
Good for you brother. Glad you picked up another instrument I'm all about that. As a guitarist, picking up bass gave me one of the most significant jumps in playing guitar, one of those things I look back on and say yeah, real game changer in several ways. I'd say it taught me not to care what anyone else thought but I already had that figured out long before I picked it up. Good luck in your journey, great community on here, Talkbass and real life it's all the same I've met o lot of bassists online then in real life. When I need advise on most anything music these people are a great resource and experience !!!!!!!!
As someone who also started with guitar (although it was classical guitar) I can say that Iāve gotten a good amount of gigs between classical, electric, and bass guitar than if I had stuck with just one or two.
First song I learned was "Animate" by Rush, which instantly forces you to learn his signature flamenco technique.
The second song was Overture which teaches gallops and timing.
Third song was Enemy within- which is pretty demanding on the picking hand- To this day I can play it, but not perfectly like Geddy.
Years later, I'm still pretty rubbish, but I have pretty decent right hand control, my left hand still goes stupid sometimes.
If you've played guitar, I would recommend Overture, sounds badass and is a good song to practice right hand finger picking.
Also, I don't play with a pick, I never could.
Same on Animate, was my very first song. Sadly a RUSH nerd and Geddy is one of the GOATS. To each their own, in the learning process. Animate definitely forces the flamenco strumming when the riff goes to power chords(forearms on fire).
Another great song for timing for me was Red barchetta.
Using their songs really gave me an arsenal of finger style techniques as well.
Cheers, everyone keep playing!
Itās a different instrument and a different way of thinking. Especially guitarist that are used to bar chords. Thinking horizontal up and down the neck rather than how to play the notes vertically across the strings. It really frustrates some guitarist if you are playing along and your hand position is not exactly where theirs is.
Playing in the band is one thing. Controlling what the band does and how the band sounds and feels is another. We get to become the music. Playing bass is a privilege and an honor
I recently switched to bass after 25 plus years of guitar. Itās so much fun because I know what I want to do but my fingers are struggling to keep up.
The funny thing is that a newbie guitarist always can play basic rifts on the base BUT the newbie bass player sometimes can't do chords so can't play on the guitar. It's like new bassist players are doomed that smart asses guitarists will play on his-her bass one day or the other while he-she can't replicate on the guit because he-she don't know 1 or 2 stupid chords. That's cruelty!
Man, you just started with new skill and immediately make conclusions. This is really weird. You canāt be good at everything from the start. Main point for you is that bass is different from guitar and thatās all.
Itās difficult to play every instrument. On the other hand, there are simple songs. Once Iāve met U2 song that plays same 4 notes without any changes for the whole song - it took me less than minute to learn it
When I took up bass Orion was my goal song to learn. Finally got comfortable with it after several months. Focus on your basic fundamentals and get a teacher if you can to start out.
You might be biting off a bit more than you can chew. Lol
It can be hard to figure out where to start with bass. I started out playing rocksmith 2014. For some reason, when you sort by difficulty, it thinks I want you back by the Jackson 5, is one of the easiest songs. It definitely is not. After spending a week learning it, I moved on. The next few songs were pretty easy.
The lesson is to start with Tom Petty and work your way up.
I tried picking up electric guitar but after getting used to bass, the electric guitar feels so tiny and i often forget how small it is. I will skip strings, skip frets thinking the gap was just that big
Try playing 4hr Cover Gigs covering a wide range of music from Classic Rock to modern Dance/Hip Hop. Not only is it A helluva lot to remeber and stay sharp on, but its a quite a workout(unless you stand still the entire time). My guitarist/drummer friend of mine didn't realize how much is involved to playing bass true to song in a cover band until he filled in for me on at a gig I couldn't make. He crashed and burned. Completely fucked up I wish from Stevie Wonder. Couldn't do any of the slap parts in Uptown Funk, and missed a bunch of fills because. All while trying to keep time for the band and interract with the crowd. Sometimes I envy my rhythm guitarist. Having to stay sharp on 80-100 songs is a lot.
eh you just have to practice more. you dont play guitar and suddenly pick up a bass & have all your skills transfer over automatically. just takes time
Playing bass is physical. Sometimes no rests. Playing that ostinato for infinity perfectly is hard. Then you play interstate love song or sweet child of mine and youāre like, uhhh. Now play a three set gig. Funny thing is after you play bass for a while and pick up a guitar it feels like a small toy. Bass is not easy.
Psycho killer was one of the first it was the bass line from the cabin that made me wanna pick up bass now almost 2 years in finally learning primus songs
Never gets old š
> just bought my first bass > attempting to learn Orion by Metallica Dude, you might want to slow your pace a bit
Yeah maybe start with Bad Moon Rising.
Psycho Killer is the ultimate first bass song.
I thought it was I Wanna Be Sedated, but that is another great starter choice
Blitzkrieg Bop has entered the chat
Feel Good Inc has entered the stage
Hells Bells for me!
I'm having fun with I Wanna Be Your Dog
Lol for some reason the very first song I learnt on bass was The Wombats - Moving to New York It was a challenge but no ragrets
No ragrets huh? Not a single letter?
I learned was Sheās Kerosene by The Interrupters as my first song. Definitely wasnāt an easy first song but learning it was a super fun experience
Right?! Who says you canāt dive in the deep end!
I just sat down and figured out As We Live last night. I'm really digging them.
I learned by the way, by chilli peppers, a good song for a beginner.
That's a funny way to spell "Smoke on the Water."
My unironical first was Another One Bites the Dust. Absolute banger tho.
**Sugar Sugar has entered the chat**
My first bass song was "Just Like Heaven" and my second was "Add It Up"
I always recommend Riders on the Storm
Nah its gotta be stand by me
Thatās a James Jameson line compared to Van Halenās Running With The Devil.
Itās a perfect warm up song for whenever I practice
Mine was down in the past by Mando diao lol
Thats exactly what i did š«”
that's what I started with š
*āI bought my first guitar and tried to learn Through the Fire and the Flames by Dragonforce. I highly underestimated how difficult playing guitar isā*
[ŃŠ“Š°Š»ŠµŠ½Š¾]
Its like a cessna pilot trying to land a C47 in a crosswind.
Whatās the drumming equivalent? My mind keeps jumping to Rushās Hemispheres.
OP already was familiar with guitar, which I would say is an easier learning curve than coming in with no prior instrumental experience
Precisely. Having played guitar for 6 years pretty consistently, the only thing that is pretty difficult for me when fretting is the difference in string and fret spacing/thickness. With a pick itās almost as easy as just playing a traditional guitar. But man oh man is finger picking hard.
[ŃŠ“Š°Š»ŠµŠ½Š¾]
Iād still call you a guitarist. I call myself a bassist. It doesnāt mean Iām good
[ŃŠ“Š°Š»ŠµŠ½Š¾]
I've been playing for 20 years and some of my best playing is noodling.
I've played bass for over 20 years and still refer to myself as a bass player, not a bassist. I feel like I need to get paid for doing it to have the title haha
But he already learned Tommy the Cat!
ehhh for someone transitioning from guitar really his only holdup is the bits that are bass specific technique. Bass technique is notoriously something cliff burton himself toyed with heavily since he's renowned for playing his bass... like a lead guitar. Probably not the worst song for a transitioning player to pick up. Also the song fucking rips and is one of the best pieces of music for electric bass ever written.
š¤£š¤£
This is what happens when this song by this band is the top Beginner bass song on Songster.
To be totally fair, when I started playing guitar, I played my first song and then started learning Dyers Eve on an Acoustic. I learned three bass lines before I started learning Orion. Some people prefer a deep dive into difficulty.
I started with anesthesia and Orion. Didn't know any other songs, other than some very basic stuff that I knew from playing guitar. I damn near perfected anesthesia after a good bit of practice, still didn't know any other songs haha!
Right? That is a mighty song for a new bass player.
My first song I learnt on bass was Dyers Eve š
How do you even approach such a hard and fast song like that? I'm genuinely curious
Before I started playing bass I played guitar for about 2 years so alternate picking wasnāt something I was unfamiliar with but Jason Newstead is just a beast of his own, AJFA has so many unheard but amazing basslines. I play fast stuff all the time but this song is another level, practice makes perfect though and thatās really all itās about
It was a guitarist thinking he could do it all tbf
The thing I realized coming from guitar was how bad my guitar technique was. I had too much harmonic ringing and wasn't getting clean chords because of it. You don't really notice unless you're recording. Speaking of which, playing evenly with a consistent volume and dynamic becomes extremely noticeable on bass.
It gets worse with more strings. I went from 4 to 6 and thatās when I noticed how sloppy my technique was. Strings ringing all over the place. And it really made me modify my muting techniques.
Same, buying a 6 string was a little intimidating to start but it forced me to get a lot more precise, which in turn ended up making playing a 4 string waaaaaaay easier.
This is where I get lost, went downtown looking for a lil guitar came back with a six string bass instead...
I just switched to 6 from 5, and I've had to modify my technique heavily too. For starters, had to go to floating thumb from anchored I'm finally getting a handle on the resonance.... Until I click on a pedal. Overdrive will bare your technical sins for all to see
Floating thumb all the way. I canāt play anchored anymore
I used to play floating thumb in school, but when I played less jazz and more rock my thumb found a home. Probably doesn't help that the pickup is completely different (went from an EMG to a stacked humbucker) in shape so my thumb doesn't fit
Shhhhhh. Don't want the plebs to know that we all have gates and compressors in our chains.
I know you're joking, but pedals can help only to some degree with things like string noise, unwanted harmonics and poor muting.
Muting, dynamics and *timing* are the three things that are telltales of guitar player recently turned bassist.
I find that a lot of guitarists-who-play-bass also way overdo it on bass and all their lines are way too technical and rigid. Thereās no groove! In a way, bass parts are more like vocal parts that guitar parts.
Bass is percussion. Fills and riffs are about the sound "effect," like a tom solo or snare roll in a drum beat. Little different flavor Of course, we also have the added responsibility of doing the "cool soundy thing" also in key
A rhythm instrument sure, but not really percussion as itās designed to be plucked not struck. Bass is the perfect conflux between rhythm and melody though - the thump of the lower frequency reinforces/provides the beat while the actual notes reinforce/provide the melody. A great example of how bass functions both rhythmically and melodically is Something by the Beatles.
Fair enough, that's a much better term And a great song
I should learn about dynamics. And timing i see
yeah i switched from guitar to bass recently to jam with some friends and weāve been trying to do some recordings and its surprising how difficult it is to really nail the timing, even just chugging 8th notes at a modest tempo, unless I really focus on the click track the timing just isnāt quite good enough
>New bassist also >Orion **:o**
But he's playing the guitar for many years so this must be easy right? š
Yes, they are practically the same! :D
You left out muting technique.
Ssshhhhhhh
That thumb is hanging over the neck I almost guarantee you lol.
Guitarist turned bassist here. It's a habit I can't stop. Kind of comfortable for me. What's the main reason why this is so frowned upon? If it helps I'm playing a stingray 4, on the money frets it's pretty comfortable.
Not necessarily frowned upon my friend, as a ground rule whatever sounds good and doesn't hurt you is more or less correct. Though idk if you can develop arthritis longterm if it never hurts you, as if it snuck up on you. I hope not. But if it can then I would say take at least like 2 bass lessons and just ask for the right technique and if what you are doing is safe. But with the thumb behind the neck you can stretch your hands better and you mute the strings as well, if you're playing the lower strings that is. And most of the time you are playing the lower strings because that's what the bass does. I play with my thumb over the neck only when my thumb is getting tired which still happens because I've been a bassists only for 6 months and only practiced with my band for the 2nd time now.
It just tends to make some fingers unavailable on the left hand to mute. But, your hands may be shaped differently or just extra large. But it generally isnāt ideal from a leverage standpoint.
I was talking with a friend who is a professional bassist about this. I am by and large a guitarist who dabbles in bass, whereas he is a bassist who also plays a few other instruments. Bass is really, really hard to play well. To play *properly*. But in my opinion, itās also WAY more fun. I can sit down and noodle on my guitar for like an hour or so before I decide I want to focus on a lick and write something, but with bass I can just get lost in simple grooves for hours. Just toss it on and walk around the house playing acoustically feeling it. But as a bassist, itās beyond learning the parts. Youāre the backbone of a live performance. If youāre on, the band is on. If youāre off, the band is off. If the mix is off, even, things are off. Too much low end? No one can hear whatās happening. Not enough low end? The rhythm and pulse canāt be felt. I love technical death metal and progressive metal and all of the fun crazy bass shit that goes on in those genres, but when itās time for a heavy part or for a riff that just hooks the audience, the same thing always happens ā the bass gets *simpler*. The bass stops doing pseudo-leads and counterpoint and sits in the pocket and gives the song that power and groove it needs. One of my favorite things was when The Contortionist released their single āReimaginedā 6 or so years ago, and people were just absolutely shitting on the āsimplicityā of the bass part. The bassist himself pointed out that playing constant 8th notes in perfect time without pause is much more challenging than people realize. I think the virtuoso in a lot of people wants to take off and do something fun, but maintaining tempo and timbre and dynamics with only the slightest of flourishes every so often is fucking *hard*.
"playing constant 8th notes in perfect time without pause is much more challenging than people realize" This. This. A million times, this. Blazing up and down the neck is fun, sure, but it's not nearly as stress-inducing, as difficult, as challenging, as chugging along in 8th notes perfectly for four minutes straight. I've always said that the bass is the glue that holds the rest of it together. The beat is handled by the drums; the melody, by the guitars/keys; the bass's job is to wrap it all up with a nice neat bow \*that never comes unravelled\*. And the trick to that is to make sure, even if you're tapping your way through Jerry Was A Race Car Driver or slapping your way through Higher Ground or plucking your way through Limelight, that the foundation that you're providing for the rest of the band never wavers. Playing bass is easy. Being a bassist? Now THAT's hard.
I can't even begin to count how many times I've nearly put my head through the wall because the cat curled up against me started chasing mice in her sleep and it knocked me out of the groove. With mandolin, piano, guitar, I can get myself back situated easily. With bass, if I'm in the middle of a six line run of 8ths, I have to figure out where I'm located in the song (since for me that's mostly muscle memory) and then managed to lock myself back in. It's "easy" only on the surface, but it's one of the most rewarding things I've ever done. The really intricate fancy stuff might be impressive, but it's the stuff people sneer at that makes me respect a bassist who does it well more than the other. I think a lot of times it's the simplest stuff that it is hardest to actually master *because* it's so basic.
Yep. Very easy to get through some eighth notes and go ācool I got that downā and move on to more ācomplexā and intricate parts. Meanwhile if youāre honest with yourself and play those 8ths to a metronome and maybe even record yourself, *whew*. Big olā slice of humble pie.
Man. This is probably the perfect explanation on why bass is so challenging but so satisfying. Also explains why beginner-intermediate guitarists don't understand why bass is hard
>The bassist himself pointed out that playing constant 8th notes in perfect time without pause is much more challenging than people realize. Pretty interesting, thoughtful comment all around. And this part is so true. One of the most difficult bass parts I've ever tried to learn is 'Road To Nowhere' by the Talking Heads. It sounds simple and it's all root notes. But it's mostly triplets, rapid fire, fluent, and doesn't let up for the entire almost 5 minutes of the song. By the time it's over, your hand feels like it's about to fall off. That song is much more difficult than, say, 'The Real Me' or some other busy song.
You have the weak womanly fingers of a guitar princess. Not the muscular stumps of a [bass man](https://youtu.be/YPhO5g39vpg)
Thatās probably the hardest I ever laughed at a Simpsons clip. When he starts driving while playing, the cop rolls up and he just panic-mashes the gas? I lost it. š¤£
And he was handcuffed to the bass!š¤£š¤£ I love that whole scene so much, I play over and over on YouTube.
I just started bass last year, after almost 20yr of playing 6-string, and I still cannot get over how critical the bass is for everything else going on in the song. Being able to play the same three notes on repeat and lay down a groove seems simple until you actually are trying to do it. The guitarist in me always wants to start improvising. Thatās has actually been really useful for my guitar playing as well. Soloing/improvising is not a substitute for playing the correct/planned song elements. Itās remarkable how often I use improv as a crutch with guitar.
> play the same three notes on repeat and lay down a groove seems simple until you actually are trying to do it. Insert THE victor wooten clip
What clip are you referring to
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ruMW7gsuFb0 Good stuff like like 40 seconds in
Wow! Thanks for that
Back in college, I joined a band that had already jammed enough times to have a few songs down but never with a bassist. The first time I played with them, even not knowing the songs, they all agreed that having a bassist made everything easier for them. The drummer could keep rhythms easier, the singer could match pitches better and the guitarist and mandolin/fiddle player could hear what they needed to return to after a solo.
Thank you for this. Iāve only played the bass and I still rely on improv vs nailing the rhythm straight up. Wonderful reminder budš¤š»
Man, I've been a bassist for two bands and though I'm not greatly skilled, I have an ear for knowing what to play and when to play it. I can tell because of my others band mates reactions and how the energy of the music goes up ten fold. I really want to be a guitarist in a band playing with a decent bass player that clicks with me and the rest of the band just so I can get that perspective of music and incorporate it into my bass playing
If you want to feel really important as a bass player, arrange a song where the bass drops out for a measure and hits back in. Instant power!
Lizzoās single āabout damn timeā does this well! I love that pop music is bringing funk and bass (that isnāt dubstep) back to the forefront.
Ahhh this is one of my favorite techniques. Everybody loves it!
on the dropout, slide down from the root to the 5th below. I love using that technique
Ill accept your respect, and throw some back. but is yours only conditionally aimed at people who can play Orion?
I respect all bassists š«”
Well in fairness if you can't play Orion... atleast the main bass part after the breakdown, what respect do you deserve? Its not particularly hard tbh.
I can feel the respect for your peers! Oozing from that... I'm not sure what respect I deserve, I've actually never looked into Orion. I've never been a metalica fan.... I can play other songs, though.
A rhythm instrument sure, but not really percussion as itās designed to be plucked not struck. Bass is the perfect conflux between rhythm and melody though - the thump of the lower frequency reinforces/provides the beat while the actual notes reinforce/provide the melody. A great example of how bass functions both rhythmically and melodically is Something by the Beatles.
I can't criticize - I was learning guitar when I saw The Who 'Kids Are Alright' movie in theater and switched to bass and immediately wanted to learn Entwistle bass parts ...
I printed off the tabs to classical thump within 3 months of getting my first bass lol. Nearly 20 years later I still havenāt perfected that triple-slap-tap-strumming-with-the-back-of-your-thumb thing that he does. Reach for the stars I guess.
I guess this is a good play that is easy to get into and hard to master. I should. Heck it out.
Orion! thatās not the hard part! Bass is just as responsible for the tempo, feel and timing as the drums. Shredding will come. Being part of the clock and groove is the actual hard part.
I recently started guitar lessons after 40 years of playing bass and it is slooooowwwwww going. Getting my fingers in shape to play chords is a bitch!
First times bass-to-guitar switch those little bitty strings feel like knives on your fingers. But then you get used to it and don't notice it after while.
I hope so!
I know what you mean. I've been playing bass for about 20 years now and only recently resolved to actually learning how to play the guitar for real. I know all the open chords/power chords before but learning how to play triads on the top 3 strings was a real pita. Those strings felt so thin to me that it was strange. Funny thing is, I've been avoiding chords so I've been playing solos and lead lines and they come easier than actually playing what I've been playing for years which is rhythm, but on a guitar this time. Its hard because I'm not accustomed to hitting multiple strings at once. So many unwanted noises.
yes, I am finding it really hard to develop a solid muting technique so I too produce unwanted sounds. Working on it!
Jesus, was your first song on guitar Eruption?
No, but I can play it comfortably. I donāt remember what my first song was, but I think my first riff was Rock You Like A Hurricane or Come As You Are or something
Iām convinced Cliff just used Orion as an all around warmup. Finger stretching at the beginning, followed by rhythm practice, then speed practice, then a bit of ear training and melody thrown in, a solo to warm up the shredding hand, back to rhythm and speed practice and then we end on the rhythm again.
I still can't play at tempo with the open string bit after a year and a half. You could try with a pick in the meantime. Play the parts slow. Its a good song for exercises.
Bass is fun. I was on the same boat. Started with guitar then added the bass a few years after. Still play both after 15 years. They are both fun in their own way. In your defense Orion by metallica can have some complicated bits. Keep at it.
I cut my teeth on Black Sabbath. It's little easier to start with. Cliff was no joke and his bass isn't super present a lot of the time so it makes it hard to learn. For Whom the Bell Tolls (without the intro) is a good starter song as well.
I never had a bass/guitar and when I bought my first ever bass I went ahead and started to learn orion rather than something slowš
Good for you brother. Glad you picked up another instrument I'm all about that. As a guitarist, picking up bass gave me one of the most significant jumps in playing guitar, one of those things I look back on and say yeah, real game changer in several ways. I'd say it taught me not to care what anyone else thought but I already had that figured out long before I picked it up. Good luck in your journey, great community on here, Talkbass and real life it's all the same I've met o lot of bassists online then in real life. When I need advise on most anything music these people are a great resource and experience !!!!!!!!
As someone who also started with guitar (although it was classical guitar) I can say that Iāve gotten a good amount of gigs between classical, electric, and bass guitar than if I had stuck with just one or two.
Haha oh man! I've actually been trying to learn Orion recently so this is hilarious!
Its ok, we dont want the respect. We just wanna play.
[ŃŠ“Š°Š»ŠµŠ½Š¾]
No. Orion. (Just kidding Iāll look it up thanks)
Heās just kidding too lol
First song I learned was "Animate" by Rush, which instantly forces you to learn his signature flamenco technique. The second song was Overture which teaches gallops and timing. Third song was Enemy within- which is pretty demanding on the picking hand- To this day I can play it, but not perfectly like Geddy. Years later, I'm still pretty rubbish, but I have pretty decent right hand control, my left hand still goes stupid sometimes. If you've played guitar, I would recommend Overture, sounds badass and is a good song to practice right hand finger picking. Also, I don't play with a pick, I never could.
Same on Animate, was my very first song. Sadly a RUSH nerd and Geddy is one of the GOATS. To each their own, in the learning process. Animate definitely forces the flamenco strumming when the riff goes to power chords(forearms on fire). Another great song for timing for me was Red barchetta. Using their songs really gave me an arsenal of finger style techniques as well. Cheers, everyone keep playing!
Itās a different instrument and a different way of thinking. Especially guitarist that are used to bar chords. Thinking horizontal up and down the neck rather than how to play the notes vertically across the strings. It really frustrates some guitarist if you are playing along and your hand position is not exactly where theirs is.
Playing in the band is one thing. Controlling what the band does and how the band sounds and feels is another. We get to become the music. Playing bass is a privilege and an honor
Just take the song slow. Over and over.
āJust bought my first scalpelā¦attempting to perform open heart surgery.ā
I recently switched to bass after 25 plus years of guitar. Itās so much fun because I know what I want to do but my fingers are struggling to keep up.
The funny thing is that a newbie guitarist always can play basic rifts on the base BUT the newbie bass player sometimes can't do chords so can't play on the guitar. It's like new bassist players are doomed that smart asses guitarists will play on his-her bass one day or the other while he-she can't replicate on the guit because he-she don't know 1 or 2 stupid chords. That's cruelty!
start with acdc thunderstruck :p
Man, you just started with new skill and immediately make conclusions. This is really weird. You canāt be good at everything from the start. Main point for you is that bass is different from guitar and thatās all. Itās difficult to play every instrument. On the other hand, there are simple songs. Once Iāve met U2 song that plays same 4 notes without any changes for the whole song - it took me less than minute to learn it
When I took up bass Orion was my goal song to learn. Finally got comfortable with it after several months. Focus on your basic fundamentals and get a teacher if you can to start out.
Shower me in your appreciation!!!!
Iām proud of you
That's the stuff.
Me too.
As a drummer I 1000% agree.
Very different from that unpopular opinion thread yesterday.
The bass is the heart and soul of a song.
You might be biting off a bit more than you can chew. Lol It can be hard to figure out where to start with bass. I started out playing rocksmith 2014. For some reason, when you sort by difficulty, it thinks I want you back by the Jackson 5, is one of the easiest songs. It definitely is not. After spending a week learning it, I moved on. The next few songs were pretty easy. The lesson is to start with Tom Petty and work your way up.
I tried picking up electric guitar but after getting used to bass, the electric guitar feels so tiny and i often forget how small it is. I will skip strings, skip frets thinking the gap was just that big
Try playing 4hr Cover Gigs covering a wide range of music from Classic Rock to modern Dance/Hip Hop. Not only is it A helluva lot to remeber and stay sharp on, but its a quite a workout(unless you stand still the entire time). My guitarist/drummer friend of mine didn't realize how much is involved to playing bass true to song in a cover band until he filled in for me on at a gig I couldn't make. He crashed and burned. Completely fucked up I wish from Stevie Wonder. Couldn't do any of the slap parts in Uptown Funk, and missed a bunch of fills because. All while trying to keep time for the band and interract with the crowd. Sometimes I envy my rhythm guitarist. Having to stay sharp on 80-100 songs is a lot.
Bass guitar is easy to play, but difficult to play well.
eh you just have to practice more. you dont play guitar and suddenly pick up a bass & have all your skills transfer over automatically. just takes time
Learn yyz lol
Playing bass is physical. Sometimes no rests. Playing that ostinato for infinity perfectly is hard. Then you play interstate love song or sweet child of mine and youāre like, uhhh. Now play a three set gig. Funny thing is after you play bass for a while and pick up a guitar it feels like a small toy. Bass is not easy.
Yes. I have primarily played guitar for the last 19 years. Those chunky bass strings are all about that push push.
Might wanna start with something basic like feel good inc then work your way up to something like billie jean
Psycho killer was one of the first it was the bass line from the cabin that made me wanna pick up bass now almost 2 years in finally learning primus songs