I Caved
Saturday, March 15, 2008 at 12:01AM I caved and decided to pay for bass lessons. In fact, I have my first lesson this morning. Eric is also taking lessons.
Is it ridiculous that I am nervous?
Fear of looking ridiculous kept me away from lessons - but now I'm determined to get serious about my music progress. My husband and I spent good money on our electric instruments for each other. Might as well learn to play them.
I guess there is going to be some sort of after-hours music at Rocklahoma this year. Some people are planning on taking instruments and playing for the masses. I'd never go that far, but I envy the pluck of those willing to jump on stage to bang out a Glam hit or three.
If all goes well, I'll post a follow-up about my lesson. Don't worry: if it is a disaster, you'll hear about that too.
Reader Comments (16)
Zakk threw his guitar into the crowd after the show !!!
Right now, spend the time to learn the location of the notes on the fretboard. Then, play along with records and just focus on changing chords as the song changes. Go download tabs of these tunes as they'll show you what the actual chord changes are. (sheet music will do the same). In other words, in a song that's G-A-B just ride the G, then the A, then the B.
After a while, you'll start learning that certain notes sound good as bridges between the chords. Add them in as you feel comfortable.
if you can keep up with chord changes and toss in a good passing note or two, you'll be ready to jam and have a great time.
PS: Also -- and this is key -- let out your strap and wear the bass really low. It looks frickin' cool, and really, that's all that matters. ;)
I've been playing the guitar for 33 years, since I was 11. Although i can play just about any song in the world now,we all had to start somewhere, and that's usually by taking lessons. I tell every one of my daughters buddies who I teach, you won't be Eddie Van halen in 2 weeks, it takes years of practice. Main thing when learning is, HAVE FUN!
Rock on buddy,
Gary
Nonsense!
I played in my first band at the age of 42. me and some buddies got together, had weekly practices in which we drank beer, busted each other's chops and, once in a while, played songs. We had our grand debut by inviting all our friends to a bar for happy hour and we kicked out the jams. (we played covers of old school punk/garage bands like the Dead Boys, The Sonics, Joy Division and the Sex Pistols) The response was so good we ended up opening for a bunch of other bands who dug what we were doing. We're now in the process of getting back together for our next round of shows.
I look at it this way -- some middle aged guys get together for bowling, others for poker. We got together to rock. You should all be doing the same!
The unknown is always scary. I always hated being inside a new situation where it seems that everyone around me knows how the system works and I was the ignorant fool who knows nothing.
What's funny is when you get to the point when things become second nature and you think, "What the hell was I so worried about?" and then you figure out that the system actually sucks and then you go back to college where you enter a new system where you feel like the idiot again, but you know that over time, you'll understand it just in time to enter into a new career where you start from square one once again and by then it becomes a vicious cycle, but hey, it beats dying.
Throw caution to the wind. Life is short! Rock hard!
I bet you and your husband get a drum machine for each other next year!
New Band!
Call it "Glamallyson"
I taught myself to play and enjoy it every day. Try playing Crue's "Generation Swine" on bass. It's so much fun.