Top 10 Awesome Tips For Beginner Bass Players!

[@wolfgang548]

I have an added tip. Before playing, wash your hands well with warm soapy water. This will remove the oils your body produces from your fingers and make playing more comfortable. At least that's what works for me.

[@ariarazm]

Use disposable gloves instead

[@andreystepanov7597]

Интересное замечание. Вегетативная система у всех работает по разному. Например мои ладони и пальцы настолько сухие что это создает некоторый дискомфорт. Для правой руки возможно это полезно? В левой руке пальцы иногда могут слетать со струн. Кажется нет устойчивого сцепления. Либо я делаю что то не так.

[@ColmNeligan]

I bought the first two beginner courses at Talking Bass. I first thought a little expensive until I began and printed out the exercises. Worth every single cent it had everything I needed and some

[@domingovargas4658]

I do not speak English, I can understand something with my effort, I need to listen to you many times to understand it, you speak very fast and it makes it difficult for me but you are a professional, I have learned a lot with your explanations, thanks,I AM from Dominican Repunlic

[@TheBillyLee]

Si estas en computadora puedes bajar la velocidad del video en los Settings.

[@JaxonHaze]

I’ve been playing for over a decade, but this was still a great pep-talk!

[@dambrooks7578]

Ditto, I have learnt so much from Mark, almost like rewiring the bodged existing muscle memory electrics.

[@caraashji]

I've just started playing, im 15 and ive been trying to learn on my own for a while but its quite difficult, some of my fingers are still pretty weak. I'm hoping to get actual lessons soon because i practically have no clue what im doing, all i can do at the moment is follow simple bass tabs. Anyway, i really want to learn and actually get good at bass so i can join or make a band. Anyway, this was very helpful. Thanks for making this video.

[@Max-el7zd]

How is your playing now?

[@dambrooks7578]

I wish I had any of these tips when started playing twenty odd years ago... never to late to learn in life. Nice one Mark, and if anyone has just their first bass, welcome to a world of bass 🤩💖🤩

[@kalidesu]

The same, I tried Bass 10-15 years old and gave up. I took it up again 3-4 years ago again. The Bass was calling to me.

[@thothtahuti5509]

I just got my first bass today, I've been practicing for ten hours now ::)

[@talktalk2412]

thanks, its good to be here

[@EndTimesProductions]

Dude, you're the very best of the youtube bass teacher bunch! Thank you sir!!!

[@OlettaLiano]

Good video. Kids today have it so much easier. When I started playing bass KZbin wasn't a thing, so I didn't have access to a great teacher like Mark. I had to learn songs by slapping on a pair of headphones, and listening to parts of a song over and over on a cassette player, picking out a few notes at a time.

[@zadokmotorfreight2423]

Truly a high quality instructor!

[@mylesrankin6755]

“In a pit down by the canal”...but that’s my favorite kind 🥺

[@falconismbot9370]

I agree with you on the tab subject. There is definitely pros and cons to it but it has it's place.

[@Patrickjohnphotography]

Thank you for the amazing tips to start with. Your teaching helps me feel like I am not in over my head.

[@och70]

Tip number three at @ 3:10 - that's such an important tip for beginning players, bass or guitar. Makes the learning process easier if everything feels the same when you're sitting down or standing.

[@JTFuller]

THAT JOKA SAID DISORT AND FART WHEN YOU TURN THEM UP... Bruh, that made my day man.. That's freaking funny as crap... I like this dude.. Learned a LOT and he is funny..

[@mariai7903]

Absolutely love this! I was losing motivation to learn bass (complete beginner here) until I found your channel

[@dotnineteen.1962]

As an intermediate - pro player i have ditched amps and insted use an interface into a laptop with an amp simulator for practicing at home Usually a PA system is used live so i just plug in a multi effects pedal and add the amp and cab simulators and EQ

[@Viraus2]

What amp software do you use?

[@dotnineteen.1962]

@@Viraus2 Tse Bod (sansamp) & ignite amps SHB-1 into ableton live

[@dotnineteen.1962]

@@Viraus2 i use TSE BOD (sansamp) into an ignite amps SHB-1 head inside ableton live So simply Sansamp ---> Tube Amp Simulator --> PA

[@david_a_uno]

I've been a guitar player for a long time, but love rhythm and enjoy playing bass. You're an absolutely fabulous teacher!! Thank you.

[@johnnyjacques4232]

Just got my bass a few weeks ago, and I'm starting to binge all your videos here. Thanks for the great tips!!

[@RC32Smiths01]

I've been playing for quite some time now on the bass, but these tips are still essential and critical for me! Great video my man

[@hanakisoi998]

Thank you for the beginner tips. I was surprised with my first bass guitar today! *I've wanted one for years and I finally have one* ♥

[@markbass354]

great advice as always , thanks Mark

[@lateonenight]

Love your passion and honesty.

[@StephenFarthing]

On a passive bass I have the volume set at about 60 percent and the amplifier volume quite high. I then use the volume control on the bass to control the overall volume. It also gives the player more headroom which allows them to learn the sonic difference between plucking the string with thumb, fingers, softly, and hard.

[@XBlueM0ndayX]

Tab is great for beginners. How do I play that riff I like? Tab makes that question as clear as possible. Puritans have a problem with it, but I think most people just don't care about the instrument that much, or they're sufficiently creative that they don't actually need to know the theory. But if you want to understand music, learning the theory is a must. My friend plays guitar (and has done for like 10 years) and I still can't teach him anything about intervals because he just doesn't care. Double stops are enough for some people.

[@johntammaro]

I just got a bass for Xmas for myself. I've been toiling with getting one for a long time because I have tiny adult hands. It's a struggle so far for reaching 3 frets wide but not impossible. I'm not going to let this stop me. Great tutorials. As much as I only just got my bass I did my research before buying. You are fantastic and probably the best online.

[@taylorwright7711]

Even though you already have a bass, look into a short scale. They're legitimate basses that're easier on the fingers. I have an Ibanez Mikro and it's actually surprisingly great quality for only $179 (check out the reviews!).

[@caseyryback6932]

If your fingers need a rest from the 1 finger per fret stretch, you can place index, middle and pinky on 3 frets, leaving the middle finger as a sort of support for the pinky. Thats economical and enables You to increase practice time. Especially in the lower fret-areas where the stretch is extreme, bass-players do that mostly if the bassline allows that.

[@1ife3ternal]

I’m 13 and can stretch almost 5 frets (have small-ish hands too)... it comes with practice and when you start to get used to it your fingers won’t hurt as much and you will be able to stretch easier. It also helps doing finger stretches too 😂

[@samison8265]

Thank you! This was really helpful

[@kahwigulum]

Any preamp pedal and a good pair of studio headphones can sometimes be cheaper than a decent amp, and will often include something like compression and some tone controls that a cheap amp won't have.

[@dentoncrimescene]

Yeah, and when you wear headphones you can hear all the unintended noises you are making so you can tidy it up.

[@DarkShaman667]

Great guide for beginners! I figured all that out by myself. If someone told me all of that, I would have progressed faster.

[@TheLegionofReason]

The Rumble 40???? Our house would fall down! I have the Rumble 25, and that thing is set to "barely above zilch"! Even so, I play at the wrong time and I go from "married" to "divorced" in no time flat! Love the courses!

[@DearDrDoom]

😂 same! I think the 25 is perfectly fine, a very nice amp for home.

[@snapshot79]

Great video, thanks a lot! I think you should mention the guitar pro tabs. As you know, they combine the best of both worlds: The numbers to find the right notes and the note stams and flags for the rythm. I also wish somebody told me about short scale basses in the beginning. I find the regular bass a bit long to feel comfortable. The short scale has the size of a regular guitar and I just love it. Ibanez Mikro for the win!!!

[@samstinkeringaround8961]

I have a Fender rumble 40 watt , for taking around great practice amp. Loads of features , headphone jack , I-phone jack ,

[@WilliamMartinez-lm1sk]

Hello, Well explained, keep the great job, thank you, God bless us all in 2023. Amen.🎉🎉🎉.🎼🎶🎹🎵🎸.

[@drexl7958]

This is a pretty interesting clip. I’ve been playing guitar for 20+ years and recently bought a few bass guitars. Good tips, thanks man! 🎸

[@jimjames335]

Fan of your videos Mark, I have a Breedlove acoustic, still watch your lessons and find them valuable but how much difference does acoustic make? I live in an apartment and the acoustic is loud, powerful and awesome. Don't need an amp. I love it. Any tips re: that?

[@jimjames335]

Edit: show us an acoustic lesson if you dare 😁

[@wkutella]

Amps...I just purchased a Peavey TNT 115... NOT sure how to set everything. Manual did not come with it and I can't find anything specific to this particular amp. First off.. did I get a good one? Second, any help with settings would be awesome. Thank you. Love your videos

[@Chrischimaus]

Great content as always! I was wondering if you could do a video about how to set up your bass properly? Cheers and greetings from Germany

[@Cocoa_Thundz]

Any strap will do.. but, the Fender pick me up pro series strap is a great bang for buck strap. Any shoes will do.. but the Fender marathons are the finest fender shoes fender has ever fendered Fender

[@J-H585]

where is the best place to place the finger on the string . how far from the bridge ! and is the distance from the bridge makes any difference in sound ! thanks

[@caseyryback6932]

When I understand You right, you wanne know about the placement of the plucking hand, as the placement of the fretting hand gets covered in this video. Plucking right next to the bridge results in a punchier, brighter tone à la Jaco Pastorius. Going further to the neck the tone gets warmer and more bass comes in like in most lines from James Jameson. This can be additional influenced in one or another direction by the controls on the Bass or the amp, selecting/blending between the pickups, using different strings and so on. But basically, the more you come towards the bridge, the tone is brighter and sort of more accentuated.

[@hondakid9170]

Love your channel man!

[@mariochartouni]

Great as always Mark, but how to you remove the plastic from under the knobs, on the pickguard ?

[@dentoncrimescene]

That is annoying. You can take the knob off and loosen the nut underneath and you can normally get it off.

[@talkingbasslessons]

@@dentoncrimescene Yup. That's it. Loosen the nut with an allen wrench, take the nut off and pull the pesky plastic off.

[@mandolin926]

Great tips friend!

[@sturusk3620]

Have fun and play music. Best advice, so many vids forget this and concentrate on the technical side which is a bit overpowering for a beginner and stifle your enthusiasm.

[@legionbishnusunuwar3937]

Which guitar is the best for begginer zaj or blues?

[@chrisc180]

What you think of the Ashdown Studio 10 (50W, 10" speaker, 5-channel eq), compared to the Fender Rumble 40? (Specially in terms of round tone.)

[@Goabnb94]

I agree with the tabulature. Sites like Songsterr give rhythm information with their tabs, and a good tab from like Ultimate guitar can usually be deciphered by ear, which is the usual criticism given about tabs. I was fortunate that I learned piano first and have an understanding of traditional notation but I can't read it and play it right away as opposed to tabs. Expecting somebody to pick up an instrument and read sheet music that they will never come across again outside professional orchestra settings just kills the interest. It doesn't help you learn the fundamentals, and its a skill most people wont use, hence its not worth the investment for a beginner. Tabs can easily cover the basics like riffs, scale and arpeggios. There is a big learning curve when you start to play, if you can't get any results, it will kill the interest. You need to be able to play some basic stuff after a bit of practice, not reading clefs and key signatures. That stuff can come later. Beginners want to learn how to play their favorite songs, tabs allow them to do that, then they continue to be passionate about the instrument. THEN they can learn sheet music.

[@Goabnb94]

How many violin beginners have little post-it notes on the notes? Are you against them learning where to find the notes or do you expect a brand new beginner to find notes by ear without any training? Thats what you expect when you emphasise sheet music to a beginner.

[@talkingbasslessons]

@@Goabnb94 I agree to a certain extent but I would not put tab ahead of learning standard notation at all. They are two completely separate things and it's important to be reading alongside understanding tab. You mentioned reading is only something you'll come across in a pro orchestra setting and that's not true at all. I've been a pro musician for well over twenty years (a player for nearly thirty) playing in a lot of different types of band (function band/show band/originals etc.) I have encountered aspects of reading in every single band I've been in. The only bands I haven't encountered reading were the garage band I was in when I got started and a few metal bands I was in after that. As your ability improves and you play with better and better musicians then communication and speed of learning is hugely important and reading music is the key to that. Beyond that, reading music will develop two areas of bass playing in a way people don't realise. If you want to learn the notes on your neck then reading is by far the best way to do that. Your understanding of the fretboard becomes 100% perfect after a relatively short period of time. Also your rhythmic knowledge improves waaay better than it would for non readers because you are working through every possible rhythmic permutation in written form. It's a codified language and reading is equally as important to understanding music as it is spoken language. Obviously that doesn't mean a person can't speak or construct sentences without learning to read but I'm pretty sure that most people understand the advantages of learning to read your native language. Now, back to my original video, I don't despise tab like most teachers. I see it for what it is and know how easy it can be to present ideas to a beginner. But I only mean absolute beginners. People that have never played before. After a few weeks or months of playing I would always advise players to learn to read. I suspect those who don't really don't understand the benefits. Remember, I was a non reader for a good 4 or 5 years of playing. I only learned to read at music college. I understand the non reader mindset and know it can be hard to get started without good guidance or the correct motivation. But I now know my development as a bass player would have been sooo much quicker if I'd learned to read right from the start.

[@kalidesu]

Perfect.

[@nikobellic1191]

I haven't practiced since rdr2 came out

[@benarram4348]

Niko Bellic all part of the plan

[@nikobellic1191]

@@benarram4348 XD

[@leobass8259]

Niko Bellic all you need is TIME AND MONEY!!

[@LivedExperience5323]

awesome

[@LeSiZmOr]

".. a pit by the canal"..? How about "...in a van, down by the river"! (?)

[@rwparker1968]

MooDog's Frugal R/Cs! That would be the Matt Foley signature model...very highly sought after! 😉

[@tenspear5399]

I went to check out your free lesson map, but clicking on the plus (+) symbols to expand the lesson plans no longer work. Is it broken?

[@talkingbasslessons]

Yes. It's an IOS issue. Try using on a computer for now. I'll have it sorted asap

[@tenspear5399]

@@talkingbasslessons all good now, ty :)

[@kaedeschulz5422]

Harley Benton basses are also pretty good!

[@ekthorvd6739]

10:57 it looks like one tuning peg is missing 😂

[@zeyy84]

3:13 too

[@sadidaz7679]

Quel est le rapport entre 10 tips pour débutants et une GROSSE pub pour fender qui dure 2 minutes sur une vidéo de 17 minutes au total hormis un endorsement grossièrement déguisé ppur vendre du fender aux débutants ???

[@kulak166]

Il est Anglais, alors il va pas comprendre

[@Telinstryata]

Your definition of 2 minutes differs greatly from mine. For you 30 seconds = 2 minutes.

[@sadidaz7679]

Cela ne change pas grand chose sur le fond de mon propos.