r/Bass

Due to to the michael movie trend during these weeks, i wanted to ask you what are your favourite michael jackson basslines?

That could include the jackson 5, jacksons and songs he is been featured in. My favourite is Louis Johnson on Get on the floor, but tell me yours!

Trying to teach one of my students how to read bass clef and I think songs with bass lines that are just go up or down scales would be a good fit. However the only ones I can think of off the top of my head right now are Boiler Maker by The Jesus Lizard and Stars by Hum. So if there are any bass lines that go through all the notes of the major or minor scale in any direction, I would very much appreciate it.

I’ve been playing bass for about a month. My progress has been decent. The main thing I struggle with is following songs consistently. Almost every bassline I’ve learned, like Money, Layla, Feel Good Inc., and Peace Sells, gives me trouble with rhythm.

I can practice with a metronome at around 100 BPM and play simple exercises (1234) as I move between frets and strings. However, I still haven’t developed that subconcious sense of timing that helps you stay in rhythm. I usually end up playing some parts too fast or too slow, and I eventually fall behind the song.

Recently, a friend invited me to join his band, and I agreed. Most of the basslines they play should be fairly simple but i'm still kinda scared about not being able to keep up so is there anything u guys could recommend i practice?

I've been thinking of just putting a metronome in the background as i watch my shows and try to keep up with it.

Do bass player need to play acoustic guitar or any other musical instruments before playing bass?

I realize this is a common topic on every hobby sub and the answer is almost always "don't do it, they know what they want, and you are just going to get a slightly wrong version," but I play, and this is for a family member who doesn't. Whatever version of anything I pick would be the one they would get anyway, I just want suggestions for stuff that made your life easier at their level, because it has been a while for me.

They are an older learner who is about a year or so in. They practice regularly, but the age makes it slightly slow; they're making some great progress though. I'm super proud of them for taking this up in their seventies. I don't want anything too confusing (hence no creative pedals at this point, which is what I would get for a 14 year old), things should be very plug and play.

What they have:
I set them up with a good bass, solid practice amp, headphones, headstock tuner, membership to some lessons/tab type stuff. Edit: also straps, nice cables, metronome.

What I'm looking for:
Trying to spend between $50 and $100 (can go a little over for a perfect option). I don't want to add anything too complicated to their gear.

What I'm really hoping for is something that made practicing more intuitive or fun for you at the beginning. I'm after quality of life stuff that you found really useful early on. I do have a couple things in mind, but I figured people would have thoughts on this. So what is that thing you would tell a bass player who is getting going "you have to get this!"

ETA: I'm concerned I'm making this person sound like an idiot. He was a craftsman his whole career. I would absolutely trust him to refinish and rewire a bass, but he just isn't tech savvy. If whatever it is has more than a couple buttons, I am going to get texts and phone calls about how to operate it. Not a problem for me, but I don't want to create more complications for them. The name of the game is ease of use.

Hey everyone, I'm just wondering what 5 string basses with 24 frets you would recommend. I would really prefer it to stay under $1000 and of course if there's anything closer to $500 that is still really good quality that would be preferable.

Is it chill if I get a slightly larger g string but leave the rest the same? It just feels so light, I've tried higher and lower action but it never feels just right.

Is this a skill issue and I'm just not realizing it? I can play fine with it just doesn't feel the best yk

Small edit: got the answers I wanted :) ty bassists. And special thank you to HAIRYNUTSACK69

My Fender Rumble has died, and so now I have an opportunity to find a replacement.

I run everything through my Anagram, and I use this primarily in my band's practice space. The Fender Rumble has been OK, but I've been bypassing the "combo" part and just running my Anagram into the effects return loop. I have been wondering what I'm missing out on with just the Rumble.

I have the options, and the funds, of either getting a new combo amp, some sort of amp/cabinet set up, or getting a decent PA for our band room, and running the bass through that.

What would you do?

I'm looking to buy my first bass, I'm a guitarist I've been playing for several years, so not a complete beginner. I'm torn between Marcus Miller V5 and V7, main difference is V7 has active preamp. All my guitars have passive pickups and I'm not a big fan of changing batteries on my instruments lol (how long does the batteries last in a bass?). I'll probably get a small practice amp around 40W and 1x10" speaker. Price between V5 and V7 is basically the same. Is it worth getting the one with active preamp, even if I'm mostly gonna play it in passive mode (but maybe I'm gonna change my mind)? If I pick the one passive only will I regret it?

I want to get my brother bass guitar, I saw this model for cheap in my local shop. I saw reviews and they say it has crazy neck dive. For a beginner will it be very big issue or bearable problem.

I read a post in my saved page where there’s a guy who talks about loving being a rhythm player more than being lead and that got me thinking. I love exploring different tastes of music and different genres and one things for sure is all it needs is a good rhythm. So my question is what albums do you listen to or play along to that are extremely enjoyable and fun but also has helped improve your techniques and rhythm. Doesn’t have to be a certain genre, it can be any, make it rock, metal, funk, punk, r&b I just love hearing different opinions!

Looking for songs that help improve bass strumming with chords.

Hello, recently sold one of my basses and came into some money. I am wondering what basses I should look at/try out. I currently play an 5 string Ibanez prestige which is my "work horse" and I play it in my cover band. I also own a Rickenbacker 4001 which is my for fun bass and I scratch my rock and roll itch with. I am possibly looking for another 5 string but not a Jazz bass. I like a bass with a polyurethane neck finish. What would you recommend? I play through a 500W mark bass combo.

Hello. Yesterday I made a mistake. I wanted to polish the frets on my Sire V5 and I used very coarse sandpaper (P120). I don’t think I sanded too deeply—the frets are still rounded on top—but the scratches can be seen and felt under the fingers. I took the bass to a luthier, but now I’m worried that:
a) it will cost more than simple polishing, and
b) the sound will not be the same if the frets are made a bit lower.
What do you think?

I’ve been thinking about buying a Lakland Skyline 44-64 bass from Sweetwater. However I’d be doing so blind with no way of trying it out before I purchased it.

There’s nowhere in my area that sells Lakland basses either.

Would going to a Guitar Center or something and trying a Fender P bass be a reasonable option to see if I like the style? Or would there be too many differences between the two for that to be an accurate test?

I have a bass but no amp yet cuz I bought only what I could afford at the time, but I am thinking of financing an amp so I can keep playing and not have a bass sit around and not do anything.

its not a crazy expensive amp, its 300$ but still I’d like to finance it if I can.

What is your guys opinion?

Hey all!

I’m trying to figure out an app that can make basic cord and melodies to a drum set, for practicing.

I’ve tried Moises, and like it, but are there others like it?

It’s not overly important to play songs that are popular or known, just to practice making lines over some other instruments and a drums.

Okay, I'm trying to build a washtub bass, but I don't want to use a bucket; I want a large tub. I can't find one anywhere in my town. Could someone share one I know of or have used? Thanks.

I plan to at some point buy some more basses in the future and I normally like to go In store, like guitar center or wherever but I always feel nervous when I have to try them out cause they watch and then I don’t know what to play and I feel stupid. Anything anyone has Iike a got to? Also side track I don’t plan on like doing many performances but I’d like a good bit maybe cheap amp for home practice if anyone has any recs, also best slap video to start?? Sorry lol but yeah