The Hal Leonard Bass Method thread

[SteveCS]

It’s pretty amazing how much those letters above the staff can screw with you, even just out of your peripheral vision, I really have to work to ignore them!!

 

[ShawnG]

Interesting your comment about the chord callouts above the staff. As a 40 year big band player, that is completely normal for me to see and deal with, but I can understand that it can be a distraction. I would love to be able to be a serviceable sit in for a jazz combo or ensemble, and want to learn how to translate those chords into useful bass lines for that.

Thx for your note, I’m glad if my ramblings are helpful to someone other than myself.

Re: the quote above, having just one chord note above the staff per measure (ie. “this” measure is in E flat”) doesn’t throw me at all, but putting a chord notation above each note is much more detrimental to me, go figure!
I understand what Ed is trying to teach here, that the note being played is only a part of the chord, and may not be the root of that chord, but for whatever reason, it sure makes me want to reach for that note vs. the one on the staff, even if I’m not really looking at it, but just seeing it through my peripheral vision.
Not a big deal, just something I need to work on as part of it sight-reading practice, to really focus on the note on the staff.

 

[KindofBlues71]

Time for the weekly update:

I’m glad to see that most/all of the of the responders to the thread this week feel like they’ve been making progress! Way to go HLBMers! Unfortunately for me, not much progress on my part this week, but no back-tracking either, so I guess that’s a positive.

I am quoting you @EddiePlaysBass , as lack of regular practice was my downfall this week. I may have got in one 30 minute session this past week, and a few 10-15 minute ones, but not enough, regular, practice to do much more than tread water. I did get through Ex 41 “Minor League” without much trouble this week, but didn’t put in much/any work on the combined E, A, & D string pitch-reading exercises. Just didn’t have it in me this week. That and 3 days away from home and a lazy Saturday and Sunday pretty much did me in.

I am trying to give myself some grace, though. Last time I was trying to learn bass, part of what made me stop was the feeling of guilt I felt for not being able to stick with a more disciplined practice schedule. It got so that I would look at my bass on the stand, not feel like picking it up and then feel bad about myself for not doing so. There got to be a negative connotation to looking at my bass, to the point that I just quit looking at it. I vowed this time to let it come to me, to pick up the bass when I feel like it, not because I feel like I have to to stick to some schedule I set for myself, and it’s been working. I DO pick up the bass more often when I’m walking by it and usually will work on an exercise or two for 5-10 mins before heading off to do something else. 5-10 mins, twice or three times a day is way more than zero, and if I do it semi-regularly can add up to some real time by the end of the week, especially if combined with a 30 minute session here and there. I’m supposed to be doing this for fun, so let’s keep it fun!!

I should be home for the first four days of the week before heading on the road for another 3-day trip, so will try to work my way onto the G-string this week (or at least get through all of the exercises for the D-string).

Oh…and I now get what all the complaining has been about in this thread re: the chord annotations above each note on Ex 42, “D-Lite!” Yeah that takes some actual work to ignore and definitely can affect what note I try to reach for!! It’s pretty amazing how much those letters above the staff can screw with you, even just out of your peripheral vision, I really have to work to ignore them!!

Have a good week, everyone!

Have you thought about getting a bass ukelele to bring with you? While not exactly the same as having a short/long scale bass, you will at least be able to practice while you're away from your bass.

 

[ShawnG]

Have you thought about getting a bass ukelele to bring with you? While not exactly the same as having a short/long scale bass, you will at least be able to practice while you're away from your bass.

I have a Traveler TB-4P (pic below, w/ another showing size compared to a standard 34” bass, just in case anyone is interested) that I LOVE as a travel bass. It’s 32” scale (I wish all basses were 32” scale!), but uses regular long-scale strings, has a built in headphone amp and aux in so you can play along to music. Only 6 lbs., the best $350 I’ve spent on my bass journey. I highly recommend it for someone looking for a practice bass. I love the headless design as it eliminates something to bang into stuff with, which is important in my smallish practice space.
I carried it with me everywhere when I was traveling during Covid and stuck in hotel rooms. I may start taking it again on longer trips when I have significant downtime, but usually by the time I get to the hotel and find something to eat, I’m just looking for some quiet time with a book before bed.

 

[HoHumbucker]

Have you thought about getting a bass ukelele to bring with you? While not exactly the same as having a short/long scale bass, you will at least be able to practice while you're away from your bass.

I do have a Kala U-bass that I have taken for a few extended absences. I say it does help even though the scales are well off. It feels a bit fragile to me to be banging around too much so I get nervous taking it with me too often
I have been considering one of the new Klos carbon fiber bass Ukes though. Much higher price tag, and metal strings instead of the tubby rubber U-bass strings. Curious about the Klos sound--more tubby upright sound? or more metal guitar sound.

 

[EddiePlaysBass]

Time for the weekly update:

//Snip//

I am trying to give myself some grace, though. Last time I was trying to learn bass, part of what made me stop was the feeling of guilt I felt for not being able to stick with a more disciplined practice schedule. It got so that I would look at my bass on the stand, not feel like picking it up and then feel bad about myself for not doing so. There got to be a negative connotation to looking at my bass, to the point that I just quit looking at it. I vowed this time to let it come to me, to pick up the bass when I feel like it, not because I feel like I have to to stick to some schedule I set for myself, and it’s been working.

//Snip//

I cut out a good portion, because this hit home very hard. A big part of my lack of progress over the years was because I was being too serious about "studying" bass. Which cramped me and hindered my growth.

I have come to look at it as play time, not practice time. Sure, I will practice my instrument but my main focus is on PLAYING it. Like a child plays with its blocks: cos it wants to have fun. The goal is not to "get better at building castles"...

View attachment 7036837

I applied this to my Lost Art Of Country bass book, but then for the tabs. Somehow I think it explains why I am picking up sight-reading relatively quickly: I finished that entire book without tabs. And without knowing how to read music

 

[KindofBlues71]

@ShawnG - Wow, that Traveler bass is pretty sweet! I'd definitely take that over a uke bass any day.

@HoHumbucker - The Ubass doesn't feel fragile to me, but it does take some getting used to. I have to fret slightly before the actual fret or I get a buzz. The rubber strings take some getting used to but I kinda like them. I'm not familiar with the Klos but you might want to check out the Traveler @ShawnG posted above.

 

[KindofBlues71]

I guess I should post my progress so far... Not much :/! We had some family stuff happen since I started on Book 1, so last week I went back to exercise 1 and got to exercise 25. I definitely need to work on my fretting and glancing at my left hand more because I can get pretty sloppy and buzzy with my fretwork. Besides Book 1 I've been using the 'Bass Clef Notes' tool on StudyBass.com to learn to quickly identify the notes, and 'Complete Rhythm Trainer' Android app to get better at rhythms. I'm also learning songs using tab (for now). I plan on reviewing exercises 40-45 this week before moving on to 46+ this week. Keep up the great work everybody!

 

[EddiePlaysBass]

Yesterday I started my practice session with good intent, and quit about 11 minutes later. I had arrived at Shift-Crazy Blues (which means I am almost caught up and ready to move forward) but it was clear that I was struggling - it just was not working out. So I gave up Better luck tomorrow - i am not home tonight so no practice

 

[ShawnG]

Yesterday I started my practice session with good intent, and quit about 11 minutes later. I had arrived at Shift-Crazy Blues (which means I am almost caught up and ready to move forward) but it was clear that I was struggling - it just was not working out. So I gave up Better luck tomorrow - i am not home tonight so no practice

I think it is better to realize that it isn’t working out, for whatever reason, and just step away for a bit, than to try to practice when it obviously won’t be productive. Don’t sweat it, next time it will go better!!

 

[SteveCS]

I applied this to my Lost Art Of Country bass book, but then for the tabs.

In all seriousness you could annotate like this, which is what you might see in a real-life situation:

 

[EddiePlaysBass]

In all seriousness you could annotate like this, which is what you might see in a real-life situation:
View attachment 7038237

That makes all kinds of sense, and I did not consider it prior. Thanks!

 

[ShawnG]

Yesterday I started my practice session with good intent, and quit about 11 minutes later. I had arrived at Shift-Crazy Blues (which means I am almost caught up and ready to move forward) but it was clear that I was struggling - it just was not working out. So I gave up Better luck tomorrow - i am not home tonight so no practice

My turn today. Got everything setup for a serious practice session before moving on to the next step. ‘Okay, let’s play these last three exercises (it’s been a couple of days since I’ve played a couple of them) to confirm you’ve got them down.” Flub on Ex 1, start over, flub again, swear word. Try Ex 2, immediate flub, swear word, try again, flub during the repeat, several swear words…. Turn off the amp, bass back into stand, will try again later when brain is ready to engage!

 

[NotAGardener]

My turn today. Got everything setup for a serious practice session before moving on to the next step. ‘Okay, let’s play these last three exercises (it’s been a couple of days since I’ve played a couple of them) to confirm you’ve got them down.” Flub on Ex 1, start over, flub again, swear word. Try Ex 2, immediate flub, swear word, try again, flub during the repeat, several swear words…. Turn off the amp, bass back into stand, will try again later when brain is ready to engage!

There are certainly times when I'm better off putting the bass (or sticks) down but when I'm performing poorly I first reduce tempo as much as necessary to at least play the notes, and not necessarily (usually not) at their time value. If nothing else that works on the fretting and plucking "wiring" and turns what otherwise would be a lost opportunity into something beneficial. Often as not I end up, a bit later, being able to perform the exercise MOL as intended.

As in figuring out difficult drumming patterns one limb at a time starting at glacial speed, I find benefit for the analog with bass; might just pluck, might just work a measure or two at a time....I'll isolate and work any element associated with learning to play.

I flub all the time!

 

[ShawnG]

Weekly update, a day late due to travel over the weekend.

Almost no progress last week due to various reasons, some good, some bad, then travel Friday - Sunday.

Back on the horse tonight and working on Ex 46, “Crossing Three” this evening. Moving along, slow, but moving along. Should have more time to practice this week and I’m motivated to get on to the G string and through Ex 58 by the end of the weekend. If I can get there, I’ll pull out the songbook and work on “A Whiter Shade of Pale” and “Wonderful Tonight”. I’ll be very pleased with myself if I can get all 4 strings under my fingers this week and start feeling like a real bassist playing exercises and a song or two using all the strings.

Have a good week, everyone!

 

[EddiePlaysBass]

For some reason, Etude Brute never made it to my Tascam. I am still struggling a bit with Stones-y and the one before that, but I am so close to finishing book one ... so this hurts

Going back through the book to focus on rhythm notation was definitely the best move for me. I noticed it last night when playing ukulele: I cannot read the treble clef but i was wondering about a specific exercise in the Uke Aerobics book, and correctly deduced the rhythm from the notes above the tab.

Thinking ahead to book two, does anyone happen to have aligned the songs from the More Easy Pop Bass Lines with the exercises from book two?

 

[NotAGardener]

Hurricane Helene interrupted my bass practice for about a week but I picked it up this morning. I'd been dreading the practice restart as I thought I might have regressed, but the forced break was beneficial; I had been practice-fatigued but now am feeling mentally and physically refreshed. Based on this morning’s short practice my playing is better, smoother and more accurate than a week ago; it’s better in every way! I returned to ex 56 & 57 at a slow tempo as I find those very useful exercises. Being unconcerned with speed of progress on this second pass through MB1 is liberating and fruitful!

 

[Bass]

...Thinking ahead to book two, does anyone happen to have aligned the songs from the More Easy Pop Bass Lines with the exercises from book two?

I feel like More Easy Pop Lines doesn't align quite as well as the first book. Just go through the books in the order the exercises and songs are presented.

Song Book 2 demonstrates all kinds of principles introduced in the method book. For example, shifting on open strings, triplets, and shuffle feel off the top of my head.

For me, I found Song Book 2 pretty tough. And worthwhile.

 

[Brian Patterson]

I'm am truly inpsired to hear that all the commenters are progressing at a snail's pace with no real sense of accomplishment! I've almost reached that point - with everyone clearly ahead of me! LOL

I do enjoy trying to follow recorded music tho. May not be the ideal learning method but it keeps my interest up!

 

[EddiePlaysBass]

I'm am truly inpsired to hear that all the commenters are progressing at a snail's pace with no real sense of accomplishment! I've almost reached that point - with everyone clearly ahead of me! LOL

I do enjoy trying to follow recorded music tho. May not be the ideal learning method but it keeps my interest up!

I think we're all playing a long game here. And at some point we'll look back and realize how far we've actually come.

That's what I hope, anyway