Love your videos.... I want to play BASS ... any suggestions about basic gear ? for begginner not much $$$ and is possible to play with a finger missing ( index) on right hand.... I´m Right handed.... loose on an accident ?????
@@GianCarloCarmagnani Gian Carlo Carmagnani I personally went with the Squier bass pack as my budget bass gear. You should be just fine playing one finger short, probably just pluck with your middle and ring finger. I'm a bit of a beginner myself, but I'd be happy to help where I can
@@MichaelSurfer Thanks Michael.... I have already begun the learning process ..... the finger is definitely not a problem .... I simply swap to other fingers...... or slap ... my bass choice was an used Ibanez and a Crate amp .... when I´ll progress and know better ... I´ll buy a better instrument..... Stay safe !
Honestly I've spent at least 4 hours looking at beginner content and they all assume that you know where to place your fingers on the fret so thank you for covering the very basics @@BassBuzz
Late comment here in 2019. A lot of this basic Bass stuff is skipped by others, and yet it is so vitally important when you are beginning or restarting later in life. Thanks Josh
Started at age 66. It's fun! Just invested in a little short scale bass. Started in November. Lots of music theory, scales, and drills but that's how you get better at it.
I have a double jointed thumb that often locks under my fretting hand. I've developed some pretty bad habits because of it so rewatching this definitely helps. Thank you for breaking it down so well.
I'm turning 60 this year, picked up the Bass at the start of the C-19 Pandemic (wanted to do something with all the down time). I've seen lots and lots of YT videos, this video ranks as #1 or #2 IMO for beginners. I consider you to be one of my Instructors, which is really cool if you think about it. Please know, I really appreciate your time, and thoughtful lessons. Thank you. Triple
I just turned 15 and got my first bass! These videos are awesome and they've helped me learn how to play bass. I'm a rather small person, so my hands had trouble reaching for a bit, but with some practice I can reach the notes yay!
I envy you… I wish I was more serious about learning an instrument when I was 15 instead of just hanging out with friends who weren’t into playing or learning because my friend who was into learning guitar was hardly hanging out with us, instead he was home practicing and today at 55 he has forgotten more about playing than I’ll ever learn! Lol
thank you for your videos! I'm 19 trying to learn how to play and they've been very helpful. but gosh my pinky fingers are way too short to put all 4 fingers on the frets at once.
SAME. I genuinely got angry at the assumption that all bass players are going to have man sized hands. 😂 Took a break and now I’m back to continue the video and try to work out some modifications. But dude... seriously?
@@user-hl7qv5ul5s It is nothing to do with being woman, more like a case of being whiny spoiled bitches who blame everything that life throws at them on others lol. Top 5 Fingerless Guitarists!: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-fPE_F3IjUcU.html AMAZING GUITAR PLAYER WITH NO ARMS !: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-N9jg2nhAMxQ.html
I am a guitar player who started playing bass for home recording no too long ago. This channel has been great so far. Congratulations and keep up the good work. I am subscribed now and will look forward for more content to grow my Bass playing skills.
Thank you for this lesson. I am a 59 young woman and I just fulfilled one of my bucket list items and purchased a new bass guitar. Can’t wait for it to arrive.
@@susiemuirhead561 Hi sorry I am late responding but I just saw your message, I got a Fender Squire at first but it was a little too big for my taste. I just ordered an Ibanez SRM for my 60th birthday and I love it. its smaller and the sound is awesome.
@@marymanfredi3994 I originally wanted a Squier 60s Classic Vibes Jazz bass but I found it was too big, and way too heavy! It was a toss up between a Fender Mustang or a Sterling by MusicMan Stingray Short Scale Bass. After consulting with my bass teacher he advised me to get the Sterling. It's 7.8 lbs in weight and has a better tonal quality than the Mustang. Have you started already? Are you taking lessons at all?
I just got a bass and all the “beginner” videos I saw all didn’t go over the actual basics, this helped so much and especially since I have small hands, helped me try use all 4 fingers! Thank you and I subscribed!
I just picked up a bass and I am SO happy that I came across this channel, i get frustrated with myself veryyyyy easily but with Josh I dont feel rushed or pressured to get it right first try (which is super important to me) I every other tutorial has me confused and angry because I just cant to get it down, but after a DAY of getting my bass I already learned two riffs with this guy. THANK YOU JOSH!!
Thank you. I’ve played guitar for years now trying to learn bass. I want to do it right to build better habits early than I did with guitar. The basic left hand finger and thumb grip guidance helped me TREMENDOUSLY.
Started watching all your RU-vid lessons, your explanations and demonstration are superb to say the least... Not even Fender Play explains it better and your real life down to starting at beginner level is much more understandable contrary to the others that have somewhat robotic presentations ... What sets you apart is that you touch on the basic things that we encounter as beginners down to specifics which we not only can associate with but also tells us how much work you put into this program.. Best described as attention to detail, something that today is hard to find...
How is Fender Play? Any good? I take private lessons once a week normally face to face but due to COVID we're doing it over ZOOM. Wanted to supplement some online too.
Thanl you so much. I just got my bass yesterday and I was so excited to try it out! I've been seeing a lot of ur videos and following them was so fun I actually smiled when the notes where playing along! Thank u thank u thank u!!!
i just started playing within the past two years (kind of been busy and here and there if you get me,) but i finally sat down and realized, dang, i really need to learn my basics more than anything, even though i have fun playing beginner songs. all of your videos have been a great help especially when you don't know where to start! also... i can't get my pinky to reach and i'm glad other people can't either bc i was kinda frustrated, haha
I’ve been following you for 3 years! Never hurts to get back to the Basics. I spend most of my time on your channel just revisiting Fundamentals. Such an Awesome channel. I’m a Happy Bass Player not just a Happy Bass Owner!
Thank you for explaining the "up a string"/"up the neck" thing. I just started and I was able to pick that up from context but it was nice to see the terminology defined and the logic behind it spelled out. Thanks for the lesson, gonna go back to thinking my pink finger is defective now.
I am an absolute beginner, and lessons in person are not possible now (I hope this will make no sense soon). I've loved every second of the outrageous amount of time I've spent analyzing JPJ, Chris Squier, Geddy Lee, Lee Sklar & etc - but all I've learned is how much I don't know. So far my rudimentary piano and guitar skills haven't helped much Your descriptions are terrific, but seeing what is happening from the side and the back, not just from the front, is what makes this video so valuable. I've now had my insanely beautiful first bass for 3 days, and I'm determined to master technique first. In my years on this planet, I have learned a bit of patience - and I don't want to have to undo bad habits later. Thank you thank you thank you!
I'm trying to master my fretting technique and plucking technique, and the way that you have broken this down really helped me. I'm currently taking after Cliff ( Burton ) and I think this will really help in my bass playing. Thanks Josh!
I’m 47 just bought a Bass guitar. I’ve watched a few of your beginner videos. Seems you’ve gotten better over the years with your video editing. It be nice if you make a more simpler way to get to know the fretboard. You’re doing an awesome job, though . My dyslexia kicks in fast 😂!, thanks bro!
I'm right-handed, but I've played guitar lefty since starting and it's getting harder to find lefty guitars in the models I want, so I'm borrowing a friend's bass to relearn guitar right-handed, and this is really helping to make sure I don't pick up any bad habits at the start. Thanks!
These videos are great. I know most of this stuff from playing guitar, but have recently bought a bass and am finding a few important differences in technique. No matter how long you’ve been playing it’s worth going back to basics.
I got my first bass a couple months ago and I'm trying to learn it now. As a brass player, it feels like I'm in a completely different world, and this video helped. I'm still struggling trying to use all of my fingers on the fret board but I'll keep practicing 😂
Really appreciate your videos, I'm learning from them. I'll head over to your website to check it out. Who knew Ashton Kutcher was actually a cool bass instructor?
Loving your lessons Josh, another covid-bound midlife crisis learner here! Any tips for those whose fingers are (ahem) substantially shorter than yours?! Finding it hard to keep my palm off the bottom of the neck when using my pinkie on the E string...
Bassist here to help ya since I doubt Josh will. Usually, although this tends to be a technique issue that isn’t a big deal in the long run, you can keep your palm there. As long as the tone keeps the same it should be fine, otherwise you’ll wanna stretch more
Just started playing a bass I bought again after a couple of years. Played guitar for a long time but just took a hiatus I guess from music in general. My biggest issue has been my thumb. I've used it too often to mute that E string on the electric when playing along with Smashing Pumpkins or other groups from the 90s. Glad I saw this and your other videos, but now can work to keep that thumb on the back of the neck and not hovering close to that string. Dang thing has been giving me more trouble than pinky on doing the exercises from your other video!
Picked up a bass guitar for the first time 4 days ago and started learning. So glad I found your channel. Very helpful content for a newbie like me. So excited to keep working on this. Thank you for sharing your knowledge! Bless you!
I love your videos, I’m a total beginner and there is no way I can get my fingers on 9,10,11,12 frets at the same time at all. Not even close. Especially my pinky. 😂 it can hardly reach from my hand to the e string from under the neck.
I am so grateful for your channel!! You have made learning bass alone so easy and fun. Thank you for your humour and for sharing your knowledge so generously.
Thanks for the lesson, I ordered my first bass and it will come in less than a week so i'm starting to learn even before i got the bass. Very good lessons. I'm nearly 35.
I didn't think I could use my pinky, I have short fingers... but after a while it clicked and I could use it. I'm happy to know that with practice I can do it. Thanks a lot for your helpful videos.
I got my first bass (a Japanese copy of the 1969 Fender Sunburst Jazz Bass that's all broken and fucked up but I got it off a guy for $50 and at least it plays) four days ago because I want to be able to play in my punk rock band (I'm also the lyricist). I'm twenty and I never ever thought I'd play an instrument as long as I live, but with help from your videos I've been making pretty solid progress practicing every day and loving it! It's one of the few creative, constructive things I can do with my concussion the way it is!
Very important lesson in the beginning stages. But also it doesn't hurt for intermediate and advance players to check there technique every once in a while. Having said all that, this chord progression is really cool! It is so cool that I am telling my friends to try out the chords to this progression!
My hands are small too. I winded up getting a short scale bass. My fingers are short too. I tend to shift a bit between my ring finger and pinky otherwise I'll get fret buzz between 3rd and 4th fret.
Thank you! I needed this video so much. These are all things that very few tutorials even tell you because they are so basic but as a complete beginner without any help, it’s exactly what I’ve been looking for! great video
On the verge of buying my first bass (don't know what model to go for yet) but I'm looking though these videos and think they'll be very valuable to my learning path if I do get one. So easy to understand and a nice relaxed pace. Great work!
@@susiemuirhead561 i ended up getting a 5 string Yamaha. It's great. Very comfortable. I haven't used the 5th string yet though. I'd probably go the 4 string if I had a chance.
I want to thank you for all your experience and great humor in your teaching. It helps to retain more if you are emotionally connected to the lesson. On a totally unrelated question, why a banana? I tattoo'd for 13 years, and that's got me puzzled. Thank you again.
I’m 13 and picked up the bass around summer this year. I found this really useful! However, I have somewhat small hands (assuming that’s due to my age) and have trouble in reaching my pinky to the E string. Is there a way around this or will it change with practice/time? Edit: I checked out some of your other videos and I think I’m getting there. Not perfect but definitely an improvement.
I have been a guitar player for years and fell in love with bass recently. I was doing everything with my fretting hand that you said not to haha. I switched to your technique and I'm getting lots of wrist discomfort. Could this be due to getting used to the bass? My fingers, while plenty long enough, are still getting adjusted to the monster stretches on bass, so there is some discomfort there as well. The finger stretching pain I understand, but not the wrist pain. Do you have any advice on what I may be doing wrong? Maybe not relaxed enough? I do know I catch myself pressing in with my thumb on the back of the neck a lot.
I'm a guitar player that's just started on bass. One thing I notice is that I pretty much have to have these videos on the good speakers because of the low frecuencies lol. I'm surprised at how bad I am on the bass at the moment considering I've played guitar for about 15 years. Very underestimated instrument.
your videos help me so much the way you explain things just works for me better then others. I wish you were my bass guitar teacher lol def keep watching your videos to learn.
Thanks for the videos. I am getting ready to start my bass learning curve. I'm in the process of getting a new Gretsch Electromatic and an Ibanez amp. Christmas to myself.
Thanks for this video, I need to sort of master the bass, because I'm into the six string guitar, and drums, so I want to sort of form my one man band, record myself, and see how that all works out, wish me luck.
any advice for someone with a small pinky? length wise I mean- if I attempt to use my pinky for the two lowest strings (E and A) I simply cannot find a way to position my hand where my pinky makes the proper note without all of my fingers being super out of place and my wrist being very uncomfortably stressed. it also seems to press against the upper strings when I try and causes a lot of unwanted sound. should I try a three finger method for all strings so I don't fumble around switching between the strings or should I try using my pinky for the G and D while keeping it floating for my A and E strings? I'm very new to bass and I want to make sure I'm ingraining a teqnique thatll work best for me, so any advice would be greatly appreciated. note: I don't think my pinky itself is small, more that all of my fingers (and maybe my whole hand) is smaller than average, I just have the biggest issue with my pinky.
It's definitely a learning curve. I've played the steeldrums for 25 years but the bass definitely takes time. Especially learning the entire fretboard. Our left hand is the non-dominant hand and hence it is weaker. Being comfortable on the fretboard takes time. I am still playing choppy instead of playing fluently so right now I am concentrating on playing slower and holding down the note longer before moving to the next note.
@@susiemuirhead561 It's funny because I write with my left hand and play sports with my right, so it's really me having sticks for arms. Thanks for the tips, I will make sure to play slower and make sure I'm holding the notes to build up the strength!
excellent block of instruction. I'm an Army vet with shouler and nerve issues affecting the dexterity of my left hand - difficult to grip the fret the way you recommended is there some way to work around ( when I grip my palm does touch the side)
hi - i started learning how to play bass recently. your content is excellent - clarity, charisma, great structure at the right pace, great educational material so far. i've gone through everything on the channel so far, and i look forward to more videos. i await something for 'advanced beginners' at this point! i have two newbie questions: 1) when i alternate finger strokes on my right hand, i noticed that i usually begin with my middle finger. it seems 'wrong' to me, but it feels more natural/comfortable. to avoid a potentially bad habit, would you suggest to pluck first with the index finger? especially for simple, slow tempo stuff? (i understand there may be exceptions when more complicated things are being played!) 2) muting notes on lower strings is easy (right hand fingers land on the strings above). but - muting ringing notes on the higher strings (usually notes on the G or D strings) after they are played them seems tricky to do with the right hand. i take it that you must always rely on the left hand to mute those strings. but how is it done? do you 'unfret' them gently to mute them, or do you place your left hand fingers down on those strings? or a combination, depending on the situation? keep up the good work!
Glad the lessons are working for you! There are lots more to come. To answer your questions briefly: 1) Neither is right or wrong, depends on context. It's good to be able to start either way. Some bass lines will work better with a particular starting finger, others will work with either. 2) Yeah, muting high strings is all about the left/fretting hand. It's a big topic how to actually do that, something I plan to address in detail in my next full course for sure. The basic philosophy is to keep "meat on the string" at all times unless you specifically want ringing strings. Exactly how you do that changes based on what fingers you have available in context, which is why it's such a process to teach it. Hope that helps a bit, see you around!
1.) Thank you for your videos! You make learning bass quite a fun. :) 2.) I think I did everything exactly as you said, but it is just REALLY not relaxing. My wrist is in pain. And it's just not fluid at all. Is it normal at the beginning? How should I fix it?
