I just got my bass back from a friends basement. I feel horrible. I never got a chance to bring it back home until I got my license. I haven't played bass for a few months, and I've only had a bass for a bit less than a year. So, I started messing around, and I came up with a few bass lines. Some of them are kind of Blues/Funk sounding, others just plain suck. One of them I made up a long time ago and posted, but I've added on to it.

I recorded these with my mic so excuse the quality. Also, I find it easier to play with a pick, but not only that, I was playing with my fingers, and I guess after not playing for so long my fingers aren't as rough as they used to be, and I broke a blister on my finger and it really hurts to play.

(I know I need a metronome. I couldn't keep a beat to save my life)

[mp3]http://www.iftguild.com/bassjam.mp3[/mp3]

[mp3]http://www.iftguild.com/bassjam1.mp3[/mp3]

(I'm listening to these clips and then some clips that I recorded proper with a bass amp and all, and wow. Bass sounds like garbage acoustic when you compare the two.)

Bump because I want you all to tell me how much I suck or something.

You suck or something.

You wanted to know how much you suck, so I'll have to consult the Paris Hilton scale..

I play no instrument, so I can't actually put you on the Paris Hilton scale. Sorry.

not bad. you keep speeding up. careful with the buzzes. don't attack too much with the pick so it won't sound like a garbage acoustic.

the actual lines sound boring though. sorry. playing's not bad but come up with better notes.

Thanks. I need to start playing more with my fingers, I seem to make the bass buzz more when I pick. I'll try and work on what you said and re-record those things.

most of the buzzes are caused by too much attack and sloppy fretting. fret as close to the fret as you can, but not -right- on the fret. just on the verge of it.

Technique, technique, technique. Pretty much an echo of what Seb has already said. Those lines would sound infinitely better if you could play them well. Sitting there making up lines won't get you better. Go buy a book, learn some scales, workouts, and whatever you can, and work with them. Always work on accuracy, everytime you fret that note is has to be spot on. Believe me, sitting in your room with a metronome(even just tapping your foot to keep time will help you SO much), and playing the same 5 or 6 notes over and over again will be boring, but you will get better.

The people who listen or watch you play will see your flaws; how sloppy you are, how off time is sounds, or how it's just unpleasant to the ear, musician or not. They won't really see if its a cool bassline or not, they'll notice the flaws and even if it's good it can seem mediocre to them.

Many people have some sort of idea that they can go without really learning the "proper way" of doing things, IE theory, scales, regular workouts (i'm not saying you, this is just general). That because this guy plays sloppy or is unconventional but it still sounds good, that it's ok to be that way and not learn the "proper way". Those people are playing sloppy or unconventionally probobly learned the "proper way" first, and took it from there. I mean, look at John Frusciante, he's notorious for his sloppy style and almost minimalist work until recently.When he was young, he was a HUGE technical nut, wanted to be steve vai, and spent 15 hours practicing EVERY day. Listen to his old work, and old chili peppers, it's all very technical, huge, and layered. Or Johnny Greenwood from Radiohead, he's very educated in theory and can play and compose for many instruments. Yet he's able to create some of the most unconventional I've heard, same goes for Frank Zappa and the musicians for Captain Beefheart.

I guess what I'm saying is that as a young player who's still only so far in knowing the instrument, learn learn learn learn learn. Learn HOW to play, not WHAT to play. Constantly work on technique, constantly be learning new material while PERFECTING old material, and you will get exponentially better in a short amount of time.

Yeah. what matrix said.

I know my techniques, i know how to play a certain note to give it the color i want (in terms of guitar mostly, but the concept still applies) like if i want a low note to have a subtle high harmonic overtone i kinda mute it with my picking thumb, and so on. I'm not struggling about placing my hands at the right places on the frets or picking the wrong string or picking it too hard. all of this is out of the way now and i tell you it's much easier to compose and write licks and lines when you're not worried about technique. and when you find a lick you struggle with, well, practice it until you understand it.

here's a trick. get some really hard to play basslines, practice them slow for a day, just one a day, until it at least sounds good and you're comfortable with the tempo, but not the song's actual tempo, just a slight speed increase that shows your comfort. then completely forget this line, and learn a new one. and so on. this is how i go. i'll come up with a lick one day, practice it until it feels right, then just throw away the sheet music i wrote. eventually the lick creeps up in my vocabulary but it doesn't feel robotic since i took time to understand the sound and atmosphere it creates.

things like this expand your improvisational vocabulary without forcing other player's style on you as much as completely copying the basslines/licks.

boy that was a rant!

Awesome. I appreciate that you guys put in the time to help me out here. I'll be looking into everything you guys said. I think after work I'll go to Borders and look up a book to help me out. Also, the tapping to keep a beat sounds like a good idea. I don't mind practicing the same thing over and over, so I'll work more on simple things before I get over my head. Thanks again.

Do make sure to use a metronome when practicing. And start slow, making sure everything is accurate, then build towards your goal tempo.

I like the second line a lot