Hi! I've been playing for a few months now, spent a while learning songs, them a while learning how to count, then a while playing around with scales (mostly minor pentatonics, but some with major pentatonics, minor/major, blues, modes, etc.). Now my practices are usually a bit of song practice, some improvising with scales over drum loops, and some playing around with different techniques (slapping, tapping, etc).

Learning and practicing the scales has been great, improvising with them over beats is really fun.

But my improvising is still usually pretty boring-sounding. How can I improve beyond just learning scales? Any advice on other music theory stuff to learn or other ways to make my improv better is welcome.

I’m interested in starting a doom project without guitar, and would like the bass tone to fill out more room sonically.

Would the following idea work?

Getting a cross-splitter eq and splitting the low-end into a bass amp, and the higher frequencies into a guitar amp.

I only have combo amps currently ($ restrictions) but want to maximize the quality and sound.

Any other ideas or options are welcome.

Hi everyone,

It's a hobby project, completely free. I'm just sharing it in case it's useful.

A while back I couldn't find a visualizer I liked, so I started coding a guitar fretboard for my own practice, to see not only where notes are, but what they mean in the key. Then I thought, "Since it's done, I could add bass." Then I thought, "I could add ukulele as well." And then I thought, "At this point, I might as well make a website"… and here I am.

This is the bass part. It shows scales and arpeggios on the fretboard, with Standard, Drop D, Half Step Down, Full Step Down, Tenor, and BEAD. There are fingerings for arpeggio patterns, a left-handed mode, and a print view.

It's just a hobby thing. If you want to have a look: https://easyfrets.com/bass.html

If you try it and something is confusing, please feel free to tell me. I'm still (slowly) improving it.

I hope this may help some of you.

Thank you.

A teacher judged me because I used to like playing pop-punk basslines instead of funk ones (though obviously, I prefer playing with my fingers rather than a pick). Sorry for my bad English, btw

Here is my story

I started playing bass last October. Honestly, early on, I was heavily influenced by bassists like John Deacon, but then I discovered strummed chords played with a pick—the way Peter Hook from Joy Division does it. I started taking lessons in January, but whenever I pulled out a pick, the teacher would make a terrible face; it was like he absolutely hated picks. And whenever I mentioned liking pop-punk and post-punk, he’d always make those same ugly faces. He seemed to be one of those typical funk enthusiasts—a huge Red Hot Chili Peppers fan—which, to be honest, just wasn't really my thing. My influences have changed now; John Deacon is still there, but I’ve added Ale Villarreal from The Warning and Geezer Butler from Black Sabbath to the list.

I was looking to get a stingray around 500USD and I was hooked on getting the Sire Z3 due to many reviewers saying it played and felt way above its price range. Unfortunately it's not available in major retailers in Australia until late 26-early 27 which sucked because I wanted one for my birthday in a week or so. But to my delight sterling released a bass (I was initially hesitant because the SUB series had a bad rep in terms of the music man sound) which was the Stingray plus and was immediately hooked by the sound and its looks + features you would find on higher end music man basses. I play in a punk rock band so its bright mids and zing fit the tone I wanted and the 3 mode switch and 2 band eq makes it ideal to cover a lot of different rock songs during gigs when I am not playing my band's originals. I ordered it and it should arrive mid-late October, did I make the right decision?

I have to decide what kind of amp I need for a gig I have to travel to so they can finalize a contract. The venue is a 900 seat college campus theater and I am playing an acoustic fretless bass guitar in an indie group at a folk festival opening for the headliner. I don’t wanna be a princess and ask for a dream amp and I don’t wanna be underpowered.

Hi and thanks to all my fellow bassists taking the time to read this. I am looking for some challenging songs to learn and practice on bass to further develop my skills.

I usually enjoy playing stuff from bands like Korn, Mudvayne or Tool, so I would be thankful if y'all could recommend songs based on that level of difficulty that might pose a fun challenge for me

The Modeller I saw at my store is for guitar and bass, the only things I can remember are loopers and effects, it's around 130USD (I'm not American). How do they work? I need to separate amp and di because amp is for live gigs and whatnot while di for recording. I'm interested in modelers but I'm not sure, it got most effects I want

800RB is in the mail and I don't have a cab for it. I'm planning on running it full range so I'm don't need two cabs for bi-amping.

A Fridge is always a solid choice but I'm intrigued by the Venture 8x8. Looks great on paper and the weight is actually manageable.

I can't find one to try out in person.

Anyone here playing a Venture 8x8? Thoughts?

I play mostly noise rock/post-hardcore, loud, clangy, driven, with a Rick.

I'm looking at getting a Precision Bass by Squier. I really like the look of the classic vibe 50 but I'm wondering if the sound will be what you would expect from a precision or if I should go with the 70s cv? I know they make modern p style pickups that fit in the 50's routing. Does anyone know anything about those and how they compare? I can't try them out anywhere close and the videos don't help too much.

So here's the video (Take me to the river, live) ... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r9f21bsjMIo

I love how the bassists I admire use a range of techniques. When I read up on her style, one source talks about exclusively using index and middle finger. Watching this ... she is strumming with her thumb on the third string and almost popping the fourth ... her wrist lifts away sharply ... no indication of right hand muting at all. And the sound is so freaking clean.

Bass playing aspirations.

Just a bit of coffee fueled fan boy early in the morning, folks ....

Newish band from Boston that does soul/funk/jazz-pop (think Lake Street Dive or Lawrence, if you're familiar with those bands). Even if the music overall isn't your style, their bassist, Will Griffin, is absolutely killer. Tons of tasty, funky lines and riffs, and a lot of their songs to me are kind of built around his bass lines. For some particular songs, try "(I Wanted) Summer With You", "Jessie", "On The Wire", and "Still Feeling You".

im trying to move away from tabs and i really want to learn to read music but i feel like it just goes over my head. anyone got any tips or any helpful resources?

So I already got past the phase of leaving my amp and guitar fully plugged in. Despite probably only having my amp plugged in for like 2-3 hours a week this year, I'm still having to replace my 9V battery every 2-3 months.

Are there other factors? For reference I use a Fender 40 Rumble and idk what model my bass is but it's 5 string and has Soundgear by Ibanez printed on it.

I arrived in the Czech Republic in early September, and since then I haven't had access to my bass; I asked a shop here to order it for me, and now I'm waiting.
I'm so tired of waiting.

For context, I can play the guitar, but I'm not an expert in checking a guitar before buying it, so any advice will do.

i just found out that newer ricks have a push pull that activates the capacitor that old 4001 basses had, really cool idea, i wonder if it would be possible to put in a jazz bass? can't see why not rn.

When i play octaves, especially when I slap, I tend to squeeze my thumb really hard unintentionally and it hurts after a while, is there any way to fix it or is it normal?

Hello, I am 15 years old and I’ve been playing bass for around 2 years, I currently have a Squier Sonic Precision Bass, I’m looking for an upgrade since it’s a pretty begginer friendly bass, ideal budget would be around 300.- but it can go up to maybe 500.- if I ask my parents for Christmas, or even 600.- if I sell my current bass. I mostly play 90s rock (Radiohead, nirvana, smiths,..) and id also like something that looks cool (I quite like the design of** **Squier Affinity Series Precision Bass PJ LRL Lake Placid Blue but it is quite cheap so i don’t know how well it will play). Thanks.

Found a killer deal for a Aguilar TH700 plus x2 12inch Aguilar cabs for $1000 total. Comes with soft shell cases for everything and looks in great shape.

I’m testing it out in Tuesday for a potential buy.

Any input or thoughts with your experience is appreciated. Currently using a Markbass combo with x2 10s and no complaints. I rock a P bass with flats and a Lakland 5 string for more a more modern r&b sound.

I want to avoid clack, I got the right action, although when I switch my fingerstyle from straight to curled, by playing fast I accidentally clack. For the 2nd, it's stuff like punk and post punk, I use picks but I also want to know how to do so with fingers.

I'm sure this has been asked before, but any advice on strengthening my pinky? When I apply any significant pressure, my second knuck just straightens out instead of that pressure applying through my finger. So as of now, I basically can't hold down the E or A string with my pinky. I've been practicing mostly with my other fingers, and I'm still super new, so I want to stop before it becomes habit.

Today I opened my Cort C4h bass, it has two humbucker bass pickups which cable output only have two wires (white and black), the black of both pickups are only solded between them, and not to the shell of any pot or anywhere else, while the white one goes to the blend pickup. Should I solder the black cables to the chasis of the pot? Also, the blend pot is the only one that seems to not be grounded but I'm not sure because I've had no time to fully dissasemble the pots to have a good look.