NBD Baby’s first 4 string

Yeah, string muting technique (both hands) is really important on bass.

I actually don't find that hitting the strings hard is that necessary, since bass amps and preamps are crazy and you can pump out some massive low end with a very soft touch. Depends also on what tone you are looking for: Cliff Burton or Family Man. Neo soul players don't even seem to move their fingers, yet they are very present.

Lots and lots of great playalongs with notation on the internet. Pick a song and go.

Rhythm and syncopation is essential (natch)

Also: developing calluses.

I'd say a lot of guitar specific pedals you can use freely on bass, particularly in the realm of compression and fuzz.

If you want some pedals that will be revelatory for tone, I'd recommend the frequency interchange is a must. I also was amazed at the combo of Moon's "200 sunny suns" bass preamp and the pyrocumulus fuzz.
 
I always use a compressor. I tried about 50 different ones and landed on the soul preacher. It stayed in my board a very long time. I’ve been playing bass since I was 14, which is almost 40 years. Your muting strings thing has me intrigued. I’ve never had any issues with bass strings ringing out.
 
One of the biggest upgrades I made to my bass was installing a high mass bridge with brass saddles. Fender makes one that should be a direct fit.

On Sale on reverb atm

Pickups would be the next rec to further personalize your bass for the sound you want. About a billion options for P bass.
 
I have been a noob bass player for about two years now. I really need to actually sit down and learn/practice.

I don't remember exactly where I heard it but, especially at first, only practice with an amp. It really helps identify technique issues that may slip by otherwise.

BassBuzz: (link to YT on the linked page). Josh at least keeps it interesting. The YT videos do include a pointer to his paid course, but I don't ever remember them being too bad.

Scott's Bass Lessons: Some good stuff, but a lot of "join SBL". Don't give them your email.
 
cwsquared said:
only practice with an amp
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I was at my desk playing though one of those little battery powered dongle headphone amp things yesterday, and I was struggling to play along with a bassline on a backing track. I think it was because I just wasn't getting any low bass in my headphones. I swapped the headphone cable for the one that goes to my computer speakers and I had a much easier time with my feet sitting next to the subwoofer. Time to start hunting for a cheap bass amp I guess!

I just glanced through the video titles on the bassbuzz channel, and that looks great! Thanks! I'm excited to put some time in there.
 
Erik S said:
Time to start hunting for a cheap bass amp I guess!
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FWIW, I’ve been plugging my bass into my normal Katana 50’s “power amp in” jack and it actually sounds pretty good. Given, I’m running it through my newly built Nobelium preamp first and I wouldn’t want to use it at full volume, but still. It sounds perfectly cromulent to my ears.
 
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