Advice for older learner

L

Larringo

May 1, 2024
7
5
31
#1
Hi,

I am 67 years old. I have played rhythm guitar for about 50 years as a hobby at home. I play "by ear" - I do not read music. I have a smattering of music theory. I would like to be able to play simple bass guitar in the keys of G and C so I can put some bass lines down on my loop pedal to fill out my sound. I have no desire to be a fully accomplished bassist but I would like to be able to be proficient in the above two keys. For example if I was to listen to a tune in the key of C I would like to be able to add a simple bassline. Given my age and (limited) objectives - can you please point me in the direction of how best to learn the instrument?
 
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#2
My most simple advice is to try to play a “baseline “ in your guitar using the lower note on each chord ( which usually, but not always , should correspond to the root note of the chord). Example:

- E on guitar - translate to bass you play the lowest string, open

- G on guitar - translate to bass , you play the lowest string on the third fret

- A on guitar - translate to bass , you play the second lowest string , open

Hopefully you get the idea. If you learned by ear , it should be very easy to hear the correct bass note.

I guess this is the only way I can explain it in a way that hopefully makes any sense.
 
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#4
Larringo said:
Hi,

I am 67 years old. I have played rhythm guitar for about 50 years as a hobby at home. I play "by ear" - I do not read music. I have a smattering of music theory. I would like to be able to play simple bass guitar in the keys of G and C so I can put some bass lines down on my loop pedal to fill out my sound. I have no desire to be a fully accomplished bassist but I would like to be able to be proficient in the above two keys. For example if I was to listen to a tune in the key of C I would like to be able to add a simple bassline. Given my age and (limited) objectives - can you please point me in the direction of how best to learn the instrument?
Click to expand...
Well you're in luck. Traditionally bass is a harmony instrument, so just follow the vocals and riff on the melody which you say you can do easily by ear.

Just keep in mind just about no bassist plays harmony anymore unless they incur the wrath of anyone for stepping outside root notes or just giving tonality to the drummer. People expect you to be a simultaneous subwoofer for the guitar and to give the aforementioned tonality to the drums. Some bands will even allow the bassist to play more interesting things, but then they will summarily bury you so far in the mix the only person you will be playing to is your own in-ear monitors.

In other words, the "right" way to play bass is terrifyingly limiting and historically wrong and unintended, but you have limited options to do things the actual right way with other people unless you have a time machine available to before jazz / rock music was invented.

bass is an instrument of total wasted potential, so just play how you want and hope that things will change for the better once the tyranny of the 20th century "culture" finally goes away.

Thank you for coming to my talk.
 
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#5
One thing I like to remind people of is that the only way to get good at doing a thing is to do the thing until you do it good. There’s just no other way. Do it, and keep on doing it. But, do it mindfully, of course, not mindlessly. Put your head in the music, get into the feeling of it, the groove. Be expressive, not just mechanical. Let your hands speak through your instrument.
 
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#6
Thank you to everyone for your replies. When I listen to music now, I find myself listening more and more to the bassist, I particularly like the "undercurrents" of rhythm that they weave into the mix embellishing and complimenting the main melody . Or how they create tension just before a chord change. I can play the root notes OK (as Elgrandluis describes) but it is knowing how to string together a more coherent interplay on a beat I find challenging.

Would you recommend that I take an on-line course and/ or private lessons with a local bassist? I know a grounding in music theory would help too - what's the best way to learn that?

There is a lot of music in the pubs locally where I live ( where it's possible to sit in and play along) my dream would be to be able to sit on with other musicians and jam along.

BTW. I own both a short scale and long scale amp and a small 40 watt Rumble Fender Amp.

Thank you


Larringo
 
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#7
@Larringo , you are a rythm guitarrist. You can use your strumming to understand the basic rhythms.

the best and easiest solution is to find a teacher that understands your needs. Make sure you like the teacher too ! You’ll get to where you wanna be in no time !
 
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#8
Larringo said:
Would you recommend that I take an on-line course and/ or private lessons with a local bassist?
Click to expand...
Both. Online can give you ideas to develop with, but a teacher in person is imperative for catching technique errors. Maybe if you can't find someone local, and a bassist is best, not a guitarist that 'knows how to play bass'. Then maybe find someone that can teach via Zoom or Skype and spend some $ on a decent camera, small mixer etc, none of which needs to be fancy or expensive.

Larringo said:
I know a grounding in music theory would help too - what's the best way to learn that?
Click to expand...
Youtube. There are a ton of great channels that cover music theory like Gracie Terzian - first OTTOMH rec, but I'll come up with others and more resources if you want.

Whomever you get as a teacher, make sure their theory grounding is solid too, and they can help with that and show examples, correct errors in understanding in the technique lessons too as they often overlap.
 
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#10
Larringo said:
Hi,

I am 67 years old. I have played rhythm guitar for about 50 years as a hobby at home. I play "by ear" - I do not read music. I have a smattering of music theory. I would like to be able to play simple bass guitar in the keys of G and C so I can put some bass lines down on my loop pedal to fill out my sound. I have no desire to be a fully accomplished bassist but I would like to be able to be proficient in the above two keys. For example if I was to listen to a tune in the key of C I would like to be able to add a simple bassline. Given my age and (limited) objectives - can you please point me in the direction of how best to learn the instrument?
Click to expand...
Personally I'd try to find an instructor who's comfortable working with adults and can get on board with your objectives. That said you really need to keep your mind open to starting at the beginning and learning the fundamentals, which will alliw you to expand more easily than if you just try to learn only a narrow range of things.
 
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#11
You can do a lot with simple triads. The only difference between a major and minor triad is the 3rd. A major triad has the root, the major 3rd and the 5th scale degree. For example, C Major = C (root), E (major 3rd) and G (perfect 5th) and G Major = G (root), B (major 3rd) and D (Perfect 5th). C minor = C (root), Eb (minor 3rd) and G (Perfect 5th) and G minor = G (root), Bb (minor 3rd) and D (Perfect 5th). These are your chord tones and should play well with the appropriate chords. You can also add the octave of the root over any of these to give you an additional chord tone. Root, five and octave is quite common in a lot of music. Go a little deeper and add a b7 to the R, 5 octave and you can do quite a bit more. Once you get these notes under your fingers play around a lot with rhythm and articulations. Don't shy away from playing repeated notes and you don't have to play all of the notes of the chord tones over a chord. There are many basslines consisting of just the root and 5. Hope this helps and good luck . . .
 
#12
Larringo said:
I can play the root notes OK (as Elgrandluis describes) but it is knowing how to string together a more coherent interplay on a beat I find challenging.
Would you recommend that I take an on-line course and/ or private lessons with a local bassist?
Click to expand...

Larringo said:
I know a grounding in music theory would help too - what's the best way to learn that?
my dream would be to be able to sit on with other musicians and jam along.
Click to expand...

Your second post seems contradictory to your first in terms of goals, changing my answer

My first post answer , for constructing a useable bass line with minimal learnin' time:

play the root note of the chord of the moment
Use the rhythm you would strum as rhythm guitarist
The truth is Roots and rhythm is 75% of it
precisely what rhythm is a matter of stylistic knowledge
If you crave more notes start with 5ths and octaves
But also just choose in between notes using your ear
when you make a noise you like, remember it
ears are great for finding good choices without cracking open a book.


My second post answer: Best way to learn "coherent interplay on a beat" and theory (NOT 'minimal learning') :

Rhythm
You need to develop a solid understanding of the subdivisions of the beat down to the 16th note level
there is no superior way to learn rhythm than learning to read rhythm notation
Luckily you can practice just rhythm I use this PDF of exercises
Anthony Wellington has a nice video about learning 16th notes


Theory:
Learn enough theory to navigate a chord chart /build a walking bass line
The PDF in my signature contains exactly the theory needed.
 
#13
FatStringer52 said:
You can do a lot with simple triads. The only difference between a major and minor triad is the 3rd. A major triad has the root, the major 3rd and the 5th scale degree. For example, C Major = C (root), E (major 3rd) and G (perfect 5th) and G Major = G (root), B (major 3rd) and D (Perfect 5th). C minor = C (root), Eb (minor 3rd) and G (Perfect 5th) and G minor = G (root), Bb (minor 3rd) and D (Perfect 5th). These are your chord tones and should play well with the appropriate chords. You can also add the octave of the root over any of these to give you an additional chord tone. Root, five and octave is quite common in a lot of music. Go a little deeper and add a b7 to the R, 5 octave and you can do quite a bit more. Once you get these notes under your fingers play around a lot with rhythm and articulations. Don't shy away from playing repeated notes and you don't have to play all of the notes of the chord tones over a chord. There are many basslines consisting of just the root and 5. Hope this helps and good luck . . .
Click to expand...
That's great advice. Thank you.
 
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#14
mambo4 said:
Your second post seems contradictory to your first in terms of goals, changing my answer

My first post answer , for constructing a useable bass line with minimal learnin' time:

play the root note of the chord of the moment
Use the rhythm you would strum as rhythm guitarist
The truth is Roots and rhythm is 75% of it
precisely what rhythm is a matter of stylistic knowledge
If you crave more notes start with 5ths and octaves
But also just choose in between notes using your ear
when you make a noise you like, remember it
ears are great for finding good choices without cracking open a book.


My second post answer: Best way to learn "coherent interplay on a beat" and theory (NOT 'minimal learning') :

Rhythm
You need to develop a solid understanding of the subdivisions of the beat down to the 16th note level
there is no superior way to learn rhythm than learning to read rhythm notation
Luckily you can practice just rhythm I use this PDF of exercises
Anthony Wellington has a nice video about learning 16th notes


Theory:
Learn enough theory to navigate a chord chart /build a walking bass line
The PDF in my signature contains exactly the theory needed.
Click to expand...

Thank you the detailed information re rhythm notation. Also, I just finished watching the video you attached from Anthony Wellington and it's great stuff too. Thanks for taking the time to put this reply together. Much appreciated. I'm finding playing the bass great fun and a fantastic way to relate music theory to practice.
 
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#19
You’re a guitar player? You know where the roots are. Picture your bar chords and use those notes to flesh out what you want to hear. Throw in some chromatic notes leading back to the next root and you’re on you way.

But then yes, take lessons or an online course. Welcome to the addiction.
 
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