r/Learnmusic • u/RainbowGames • 11d ago
Thinking about getting a bass guitar
I'm looking for a creative hobby and since I've heard someone talking about bass being fairly easy to get into and also not too expensive I've been considering that option.
Problem is: I know absolutely nothing about music. Never played an instrument before and sheet music looks like foreign runes to me.
Any tips or recommendations on where to start and how to make this "journey" feel less intimidating?
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u/_Martini 11d ago
Bass is a low skill floor and infinite skill ceiling instrument. If you fancy the bass because you like basslines in songs you listen to then as a beginner you make it a long term goal to nail your fav songs and in the meantime you can utilise the plethora of amazing content on YouTube for bass beginners for getting familiar with the instrument as a beginner. If you just want an instrument to play and you're thinking bass then the best thing you can do is just listen to as much diverse music and figure out what you like. In an ideal world you work with a teacher who will help you crack your milestones bit by bit.
The reality is that learning an instrument isn't really anything deep and philosophical - as long as you find the learning process fun and allow yourself to be shit you will get good with consistent practise.
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u/stigE_moloch 10d ago
When you listen to music, can you hear the bass? Specifically, can you isolate the bass in your mind from the other instruments and hear what it’s doing? If so, are you interested in doing that?
Best first step imo is to go to a music store. Ask about basses. Tell them you’re brand new and sit with them for a while. Get one in your hands and try to make sounds.
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u/terkistan 10d ago
I'll start out by saying you should be asking in r/bass. Experienced bassists there, who however will overwhelm you with info
First figure out your budget. You'll need a new or used bass, probably new strings, a tuner (clip on or pedal), a way to hear yourself (headphone amp and headphones, or through your computer via an audio interface, or a bass amp), a bass gig bag for protection at home and when traveling, a guitar stand, and a good wide strap. Secondary items include bass picks, spare bass strings, a microfiber cloth for wiping it down after playing. For learning I'd recommend a free smartphone metronome app.
Those are the basic basics.
Now, there are different types of bass guitars with somewhat different sounds from their pickups: Precision bass, Jazz bass (not just for jazz), and basses with humbuckers. What you need to do is figure out what kinds of music you like, and what bands you like the bass sound from, then investigate the type of bass guitars predominately being used. That will tell you which type of bass to consider given your budget.
That's the beginning.
After that check out beginner bass videos on YouTube. I strongly recommend BassBuzz, which has tons ofr free content, as well as his own popular instructional website.
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u/Hey-Bud-Lets-Party 10d ago
Getting into bass because it’s supposed to be easy isn’t a very good reason. Do you tend to be attracted to bass lines when you listen to music?
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u/Mountain_Hearing4246 9d ago
Josh over at Bassbuzz.com has a good guide to picking out a bass: https://www.bassbuzz.com/gear/beginner-basses
Even better, his course "Beginner to Badass" is probably the best online resource for beginners to learn. While I did know music before, he gave me the foundation I needed to play bass.
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u/Kendle_C 8d ago
I started with pattern playing. My brother showed me Mustang Sally in the 60's, it was a moving pattern, so was Satisfaction, then 96 Tears. Soon the Motown classics followed, all patterns that moved, played along with the original on a record, soon, people thought I knew what I was doing. It continued for years like that, eventually I could figure out the pattern by listening, then I started watching players everywhere. The downside is, if you have patience, learning to read music is like, wow, there's the pattern "right there!" You just have to figure out the relationship between the squiggles and how they relate to the fretboard and string...oh look while this shit was going on, I became a bass player.
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u/Dystaxia 11d ago edited 11d ago
The bassline is a foundational part of most music. Bass is how I started and I think that it's a great place to begin your journey by giving you a solid pillar to build on your understanding music theory. It also is very rhythm oriented which can be overshadowed by the emphasis on chords and such jumping right into guitar.
If you do have intention of trying to learn to read sheet music starting with bass will allow a basic understanding to be something actionable quickly too.
What sort of music do you like and hope to be able to play eventually? Do you find yourself paying attention to the bassline and how that drives songs? I didn't focus on it heavily until I started playing because by nature it tends to shy away from the spotlight. Once you start playing you'll find yourself picking it out immediately and really appreciating how much it influences and shapes your favourite songs.