How to get better at bass guitar?
Hi I started bass and I'm still new. I've asked a question on Yahoo Answers before asking for the bad habits when playing the bass guitar. The answer I got was that I should strike the strings with equal strength so that the volume doesn't change with my finger.
And I also mentioned in that question that I might be getting lessons. And the guy told me that I'd be able to play bass without a teacher cause he's able to improvise and jam to anything and he taught
him self. He told me that I should practice scales and play tabs. But to me, I don't think that's enough...
Let's say I will never be getting lessons ( I don't want an answer telling me to get a teacher cause I already know I should get one. I just want to know what to do to teach yourself ).
So what do I have to do to get better at bass. By "better at bass" I mean like getting a song, and being able to jam to it. Make my own bass line that fits a song. Improvise solos. Listening to a song and being able to copy the bass. Things like that.
And I find, playing scales and reading tabs won't make me do those things. Why? Because, I see, scales would help me be able to play faster, being able to use my fingers better and it would help me actually play the music but not able to find the right notes and play with the music just by listening to the song.
And playing Tabs. I find if I play with tabs, I'll be able to play a song but I'd have the need to use tab to play a song. And that way I won't be able to read and play actual music notes. (I can read the notes cause I play piano).
So overall I'm SURE those would help me but it's just not enough.
What do I have to do to be able to listen to a song and be able to copy the bass line. Or Be able to Jam to a song by improvising. Would I need to take musical theory? Is a teacher necessary? Maybe books or DVDs? (i woudn't buy those).
Please help me 
What am I suppose to practice? That's what I don't know.
How to Read Music Hub
December 16th, 2010 - 04:23
Music Theory for Beginners
Practice.
Play every day. Try to figure songs out. Just practice anything you can, and you’ll get better. Try switching it up between playing scales and simple songs you like. From there, move up to more complex songs you like.
December 18th, 2010 - 18:58
Learning to Read Music
Learning scales doesn’t necessarily help you to play faster. They are the building blocks of which all bass lines are made. You’ve got to learn them. You can start with the major scale in all 12 keys. Once you have done that, all this will start to come easier. You may discover that a difficult lick you are trying to learn was only a “G” scale starting on F# or some such. Also, The 1st, 4th, and 5th degrees of the major scale will become your best friends. They are the basis of thousands of classic songs. There’s lots of good free information out there on youtube as far as music theory goes…
December 19th, 2010 - 07:43
Music Reading
1st..find out which key the song your playing is in.Find that root note on your bass.Get familiar w/the 3rd and fifth notes of any specific chord.Ex; if the song is in G..then the 3rd note would be B..and the 5th note of that chord would be D. Play those notes over the chord of G,and the simply elaborate w/those notes concentrating on getting tighter.
Of course there are different shapes of bass patterns,and the more notes that are associated w/a chord the more complex it gets,practice bass ‘runs’ of the notes you have mastered,until they sound seamless/smooth.
Try to keep it simple at 1st,then when you gain tightness and confidence,you can start ‘adding’ more notes/accents to your playing as time goes on.(note,notes will be different in any key you are in) but 1st find the ROOT note of that chord,and practice runs,of the 1st,and 5th notes associated w/that chord. bass tabs will direct you on these.)