Starting a Band part 2: the Bass

Matt focuses more on the bass and its roles when playing with a band in the second part to 'Starting a Band.' This lesson includes how to play a walking the bass line, leading the guitar, 2 & 3 note baselines, and more. Matt discusses the dual-role of the bass, playing both notes and rhythm. This allows the bass to vary the way a song sound in two ways, by either changing note, or changing the rhythm of the strumming. Matt also answers Andy's questions about his fingers hurting, practicing, and transitioning between chords.

This is Part 2 of a two-part series. For the first lesson on starting a band, click here:
http://www.mindbites.com/lesson/50

I am a guitar player and in a band. I am here to teach you lessons about how to play the guitar and how to start a band.

Great concept for a beginning guitar and bass j...

03/01/2007

~ Jason

Interesting lesson. As someone who has only ever taken lessons or practiced alone, seeing how even beginners can learn by playing off of each other was really interesting. Matt also clearly is a good bass player and offers some good insight into bass lines, and transitions that can lead a guitar player through a song. By the end, I wouldn't be buying their recording of margaritaville, but I could tell that's what they were playing and more importantly, it made me want to go try it myself.

I thought the lesson could be improved in two main ways. First, it was a little bit hard to understand exactly how Matt was playing the bass line, especially since the camera was only on his left hand for a while. a different or combined camera angle may have helped or a simple diagram showing which fingers were on which strings and frets. Second, the sound quality and syncing seemed to be fairly off, enough to be noticeable and a distraction to the content. Not sure what the cause was.

Overall though, I love the concept of a beginning guitar and bass jam lessons, and while I think this could be improved, this version certainly has benefit until a new one arrives! Good job Matt and Andy!

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