Tenor and Bass

[Bbtenor4LIFE!]

I was wondering if anybody here played tenor AND bass (guitar)? It's something I really want to look into, and I was wondering if you had any tips.

[jogi_music]

Hi Bbtenor4LIFE!

Yes, me! I play Flute (traverso) since 1982, bass since 1990 and since 2004, May17th Tenor Saxophone.

BTW: in moment I'm testing an octacer with the tenor (to play bass-sax) ... really cool.

Which tips do you wanna have?

[Bbtenor4LIFE!]

I'd like to be able to have tips on FINDING one first, then on just about anything!

[saxcurious]

things to consider.

budget: you will likely need an amp to be able to hear yourself when practicing at home (unless you get an electroacoustic) so you have to factor it in your total cost. If you gig an amp is a must.

style: you can get fretted or fretless, 4 or 5 string, depending on what you would like to play

[Bbtenor4LIFE!]

I'd just like to play rock/funk/blues and I have a guitar amp (it's my dad's) I fet pretty much $20 a week (don't work) but have to wait until mid-July to start saving. Anything would be helpful.

[jogi_music]

First, good luck!
Playing bass is "another world"!


get a 4-string fretted, don't play it on a guitar-amp.
PLEASE!
get "The Method" by Chuck Rainey
practise practise pracitse ...
talk to other bass-players
and get into a band...

That was the way I did it!

keep-on-groovin'
yours Jogi

[Bbtenor4LIFE!]

Thanks, Jogi. I'll be saving up for the bass & book(s)!

[T992]

I play bass alot and I have a few tips for you. I mainly play prog rock (Yngwie, steve vai, dream theater, symphony x) but Im sure my advice will apply. First off make sure you get a good and solid understanding of the basics. learn your fretboard well and learn your basic scale patterns (learning all of the modes at the start would actually help you quite a bit). Playing "slap bass" or "shred bass" or any of that stuff may sound fun, but just remember that they are only tools that augment the real stuff you already know. For the first couple of years try to keep a solid practice ruetine that covers scales/modes/chords/harmony/sight reading ect. Mix that with a little "messing around" time and plenty of "jam a-long" and youll really be learning. Its definatly essential that you listen to alot of music of the style you plan on playing. Listen to the bass to see where he goes over certain changes to get a specific sound. Playing bass isnt necessarily about PLAYING the instrument, but knowing what to play and when to play it. Its pretty much the same as any instrument in that if you want to get good you just need to play alot and use your ears. Www.talkbass.com is a site that is similar to this one for bass. They also have a for sale forum. 2 affordable basses that really play well are the essex basses and the brice basses. The essex is a good jazz bass that definatly blows the fender-squire basses away. I played a brice 6 string bass when my bass was in the shop and it sounded and felt really nice. Both of them are around 2-300 bucks new. If you go to the talkbass site and www.bassgear.com regularly you will sometimes find a great deal on something you like. Just dont be sold on buying something just because of its namebrand. Lastly the chuck rainey buck "The Method" that was mentioned is definatly a good place to start.

Joe

[T992]

Oh yeah....

1) Basses come in 4,5,6,7+ strings. A 4 is practical (and definatly usable) for most styles of music, but alot of modern songs have a lower notes that sometimes go below the 4 string range. If I could start over I would still start on a 4, but that means youll have to "re-learn" a little bit later on if you decide to switch. Most people play 5 strings since they are like 4s with the lower string. If you start on a "multistring bass" then you can just learn the keys on it from they get go.

2) As far as playing tenor goes the best way to go about doubling is just to think of them as seperate instruments. Some of the stuff you learn on either of them will be useful with the other, but mainly for your ears.

[T992]

I just ran into this today by accident. They arent bad starter basses (I started on the jazz version of this bass). $50 is a good deal!

http://www.tastyjam.net/gear.html#MISC.

[Josh]

I play tenor and double bass, so I'll stay away from gear/methodology talk; however, I'd like to second the reccomendation to check out Talkbass. One of my teacher's friends in Austin created it in 1998, and it's a great forum. It's totally up to you, but for fingering, I would suggest you check out this thread: http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=38698. I use it with a few modifications. You might not even care enough to mess around with them, but if you are, I've got mine written out for all keys and I'd be happy to scan them/copy them and send them to you. Oh yeah--an oft-repeated admonition at Talkbass: Get a Teacher!

[jogi_music]

the string-discussion:

I think, begin the begin: 4 strings. I startet with 4, got 2 years later a 5-string alembic (I love it!).

But know, there are different ways to play e-bass: the upright- and the electric fingerings. the 4-, 5- and more string-fingerings.

e.g.:
4-string : my middlefinger of the left hand is placed at Gb on the e-string, then I play the deep e without any finger.
5-string : my middlefinger of the left hand is placed at G on the e-string,
then I play the deep e with the smallest finger.

Jogi

[Big Jim]

Hey BFlatTenor for life,
I have been playing Bass Guitar for about 35 years and Tenor Sax as long. If I can help you with anything please email me. My Bass
Rig is a 5 string Peavey Cirrus and a SWR Super RedHead amp. LA Sax Tenor and a Jupiter Tenor, and Yamaha Alto. hang in there, Bass Players drive sax players crazy.. :lol:

[Big Jim]

Sorry I messed up your name..BbTenor4Life...Senior Citizen thing :oops: