just throwing this out there. hope it helps someone. I'm big into word games, and the way I memorized the notes on a stave is as follows. the open spaces make the phrase Grizzly Bears Don't Fear Anything. and the lines make the phrase All Cows Eat Grass. use it, don't use it but it's helped me so I thought I'd share.
Another good way to learn and practise scales is to play songs that use specific scale patterns and arpeggios. There's Nothing Like This by Omar has a great repeating arpeggio pattern using E maj 7 and A maj 7 as triads. The plectrum exercise sounds like the intro to Crash Course In Brain Surgery by Metallica.
I'm 52 and learning. I have a pinched nerve that gives me a numb tingly index and middle finger on my right hand. So I want to learn how to use a pick ....the correct way for bass. It sounds terrible right now. Very different from using a pick on guitar. I love learning the bass though.
I so needed this, and I never was able to put it to concrete words or meaning. This might very well be the final kick in the bum to start practicing daily with a proper basis.
Structure is essential, especially for me being in multiple bands. I learn by ear very quickly, and know some theory. But to sit and work on technique? Discipline fails. Thanks, Dan. This works!
This is just what I was desperately needing: some damn structure in my (life) bass practice. I'm being very constant, but I'm all over the place with songs I want to learn and stuff. I'm having trouble developing a good plucking technique. I digged very much the all-in-one approach. You have no idea how much you've taught me bass. All my best from Perú.
I love watching you I sent you a comment on my bands sound about the key board playing too loud its been a problem now fow 2 years You help me with a list i done them all so I know I was on the right track Not sure if it will change but i spoken to them now for the second and last time I now left my comfort zone and went to a mic night for the first time on my own Going every week now realize how much the bass means to me I also realise how extreamly low in the mix i am with my bass in the band On recordings from our gig nights it shows out can't hear the bass lost the heart beat of the songs I am now out of my comfort zone and will find something else if it doesn't change i have made that desion Im not scared of making a change now Thank you for your help Im now back picking up my bass through your encouragement I was so sad couldn't pick my bass up watching this video I relised they know l am in my comfort zone and they think I can't come away I now proved to them I can move on so I am watching this space Your a shining star Dan ❤
Hello, Dan.... Just want to say Thank You, for your easy to understand way of teaching. I love the way that you slow things down and very concisely show the fingering patterns, etc, etc, etc. Yes, there are "Many" players giving "Bass Lessons" on the internet... but a good number of them Do Not take into consideration, that Not everyone who is trying to learn the Bass guitar... is in their teens, 20's or even 30's..... myself, I'm just now trying to learn the bass, at 73 yrs "young"... after Not having played since I went into the Army in the 1960's!! I first picked up the Bass when I was 12 years "old" (lol). I'm finding out that what I could pick up and learn just from listening to a 45 rpm record, once or twice, at that age... well, that ability has completely disappeared on me, and it's real process for me now, to try and Learn it... as well as Remember it!! In one year I have already acquired 4 electric basses and two difference styles of Ukelele Basses... one of which is violin body style, that is a miniature (by size comparison) "carbon copy" of my "Beatle Bass"..... anyway, I've been looking all over the internet for someone I can really learn from... starting with the Very, Rudimentary Basics of Learning Bass with Absolute Beginners in mind.... and also keeping in mind that there just might be "older" beginners watching and trying to learn, and who's "hard drive" and "Memory chips".... are already Very Full of life's experiences, and are Not able to comprehend some things quite so quickly as when we were a Lot younger and our "hard drive & memory chips" were Not Nearly as full with information, making it Much easier to learn & comprehend New abilities. There are many internet Bass "teachers" out there with "beginner" bass video's who go right into talking about "root, 5ths, 6ths," etc, etc - blah, blah, blah... and for older "kids" like me.... it's "What the heck is he talking about ??" with all this "technical" stuff.... they may as well be speaking a "foreign" language, and they Never even bother to explain what all that means! If it's something we need to know & "Understand" to learn the Bass.... how can we, if they don't bother to explain what all that information, actually means, and how it translates into actually playing it with or in, a song or jam situation with others, etc, etc.?? I think that most of these players have either forgotten "where" they started from, or possibly that they forget that Not everyone is blessed with God given & innate musical abilities with a "natural ear" for music, like some of these "teachers" may have been blessed with. An older gentleman once told me, when I was in my earliest teen years, that "when someone who Truly knows his or her craft or trade, regardless of what that may be... they will be able to explain it in such a simple way, that any 5 or 7 year old would be able to comprehend and understand it". Then he said.. "whereas, someone who says that they know their trade or craft, but really don't thoroughly know it... will "razzle - dazzle" others with speed and techniques, and a lot of words, that will leave the listener with just as much of a lack of understanding, as before the "teacher" began". Those words of his have proven out to be ever So True, as I have learned throughout my life, everywhere I have been (four continents), whenever I've ran into various needs to learn something.... some were as the first scenario and I came away with a Lot more understanding and comprehension, while other "instructors" left me just as dumbfounded & ignorant of the subject at hand, as before I even met them. Having said all that... there are certainly some fabulous "players" (Including yourself) out there on the "net", who really Do Know their instruments and theory, etc,etc,etc.... but they absolutely Lack "Teaching abilities" (NOT Including yourself, Dan) in being able to Slowly and Articulately Teach the most Rudimentary Basics of Bass (or any instrument) learning, in such a way that Any 5 or 7 year old could not learn from with sufficient comprehension & understanding, so that they can practice with understanding and be able to continually progress in abilities. QUESTION... Do You have Any video's at all, that specifically focus on absolute "Beginners" who (speaking for possibly thousands "out there") may have absolutely No Musical abilities or understanding whatsoever? I have yet to find a single video (even through they may be titled as such) for "beginners" that bothers to even take the time to just explain, in simple terms... what the basic terminology Means, like "root, 4ths, 5ths, 6ths" etc, etc... and how it can or should be applied in various ways. I have managed to learn the neck in terms of where all the notes are (on 4 string and my new Ibanez 5 string [low B]), and I know what the "root" (beginning) note means... but, I'm Not understanding "where to go" or how to use the neck from that point. I lost my "play by ear" ability (and short term memory) during a nearly one month long hospitalization in Vietnam during my last "tour" there, with a very high (unknown cause) fever of 104.5 to 106 degrees, so now I'm having to really try and "Learn" to play again, beginning with even the very most Basic understanding and comprehension of simple Bass knowledge. I've purchased numerous "How To" play Bass books..... and the One thing that I Have managed to thoroughly learn from them, is.... I've learned Nothing from them!! I can, however.. learn from Listening, Watching and Doing.... "IF".... there is someone "out there" on the net who has the teaching skills to teach and Explain... in the simplest terms, slowly and concisely/methodically. There are far too many internet "teachers" who are more into the "razzle/dazzle" of their own abilities, than taking the time to actually teach, taking into account that a possible great number of those watching and trying to learn.... are folks with either, absolutely No prior musical abilities or knowledge, or are old enough to be, or are... retired, and finding it harder to learn, for various reasons... compared to someone who is still in the prime of their youth. Thank You again... for your thoughtfulness in slowing things down a bit, making it somewhat easier to learn from you.... but personally, I'm Still Not understanding what "4ths, 5ths, 6ths, etc, etc and all that "jargon" actually means, and it's obviously something essential to learning the neck..... help?!? lol IF... you've read all this, Thank You for your time! If you respond to me on this.. Thank You So Much, and God Bless, you and yours. PS; Did I mention that I'm also trying to self learn the Steel Guitar (Lap & Console.. Not pedal) at the same time? lol. Guess I'm just a "glutton for punishment". Lol 🙂
Thank you for your lovely message and kind words. It’s great that you’re picking up bass again and you will definitely improve a lot if you want to. I do have a few very beginner videos. I think the best think to do is search on my website (www.onlinebasscourses.com: there’s a search bar on the ‘free lessons’ page) or RUclips channel. I also have basic lessons here: onlinebasscourses.com/freetools/ There’s a lot of really basic stuff there. Here’s an intervals lesson: onlinebasscourses.com/lessons/theory/bass-guitar-interval-tricks/ You’re right, though - there could be more basic videos. Problem with that is it’ll be too basic for others! I’m still trying to find that balance… If you have any good lesson ideas please let me know…
@@OnlineBassCourses.... Hello, Dan.... Thank you SO Much, for taking the time to read my "book" I sent you and responding to it.... and the links as well. I just got home from work (yup!.. back working again, since two weeks ago, for some extra income) and will definitely have a look around your sight after I settle down for the evening. I do have some thoughts on "Basic beginner" videos.... will write back with my thoughts, asap, but probably, Not this evening.... 4:30AM comes quick and I need some sleep. lol Thank you again, Dan.... will "talk" soon. Take care.
Thanks. I've been asking teachers how to practice for a long time. Primarily I asked my flute teacher decades ago and have suggested to poi teachers the need for a plan for a practice. I have practiced a number of different skills, but all in a haphazard way that probably spent way too much time and left a lot of skills out potentially.
This is great Dan! Do you have any lessons that focus on right hand muting technique practice drills? I’m a guitarist transitioning to bass, and I’m pretty comfortable with most of the technical aspects. The one thing that’s pretty different is muting overall. I’m looking for a practice drill around moving your thumb from the pickup to the E and A strings and back as I play across the strings and back. I know I could just work on scales to do that, but I’m looking for something with more back and forth movement. If you don’t have any lessons around that, would you consider creating one?
Depends what you’re practicing and working on. Plus what areas you believe you’re weak in. It tends to come when you work on things you thought were difficult but become easy! Things that really help your bass playing (for me that was applying music theory to improvising and writing bass lines).
just throwing this out there. hope it helps someone. I'm big into word games, and the way I memorized the notes on a stave is as follows. the open spaces make the phrase Grizzly Bears Don't Fear Anything. and the lines make the phrase All Cows Eat Grass. use it, don't use it but it's helped me so I thought I'd share.
Good burritos don’t fall apart
@@captainbeyond165 lol caught me off guard when I saw this in my notifications.
@@andrewthorsten3809 hahaha I use this one because my teacher taught us this one in music theory
Another good way to learn and practise scales is to play songs that use specific scale patterns and arpeggios. There's Nothing Like This by Omar has a great repeating arpeggio pattern using E maj 7 and A maj 7 as triads. The plectrum exercise sounds like the intro to Crash Course In Brain Surgery by Metallica.
Excellent advice, Andy.
@@OnlineBassCourses Thank you, Dan!
I'm 52 and learning. I have a pinched nerve that gives me a numb tingly index and middle finger on my right hand.
So I want to learn how to use a pick ....the correct way for bass. It sounds terrible right now.
Very different from using a pick on guitar.
I love learning the bass though.
I so needed this, and I never was able to put it to concrete words or meaning.
This might very well be the final kick in the bum to start practicing daily with a proper basis.
That’s great - keep it up.
Structure is essential, especially for me being in multiple bands. I learn by ear very quickly, and know some theory. But to sit and work on technique? Discipline fails. Thanks, Dan. This works!
Good to hear it!
This is just what I was desperately needing: some damn structure in my (life) bass practice. I'm being very constant, but I'm all over the place with songs I want to learn and stuff. I'm having trouble developing a good plucking technique. I digged very much the all-in-one approach. You have no idea how much you've taught me bass. All my best from Perú.
That’s great to hear, Francisco. Keep that approach up and all the best!
Loved this, really helped in putting my current practice routine into perspective. Any chance of getting the document you're showing in a PDF version?
Thanks! Unfortunately, this only comes with my From Beginner To Bassist course.
I love watching you
I sent you a comment on my bands sound about the key board playing too loud its been a problem now fow 2 years
You help me with a list
i done them all so I know I was on the right track
Not sure if it will change but i spoken to them now for the second and last time
I now left my comfort zone and went to a mic night for the first time on my own
Going every week now realize how much the bass means to me
I also realise how extreamly low in the mix i am with my bass in the band
On recordings from our gig nights it shows out can't hear the bass lost the heart beat of the songs
I am now out of my comfort zone and will find something else if it doesn't change i have made that desion
Im not scared of making a change now
Thank you for your help
Im now back picking up my bass through your encouragement
I was so sad couldn't pick my bass up
watching this video I relised they know l am in my comfort zone and they think I can't come away
I now proved to them I can move on so I am watching this space
Your a shining star Dan ❤
Well done for putting in all that work and for breaking out of your comfort zone. Not an easy thing to do! Keep it up.
Hello, Dan.... Just want to say Thank You, for your easy to understand way of teaching. I love the way that you slow things down and very concisely show the fingering patterns, etc, etc, etc. Yes, there are "Many" players giving "Bass Lessons" on the internet... but a good number of them Do Not take into consideration, that Not everyone who is trying to learn the Bass guitar... is in their teens, 20's or even 30's..... myself, I'm just now trying to learn the bass, at 73 yrs "young"... after Not having played since I went into the Army in the 1960's!!
I first picked up the Bass when I was 12 years "old" (lol). I'm finding out that what I could pick up and learn just from listening to a 45 rpm record, once or twice, at that age... well, that ability has completely disappeared on me, and it's real process for me now, to try and Learn it... as well as Remember it!!
In one year I have already acquired 4 electric basses and two difference styles of Ukelele Basses... one of which is violin body style, that is a miniature (by size comparison) "carbon copy" of my "Beatle Bass"..... anyway, I've been looking all over the internet for someone I can really learn from... starting with the Very, Rudimentary Basics of Learning Bass with Absolute Beginners in mind.... and also keeping in mind that there just might be "older" beginners watching and trying to learn, and who's "hard drive" and "Memory chips".... are already Very Full of life's experiences, and are Not able to comprehend some things quite so quickly as when we were a Lot younger and our "hard drive & memory chips" were Not Nearly as full with information, making it Much easier to learn & comprehend New abilities.
There are many internet Bass "teachers" out there with "beginner" bass video's who go right into talking about "root, 5ths, 6ths," etc, etc - blah, blah, blah... and for older "kids" like me.... it's "What the heck is he talking about ??" with all this "technical" stuff.... they may as well be speaking a "foreign" language, and they Never even bother to explain what all that means! If it's something we need to know & "Understand" to learn the Bass.... how can we, if they don't bother to explain what all that information, actually means, and how it translates into actually playing it with or in, a song or jam situation with others, etc, etc.??
I think that most of these players have either forgotten "where" they started from, or possibly that they forget that Not everyone is blessed with God given & innate musical abilities with a "natural ear" for music, like some of these "teachers" may have been blessed with.
An older gentleman once told me, when I was in my earliest teen years, that "when someone who Truly knows his or her craft or trade, regardless of what that may be... they will be able to explain it in such a simple way, that any 5 or 7 year old would be able to comprehend and understand it". Then he said.. "whereas, someone who says that they know their trade or craft, but really don't thoroughly know it... will "razzle - dazzle" others with speed and techniques, and a lot of words, that will leave the listener with just as much of a lack of understanding, as before the "teacher" began".
Those words of his have proven out to be ever So True, as I have learned throughout my life, everywhere I have been (four continents), whenever I've ran into various needs to learn something.... some were as the first scenario and I came away with a Lot more understanding and comprehension, while other "instructors" left me just as dumbfounded & ignorant of the subject at hand, as before I even met them.
Having said all that... there are certainly some fabulous "players" (Including yourself) out there on the "net", who really Do Know their instruments and theory, etc,etc,etc.... but they absolutely Lack "Teaching abilities" (NOT Including yourself, Dan) in being able to Slowly and Articulately Teach the most Rudimentary Basics of Bass (or any instrument) learning, in such a way that Any 5 or 7 year old could not learn from with sufficient comprehension & understanding, so that they can practice with understanding and be able to continually progress in abilities.
QUESTION... Do You have Any video's at all, that specifically focus on absolute "Beginners" who (speaking for possibly thousands "out there") may have absolutely No Musical abilities or understanding whatsoever? I have yet to find a single video (even through they may be titled as such) for "beginners" that bothers to even take the time to just explain, in simple terms... what the basic terminology Means, like "root, 4ths, 5ths, 6ths" etc, etc... and how it can or should be applied in various ways.
I have managed to learn the neck in terms of where all the notes are (on 4 string and my new Ibanez 5 string [low B]), and I know what the "root" (beginning) note means... but, I'm Not understanding "where to go" or how to use the neck from that point. I lost my "play by ear" ability (and short term memory) during a nearly one month long hospitalization in Vietnam during my last "tour" there, with a very high (unknown cause) fever of 104.5 to 106 degrees, so now I'm having to really try and "Learn" to play again, beginning with even the very most Basic understanding and comprehension of simple Bass knowledge.
I've purchased numerous "How To" play Bass books..... and the One thing that I Have managed to thoroughly learn from them, is.... I've learned Nothing from them!!
I can, however.. learn from Listening, Watching and Doing.... "IF".... there is someone "out there" on the net who has the teaching skills to teach and Explain... in the simplest terms, slowly and concisely/methodically.
There are far too many internet "teachers" who are more into the "razzle/dazzle" of their own abilities, than taking the time to actually teach, taking into account that a possible great number of those watching and trying to learn.... are folks with either, absolutely No prior musical abilities or knowledge, or are old enough to be, or are... retired, and finding it harder to learn, for various reasons... compared to someone who is still in the prime of their youth.
Thank You again... for your thoughtfulness in slowing things down a bit, making it somewhat easier to learn from you.... but personally, I'm Still Not understanding what "4ths, 5ths, 6ths, etc, etc and all that "jargon" actually means, and it's obviously something essential to learning the neck..... help?!? lol IF... you've read all this, Thank You for your time! If you respond to me on this.. Thank You So Much, and God Bless, you and yours.
PS; Did I mention that I'm also trying to self learn the Steel Guitar (Lap & Console.. Not pedal) at the same time? lol. Guess I'm just a "glutton for punishment". Lol 🙂
Thank you for your lovely message and kind words. It’s great that you’re picking up bass again and you will definitely improve a lot if you want to.
I do have a few very beginner videos. I think the best think to do is search on my website (www.onlinebasscourses.com: there’s a search bar on the ‘free lessons’ page) or RUclips channel. I also have basic lessons here: onlinebasscourses.com/freetools/
There’s a lot of really basic stuff there. Here’s an intervals lesson: onlinebasscourses.com/lessons/theory/bass-guitar-interval-tricks/
You’re right, though - there could be more basic videos. Problem with that is it’ll be too basic for others! I’m still trying to find that balance…
If you have any good lesson ideas please let me know…
@@OnlineBassCourses.... Hello, Dan.... Thank you SO Much, for taking the time to read my "book" I sent you and responding to it.... and the links as well. I just got home from work (yup!.. back working again, since two weeks ago, for some extra income) and will definitely have a look around your sight after I settle down for the evening.
I do have some thoughts on "Basic beginner" videos.... will write back with my thoughts, asap, but probably, Not this evening.... 4:30AM comes quick and I need some sleep. lol Thank you again, Dan.... will "talk" soon. Take care.
Really enjoyed the training! I’m a beginner again and I’m trying to work on my stiff fretting hand! 😊
Keep up the good playing and keep enjoying yourself!
I appreciate you BIG TIME! pun intended.. hehe
🙏🙏
Thank so much
Sound wisdom. Thank you.
Very welcome
Thanks Dan much appreciated thanks for sharing 🎸🎸🎶🎵
Thanks for watching!
So many great videos.
🙏
Good stuff!
Thanks! 👍🙏
Great video with lots of good suggestions. You should have the lava lamp on in the background though. :)
Thanks! It’s so old it hardly works these days… 🤣
Now log your progress really helps!
Thanks. I've been asking teachers how to practice for a long time.
Primarily I asked my flute teacher decades ago and have suggested to poi teachers the need for a plan for a practice.
I have practiced a number of different skills, but all in a haphazard way that probably spent way too much time and left a lot of skills out potentially.
This is great Dan!
Do you have any lessons that focus on right hand muting technique practice drills? I’m a guitarist transitioning to bass, and I’m pretty comfortable with most of the technical aspects. The one thing that’s pretty different is muting overall.
I’m looking for a practice drill around moving your thumb from the pickup to the E and A strings and back as I play across the strings and back. I know I could just work on scales to do that, but I’m looking for something with more back and forth movement.
If you don’t have any lessons around that, would you consider creating one?
Thanks! I do have this lesson you could try out: ruclips.net/video/iQ2_cVSBXGo/видео.htmlsi=Ot_UO-jLKTfVrUJZ
🙏🙏🙏
You mean playing different sections of 10 different songs isn’t productive 😅 thanks Dan I joke but I really do need to be more regimented!
THE PROBLEM: The ebook he is referencing to is not in the links below the video. NO PUN INTENDED SIR! 👈🏿🥺🤷🏾♂️
All the links I referenced are in the description unless I’m missing something? Which ebook?
Typically when does the aha moment come… I’m not getting it and that’s putting it mildly
Depends what you’re practicing and working on. Plus what areas you believe you’re weak in. It tends to come when you work on things you thought were difficult but become easy! Things that really help your bass playing (for me that was applying music theory to improvising and writing bass lines).