https://guitarnoise.forum/bass-players-discussion/step-by-step/ Guitar Noise Discussion Board en-US Thu, 04 Jun 2026 02:49:37 +0000 wpForo 60 https://guitarnoise.forum/bass-players-discussion/step-by-step/#post-263645 Mon, 10 Sep 2007 05:56:06 +0000 Newbie poster here but I've been cruisin' this forum for a while and I love the atmosphere here. Very encouraging. I too got "promoted" ,from percussionist in our Praise Band at church. From conga's and occasional singing and light guitar work to our first bassist! Pretty scary at first. Idiot's Guide to Playing Bass Guitar by Hodges is a great book. I'll be using it for years. I have been getting by using the roots on most of the songs we do, recently found the 5th and the 8th!
I've been told my sound is great and it really anchors the band. They miss me when I have to work on Sunday's.
Seems if you can keep the rhythm steady you don't need anything too fancy to begin making music and that really is what it is all about. I just know my heart is singing when I am up there playing for the Lord.
Found a great site called http://www.Hymncharts.com that has some great arrangements of trad. Hymns. Give me the guitar chord sheet with the words so i can follow and I am good to go. Keep at it, I am loving it and making a joyful noise!
BTW I am playing a Fender Squire J Bass and I picked up a used Ibanez 65 Bass amp. The whole rig cost me less than $300, including strap cable and stand.]]> Bass Players Discussion soulpatch https://guitarnoise.forum/bass-players-discussion/step-by-step/#post-263645 https://guitarnoise.forum/bass-players-discussion/step-by-step/#post-259494 Tue, 14 Aug 2007 16:02:40 +0000
I agree about 1-5-octave too, you can play a very interesting bass line with just those by varying note length and attack.

Probably the most important thing to develop after playing the right notes (IMHO) is the ability to feel the music (groove). And then even attack on the notes (Something that taping sessions and listening back will help with). Hope this helps.

Welcome to the low end! :D Funny our sound tech was just suggesting that, not with me in mind specifically. At my first church the pastor forbid it to him the license and rights issues suggested that no music got recorded.]]> Bass Players Discussion Mahal https://guitarnoise.forum/bass-players-discussion/step-by-step/#post-259494 https://guitarnoise.forum/bass-players-discussion/step-by-step/#post-259493 Tue, 14 Aug 2007 15:58:27 +0000 I have the Hal Leonard method but atleast in the first pages it is teaching me the bass clef when all we get at church is a lyric and chord sheet. So what do I need? At the most basic level, you can get by in the praise band with a root-5th approach. It's boring but for a beginner it works until you gain more confidence. There are some songs where playing only the chord roots is entirely appropriate too, so don't feel compelled to overplay when it's not necessary.

If you get lead sheets with melody lines, you can get ideas from those too, but I wouldn't venture too far at first - when the bass player hits a bum note, it's very obvious. (Yes, I know this from experience! From yesterday, in fact! :oops: ) Never get any lead sheets. Just the lyrics and chords. Occassionally the hymnal with its piano score is used.
Check out Laz's bass lesson on the main GN page about "The Box." It is extremely useful.

After that, learning to play by ear becomes really helpful, as well as a strong familiarity with the major scale (most praise band music seems to be in a major key.) I spend a lot of time just listening to the songs and trying to figure out the bass lines - many times they are easier than I expect them to be, but other times there are complex riffs that I've learned to fake. ;)

As you already know, there's almost no published sheet music or tablature available for praise band bass lines (though there are a few at christianguitar.org.) But don't let that discourage you from learning to read music and using the Hal Leonard book - it's good to learn standard notation. There seems to be more published music, although there is a lag in publishing time unless you want to buy the album or artist portfolio. If you mean tabs available on the net I agree Will the amp suffice for playing low in my room, can I just use headphones if the speaker will be blown or do I need a new amp? It will suffice, but get a bass amp. :D Is there an amp at church you'll be playing through, or will you go direct to the PA? We have an Ampeg BA 115, so I can't fool the wife saying Ilm getting more gear for the church. I guess for now its headphones.]]> Bass Players Discussion Mahal https://guitarnoise.forum/bass-players-discussion/step-by-step/#post-259493 https://guitarnoise.forum/bass-players-discussion/step-by-step/#post-259460 Tue, 14 Aug 2007 02:03:30 +0000 Bass Players Discussion Elecktrablue https://guitarnoise.forum/bass-players-discussion/step-by-step/#post-259460 https://guitarnoise.forum/bass-players-discussion/step-by-step/#post-259451 Tue, 14 Aug 2007 01:01:05 +0000
I agree about 1-5-octave too, you can play a very interesting bass line with just those by varying note length and attack.

Probably the most important thing to develop after playing the right notes (IMHO) is the ability to feel the music (groove). And then even attack on the notes (Something that taping sessions and listening back will help with). Hope this helps.

Welcome to the low end! :D]]> Bass Players Discussion lakiehelena https://guitarnoise.forum/bass-players-discussion/step-by-step/#post-259451 https://guitarnoise.forum/bass-players-discussion/step-by-step/#post-259413 Mon, 13 Aug 2007 22:19:04 +0000 At least my 15 watt 8 inch(speaker) Peavey guitar practice amp can´t reproduce the E and A strings on my bass. If you use headphones on the amp you get better frequency response at the lower frequencies.
/Kalle]]> Bass Players Discussion Kalle_in_Sweden https://guitarnoise.forum/bass-players-discussion/step-by-step/#post-259413 https://guitarnoise.forum/bass-players-discussion/step-by-step/#post-259357 Mon, 13 Aug 2007 18:10:14 +0000 I have the Hal Leonard method but atleast in the first pages it is teaching me the bass clef when all we get at church is a lyric and chord sheet. So what do I need? At the most basic level, you can get by in the praise band with a root-5th approach. It's boring but for a beginner it works until you gain more confidence. There are some songs where playing only the chord roots is entirely appropriate too, so don't feel compelled to overplay when it's not necessary.

If you get lead sheets with melody lines, you can get ideas from those too, but I wouldn't venture too far at first - when the bass player hits a bum note, it's very obvious. (Yes, I know this from experience! From yesterday, in fact! :oops: )

Check out Laz's bass lesson on the main GN page about "The Box." It is extremely useful.

After that, learning to play by ear becomes really helpful, as well as a strong familiarity with the major scale (most praise band music seems to be in a major key.) I spend a lot of time just listening to the songs and trying to figure out the bass lines - many times they are easier than I expect them to be, but other times there are complex riffs that I've learned to fake. ;)

As you already know, there's almost no published sheet music or tablature available for praise band bass lines (though there are a few at christianguitar.org.) But don't let that discourage you from learning to read music and using the Hal Leonard book - it's good to learn standard notation.
Will the amp suffice for playing low in my room, can I just use headphones if the speaker will be blown or do I need a new amp? It will suffice, but get a bass amp. :D Is there an amp at church you'll be playing through, or will you go direct to the PA?

To supplement the Hal Leonard is the Everything, Dummies or Complete Idiot series for Bass a good complement? Dummies and Idiot are both highly recommended. The BIG advantage to Idiot is you can post questions right here on the site and the author will respond directly. 8)]]> Bass Players Discussion slejhamer https://guitarnoise.forum/bass-players-discussion/step-by-step/#post-259357 https://guitarnoise.forum/bass-players-discussion/step-by-step/#post-27441 Mon, 13 Aug 2007 17:34:26 +0000
I have a bass, Squire MB4 but only a guitar starter pack amp. Its just me but I do better reading books then computer instruction or lessons off of the net but the net is there for questions.

I have the Hal Leonard method but atleast in the first pages it is teaching me the bass clef when all we get at church is a lyric and chord sheet. So what do I need?

Will the amp suffice for playing low in my room, can I just use headphones if the speaker will be blown or do I need a new amp?

To supplement the Hal Leonard is the Everything, Dummies or Complete Idiot series for Bass a good complement?]]> Bass Players Discussion Mahal https://guitarnoise.forum/bass-players-discussion/step-by-step/#post-27441