Thread: Going to start playing Bass guitar...

I need to know which is a good one to start on. I can rent one, if it is too expensive. I am going to start some lessons for it. I figured, I've been playing bass clef instruments for over 5 years, why not learn one more? I can already read the music, I just need to know where the notes are on the guitar, and I will have to work out some technique. Any advice you guys and gals can give me is appreciated. Thanks!

- Jared

learn to read tabs, and buy a seccond hand one from a pawn shop, thats what i would do, (what is your total ammount of money you can spend?)

Get a P-Bass. They come in at around 180-ish, I had one, my friends got one. Its the Lyn Fury of basses. The official name is Squier by Fender Affinity Series P Bass. Go to an online store and browse basses from low to high price. Learn the solo in My Generation, it will make you happy!

Squier... eww. Not my cup of tea, thanks.
Cheap Ibanez and Yamaha models get my vote. ESP have some good cheap ones too, but I haven't played many of them.

Get a good strap, set it to a certain length (same height as if you were sitting down playing with the bass tucked right in by your hip) and keep it there.
Keep your fingers mostly upright, parallel to the frets. With fingerstyle play it helps to anchor your thumb on the top of a pickup.

It's all about articulation and dynamics.

Have fun!

talk to zach he knows all about that stuffies

Word... I do know my stuff on the bass

As far as basses go, I'd recommend Schecter's. But then again it's really all about personal preference and how it feels to you. I'd suggest you go to a bunch of different music stores and try out a bunch of basses till you find one you like. Then you can look online and see if you can find it cheaper if you so wish.

Oh, and Joebro speaks the truth. While it may seem like all the cool kids wear their basses down low, those who can actually play wear them up high.

Thanks guys! I guess I'm a little spastic, I went out about two hours after I made this thread and bought a bass and an amp! Haha!
I got a sweet gunmetal black Dean Evo, 4 string of course, and I got a Squier BP-15 amp.
I traded in an old trumpet I had, and got some store credit, so the price was a great deal for me. The total was about $210, and I got about $60 for the trumpet, so for a New bass, That I really like, and a decently sized bass amp, I spent about $150. :) (The total was actually $131 after the trade in, but I'm not sure where the math is there...)

I have tons of friends who play guitars and bass, so I can't wait to get going. I've already plucked out a few metallica and offspring riffs. Yay!

- Jared

A father gives his son a bass for his 14th birthday, along with 4 free lessons at the music store.
When the son comes home after the first lesson, the father asks how it went.
The son replies, "I learned the first five frets on the E string."
The next week he learns the first five frets on the A string.
The following week he comes home smelling of cheap beer.
"What happened at the lesson today?" the father asks with suspicion.
The son replies, "Sorry Dad, I couldn't go to the lesson, I had a gig."