Just found this forum.. I’m NOT a Bass Player, just a guy that plays bass. Maybe? On Friday afternoons, I put on my Ramones (1st album) record which is great because it’s “stereo” so on one channel it’s all guitar, drums and vocals, and on the other channel it’s all bass, drums and vocals.
So I turn the balance knob all the way to the channel that’s guitar only, and I play (as best I can, but with reasonable proficiency) the corresponding bass line. I do just OK, but I like it and it’s fun. After a long period of jamming to the Ramones, I’m starting to learn the Lillingtons- “Brain Damage” is a great track by the way- three notes mostly, or at least I pulled that off... I also learned Bauhaus’ "Bella Lugosi’s dead,” which is a nice slow burn and only a few notes.
So kind of new to this and really don’t want to be judged, and I’m wondering if I should even bother to keep up with it.
I have no musical inclination, zero. But I like music a lot and thought it might be worthwhile to try something out- I’ll preface this by saying I’m over forty and I’ve never played so much as a recorder in school, nothing. I can barely clap my hands in time... Somehow, bass just seemed the most accessible, four strings and all… I know there are some masters out there that are able to make four strings sound like an orchestra, but that’s NOT me. I like punk rock, so I figured if I could strum along with three notes, and keep my fingers between the first and ninth fret- and on the “top two” strings (I know every good boy deserves fudge, but I ‘m counting) I might just be able to have some fun.
So I went to the pawn shop, since I was 100% sure I’d abandon ship after a few days and didn’t really want to invest a lot- And picked out a thrashed Squire P Bass clone that looked like it’d been run over and puked upon but had really clean pickups and a straight neck, and the obligatory “Rumble” practice amp that went with it. I bought new Ernie Ball ‘regular slinky” strings on amazon right off the bat based on customer reviews since I didn’t think much of the strings that were on the model, but it’s a stock, cheap bass, and a stock, cheap practice amp. I have no idea on the EB strings, but they got good reviews, and actually sound pretty good.. This is where I’m coming from and how little I know.
There was also a pedal on sale for like nineteen bucks- “Zoom” B1 I think but it’s spelled funny- It takes batteries and turns on when it’s plugged in... I also bought a jar of picks, a cable, so total maybe a hundred bucks total invested at this point. This was like six months ago. I hooked everything up and changed the strings on the instrument, downloaded the Zoom pedal manual (There’s a setting on there- ‘b1’ or ‘b2’ I think, that’s so distorted it absolutely camouflages every mistake, so I’m glad I picked it up) and put on a song.. Now I’m really enjoying playing some songs.
I think this is what I’m going to do- Never play in public, never write a song, never sit in on a jam session, be in a band or whatever… I’m just going to enjoy my Friday evenings playing Ramones songs and having a cocktail or two.
I have a few aspirations.. My favorite bass players are Joe Lally, Jason Black, Eric Avery, and Darryl Jenifer, but I can never play as fast or accurately as those guys. They just seem to really be able to tie a song together.
I might be able to get Fugazi’s “Last Chance for a Slow Dance” down since it’s slow, and I really love the sound of Hot Water Music’s “Drag My Body” but that would mean doing away with a pick and trying to figure out playing with fingers- I think… That song sounds impossible, but I love it.
I also love Nashville Pussy, and it “sounds” like I can play some of their songs with just a pick, but those guys play fast as hell, so I don’t know if I can keep up. I think my first try here will be “Say Something Nasty.”
Thanks to the owners/mods for hosting this forum. Glad to make a first post here, and if you have any advice or comments, I’m grateful. I love my poopy bass, the poopy amp and the poopy pedal I own.
Again, not a bass “player” but a hobbyist only. I’d just like to get good enough to play some of my favorite songs in the privacy of my own home and sound halfway decent.
Edit- Not sure which forum in which I should place this post, so mods please feel free to move. Thanks!
So I turn the balance knob all the way to the channel that’s guitar only, and I play (as best I can, but with reasonable proficiency) the corresponding bass line. I do just OK, but I like it and it’s fun. After a long period of jamming to the Ramones, I’m starting to learn the Lillingtons- “Brain Damage” is a great track by the way- three notes mostly, or at least I pulled that off... I also learned Bauhaus’ "Bella Lugosi’s dead,” which is a nice slow burn and only a few notes.
So kind of new to this and really don’t want to be judged, and I’m wondering if I should even bother to keep up with it.
I have no musical inclination, zero. But I like music a lot and thought it might be worthwhile to try something out- I’ll preface this by saying I’m over forty and I’ve never played so much as a recorder in school, nothing. I can barely clap my hands in time... Somehow, bass just seemed the most accessible, four strings and all… I know there are some masters out there that are able to make four strings sound like an orchestra, but that’s NOT me. I like punk rock, so I figured if I could strum along with three notes, and keep my fingers between the first and ninth fret- and on the “top two” strings (I know every good boy deserves fudge, but I ‘m counting) I might just be able to have some fun.
So I went to the pawn shop, since I was 100% sure I’d abandon ship after a few days and didn’t really want to invest a lot- And picked out a thrashed Squire P Bass clone that looked like it’d been run over and puked upon but had really clean pickups and a straight neck, and the obligatory “Rumble” practice amp that went with it. I bought new Ernie Ball ‘regular slinky” strings on amazon right off the bat based on customer reviews since I didn’t think much of the strings that were on the model, but it’s a stock, cheap bass, and a stock, cheap practice amp. I have no idea on the EB strings, but they got good reviews, and actually sound pretty good.. This is where I’m coming from and how little I know.
There was also a pedal on sale for like nineteen bucks- “Zoom” B1 I think but it’s spelled funny- It takes batteries and turns on when it’s plugged in... I also bought a jar of picks, a cable, so total maybe a hundred bucks total invested at this point. This was like six months ago. I hooked everything up and changed the strings on the instrument, downloaded the Zoom pedal manual (There’s a setting on there- ‘b1’ or ‘b2’ I think, that’s so distorted it absolutely camouflages every mistake, so I’m glad I picked it up) and put on a song.. Now I’m really enjoying playing some songs.
I think this is what I’m going to do- Never play in public, never write a song, never sit in on a jam session, be in a band or whatever… I’m just going to enjoy my Friday evenings playing Ramones songs and having a cocktail or two.
I have a few aspirations.. My favorite bass players are Joe Lally, Jason Black, Eric Avery, and Darryl Jenifer, but I can never play as fast or accurately as those guys. They just seem to really be able to tie a song together.
I might be able to get Fugazi’s “Last Chance for a Slow Dance” down since it’s slow, and I really love the sound of Hot Water Music’s “Drag My Body” but that would mean doing away with a pick and trying to figure out playing with fingers- I think… That song sounds impossible, but I love it.
I also love Nashville Pussy, and it “sounds” like I can play some of their songs with just a pick, but those guys play fast as hell, so I don’t know if I can keep up. I think my first try here will be “Say Something Nasty.”
Thanks to the owners/mods for hosting this forum. Glad to make a first post here, and if you have any advice or comments, I’m grateful. I love my poopy bass, the poopy amp and the poopy pedal I own.
Again, not a bass “player” but a hobbyist only. I’d just like to get good enough to play some of my favorite songs in the privacy of my own home and sound halfway decent.
Edit- Not sure which forum in which I should place this post, so mods please feel free to move. Thanks!
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