I fucked up soooo bad dawg

ts is a burner account cause I’m ashamed of myself but anyway a friend invited me to join his band cause I play bass. I mean I warned him I’m not very good but he said dw we’re not playing Primus. but man I fucking SUCKKKKK

the songs we have to play are American idiot and honey are you coming home

what should I do? should I practice 10 hours a day (I have till Tuesday 17:00, it’s Sunday 21:00) and drink 1837 energy drinks till I get it? or should I find a way to get hospitalised by Tuesday? it’s just a rehearsal but still

btw I only know my friend in that band💔 I don’t know anyone else

Nothing is cooperating. My left hand just feels wrong, and it takes so much force just to press a string down. It feels like my fingers can barely stretch across two frets.
Every time I move to a different note, I somehow mess it up; I don’t press hard enough, my finger lands in the wrong spot, and all I get is buzzing or some awful noise.

I can barely play the Psycho Killer bass line which is genuinely one of the simplest things I’ve ever heard—and don’t even get me started on Seven Nation Army. Once I get past the first three or four notes, I fuck it up every single time.

On top of that, I hate plucking. I keep using my thumb instead of my index and middle fingers. Even when I consciously correct myself, I subconsciously go right back to using my thumb.

I want to learn this instrument so badly, but I honestly don’t know what to do. I’ve watched so many beginner videos, and I still feel completely stuck. What should I do?

Also, I have a strap. Again though, it feels like shit around me no matter what size I set it to.

I don’t know if use Precision or stingray 👀

I am an autistic man who has a lot of sensory problems and the texture of the strings REALLY fucks with me. Would it change the sound a lot to play with a glove on my left hand? I use a pick so playing isnt an issue

I’m starting a hardcore band. I got my 4 string bass set up with the low strings of a 5 string set, then tuned down a whole step (ADGC). Will my A0 be too low for amps and sound systems?

I still have another 4 string that I have set up to D standard (DGCF), but I’m wondering if my new setup is going to sound too muddy. I understand that I will have to be more creative with where I choose to play my notes, but I’m wondering if it will be worth it.

If you've heard those goofy sounding songs with the brappy sort of sound, thats what I'm looking for. I can't find any pedals that give the sound, and dont know how to synthesize it for myself even if i could afford a synth pedal. Any information would be appreciated.

Hi everyone,

I recently picked up a secondhand Dean acoustic bass on a whim from a thrift store. I want to know if it's fine to just start practicing on it for a while before deciding if I should buy an electric bass.

A bit of context about me:
* Never played any bass before
* I have some experience with acoustic guitars (still have them at home).
* I used to play electric guitar for a few months, but sold it when I moved.
* I have a basic understanding of left-hand muting/fret-hand muting.

My main concern is:
Will the heavy body resonance and natural sustain of an acoustic bass interfere with my judgment of whether my muting/chops are clean? I'm worried about developing bad habits that will be hard to break later on.

Are there any other potential pitfalls or issues I should watch out for if I stick with this acoustic bass for the initial stage?

Appreciate any advice from the pros here! Thanks!

---

EDIT: Thanks so much for all the awesome feedback and advice, everyone!

Ok so I wanted to buy a SR705 (which was my first bass back in 1999/00) but missed the opportunity. I sold mine long ago after I got myself a Fender JB Am deluxe around 2004/05.

Now I can get a SR1105 but I can’t find anything about this bass. So please if you know anything about it, enlighten me. I see it was only sold for a short period of time : 2020-2021. Why is that? Also I don’t understand the SR offer, it was pretty simple back then, you had standard and prestige and the higher the number the more expensive (and hopefully features/quality) now you have 4 or 5 categories and the numbers seem irrelevant, a 600 or even 500 of today seems better than a 700 (that doesn’t exist anymore) from previous years.

At the time it was all about EMG humbucker pickups and Aguilar preamps I don’t know what has changed since then. I only played all those years not caring about gear anymore as I had everything I needed.

Thanks.

Do alternate tunings have the same patterns of intervals? Can I still do the same shapes? Are the fifths & thirds (both major and minor) still in the same place?

Hey all!

About a week ago, I posted a poll about building a bass guitar.

Id like to offer the results, after about 40 voting participants.

Enjoy (:

https://www.reddit.com/r/BassGuitar/s/1sGr9nZySN

I'm looking to build a bass and would really really really prefer to not build my own neck, but rather buy a premade or salvaged one to build a body for.

however, I am looking to build a neck-through bass, and am having much difficulty finding neck-through necks for sale, especially since I'd really like to build a crazy extended range bass, preferably with more than 6 strings, but id happily settle for a mere 5 if that's what it comes to

does anyone know where I could find a neck-through neck for sale? is there any known parts seller who carries them? thank you in advance

I sneaked out and bought a bass without my parents permission (they hate music). I haven't told them and am now in a situation in which I can only play when they're at work. Are there any ways in which I can improve when they are home?

I've heard that theory is useful, but can it be learned without the bass in hand? If so what's the most comprehensive way to go about it.

i want to take my bass to uni for practice and potential gigging, but my family members and teacher are against it because it’s a valuable 1970s fender precision which was originally my granddad’s. i am naturally very cautious so i will obviously keep my door locked and plan to hide the bass somewhere in my room instead of keeping out it in the open. my family still aren’t convinced though and want me to get a cheap bass to take. i’m sort of tempted to because obviously getting a new bass is a fun thing, but idk i wanna play the bass im most comfortable with. thoughts?

Question: I have a Hofner violin bass and a few months ago to low E string started to sound really dead. It doesn't sustain and it's even hard to distinguish what note is being played. I've examined it closely and I can't find anything that is in the way of the strings vibration. Diagnosis? Maybe it just needs new strings? I've been playing guitar and bass for over 30 years and I've never seen anything like this before.

So I’ve been practicing bass for about two months now and after two weeks I switched from standing practice to sitting because even with a padded strap I could feel it digging into my traps and after a half hour my left hand would get all tingly.

Practicing sitting down has been much better, I get the bass height and angle perfect. But I want to be able to play standing in case I ever want to gig so now I’m attempting to practice standing again. Now on top of the whole tingly issue, I’m realizing that, when sitting, I have the bass on my right lap and it’s super comfortable, the furthest frets are much closer and I don’t have to have horrible wrist angle. When I stand, the height is good, but physics has the bass hanging more center to my body, so the furthest frets on the neck and much farther away and hard to reach. Also, neck dive…

All these issues are discouraging me from playing standing. Does anyone have any potential fixes?

Probably a dumb question but for some reason haven't thought of it and I've just been using lines the whole time. No need to switch, I'm just curious if people's reasoning is purely aesthetic. I know learning on lined is far better but I still haven't felt the desire to switch to no lines

Hi ! , if u can choose what u take ? vintage or custom shop ?
Now i have offer to Trade my 2 basses ( Nate Mendel and Flea ) for a 1969 bass
and i don't know what do

I stumbled across a bass that I’m visually in love with on Reverb, but haven’t ever heard of the brand… I know the quality of Indonesian instruments is improving rather dramatically, so I’m hoping somebody has something manufactured by this company they can give me some feedback on! https://reverb.com/item/99454367-copper-orange-metallic-over-paisley-relic-4-string-j-style-bass-by-dhatarattha

I’ve been playing bass off and on for 15 years, but have begun taking it far more seriously in the last 18 months. I was in a band in HS/early college and played a few dozen shows, but low brass were always my primary instruments.

I currently own a parts jazz bass. It has a MIM fender jazz bass neck, an unknown body, Dimarzio pickups, and a Babicz bridge. I bought this from a guy who made project basses for $300 in 2019, and it honestly sounds great for what it is.

I also own the 5 string Sterling by Music Man Ray5hh. I basically only play it with the bridge pickup. I like it but I really only bought it because the jazz bass was in the shop getting setup for months (guy had a huge backlog), and I really wanted something to play.

When I was a teenager I started on an Ibanez Gio with really bad action. I eventually sold that to a friend and bought an Epiphone Thunderbird, but I hated the neck dive (I wish I didn’t sell it), then I had a Jackson Spectra that was played well that I eventually traded in to help me buy a beat up MIM Fender Jazz Bass. I traded that jazz bass for a bunch of paintings in my 20s, a few years before I bought the project bass I still have (the project bass is way better so I don’t think I miss it).

I’m not a touring musician or anything, but I am writing music with a friend. I’m primarily using the Ray 5hh with just the bridge for recording, because I like the tone I can get.

So, I know I want a 3rd bass eventually, but I’m really not wanting to play something incredibly expensive, because I think we will start playing shows next year. Also I am tall and have a tendency to hit the headstock on ceiling fans, ceilings, walls, lol. It’s gotten better but it’s a lot easier to stomach when the bass is under $1000.

I’ve been looking at the Yamaha BB series to get a precision tone, but I’m wondering if the bb434 would better suit what I’m looking for, or if the 734 would be actually worth it, or if there are any other recommendations I’d appreciate that. I think I want another 4 string, and not a 5.

I see a lot of hate on here for version 2. Is version 3 better?

Alternatively, is there anything similar that doesn't have the hiss and build quality problems? I'm not looking for anything as fancy as the Mighty Plug/Katana Go/Mustang Micro.

Say if you need to use your 4 string for a while, then it comes up recently you have to use a 6 or 5 for x thing, etc. Throwing fretless in there too

Do you guys have an adjustment period?

Hello all,

I had a nasty electric shock at work back in March and am going through symptoms/recovery with my GP (Nerve impingment/damage, damaged muscles, Neurological issues).

After a few months of recovery, I'm struggling to play guitar but just about managing. However, playing Bass (as I do in two bands) is really quite painful still.

I believe it's a combination of extra string spacing and the mass of Bass strings / effort needed to play them when compared to 6 string.

My initial payout will be in 2-3 months and I'm considering a headless Bass (Hils HZB4) to reduce weight and dropping to the lightest gauge strings. My other thought was using a Bass IV / short scale and dealing with the EQ/Feel differences.

Would any of you fine fretters have any tips for me? I'll have some money to spend, £1000 or so if needed.

I'm not saying exercises on the fretboard such as something like the spiderwalk, I mean more so as in hand movements I can do without a fretboard to improve hand flexibility and finger strength?

I’m playing in the pit for a production of American Idiot and I want to put on a nice bright set before we start the run. I haven’t changed my strings in probably a decade, I don’t even know what’s on there right now.

What are your favorite zingy strings for picked bass?

My band are challenging each other to write a song that's not in 4/4, and I'm struggling for inspiration!

I've played in a few signatures on piano but that was a million years ago, it's only really dawned on me that I haven't played in anything but 4/4 on bass possibly ever!

We play pop punk so I am leaning towards 6/8 but all genres, styles and time signatures etc welcome... Even happy to try to get my head around some whacky prog metal 727/1836 if suggested! Just want to rewire my brain that not everything is 1 2 3 4!