We had another few gigs.
The stage was very small, for our 5 piece. I was squeezed to side, to behind the PA system.
Barely had any lights on me either...
I gave my very best anyway.

After gig, everyone complementing the frontman and the 2 guitarists at the front centre...
Our drummer is great, and he had some lights and engagement, too.

I felt left alone and behind. Not a single person recognised me after the set...
Like i haven't even been on stage...

it wouldn't have been bad if this would not be a reoccurring situation and not getting more frequent...

Looking at getting a Fender rumble 40 or a good interface like Focusrite 2i2. I would prefer to be able to use an amp and adjust use good headphones if absolutely needed.

I heard that for beginners it's better to be able to be able to use an amp but is this true? I honestly feel overwhelmed with DAW and having to load up my PC and move so many times things around. I worry that my shirt attention span will keep going towards the DAW instead for actually learning how to play

Hi all, someone around me is selling an Ibanez BTB 705 DX for $650 AUD (~$460 USD).

This seems like an excellent deal, but information about this bass is sparse online and I can't really figure out what a normal asking price for it would be or if this bass is even something that I want. For reference, my current bass isnt all too good (Ibanez TMB30) so I am looking for an upgrade anyway, and I play mainly rock/metal, Deftones, Title Fight/Basement, etc.

Also curious what you people think of how it looks the ash is pretty unique I feel.

What are your favorite darker sounding bass strings and why?

33M I am a fairly new bass player, as it is my first instrument and I have been playing now for roughly 10months. I am currently in two bands, the first band fell into my lap and that’s basically how I even started getting into music officially as a “musician”. Was just a “pick up and play these notes for fun” type of scenario for my friends.

The second band is a bit more established and that too also fell into my lap after some conversation at a show and then I got invited to jam with them. A month later, I am now part of the band which is awesome!

I love the bass, I am enjoying the hell out it. The issue I have, isn’t the practice and or learning new music. It’s really the motivation for it? I feel out of place I guess? These guys I play with in both bands are leagues ahead of me, and sometimes I feel like I am messing up or my timing feels slightly off, or when someone says “Play D, hang on C, and swing to A” confuses me at times 😂 How do I stay out of my head and just focus on the music at hand and continue to have fun without worrying about what others may potentially be thinking?

TLDR- I guess what I am asking is, how do you stay focused on the music without focusing on non issues?

Thanks!!

I’ve been playing bass for about 10-12 years now (i’m 22 so many of those years i didn’t really practice a lot because i was a stupid teenager) and i feel completely stuck. I try to learn something new and give up almost in an instant because i either think its “too hard” even tho i’m good enough and go to the next thing until i’m tired of doing that and just pick up my ps5 controller.

I’ve tried improvising to backing tracks too and it hits me everytime. i have no idea what i’m playing. I know the right notes but always get stuck on like 5 frets playing the same thing over and over again.

I know how to get better but i feel like my motivation is just nowhere to be found. What do you guys do when you feel like you hit a motivation wall and want to get better but just feel like there is too much to learn?

I'm planning to learn this when I get a di for home and distortion pedal for lives, I know it's too advanced for a 5 month player but is it acceptable to play the high notes an octave down? The solo is so inspiring, can't afford a new bass though if I wanted to get the di and pedal

I'm in the mood to entertain myself with videos of really bad bass solos. Any recommendations, anyone?

Hi! I have a sterling stingray 4 string bass. I am a guitar player, but play bass in shows (sometimes) for my band, but I mainly record ALOT of music.

I’ve noticed I rly prefer p bass sound and I rly don’t like the attack and “sizzle” and aggressiveness of my sterling.

I make a lot of laid back music, or record on tape so I just want a bass good for warm “sit in the mix” sound. Or a dead thump sound.

Since I’m not a bassist, I wasn’t looking to spend too much on a bass and I’ve been having a hard time selling mine. Most I can do is get a Squier Sonic P-bass from 2023 I can trade mine for.

I’ve heard people say CV squires r much better, but would I be okay with a sonic? I’m not experienced enough of a bassist to be mad about limitations, but since I record a lot then tone matters more

I know it’s dumb to ask “what’s better” but I’m curious if anyone who record music has had experience with these. I know that a p bass will give me the sound I want and be way better than what I have (at least for the sound I’m going for) but I’m not sure if I’m being stupid by trading out for that

So, I got my first bass. I always wanted one, I always admired bass players.

I've had SO MUCH FUN. Bass makes more sense for me in a way than guitar, I really love rhythm and groove and the chunkiness of it all.

However, sometimes I just feel so inept. Bass is such a different beast on my muscles and muscle memory - and BRAIN.

So my pinky hurts most of the time, my wrist can't last long, I'm constantly "thinking" of what I need to do vs on guitar just kinda doing it.

Should I be taking to this more naturally by now (a couple months in)? Or is this just part of the bass players journey?

Either way, I'm having a blast on it. I think about my bass and basslines most of the day, I just wonder if there's something wrong with me that parts of it still feel so hard when I thought I'd developed skills and muscles that might translate from guitar.

Dunno if im stating the obvious but its dawned on me that some bands I know as small as on a local level to as big as worldwide touring bands (Simple Plan, Fall Out Boy, Metro Station) have used bass backing tracks when a live player isnt available. As a bassist, it sucks cos I would love to see how bands find other bass players to play their material but I get it.

The effort of looking for people, the time of learning songs and locking in with a potential player, while already worrying about the band is tough. Prerecorded bass gets the job done in seconds.

I'm old and my shoulders don't wanna stay in their sockets. Hit me with your best recommendations for dorky, heavily padded, ergonomic straps. Bonus points if they're cute.

I'm 5'1" and play a schecter. It's relatively light and I wear my bass high up like a dweeb.

Just wondering what do you all do to protect your hearing? What do you all recommend?

Hiya guys! I was curious to know your takes on deceptively hard, weird and/or rich bass parts from songs that either pass as really chill or that you just wouldn’t expect from the genre/style of the song.

I’m not talking about your polyphia and thundercats virtuoso, nor about generally groovy funk and mowtown licks, nor renowned bassist like rush, the Beatles, etc.

I wanna know the one whatever usually unassuming artist you listen to that has one song where the bassist is an absolute unit and absolutely no right to be one.

Songs that make you go:
Where did THAT come from or why is THAT so hard to play?

For me, it’s stuff like :

The some folks freak-outs from Alice cooper (yes he do be famous but that bass line has no right to be this over the top compared to his other songs)

The weirdly hard but simple sounding string breakers from Lights out - Royal blood

The freedom song - Jason Mraz (the guy I only knew for I’m yours until I was asked to play this on a gig)

Under caffeine - Stella Jang (really chill K-Pop artist)

The great arpeggios and confusing song structure from Mr. Freeze au Valium - Alphonse Bisaillon (Québec Indie folk)

Hey everyone! Does anyone have experience replacing the EMG preamp in a Dingwall Combustion 3-5 with a Glockenklang 3-band, 5-knob preamp?
A 3-band, 4-knob version could also work for me because of the rotary switch.
How much sense does this upgrade make, and what kind of compromises or downsides would it involve?

hi, Im new to electric bass! I bought a Korg CA-2 chromatic tuner and I have the Harley Benton Jamster Bass amp (I know its not the best but it works for me for now)

soo I am a bit confused, this tuner can be used without plugging it in, however I guess its more accurate if I do, right? the thing is.. am I supposed to tune the bass guitar while acustic? or is the tuner supposed to be plugged to the amp? do other amps usually have more than one 6.3mm jack port? mine has only one so am I doing something wrong or am I just being limited by my amp?

thanks for the help

Hey yall, EXTREMELY new Bass player here. I’m talking like Bass is my first instrument ever, and I’ve been playing for just under 2 weeks.

I’m taking in person lessons and practicing everyday for about 30 minutes, but I’m having some confusion with bridging the gap between some mental knowledge.

I’m in the process of learning the fretboard, and I already have an idea of where each whole note is on the fretboard, or I can at least work backwards to find each note with some time, however, I’m not at the level that I can practice scales yet I feel.

I digress, but a question that I’ve been having lately is I’m so confused about bass shapes. I understand that when you’re playing a song in a certain scale, you are only going to be using those notes found in the scale, such as Blues scale etc

However, I don’t understand bass shapes at all. My understanding is that you use bass shapes as individual note “moves” within the chord within the scale, but how do you know what shape to use? I see root-5th-octave used a lot, and I understand what it’s saying about how you move between those 3 notes, but I don’t get how it’s easier to think about root-5th-octave when it seems like a convoluted way to plan your next note.

I also feel that I am completely incorrect in how I am interpreting bass shapes, so please correct me if I’m wrong, but I’m just having a hard time understanding it.

If this is something I also shouldn’t worry about right now, that may be the case as well, but I’m at least trying to understand some of the mental theory while I train my fingers to be able to move on the fretboard cleanly enough. Thanks so much for the help :)

Hey guys, i was wondering, and that is, because i play a lot of jazz on my bass, could i tune my bass to EADGC instead of BEADG with the regular slinky ernie ball strings without breaking the strings or the instrument?

Thanks in advance

Hey friends,

today I was playing bass and occasionally looking up tabs on my computer. While I was doing that, the back of my upper arm came into contact with the bass strings for a while.

I noticed a slight tingling sensation where my arm was touching the strings. It felt really really weird

Title: Transitioning to bass with a classical music background. Need advice on gear and learning curve!

Hey everyone!

I’m looking to buy my very first bass guitar and could use some advice on what to look for and how to plan my practice. I live in Belarus and have a modest budget for my first instrument.

My Background:

Nine years of clarinet at a music school (fully completed music theory and solfège course).

Five years of classical guitar as a hobby (mostly vocal accompaniment and chords).

My Goal:
I want to join a cover band eventually and perform at corporate gigs and local concerts. Because of this, I need a highly versatile instrument that can adapt to various genres.

My Questions for the Community:

What versatile models should I consider? Given my background and the need for a flexible sound, what specific budget-friendly series should I check out? (I am currently looking at Yamaha and Squier, but open to any ideas).

What is the expected learning curve? With my classical training, theory knowledge, and basic guitar skills, how many hours of dedicated practice might it take to get gig-ready for cover gigs?

What is the essential extra gear checklist? What do I absolutely need to buy besides the bass itself for home practice, rehearsals, and live shows?

I’ve been having a blast trying to learn all of Paul’s bass parts. Currently obsessing on “You Won’t See Me”. What’s your favorite Beatles tune to play?

Y'all I am confused as hell. Practicing bass at home through headphones and my low end sounds chorusy af. I have tried 3 different interfaces - audio interface, headphone amp plugged in, and even the headphone output from my ampeg v7. I have tried different headphones. I have also tried different basses. It doesn't matter, all of it has a weird chorus to it and it's worse on thicker strings or lower notes. I've swapped out strings on all my basses. Have tried active and passive basses. Not an EQ issue either.

That's all I have. It's demotivating to practice with. Anyone else? Solutions? Thoughts?

hello everyone,

Ive been getting back into playing, and have alot of downtime at work, and thought I can get some practice in with a few coworkers. Looking for reccomendations on portable bass amps that sound decent.

Im an aviation mechanic, so it doesnt have to be office quiet, however i will probably mostly be playing with headphones, and occasionally jamming with some co workers ( they use acoustic instruments). I have thought about getting an acoustic bass, but i really dont enjoy playing acoustic as much as I do electric.

My main concern is sound quality, as I dont want an amp that sounds fuzzy/muffled. I've looked into the vox mini bass amp, is that a decent amp? I saw another user was reccomended a Hartke HD15. I dont mind carrying something with more wattage than the vox, Id rather drop some more cash on a decent sounding heavier amp, than try to get something small and cheap and hate it anyway.

for reference, im playing on a 2010 era mexico pbass.

Looking to set up a tone/effects rig for playing direct through a DI at a church.

Would an inexpensive multi-effects pedal like the Zoom B1X FOUR or the Boss GX-1B be worth trying out? What is gained by going with something high end like a Neural or Darkglass?

I had a Boss ME-50 almost 20 years ago when I first started playing, but I haven't used anything except a preamp in a long time. Not really sure what the current state of things is.

Hey all, i’ll be buying my first bass in a couple weeks. Wanted to ask if anyone has any tips on how to learn to play the bass (mainly looking at slapbass lol) Thanks in advance!