I can tell you from experience not learning correct technique in the beginning will hold you back at some point. Now i have to go back and relearn all this stuff the correct way and its really just a pain and worth the effort to learn it right the first time
Been there (AM there, actually) and I'm doing that. Thanks to the tips from this video it should be a little easier to correct the mistakes we made all over the years 🤣
I just reached that point. My instructor tried really hard, but I simply wasn't doing the work to learn the fretboard and technique. I thank him for showing me the entry path to the mountain. Now I need to climb the mountain. Started my formal practice routine yesterday.
Mine is coming in next week! I used to play the guitar but no one really broke it down like this! These videos are awesome! Looking forward to playing the bass.
i really love how josh puts in the effort to make these videos entertaining, and doesn't just tell you the material. this is my favorite bass channel because you have fun watching it. whether its from the cheesy jokes and bits, the useful information, or interesting topics. josh and his team always do a good job.
Amazing teacher. Love the humor. Like getting pointers from one of your buds. Great online teaching, really good at explaining technique. Humor keeps the intrest, a lightens the mood.
@Just someone who simps for Rosalina lmao no one ever does... it’s something that you either go to a specialized teacher for technique or search for the right things online
Really, you can do Level 5 with all the level goals intact on your first day? That's hard to believe! Let me know when you're playing your next gig so I can officially resign from bass. 😜
BassBuzz I’ve been playing guitar for a year now and I met a guy who went to Berkeley and he showed me some things like how you keep all your fingers on the frets while ascending. I actually bought the bass so I can prepare to start doing gigs though. My friend has played guitar for many years so we’re going to start practicing playing full songs together. I know I want to learn most the songs on The Pixies “Doolittle” album. What else do you recommend for me? I’ll probably end up watching all of your content lol
I’m a beginner on the bass, and I’ve always had an issue with that pinky…it just doesn’t do what I wanna do. I’ve been looking for a video where I could understand the issue better and get the right help, and you explain the whole technique in a great way! Also, your humour is a big plus! Thank you for your help 🙂
Phil... Way cool with the bass! I waited way too long to get started, but completed Josh's BassBuzz lessons a short while ago and it definitely gave me the fundamentals I sorely needed. It easily translates to guitar as well (the fundamentals, that is), if you are so inclined! I highly recommend Josh's BassBuzz program, but this is almost as awesome. Stick with Josh and "you'll go places" - at your own speed, of course (took me 10 months for BassBuzz). He is very methodical and logical (and easy going, but maybe a little stern when I needed it), which is what helped me stay on track. Rock on!!!
I confess I suffer from F.F.S. Flying finger syndrome! This is my second shot at learning bass. The first was many years ago and no one wanted to teach a young teenage girl with tiny hands! Fast forward to December 2019 and I decided to try again. I not only bought one new bass but 3! I am an over achiever. I need tips for small hands. I do have 2 short scale basses. That helps but I have a wonky pinky finger on both hands and mild arthritis in both from injuries. These exercises are VERY challenging for me but I am practicing 2 or 3 hours a day and hoping I improve. Love these lessons. Thanks for making them available.
any update? just got back into bass the last year after a 10 year hiatus. Was using a Ibanez Gio which had a macro scale and just recently upgraded to a Sr300E, I too suffer having small hands lol. My problem is hitting scales and notes on the lower end of the fretboard.
Baught a Ibanez Mikro Bass for my daughter. Well, it's me trying to play it. But: how exactly do I communicate with my fingers? Especially my pinky? It's like a dog: the smallest ones bark the loudest o.O. Thanks a lot for all these videos and material provided!
I love your channel. I bought a bass a week ago and I’ve been going through your videos on a daily basis. I’m hooked on this instrument. All my friends think I’m a really fast learner when In reality I just have a DOPE online resource. I haven’t found any other channels that compare. Thanks Bass Buzz, your content is LEGIT, and your saving me ALOT of money on lessons.
Looks like I started on this practice exercise about 2 months ago and I just started level 5 this week. I'm much improved because of this exercise. Thanks!
I'm a self taught musician who's been playing for around 30 years. What amazes me with this video is how I've been "baking bad habits into my playing" for so long. These exercises will help me move to a new level after being stuck in a rut for many years. It often pays to go back to the start and refresh your knowledge and skills. Thanks Josh!
Did the flying pinky exercise. Dude, it worked immediately. There was a huge difference after the very first practice and its only getting better. Thanx, Josh!!!
This is the best beginner lesson I have found. I have large enough hands but at 50yo, the flexibility is just not there. With these exercises, I am seeing my ring finger actual leave the side of my middle finger in just a few days of practice. I thought I was a lost cause. But I think if I do this consistently every day, I will get to Level5. When I started just a few days ago I could not do Level one. Now I am already doing Level 2 on G string, and Level 1 on the E string. Not very well, but better than when I started. Thanks Josh.
I just got my bass 2 days ago, and I literally don’t know how to start. I tried some basic riffs to help me get used to it and feel the instrument, but I always feel like something is wrong when I play it. Now I know what I need to do, thank you for the great video!
Thanks Josh! This is just what I needed. I started "playing" bass 7 months ago. I got 4 months of free Fender Play with a bass purchase, and being pretty excited, I crammed 4 months of lessons into 1 month. And, after glossing over some of the fundamentals, I headed straight for playing some of my favorite music, and of course some of it is WAY over my level. Two of my favorite bands are Yes and Rush, so yeah - I am butchering some of those bass lines! I found Josh's 5 Levels a week ago and decided I need to improve my techniques and fretting, so I took the challenge. Of course, I sucked at first, but I focused on it every day for a week, and I am happy to say I'm at Level 5 in just one week, and I can do levels 2, 3, 4 with 1/16 notes and level 5 with 1/8 notes. Trying my best to do level 5 with 1/16 notes but not quite there yet. This is so awesome & much needed. I already see an improvement in how I play bass lines. And, I love all of Josh's other UA-cam videos. I am now convinced in need to take Josh's Beginner to Badass course so I can advance faster and start enjoying playing those harder base lines (and not sound way worse than Noob Josh, like I do now)! Thanks again! Finally on the right path.
@@pleromicpastry5445 hey, i started a month ago, and im impressed by my own improvement haha. The starting days are the worst, but after a few days toa week of consistant playing, I have no problem with slapping or popping. It gets better, trust me. Stick through the first week, and don't give up. Just don't practice if you're in pain, its not supposed to make you bleed.
Guys, bleeding fingers are common. But, if you like mellow round 0% steele and love the soundless slides get the D’addario Nylon tapewound strings. Those are angels kissing your fingers while making music. They sound awesome and are very durable so you’ll probably pay double but they’ll last longer.
Hi, I finally found a great bass teacher. Your videos are perfect and you analyze every detail in them. I also really enjoy your funny comments. It is refreshing and relaxing. I try to practice daily and I have paid for your entire course. Thank you for what you do for us bass players.
It’s so helpful that you walk through this slowly and show what’s wrong and how to correct it. There are so many bass teachers that just show you what’s “right” but don’t come down to your level and help you come up to the correct form - very frustrating! Thank you, Josh!
Practicing with a drum loop is freaking genius. Like you said before it makes it feel more like "music." I practice with a metronome all the time but with a drum beat it feels a whole lot less like work and more like jamming (in a sense.)
Beautiful man, I've been playing bass in a punk band for thirteen years, and doing it poorly, apparently. I've been looking for this video all my life. I was taught some "spider walk," which I can absolutely destroy, with bad habits and fuzzy notes. Thank you! I'll be checking out your website.
Thank you for showing me where to put my thumb. I have been plucking away for ages but no one has ever said don't wrap your thumb around the neck. Feels like starting all over because I have a habit to break. Great classes.
Leave it to you to have a simple, practical and incredibly useful tool to improve technique. Other instructors talk about controlling fingers, but these exercises, simple as they are, really focus on what is necessary to get that solid technique. Last October, despite a long history of keyboards, I picked up a stringed instrument for the first time, and went through your Beginner to Badass course. You got me playing quickly, and most importantly, I had fun with it. You snuck in a ton of technique while building capability lesson by lesson. I can't recommend your videos and your tools enough, and having done B2B, I'm comfortable with a ton more material, and can work through some other instructors' more theory-intensive or capability-demanding classes without getting lost and discouraged. These exercises may seem simple, but working through them really helps get that technique down and helps get that great sound at all tempos!
If you are picking up the bass for the first time, or if you're noodling around with a garage band, or even if you've been playing for a while with tabs and you're just not advancing the way you want, Beginner to Badass is the course for you. Clean up your technique, learn new ways of getting into a groove (something I can't stress enough), learning new grooves, and pick up some theory. As an added bonus, you can close your eyes and imagine you're taking bass lessons from Ashton Kutcher when you hear Josh's voice.
I’ve been playing bass (my first and only instrument) 25 years. I started gigging before I knew what the notes even were. Playing in heavy bands conditioned me to use a death grip. Doing the first few practice drills was a problem for me until the “light finger grip” drill. All of a sudden it became easy to limit flying fingers and all the other drills. I’ll keep at it. The problem is, even when I practice the right way, when I get on stage, it’s back to old bad habits. Thanks though!
Ive only been teaching myself bass for a year and I could comfortably do all these exercises. I know it's not the point of this video, but youve just given me a bunch of confidence I really needed. Thank you for the exercises, I'll be sure to use them everyday. :)
Brilliant video, been playing bass (badly) on and off for years, been sans bass for about 4 years concentrating on lead guitar but recently got a Squire pj and now got right back into it and now desperately trying to un learn years of bad habits, and finally engaging my pinky into the action, this video is exactly what i was looking for.
Thank you so much for this video!! I did the exercises ONCE and already feel a massive improvement while playing some songs. I sound much better, my fingers feel a lot smoother and it feels so much easier to play now. Going to do these exercises everyday.
Here's a goofy "a-ha" moment I just had while watching this video and doing the exercises for about the third time. As a semi-professional bassist in a past life who hasn't touched a bass in nearly 15 years (life got in the way, etc.), I've been watching your exercises (and videos for fun), while doing the Study Bass courses (I plan on doing your beginner to badass as well; I'm basically reviewing all the different bass courses I could find so I can learn as much as possible). In nearly a decade of gigging in clubs and bars nearly every weekend and two plus years of lessons with professional teachers when I started playing, I never once heard of muting strings with my plucking hand (in retrospect, I realized I was unconsciously muting with the pinky and ring fingers of my right hand). I saw the different plucking hand muting techniques video of yours and didn't understand the floating thumb until I was using it to do this exercise. After doing the level 5 exercise a few times with my thumb resting on the E string, I naturally started to do floating thumb to mute the E, A, and D strings when playing on the G string. Now I use the floating thumb muting technique for pretty much everything. My newborn son took his first tentative steps today with assistance. Finally figuring out the floating thumb muting technique after weeks of struggling with it gave me some of the same joyous feelings as watching my infant son take his first tiny baby steps. Thanks Josh!
I made it to level 3 1/4 notes. Level 4 needs some work. I'm currently in module 14 of Beginner to badass. You've been a tremendous help. I knew absolutely nothing before taking your course. Now I'm writing riffs and having a lot of fun. Thanks 🖤🤘
I've only been playing for 3 months and doing this exercise on level 2/3 for an hour I noticed a huge improvement in my fretting and using my pinkie finger which I couldn't use beofre. Thank you so much
Just started learning to play bass, I am happy to have found this channel early in my journey. WAY better than three month Fender lessons you get for free after purchasing a bass.
At almost 67, and having been a real basic guitarist for most of my life, I suddenly finding myself learning bass so I can join in with a local group. I need these exercises and tips! Thanks!
I've played stringed instruments for years and when I picked up bass a couple months ago I figured it would be like all of the others but I'm starting to catch flaws in my technique. This video really helped me see the little mistakes and help me fix some things!
Man ! I’ve been playing bass since 16 years old, i’m 51. But i never learned the basics. I was doing hard songs and hot stuff but without knowing what i was doing. Now i know why and what i’m playing. Your videos are much more fun and easy to understand to get better at playing. Thnx !!
I have to say,I’m delighted that you actually made the evil robot make a cool song at the end. First, you made him boring and evil. And then he actually made a killer jam?!?!
These videos are great, especially for beginners like me. They actually focus on the lessons and techniques, instead of telling the teacher's life story, or informing me when the guy played with which musicians, where, and why ... Also, they keep it really simple, which is very important so as not to be overwhelming, and they don't cram too much info into a single video. I'm thinking that buying the _Beginner to Badass_ course on the BassBuzz website is probably well worth it (i.e. youtube videos did their job well 😁).
So im really giving it my all, I've been drumming for over 30 years now but I've recently decided to pursue the bass like I've always wanted to but been scared to... I'm in love with it!!! But I'm really trying to follow these techniques as much as possible, I'm missing 1/3 of my middle finger and my ring and pinky finger are always hooked (they have wires for tendons and don't go straight) this is my good hand, my fret hand.. I can tell you Josh I'm so grateful for your videos and teachings, they help alot even though it doesn't always work right with my hand and i have to adjust my hand differently than a normal hand with normal working fingers.. I make it work well though with your lessons and I'm truely grateful I found your channel!!! Thank you sooo much!!!! I hope you see this!!
I started learning Bass at the end of 2020, and took a couple of online classes before largely teaching myself the basics of reading sheet music and rhythm; I started classes with a real teacher last week, and the first thing he said was "we're going to deal with them flying fingers." This video has helped immensely with getting a foothold on exercises that will help with that demonic pinky :D
25 years ago I had to figure these out on my own .Nowadays ,kids that are learning to play bass have this information so accessible and easy ! Lucky Them
As a total beginner this exercise taught me SO MUCH. 1. Realized I wasn't actually running my plucking hand correctly: 1.a. my middle finger was much softer than my index, resulting in playing kind of "half-muted" notes 1.b. I wasn't "running through" as I thought I was, instead I was nearly doing pops 2. Realized my ability to place my fingers from my fretting hand varies quite a lot depending on how I place my thumb 3. Realized with the increase of frustration and/or lack of confidence, I end up applying much more pressure than intended and man, I'm not through level 2 yet, this blows my mind
So helpful, thank you! Your channel is the best I've found for learning bass by a long way. You seem to have a natural talent for teaching. Keep these coming! 🤘
Oh my goodness....I've been playing self taught for several years now and NO-ONE has EVER told me to play the notes BY THE FRET not BETWEEN frets 😭😭 I've always struggled getting a clean around and this has instantly changed it for the better. This has been a great video!
I thought you explained all 5 levels. Then you started explaining Level 2, lol. I'm sure people will benefit from your videos which are very noob friendly. Thanks for your hard work with planning and editing these.
Been playing for 2 years and I've been such a stickler for good technique because of my experiences with my skills with other instruments. I lift my pinky a little high on 3, but it's over the note it needs to be, and 4 is no problem, and 5 is a bit of a tongue twister. Thanks for the video, it's really showed some of the places I need to work on a bit, keep up the good work
Level 2 was the exact question in my mind during level 1 "can I keep my fingers pressed." That's how you know this is a professional leveling system: When it answers your question the moment you have it.
I started playing bass 30 years ago I wish I had a teacher like you back then. I like how you point out that it’s ok for it to take a long time to learn something. I forgot how hard it was to be able to control my fingers at first and how many bad habits I had to undo and still am relearning. I am starting to regrasp that it should be a little hard no matter how advanced you are . The level of difficulty is directly related to the level of growth. It’s fun to play in your comfort zone but at some point boredom can set in learning cool new or novel techniques or songs helps a lot especially if you pay attention to the correct and individual way they are designed to be played. It’s always harder to study fundamentals . I like how a lot of teachers have found creative ways to teach the more fundamental aspects of music with examples and analogies that compare something technical with something well understood. More people have much shorter attention spans than they did 30 years ago. . I appreciate your way of teaching and have gotten a lot of benefits from your videos Thanks.
I still struggle with level 2 sometimes, but I find that I do it naturally when playing faster music like Hysteria or Reapers. (been on a muse kick recently) Still though, best to not get complacent with it and keep up with these exercises/scales
Love your videos. A buddy of mine wanted someone to jam with so he bought me a bass a week ago. I have been watching a bunch of videos on UA-cam, and yours is the most helpful by far. Its gonna be a painful few weeks trying to get my pinkie to cooperate... LOL. Thank you sir!
Well, I thought I'd joined a gym with all this excercising. Fortunately, it's only my fingers I need worry about. I found after a few minutes of excersises, I was taking "bite sizes" and shredding cheese in my kitchen to make tacos for lunch. 😁 All joking aside, great video, good excersises, and I noticed you're left handed as am I. All good people are left handed IMO. 😜 A pleasure as always Mr Josh. 👍
it's been 5 days of playing bass and i can almost play the full song "sunshine of your love" thank you. I've been learning other bass lines but not the full songs
I bought a bass guitar today for passing the time during the pandemic, and I was looking for beginner lessons and found you. Amazing work man! I have a really small and skinny fingers so I'm having problems with your lessons.
Josh, you are the best youtuber. Not just In bass community or learning an instrument online community you have a way of teaching paired with the greatest personality for some.of the best videos out there
I bought the beginner to badass course. Seriously, Josh's personality keeps me sane and entertained while learning. He's a great teacher and youtuber. Thanks Josh!
Thank you so much for such an informative, simple, detailed way to get started playing bass using the correct technique. I am 66 years old, recently retired, and have never played any musical instrument. I hope to learn bass to be able to provide my MANY six-string friends with a little bottom to jam. (Also to teach my brain that it's not too old and tired to do something new). I've begun using your technique and have made good progress to Level 2 in just a couple of days. I'm your newest groupie.
Love the lesson. My first bass teacher (decades ago) taught me to use my pinky finger as my "first position" finger, so that when my hand is at rest, the pinky is on its fret, so my index and middle finger easily reach their feet, rather than making the pinky do the stretching.
Hey thx man this vid really helped out I finally found someone who actually explains thing well enough for me to understand and get better God bless you man 🙏
Been playing for 2 years now and recently my fretting hand has been cramping during prolonged playing from strangling the neck so hard. This video is exactly what I needed!!
🎮 What level did you make it to? (without trashing your Level Goals)
Wait... this comment was written a week ago but UA-cam shows me this video as uploaded 10 hours ago. Interesting.
I'll start with level one today. ☺️
@@charlotteice5704 same with me o_O
@@charlotteice5704 probably the video was privated for a week, but it was made public now...
You are awesome! Im 34 and I try return to playing (work, wife, child etc), your lesson give me hope :)
I can tell you from experience not learning correct technique in the beginning will hold you back at some point. Now i have to go back and relearn all this stuff the correct way and its really just a pain and worth the effort to learn it right the first time
yeah learning correct technique feels like i'm relearning the instrument
Been there (AM there, actually) and I'm doing that. Thanks to the tips from this video it should be a little easier to correct the mistakes we made all over the years 🤣
After two months i can finally play with correct technique after a year of not
I just reached that point. My instructor tried really hard, but I simply wasn't doing the work to learn the fretboard and technique. I thank him for showing me the entry path to the mountain. Now I need to climb the mountain. Started my formal practice routine yesterday.
@@greybeardbass good luck
This helped a ton! I bought a bass to help me get through the lockdown, and I was lost till I found your videos. Actual progress!
Good to hear Luc!
Same here dude! Got a great deal on a vintage modified jazz bass. Now just waiting for my spectra drive so i can play with headphones.
Mine is coming in next week! I used to play the guitar but no one really broke it down like this! These videos are awesome! Looking forward to playing the bass.
Same with me!
Quarantine Bass Boys unite
"Close your other 87 tabs"
Me: HOW DID HE..!?
JOSH: "Close your other 87 tabs!"
EDWARD SNOWDEN: "they're watching...."
@@BassBuzz I checked for the LOLs and I kid you not... I have 87 tabs open... wtf.
@@brickyautumn260 200 is the average for me, just book mark em kill em, and start again
i really love how josh puts in the effort to make these videos entertaining, and doesn't just tell you the material. this is my favorite bass channel because you have fun watching it. whether its from the cheesy jokes and bits, the useful information, or interesting topics. josh and his team always do a good job.
Amazing teacher. Love the humor. Like getting pointers from one of your buds. Great online teaching, really good at explaining technique. Humor keeps the intrest, a lightens the mood.
Thank you!
girl why did this teach me more than my two years of being in jazz band wtf
I don't know! Fire your teacher. :P
@Just someone who simps for Rosalina lmao no one ever does... it’s something that you either go to a specialized teacher for technique or search for the right things online
I am 48, my wife give me a bass as a b-day gift, she knew I always wanted to know how to play. Now I am learning thanks to your videos!
Thank you!
First day just bought my bass about an hour ago and I’m already “crushing it” by your standards haha thanks for the video
Really, you can do Level 5 with all the level goals intact on your first day? That's hard to believe! Let me know when you're playing your next gig so I can officially resign from bass. 😜
BassBuzz I’ve been playing guitar for a year now and I met a guy who went to Berkeley and he showed me some things like how you keep all your fingers on the frets while ascending. I actually bought the bass so I can prepare to start doing gigs though. My friend has played guitar for many years so we’re going to start practicing playing full songs together. I know I want to learn most the songs on The Pixies “Doolittle” album. What else do you recommend for me? I’ll probably end up watching all of your content lol
That sounds good! The Pixies are awesome. Just keep learning as much as you can. :)
@@ColeJohnstone I'm also learning Doolittle on bass. Kim Deal is a goddess.
laurens vlaeyen that’s awesome what’s your Instagram??
I’m a beginner on the bass, and I’ve always had an issue with that pinky…it just doesn’t do what I wanna do. I’ve been looking for a video where I could understand the issue better and get the right help, and you explain the whole technique in a great way! Also, your humour is a big plus! Thank you for your help 🙂
Just got my first bass about 3 weeks ago, and your channel has been so helpful!
Congrats on your bass! Glad I could help.
Phil... Way cool with the bass! I waited way too long to get started, but completed Josh's BassBuzz lessons a short while ago and it definitely gave me the fundamentals I sorely needed. It easily translates to guitar as well (the fundamentals, that is), if you are so inclined! I highly recommend Josh's BassBuzz program, but this is almost as awesome. Stick with Josh and "you'll go places" - at your own speed, of course (took me 10 months for BassBuzz). He is very methodical and logical (and easy going, but maybe a little stern when I needed it), which is what helped me stay on track. Rock on!!!
In two weeks I'm at level 3! Starting these exercises as a total beginner has helped me so much.
I confess I suffer from F.F.S. Flying finger syndrome! This is my second shot at learning bass. The first was many years ago and no one wanted to teach a young teenage girl with tiny hands! Fast forward to December 2019 and I decided to try again. I not only bought one new bass but 3! I am an over achiever. I need tips for small hands. I do have 2 short scale basses. That helps but I have a wonky pinky finger on both hands and mild arthritis in both from injuries. These exercises are VERY challenging for me but I am practicing 2 or 3 hours a day and hoping I improve. Love these lessons. Thanks for making them available.
Welcome back to bass! Short scales are a great idea, just keep working at it and tweak standard technique as needed for your hands!
And how did you get on?
any update? just got back into bass the last year after a 10 year hiatus. Was using a Ibanez Gio which had a macro scale and just recently upgraded to a Sr300E, I too suffer having small hands lol. My problem is hitting scales and notes on the lower end of the fretboard.
Baught a Ibanez Mikro Bass for my daughter. Well, it's me trying to play it. But: how exactly do I communicate with my fingers? Especially my pinky? It's like a dog: the smallest ones bark the loudest o.O. Thanks a lot for all these videos and material provided!
I love your channel. I bought a bass a week ago and I’ve been going through your videos on a daily basis. I’m hooked on this instrument. All my friends think I’m a really fast learner when In reality I just have a DOPE online resource. I haven’t found any other channels that compare. Thanks Bass Buzz, your content is LEGIT, and your saving me ALOT of money on lessons.
Together, we can fool all your friends. :)
Looks like I started on this practice exercise about 2 months ago and I just started level 5 this week. I'm much improved because of this exercise. Thanks!
I - I
M - Must
R - Really
P - Practice
You sir are nothing short of a wordsmith genius
😁
40 hours a day.
@@bazzfromthebackground3696 W A T
@@bazzfromthebackground3696 heyyyyy, fellow twoset fan??
I'm a self taught musician who's been playing for around 30 years. What amazes me with this video is how I've been "baking bad habits into my playing" for so long. These exercises will help me move to a new level after being stuck in a rut for many years. It often pays to go back to the start and refresh your knowledge and skills. Thanks Josh!
You're welcome Tim! Good luck with the bad habits, definitely takes work to unlearn but I've seen it happen.
Did the flying pinky exercise. Dude, it worked immediately. There was a huge difference after the very first practice and its only getting better.
Thanx, Josh!!!
Good to hear!
This is the best beginner lesson I have found. I have large enough hands but at 50yo, the flexibility is just not there. With these exercises, I am seeing my ring finger actual leave the side of my middle finger in just a few days of practice. I thought I was a lost cause. But I think if I do this consistently every day, I will get to Level5. When I started just a few days ago I could not do Level one. Now I am already doing Level 2 on G string, and Level 1 on the E string. Not very well, but better than when I started. Thanks Josh.
I just got my bass 2 days ago, and I literally don’t know how to start. I tried some basic riffs to help me get used to it and feel the instrument, but I always feel like something is wrong when I play it. Now I know what I need to do, thank you for the great video!
Congrats on your new bass John! You can check out my Bass Basics videos to get started too - www.bassbuzz.com/lessons/beginners-basics
Congratulations bro! Perhaps you could give an update at some point, this kind of stuff is super inspiring
GregtheSalad Thank you! I’m currently on level 3 and learned some songs at some point. Still improving tho!
Congratz Bro, try to learn some Pop Songs and start to Climb up to Rock and then to Metal u will be so much better after that.
hey! i got my bass 2 days ago as well, how are you doing with your bass now 2 months in the future?
Thanks Josh! This is just what I needed. I started "playing" bass 7 months ago. I got 4 months of free Fender Play with a bass purchase, and being pretty excited, I crammed 4 months of lessons into 1 month. And, after glossing over some of the fundamentals, I headed straight for playing some of my favorite music, and of course some of it is WAY over my level. Two of my favorite bands are Yes and Rush, so yeah - I am butchering some of those bass lines! I found Josh's 5 Levels a week ago and decided I need to improve my techniques and fretting, so I took the challenge. Of course, I sucked at first, but I focused on it every day for a week, and I am happy to say I'm at Level 5 in just one week, and I can do levels 2, 3, 4 with 1/16 notes and level 5 with 1/8 notes. Trying my best to do level 5 with 1/16 notes but not quite there yet. This is so awesome & much needed. I already see an improvement in how I play bass lines. And, I love all of Josh's other UA-cam videos. I am now convinced in need to take Josh's Beginner to Badass course so I can advance faster and start enjoying playing those harder base lines (and not sound way worse than Noob Josh, like I do now)! Thanks again! Finally on the right path.
You are an amazing teacher.
Thanks for the support B, I really appreciate it! Rock on 🤘
how did you know i have 87 tabs open and am drinking amino energy???
Vegan super powers. 👽 ua-cam.com/video/vqqGZBRBLcM/v-deo.html
@@BassBuzz made from freshly squeezed fenders
@@BassBuzz awesome 🤩
@@BassBuzz 9oooooooooooooooooo
@@BassBuzz and
Turned 40, bought a bass. my fingers are bleeding. It's been 2 days. Thank jeebus for these videos
Hey how's bass going now? :)
yeah, I'm curious for an update too haha, I'm just starting aswell
I'm going to be 50 next month and this is the second day with my bass. My fingers aren't quite bleeding but they're pretty damn close.
@@pleromicpastry5445 hey, i started a month ago, and im impressed by my own improvement haha. The starting days are the worst, but after a few days toa week of consistant playing, I have no problem with slapping or popping. It gets better, trust me. Stick through the first week, and don't give up. Just don't practice if you're in pain, its not supposed to make you bleed.
Guys, bleeding fingers are common. But, if you like mellow round 0% steele and love the soundless slides get the D’addario Nylon tapewound strings. Those are angels kissing your fingers while making music. They sound awesome and are very durable so you’ll probably pay double but they’ll last longer.
Hi, I finally found a great bass teacher. Your videos are perfect and you analyze every detail in them. I also really enjoy your funny comments. It is refreshing and relaxing. I try to practice daily and I have paid for your entire course. Thank you for what you do for us bass players.
Thanks dude, hope you dig the course!
It’s so helpful that you walk through this slowly and show what’s wrong and how to correct it. There are so many bass teachers that just show you what’s “right” but don’t come down to your level and help you come up to the correct form - very frustrating! Thank you, Josh!
Practicing with a drum loop is freaking genius. Like you said before it makes it feel more like "music." I practice with a metronome all the time but with a drum beat it feels a whole lot less like work and more like jamming (in a sense.)
Beautiful man, I've been playing bass in a punk band for thirteen years, and doing it poorly, apparently. I've been looking for this video all my life. I was taught some "spider walk," which I can absolutely destroy, with bad habits and fuzzy notes. Thank you! I'll be checking out your website.
you are such a good teacher. I'm so glad i found your vids!
Thanks Sara!
Thank you for showing me where to put my thumb. I have been plucking away for ages but no one has ever said don't wrap your thumb around the neck. Feels like starting all over because I have a habit to break. Great classes.
Leave it to you to have a simple, practical and incredibly useful tool to improve technique. Other instructors talk about controlling fingers, but these exercises, simple as they are, really focus on what is necessary to get that solid technique. Last October, despite a long history of keyboards, I picked up a stringed instrument for the first time, and went through your Beginner to Badass course. You got me playing quickly, and most importantly, I had fun with it. You snuck in a ton of technique while building capability lesson by lesson. I can't recommend your videos and your tools enough, and having done B2B, I'm comfortable with a ton more material, and can work through some other instructors' more theory-intensive or capability-demanding classes without getting lost and discouraged. These exercises may seem simple, but working through them really helps get that technique down and helps get that great sound at all tempos!
🎯
your videos have gotten me comfortable with a bass in just a week and a half, now making songs. thank you!
If you are picking up the bass for the first time, or if you're noodling around with a garage band, or even if you've been playing for a while with tabs and you're just not advancing the way you want, Beginner to Badass is the course for you. Clean up your technique, learn new ways of getting into a groove (something I can't stress enough), learning new grooves, and pick up some theory. As an added bonus, you can close your eyes and imagine you're taking bass lessons from Ashton Kutcher when you hear Josh's voice.
Do you recommend any theory to start with?
Why would you want to learn from Ashton Kutcher? This guy is great at bass, and at teaching.
I’ve been playing bass (my first and only instrument) 25 years. I started gigging before I knew what the notes even were. Playing in heavy bands conditioned me to use a death grip. Doing the first few practice drills was a problem for me until the “light finger grip” drill. All of a sudden it became easy to limit flying fingers and all the other drills. I’ll keep at it.
The problem is, even when I practice the right way, when I get on stage, it’s back to old bad habits. Thanks though!
You got it Nelson! Old habits die hard... but it's so glorious when they do.
Ive only been teaching myself bass for a year and I could comfortably do all these exercises. I know it's not the point of this video, but youve just given me a bunch of confidence I really needed. Thank you for the exercises, I'll be sure to use them everyday. :)
Brilliant video, been playing bass (badly) on and off for years, been sans bass for about 4 years concentrating on lead guitar but recently got a Squire pj and now got right back into it and now desperately trying to un learn years of bad habits, and finally engaging my pinky into the action, this video is exactly what i was looking for.
Thank you so much for this video!! I did the exercises ONCE and already feel a massive improvement while playing some songs. I sound much better, my fingers feel a lot smoother and it feels so much easier to play now. Going to do these exercises everyday.
You're welcome Rosanne, glad these helped!
Here's a goofy "a-ha" moment I just had while watching this video and doing the exercises for about the third time.
As a semi-professional bassist in a past life who hasn't touched a bass in nearly 15 years (life got in the way, etc.), I've been watching your exercises (and videos for fun), while doing the Study Bass courses (I plan on doing your beginner to badass as well; I'm basically reviewing all the different bass courses I could find so I can learn as much as possible). In nearly a decade of gigging in clubs and bars nearly every weekend and two plus years of lessons with professional teachers when I started playing, I never once heard of muting strings with my plucking hand (in retrospect, I realized I was unconsciously muting with the pinky and ring fingers of my right hand). I saw the different plucking hand muting techniques video of yours and didn't understand the floating thumb until I was using it to do this exercise. After doing the level 5 exercise a few times with my thumb resting on the E string, I naturally started to do floating thumb to mute the E, A, and D strings when playing on the G string. Now I use the floating thumb muting technique for pretty much everything.
My newborn son took his first tentative steps today with assistance. Finally figuring out the floating thumb muting technique after weeks of struggling with it gave me some of the same joyous feelings as watching my infant son take his first tiny baby steps.
Thanks Josh!
You're welcome Wesley!
BassBuzz, you have a great teaching style and your lessons are truly amazing. You may actually get me to practice. Nicely done!
Thanks Ed!
Thanks
I made it to level 3 1/4 notes. Level 4 needs some work. I'm currently in module 14 of Beginner to badass. You've been a tremendous help. I knew absolutely nothing before taking your course. Now I'm writing riffs and having a lot of fun. Thanks 🖤🤘
Nice work Darren! Glad you're digging the course. :)
Thanks!
I've only been playing for 3 months and doing this exercise on level 2/3 for an hour I noticed a huge improvement in my fretting and using my pinkie finger which I couldn't use beofre. Thank you so much
Just started learning to play bass, I am happy to have found this channel early in my journey. WAY better than three month Fender lessons you get for free after purchasing a bass.
I just subscribed! Your teaching style is the easiest that I’ve ever seen!!!! U have a student for life!
Thanks Donny!
At almost 67, and having been a real basic guitarist for most of my life, I suddenly finding myself learning bass so I can join in with a local group. I need these exercises and tips! Thanks!
This channel is super underrated. Very good lesson!!! Keep it up !
Thanks Soumya!
I've played stringed instruments for years and when I picked up bass a couple months ago I figured it would be like all of the others but I'm starting to catch flaws in my technique. This video really helped me see the little mistakes and help me fix some things!
Man, i found your lessons waaaay better than the others. Keep going!
Thanks Andrea!
@daniel farieta I know, that's what i am ^^
Man ! I’ve been playing bass since 16 years old, i’m 51. But i never learned the basics. I was doing hard songs and hot stuff but without knowing what i was doing. Now i know why and what i’m playing. Your videos are much more fun and easy to understand to get better at playing. Thnx !!
Josh you have made learnin gthe bass easy and fun with your "go at your own pace" course...top notch mate.
Thank you! Glad you're digging it.
One of the best music lessons I've ever seen. It teaches not only what to study, but HOW to study, equally important too!
Old guy/newbie player here. Excellent exercises! Creaky old joints are fighting it but I will prevail, lol!
Thanks so much!
You're welcome Dennis!
I have to say,I’m delighted that you actually made the evil robot make a cool song at the end. First, you made him boring and evil. And then he actually made a killer jam?!?!
As a longtime bassist myself, you are great. You make the learning fun.
Thanks Slim!
You are the best teacher on guitar that I have find so far on youtube. You made it so simple and interesting to follow.
Thanks Francis!
Man, your lessons are so easy to follow and appreciated. I moved to level 5 pretty quick. Great teacher! Thank you for your help.
You're welcome Patrick!
Saving my pennies and hopefully I can subscribe eventually.
These videos are great, especially for beginners like me. They actually focus on the lessons and techniques, instead of telling the teacher's life story, or informing me when the guy played with which musicians, where, and why ...
Also, they keep it really simple, which is very important so as not to be overwhelming, and they don't cram too much info into a single video.
I'm thinking that buying the _Beginner to Badass_ course on the BassBuzz website is probably well worth it (i.e. youtube videos did their job well 😁).
Ah! Lucky to have stumbled onto your gig, I'm a guitarist learning bass. Great breaking it down, Buzz!
Thanks Frederick! I'm Josh though. :)
So im really giving it my all, I've been drumming for over 30 years now but I've recently decided to pursue the bass like I've always wanted to but been scared to... I'm in love with it!!! But I'm really trying to follow these techniques as much as possible, I'm missing 1/3 of my middle finger and my ring and pinky finger are always hooked (they have wires for tendons and don't go straight) this is my good hand, my fret hand.. I can tell you Josh I'm so grateful for your videos and teachings, they help alot even though it doesn't always work right with my hand and i have to adjust my hand differently than a normal hand with normal working fingers.. I make it work well though with your lessons and I'm truely grateful I found your channel!!! Thank you sooo much!!!! I hope you see this!!
I just got my bass last week and this really helps me a lot.. thank u..!!
You're welcome Alia! You might dig my Bass Basics series too - www.bassbuzz.com/lessons/beginners-basics
I started learning Bass at the end of 2020, and took a couple of online classes before largely teaching myself the basics of reading sheet music and rhythm; I started classes with a real teacher last week, and the first thing he said was "we're going to deal with them flying fingers." This video has helped immensely with getting a foothold on exercises that will help with that demonic pinky :D
Just got my 1st bass yesterday thanks for the awesome lesson
You're welcome, congrats on your bass!
25 years ago I had to figure these out on my own .Nowadays ,kids that are learning to play bass have this information so accessible and easy !
Lucky Them
"there's no tempo that is too slow for you"
ME:sets tempo at 1 bpm with the beat being a 32nd note.
As a total beginner this exercise taught me SO MUCH.
1. Realized I wasn't actually running my plucking hand correctly:
1.a. my middle finger was much softer than my index, resulting in playing kind of "half-muted" notes
1.b. I wasn't "running through" as I thought I was, instead I was nearly doing pops
2. Realized my ability to place my fingers from my fretting hand varies quite a lot depending on how I place my thumb
3. Realized with the increase of frustration and/or lack of confidence, I end up applying much more pressure than intended
and man, I'm not through level 2 yet, this blows my mind
So helpful, thank you! Your channel is the best I've found for learning bass by a long way. You seem to have a natural talent for teaching. Keep these coming! 🤘
Thanks Sam! More coming. :)
Oh my goodness....I've been playing self taught for several years now and NO-ONE has EVER told me to play the notes BY THE FRET not BETWEEN frets 😭😭 I've always struggled getting a clean around and this has instantly changed it for the better. This has been a great video!
I thought you explained all 5 levels. Then you started explaining Level 2, lol. I'm sure people will benefit from your videos which are very noob friendly. Thanks for your hard work with planning and editing these.
Just when you thought you beat the boss level... he changes form. 😈😛
Been playing for 2 years and I've been such a stickler for good technique because of my experiences with my skills with other instruments. I lift my pinky a little high on 3, but it's over the note it needs to be, and 4 is no problem, and 5 is a bit of a tongue twister. Thanks for the video, it's really showed some of the places I need to work on a bit, keep up the good work
Thanks Greg!
Level 2 was the exact question in my mind during level 1 "can I keep my fingers pressed." That's how you know this is a professional leveling system: When it answers your question the moment you have it.
I started playing bass 30 years ago I wish I had a teacher like you back then. I like how you point out that it’s ok for it to take a long time to learn something. I forgot how hard it was to be able to control my fingers at first and how many bad habits I had to undo and still am relearning. I am starting to regrasp that it should be a little hard no matter how advanced you are . The level of difficulty is directly related to the level of growth. It’s fun to play in your comfort zone but at some point boredom can set in learning cool new or novel techniques or songs helps a lot especially if you pay attention to the correct and individual way they are designed to be played. It’s always harder to study fundamentals . I like how a lot of teachers have found creative ways to teach the more fundamental aspects of music with examples and analogies that compare something technical with something well understood. More people have much shorter attention spans than they did 30 years ago. . I appreciate your way of teaching and have gotten a lot of benefits from your videos Thanks.
Thanks Dan! Great points.
I still struggle with level 2 sometimes, but I find that I do it naturally when playing faster music like Hysteria or Reapers. (been on a muse kick recently)
Still though, best to not get complacent with it and keep up with these exercises/scales
Yep, doing it in exercise form nice and slow translates to way cleaner playing in "real life."
Love your videos. A buddy of mine wanted someone to jam with so he bought me a bass a week ago. I have been watching a bunch of videos on UA-cam, and yours is the most helpful by far. Its gonna be a painful few weeks trying to get my pinkie to cooperate... LOL. Thank you sir!
I got to level five and it made me realize how small my hands are lol. My pinky is struggling but that just means I have to keep on practicing!
Love that Scott pilgrim vs the world: the game reference in the thumbnail
is it normal that my pinky doesnt obey me at all? its really hard to get him to go where i want him to be as a beguinner :(
I got this same bass for my bday and you have better videos than anyone I've been able to find on youtube, so thank you!
Well, I thought I'd joined a gym with all this excercising. Fortunately, it's only my fingers I need worry about. I found after a few minutes of excersises, I was taking "bite sizes" and shredding cheese in my kitchen to make tacos for lunch. 😁
All joking aside, great video, good excersises, and I noticed you're left handed as am I. All good people are left handed IMO. 😜
A pleasure as always Mr Josh. 👍
James Anderson why do you think he is left handed?
it's been 5 days of playing bass and i can almost play the full song "sunshine of your love" thank you. I've been learning other bass lines but not the full songs
Loving all your tips and the Zelda references, thx so much for your work!
You're welcome Elies!
I bought a bass guitar today for passing the time during the pandemic, and I was looking for beginner lessons and found you. Amazing work man! I have a really small and skinny fingers so I'm having problems with your lessons.
Even if you're not a bass player, this video is a must watch. There's a lot a man can do with properly exerscised fingers..
Josh, you are the best youtuber. Not just In bass community or learning an instrument online community you have a way of teaching paired with the greatest personality for some.of the best videos out there
Thanks Gerald!
I'd never even heard of Level 4, that's going to trip me up, I can tell.
I bought the beginner to badass course. Seriously, Josh's personality keeps me sane and entertained while learning. He's a great teacher and youtuber. Thanks Josh!
Glad you're enjoying the course Anson! :)
Is nobody going to comment on the BASS JUICE?
Do you not drink Bass juice to get better? Come on .....ugh😄
Omega oil is great for your eyes
I just got a bass for Christmas and I am so glad I found this bassbuzz!
Why doesn't this channel have more subs??!!
The most helpful bass lesson instructors on UA-cam! Especially for beginners like myself 🙏🏾
6:48 had me dazed and confused
Thank you so much for such an informative, simple, detailed way to get started playing bass using the correct technique. I am 66 years old, recently retired, and have never played any musical instrument. I hope to learn bass to be able to provide my MANY six-string friends with a little bottom to jam. (Also to teach my brain that it's not too old and tired to do something new). I've begun using your technique and have made good progress to Level 2 in just a couple of days. I'm your newest groupie.
"this doesn't do me any good cause there's no bass over here" words to live by
Love the lesson.
My first bass teacher (decades ago) taught me to use my pinky finger as my "first position" finger, so that when my hand is at rest, the pinky is on its fret, so my index and middle finger easily reach their feet, rather than making the pinky do the stretching.
Tomorrow I’ll get my first bass amp. Super exited!
Nice!
Hands down best bass channel
My wrist was killing me, and then you introduced the pressure exercise 🙏
Glad it helped Stephanie! I still have to remind myself to do that exercise all the time...
Hey thx man this vid really helped out I finally found someone who actually explains thing well enough for me to understand and get better God bless you man 🙏
Thanks Bryan!
0:14 literally me but I can't keep my bloody pinkie down
Been playing for 2 years now and recently my fretting hand has been cramping during prolonged playing from strangling the neck so hard. This video is exactly what I needed!!