[revolution_generation]

i need some help from all veterian bassist out there
im a varly new bass player in a worship band.. they pretty much handed my the instrument and the next day i was on the stage playing.. so if theres any people out there that could tell some pointers on how to make praise and worship songs sound better than just using the root note, then hook me up also, if u have any adivce of comments thanks
~T~

[ben4gsus]

I would like to know that info too!

[Ryanne]

ok, I'm really not good at doing this yet, but my guitar teacher is teaching me how to improvise over chords and stuff. You have to figure out the key, and then use a bunch of different scales. You can play any of the notes in those scales, as long as the song doesn't change keys. It gives you a lot of freedom for basic chord progressions. I hope this helps some. In Christ, Ryanne

[ugabugabear]

I think for a beginner, one of the best things you can do is rhythm-type things. We're all about keeping it simple. Our bassist at church is also extremely new, and this is something we're working with him on. Instead of playing quarter notes, for instance, he'll play a pattern of 8th or even 16th notes. Adds something different to the song.

Some other things we're having him try is to play in different positions...maybe not all the time just yet, but a couple notes here and there. Nothing fancy. Or slides. He really likes slides.

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[kwikemartownr]

I am neither a bass guitar player nor a guitar player, but have been around enough to know what you're going through revolution_generation.

They all started off doing the basics of bass guitar; play the note of the chord that's given. If it's a G chord, then play the root, the G. Pretty cool so far.

Then they started taking the music home and connected each chord together. For example, if they had a G leading to a D, they'd think about how to connect that G to the D without (like Ryanne said) changing the chords.

Anyway, that's how they started. Who knows? Maybe you're prodigy at bass and you didn't know it? Good luck to you R-G.

[Fireboy_2002]

i'm new but i'm working with bass scales and i must say studying them and staying with in the key is the best way to go.

[DavidAM]

For a quick pointer, learn the basic major chord patterns:
F-A-C
G-B-D
A-C#-E
B-Eb-F#
C-E-G
D-F#-A
E-G#-B

When ever the there is a chord change, play the note in between the two chords. For example, if the root changes from G to D, play G - B - D.

Check out these links for additional instrucion:

http://www.harmony-central.com/Bass/
http://www.harmony-central.com/Bass/...with_the_Bass/
http://ubets.uark.edu/~jemartin/bassbook/index.html

http://www.activebass.com/

http://www.amscons.com/tbl/
http://www.amscons.com/tbl/featured/simplemusic.html
http://www.amscons.com/tbl/featured/walking.html

[SoulBass]

Another really cool thing that totally changes up the bass pattern is to do this...

Play picking parts inside a bass chord. If the guitar player is playing a G chord, you play the third fret on the E string, the fifth fret on the A string and the fifth fret on the D string. You can play around with all sorts of patterns inside of that, too.

It's even easier if you tune the bass to drop D, then it's just the same fret for all the notes... example being the G bass chord is the fifth fret on the E, A, and D strings. You can find all sorts of neat patterns inside of those type of chords.

[Jzak]

I know it might be boring, but playing the root is the most important thing a bassist has to do. (Yes, I know there are times when you’re to be elsewhere, but 90% of the time you’ll be playing the cord root.) What takes time is learning what to do after you have hit the root note.

The first step is to take DavidAM advice. Learn to “walk” to your next cord root. The notes that you hit during the “walk” will depend on the key in which you are playing. This is not as bad as it sounds, because if you learn the pattern in one position, it’s the same when you change positions and move up the neck. (i.e. A “F” bar cord on the 1st fret has the same finger position as a bar “G” cord on the 3rd fret.) It would be a good thing to learn the notes all the way up the neck on the low E string.

SoulBass also gives good advice, and I’ll make it even simpler by saying to just play octaves. If the bass cord is a G, play the G on the 3rd fret, E string, with your 1st finger on the 1st beat. Than (while still holding the G with your finger) play the G on the 5th fret, D string during the 3rd beat. If the root chord switch to a D, put your first finger on the D located 5th fret, A string, during the 1st beat and add the 3rd finger to the D on the G string, 7th fret. Notice the octave pattern? Once you get use to setting your first finger on the root note and know where the octave is, you can begin walking between them.

Word of caution. Watch out for the piano player (and sometimes the guitar player)! He could be playing a walking bass to the next cord. If you don’t follow him, it will sound awful. Don’t be afraid to ask him what he’s playing with his left hand!

Last bit of advice is to follow the drummer. Listen to his rhythms and play off of them. Set the groove and have some fun! You can actually improvise more on the bass than any other instrument. Experiment! Spread the Word through your service!

[SoulBass]

Yeah, Jzack got it right on. Octaves really add to slow songs too... let the octaves ring for a measure (or as long as possible while following hte chord changes) and you get a semi-chorus sound. It just fattens up the bass foundation for the guitar player.

And most definately work with the drummer. There is nothing that feels better than playing with a good drummer. Not a showy drummer, a good one. I love that feeling you get when you and the drummer just lock in together and are hitting rythms just right. Man, that's the best. If you and the drummer aren't locking in together, play around before practice... or set aside "Jam Time" when you can both get a feel for each other's playing styles. Especially in worship, it's really important to be locked in. Otherwise, the incongruity in the rythm section can be a distraction.

And remember, that's what a bass is... a rythm instrument. Rythm before melody and nothing before worship.

[SoulBass]

Oh, another thing...

Learn all your frets. Know what fret is what note all the way up your neck. What this allows you to do is instead of playing an Eb on the Dstring/first fret, you can play it on the Estring/11th fret. Listen to the difference next time you have your bass out. You get more harmonic resonances the higher up the fretboard you play. (that means a thikcer sound) Some songs that I do I play entirely on the lowest string simply because I can slide to them all and I love the resonances. It's easier on a 24 fret bass, but you can do it on any bass. And there really is a diference.

The catch is that you have to make sure you are really in tune. The higher up the fretboard you go the more apparent it becomes if you aren't really in tune.

Oh, and don't be afraid to use a pick! There is this myth going around that "real bass players don't use picks." That's bull. There are some things that just sound better with a pick. Heck, we do a song called Be The Center, where I play a STRUMMING bass part. I'm effectively the rythm guitar. Can't do that without a pick.

Don't be afraid to do new and weird stuff. One of the things that is strangling the church is homogeny... sameness... in worship. Change it up. Do something funky. Put a groovy breakdown in the middle of a song. Lead off with a punk bass line. Rearrange and sing a HYMN in the contemporary service! Use a harmonica! Brass! Do a whole service accapella! Just do something different.

Now, I'm not saying play wailing guitar solos or bass solos all the time in worship. But don't be afaid to let go and worship with your instrument. The greatest lesson I ever learned was how to worship with my bass and not say a word with my mouth. That's where we as worship leaders (and if you are part of a worship band in any capacity, you are a worship leader) NEED to be.

Whew... ok... I got a little off subject... sorry 'bout that...

Where was I? Oh, yeah... use a pick sometimes, it's cool.

[Jzak]

SoulBass,

I was agreeing with you until you got to the “pick” part! I must be a “real bass players don’t use a pick” believer (just kidding). There are a few songs in which I’ll use a pick. Only when the songs really calls for the snappy thin pick sound. I guess my background of finger picking on the guitar carries forward to my bass style. There is a song my worship band plays, Trade My Sorrows (AKA Yes Lord), in which I’m cording three strings, with no pick. I get an instant pluck of all three notes.

Looks like we have a lot in common. I look forward bantering with you in the future. Take care and God Bless.

[SoulBass]

Funny you should mention that song... that's my other strumming song. I play a strumming "rythm" bass part on that instead of the usual plucking part that the other bassists at my church use. Those are the only two songs that I strum on though. I, like most bassists, am a finger player normally. It's just easier to move quickly when you aren't hindered by a pick... usually. I will, however, usually use a pick for punk-style bass lines b/c I love that single-stroke pickin' sharpness for those types of lines.

I think that a REAL bassist should be able to play all three styles... Plectrum (pick), Pizzacatto (finger), and thumb. It makes you more versitile as a player and allows you to get more sounds out of your instrument.

[Jzak]

SoulBass, You hit the mark. We need to play all those style. Thank you brother!

Bottom end, let’s talk about “Trade My Sorrows” . (Pick or no Pick.) We have some young bass players here that will be trying to play it. Let’s set them straight. It's a simple song but requires some technique. I’ll send you my tabs in the next few days. They're probably the same as yours.

God Bless, and Continue the walk…..

[SoulBass]

THey are prolly much the same, but you said that you use three note chords. For simplicity's sake while playing a strumming bass, I only play two note chords on the high G and D strings. About half way through the song when it goes down to that E (though the sorrows...) the first time, I drop the struming and play everything on the Low E string (dropped down to a D for me). It gives the song a little more energy b/c it feels like a build-up.

We were practicing it over and over and over one night, and I just got tired of playing that strumming bass b/c while I play that style more often than most, I'm still a bass player and my arm got tred from all that guitar style strumming. SO, I switched down to the E string and everyone got real excited and started playing harder and the energy just went up from there. When we got done they told me to play it just like that... so I do. I'll send tabs to you when I get a chance and we can compare notes. Rock on Brother.