Starting up an Instrument

Heme · 05-01-2007, 06:06 PM

Hey, Heme here.

I'm thinking of starting an instrument. I was *thinking* either guitar or bass. I was wondering if anyone could find me some cheapish instruments, and some beginners music. I'm not even sure if I'm talented yet, considering I've never tried any instrument before, but I need something to do, and starting up an instrument seems like it could be fun, and I could use it all my life.

Thanks

Obdazen · 05-01-2007, 08:06 PM

I don't know about a good place to buy one, and about beginner's music..I wouldn't even use it. Just play around with it a while, you'll start hitting notes, then you'll start hitting good notes, then you'll start hitting gooder notes and eventually you'll have a song.

DarkCreator · 05-01-2007, 09:14 PM

Guitar center will probably be cheaper than any small store for equipment - though you do get those nice used deals everyonce in a while. Although, it may be tedious and frustrating, learning how to actually read music will give you a big leg up in a few years, but for now if you're not concerned with that just start learning where all of the notes on the frettboard are and the different patterns you can find (example: if you go two fretts over and two up you are on the same note as which you started with). Learning the scales is also a great thing to do - 1. it helps your hands in getting used to the movements that they need to make and 2. it helps you figure out what sounds good together (hence what a scale is, simplified). Learning your favorite songs through tablature is a great way to learn the songs you like, figure out what the musicians are doing to create such music as well as develop some chops.

When deciding between the two (or you can learn both if you like) take into account the sound itself - do you like hearing high notes or low notes more?

Bass, what I play

, would probably have a quicker learning curve since you don't really have to worry about playing chords that much and you are only dealing with 4 strings.

The guitar, on the other hand has 6 strings and chords play a major part in what you play.

Your phsyiology also comes into play here - if you have small hands then playing bass will be a bit tough until you learn how to work around this "dissability". Also, if you have thick fingers like mine, trying to get your fingertips to only touch one string and not others when fretting chords can be a nightmare at times....

All of the being said, pretty much anyone can play any instrument - its all about their dedication to see through the hurdles that get put infront of them.

Last but not least, if you master guitar you can be the soloing king and have all the guys look up to you...or you can play the bass, lay down those deep, low vibrations and make all of the ladies cream...I mean scream

.

Obdazen · 05-01-2007, 10:37 PM

You can be the solo king on bass too. That makes the ladies cream harder.

DarkCreator · 05-01-2007, 11:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Obdazen

You can be the solo king on bass too. That makes the ladies cream harder.

Indeed it does! Hazah!!!

Heme · 05-02-2007, 06:48 AM

All right, thanks DC. I'll probably mess around with bass. And I have pretty long, slender fingers. Everyone tells me I'd be good on a keyboard/piano, but I don't think that's really for me. Not to mention there's about 20 bands in my neck of the woods looking for a bassist. Not so much a guitarist.

Heme · 05-02-2007, 07:19 AM

Ok, I checked out guitarcenter.com and they have bass guitars there. Should I go for a cheaper one? Also - Electric or acoustic to start out with? I'm actually pretty excited about starting it up.

DarkCreator · 05-02-2007, 12:24 PM

Get an electric and a small practice amp to start. Unless you are willing to drop a grand or more (or a few grand at that), you can get a pretty good starter bass for about $500 - one that isn't made with crappy parts that will fall apart. Spector makes some pretty good basses and you can get their bottom of the line for about $500 or so - their bottom of the line is a lot better than those starter packages you can buy though. You could also look at fender squire's - squire is thier cheaper bass stuff. A little cheaper than Spector's but you get what you pay for for the most part. Then again you gotta pickup everything and see what fits your body best. I know when I was looking at fenders their neck felt like 2x4 in my hands (it was a five string though). A simple combo (amp and speaker cabinent together) with a single speaker in it will be fine (one 10", 12" or 15"). If you are going to be in a band situation I would recomend getting a separate head (amp) and cab, a 2x12 or 4x10 should suffice for most stuff to start.

Any more questions just fire away. Oh yeah, don't let those salemen at GC talk you into anything! They will try to sell you anything you are looking at and tell you that "its totally you" and shit like that.

Heme · 05-02-2007, 01:05 PM

Well right now I won't be in a band. I want to get a few months under my belt at least before even auditioning. But I should definately go with electric though? Because I know I'll bug the hell out of my mom with my playing. I'll keep looking around and see if there's anything I like. I also may have to wait a bit to get more money, considering I just bought my PC.

DarkCreator · 05-02-2007, 04:57 PM

If you get an accoustic you will really be limited in what you can play - as in I can't think of a song with an accoustic bass off the top of my head, unless its an "unplugged" show. Most of the time I've seen a group playing acoustic guitars they are backed up by an electric bass, just with really low volume. If you are worried about volume and stuff like that, I would get a 10" combo and just keep the volume down. Also, so you can practice later at night or whenever for that matter, you can just get a decent pair of headphones with a 1/4" jack and plug it into your combo.

05-01-2007, 06:06 PM	#1 (permalink)
Heme Banned Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Vi sitter här i Venten och spelar lite DotA! Posts: 1,225	Starting up an Instrument Hey, Heme here. I'm thinking of starting an instrument. I was thinking either guitar or bass. I was wondering if anyone could find me some cheapish instruments, and some beginners music. I'm not even sure if I'm talented yet, considering I've never tried any instrument before, but I need something to do, and starting up an instrument seems like it could be fun, and I could use it all my life. Thanks

05-01-2007, 09:14 PM	#3 (permalink)
DarkCreator Goes Bump in the Night Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Vermont Posts: 89	Guitar center will probably be cheaper than any small store for equipment - though you do get those nice used deals everyonce in a while. Although, it may be tedious and frustrating, learning how to actually read music will give you a big leg up in a few years, but for now if you're not concerned with that just start learning where all of the notes on the frettboard are and the different patterns you can find (example: if you go two fretts over and two up you are on the same note as which you started with). Learning the scales is also a great thing to do - 1. it helps your hands in getting used to the movements that they need to make and 2. it helps you figure out what sounds good together (hence what a scale is, simplified). Learning your favorite songs through tablature is a great way to learn the songs you like, figure out what the musicians are doing to create such music as well as develop some chops. When deciding between the two (or you can learn both if you like) take into account the sound itself - do you like hearing high notes or low notes more? Bass, what I play , would probably have a quicker learning curve since you don't really have to worry about playing chords that much and you are only dealing with 4 strings. The guitar, on the other hand has 6 strings and chords play a major part in what you play. Your phsyiology also comes into play here - if you have small hands then playing bass will be a bit tough until you learn how to work around this "dissability". Also, if you have thick fingers like mine, trying to get your fingertips to only touch one string and not others when fretting chords can be a nightmare at times.... All of the being said, pretty much anyone can play any instrument - its all about their dedication to see through the hurdles that get put infront of them. Last but not least, if you master guitar you can be the soloing king and have all the guys look up to you...or you can play the bass, lay down those deep, low vibrations and make all of the ladies cream...I mean scream . __________________ EKAS Breakdown: Achiever 40.00%, Explorer 66.67%, Killer 66.67%, Socializer 26.67% EKAS slogan: See the world, meet interesting people...and Kill them. Take the Bartle Test Here ----> http://www.guildcafe.com/zQuest.php Last edited by DarkCreator; 05-01-2007 at 09:17 PM.

05-02-2007, 12:24 PM	#8 (permalink)
DarkCreator Goes Bump in the Night Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Vermont Posts: 89	Get an electric and a small practice amp to start. Unless you are willing to drop a grand or more (or a few grand at that), you can get a pretty good starter bass for about $500 - one that isn't made with crappy parts that will fall apart. Spector makes some pretty good basses and you can get their bottom of the line for about $500 or so - their bottom of the line is a lot better than those starter packages you can buy though. You could also look at fender squire's - squire is thier cheaper bass stuff. A little cheaper than Spector's but you get what you pay for for the most part. Then again you gotta pickup everything and see what fits your body best. I know when I was looking at fenders their neck felt like 2x4 in my hands (it was a five string though). A simple combo (amp and speaker cabinent together) with a single speaker in it will be fine (one 10", 12" or 15"). If you are going to be in a band situation I would recomend getting a separate head (amp) and cab, a 2x12 or 4x10 should suffice for most stuff to start. Any more questions just fire away. Oh yeah, don't let those salemen at GC talk you into anything! They will try to sell you anything you are looking at and tell you that "its totally you" and shit like that. __________________ EKAS Breakdown: Achiever 40.00%, Explorer 66.67%, Killer 66.67%, Socializer 26.67% EKAS slogan: See the world, meet interesting people...and Kill them. Take the Bartle Test Here ----> http://www.guildcafe.com/zQuest.php Last edited by DarkCreator; 05-02-2007 at 12:49 PM.

05-02-2007, 04:57 PM	#10 (permalink)
DarkCreator Goes Bump in the Night Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Vermont Posts: 89	If you get an accoustic you will really be limited in what you can play - as in I can't think of a song with an accoustic bass off the top of my head, unless its an "unplugged" show. Most of the time I've seen a group playing acoustic guitars they are backed up by an electric bass, just with really low volume. If you are worried about volume and stuff like that, I would get a 10" combo and just keep the volume down. Also, so you can practice later at night or whenever for that matter, you can just get a decent pair of headphones with a 1/4" jack and plug it into your combo. __________________ EKAS Breakdown: Achiever 40.00%, Explorer 66.67%, Killer 66.67%, Socializer 26.67% EKAS slogan: See the world, meet interesting people...and Kill them. Take the Bartle Test Here ----> http://www.guildcafe.com/zQuest.php Last edited by DarkCreator; 05-02-2007 at 05:00 PM.

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05-01-2007, 08:06 PM	#2 (permalink)
Obdazen Banned Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Washington Posts: 924	I don't know about a good place to buy one, and about beginner's music..I wouldn't even use it. Just play around with it a while, you'll start hitting notes, then you'll start hitting good notes, then you'll start hitting gooder notes and eventually you'll have a song.

05-01-2007, 10:37 PM	#4 (permalink)
Obdazen Banned Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Washington Posts: 924	You can be the solo king on bass too. That makes the ladies cream harder.

05-02-2007, 06:48 AM	#6 (permalink)
Heme Banned Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Vi sitter här i Venten och spelar lite DotA! Posts: 1,225	All right, thanks DC. I'll probably mess around with bass. And I have pretty long, slender fingers. Everyone tells me I'd be good on a keyboard/piano, but I don't think that's really for me. Not to mention there's about 20 bands in my neck of the woods looking for a bassist. Not so much a guitarist.

05-02-2007, 07:19 AM	#7 (permalink)
Heme Banned Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Vi sitter här i Venten och spelar lite DotA! Posts: 1,225	Ok, I checked out guitarcenter.com and they have bass guitars there. Should I go for a cheaper one? Also - Electric or acoustic to start out with? I'm actually pretty excited about starting it up.

05-02-2007, 01:05 PM	#9 (permalink)
Heme Banned Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Vi sitter här i Venten och spelar lite DotA! Posts: 1,225	Well right now I won't be in a band. I want to get a few months under my belt at least before even auditioning. But I should definately go with electric though? Because I know I'll bug the hell out of my mom with my playing. I'll keep looking around and see if there's anything I like. I also may have to wait a bit to get more money, considering I just bought my PC.