Comments on: How to Get Started Playing Bass

on 8/8/2006 Put your right hand middle finger tip to the underside of a suitable pick-up, then use your right hand thumb to pluck the 4 strings. This is my alternative to using what I call the double barrel technique (the right-hand index and middle finger). This is an alternative technique.

on 6/30/2006 Try playing by plucking the string as hard as possible while still keeping your thumb anchored, then silencing immediately. This will supply punch that will give bass more voice.

on 1/19/2006 Dee Dee Ramone (of The Ramones) is an excellent bass player to listen to, try to play along with him, the Ramones music was made of only 3 or 4 chords.

on 1/2/2006 My favorite bassist is from a Japanese Rock band called "Dir en Grey". Most of their music is pretty heavy and hard, but the bass line is what stands out the most for me.
Toshiya was the final addition to Dir en Grey and he really makes the sound. The bassline is very noticeable, especially his killer solo in "CAGE". If you don't mind listening to Kyo scream his lungs out at you, definitely look up some of their music.

on 11/22/2005 Listening to a lot of really good bass players will help. Here are a few to choose from:
Ryan Martinie (Mudvayne)
Victor Wooten
Marcus Miller
John "Norwood" Fisher (Fishbone)
Bootsy Collins
Les Claypool (Primus)
Jack Bruce (Cream)
Jah Wobble (Public Image Ltd)
Tony Levin (King Crimson)
Melvin Gibbs (Rollins Band, Arto Lindsay)
Michael "Flea" Balzary (Red Hot Chili Peppers)
Tony Maimone (Pere Ubu)
Bill Laswell
Fred Chalenor (Caveman Shoestore, Tone Dogs)
Larry Graham
Bernard Edwards (Chic)
Mark Sandman (Morphine)
Billy Sheehan (Mr Big)
Chris Hillman (Byrds)
Dave Pajo (Slint, For Carnation, Tortoise, Aerial M)
Andrew Weiss (Gone)
Juliana Hatfield (Blake Babies)
Ethan Buckler (Slint)
Johnny Temple (Girls Against Boys)
Fred Erskine (June Of 44)
Doug McCombs (Eleventh Dream Day, Tortoise)
Mike Watt (Minutemen)
Doug Wimbish (Tackhead)
David Sims (Scratch Acid, Rapeman, Jesus Lizard)
Gabriel Katz (Blind Idiot God)
Tina Weymouth (Talking Heads)
Stephen Immerwahr (Codeine)
John Curley (Afghan Whigs)
Kim Gordon (Sonic Youth)
Jeff Ament (Pearl Jam)
Sasha Frere-Jones (Ui)
Vern Rumsey (Unwound)
Phil Lesh (Grateful Dead)
Geddy Lee (Rush)
Brian Richie (Violent Femmes)
Ron Sakowski (Necros, Laughing Hyenas)
Marc Sloan (Ritual Tension)
Peter Conway (Rifle Sport)
Cliff Burton (Metallica)
Sting (Police)
Chris Novoselic (Nirvana)
Dave Allen (Gang Of Four)
Kim Deal (Pixies)
Roger Waters (Pink Floyd)
Pat Morris (Don Caballero)
Bridget Cross (Unrest)
Brian Wilson (Beach Boys)
Joyce Raskin (Scarce)
John Entwistle (Who)
Stuart Hamm
Kendra Smith (Dream Syndicate)
Steve Harris (Iron Maiden)
Simon Raymonde (Cocteau Twins)
Reggie "Fieldy" Arvizu (Korn)
Larry Boothroyd (Hellworms)
Chris Squire (Yes)
Mick Karn (Japan)
Matt Freeman (Rancid)
Jennifer Finch (L7)
Lemmy (Motorhead)
Tara Jean O'Neil (Rodan)
Mike Mills (REM)
Kev Hopper (Stump)
John Paul Jones (Led Zeppelin)
Paul McCartney (Beatles)
Steven Severin (Siouxsee)
Tim C. (Rage Against The Machine)
Billy (Neil Young)

on 11/22/2005 Always keep yourself constantly changing notes, because if you don't, your arm will start to get sore when you try to do so, and you won't be very good.

on 11/22/2005 I recently switched from guitar to bass. We needed a bass player and being a good team player, I took it up. I am a decent guitarist, and we now are missing a rhythm guitar, but I've been able to fill the bass void and compensate for the lack of a rhythm player - our lead player is great but can't seem to slow down for rhythm work. I was apprehensive at first. I have no idea how to play bass and what a bass player is supposed to do. I only ever played bass live with the band plugged in. I've been playing like this for 3 months or so and everybody who hears us says I am some sort of great bass player, even though I have no idea what I am doing - I just do what I like to hear. By playing what I want to play and not trying to be like someone else, I have created a very unique sound for our band and it really rocks! Don't be afraid to play your own personal style!

P.S. - When I started, live, never playing bass before, I had a bass with broken strings and nasty fret buzz on the first 4 frets, so I had to play backwards, down from "E", without the first 4 frets. This limitation really helped me to learn to get the most out of it. I recommend you break all strings except one (it doesn't matter which one) and learn to play with just that 1 string. If you can work through it, you'll pick up some mad skills!

on 11/22/2005 When you first start playing, really concentrate on alternating between index and middle fingers on your plucking hand. This will help you avoid bad habits in the future that will be hard to unlearn.

on 11/22/2005 1. Try putting your fingers together and sliding them through the string and pull.
2. Hold it normally, and push down on the string - the string should hit the fret.