This is exactly how I started to learn bass about 25 years ago (I already played basic guitar). My friend's band needed a bass player and I had just bought a vintage Gibson EB2 in a whim because it looked nice. We had one brief rehearsal then straight on to a live gig - where they didn't play any any of the songs we had rehearsed! It worked well for several weeks until I started to learn the songs properly. Roots first, then roots and 5ths, and eventually the proper bass lines. I would have probably called it the 'stare' method rather than the 'glance' method as I hardly moved my eyes off his left hand fingers for the whole gig.
Thanks! being a beginner level bass player this really helps a lot, I've been a guitarist only for a year, and then switch to bass after that, I didn't get to learn more about playing a guitar, but I do know the basics, plus learning using a really old, low grade, 2nd hand bass is a pain in the neck, not to mention fingers, cause the truss rod is removed by the current owner because its rusted to the core. It's fun playing bass and that's the only thing matters. I'll be watching more of your vids, please keep it up and god bless.
Good stuff, Luke. I got this advice from my 1st teacher many years ago (not the best teacher, truth be told, but he meant well), to watch the guitarist's fingers for chords. - it didn't mean much considering I didn't know guitar chords. It helped to an extent but only by watching where their fingers were on the lower strings. Your vid & examples make better sense of it. Well done!
4:23 And that's when I usually play the wrong note. Either that, or the guitarist moves a barre chord up really far, and I need to count frets. And of course by the time I've figured out that chord, he's moved on to the next one. 8-) BTW, I've been jamming on and off (mostly when I'm on vacation) with the same guys over the past few decades. I've been basically using the glance method. 5:36 Until the guitarist switches to drop-D tuning ...
i was playing bass with a vocalist who was also playing guitar, we were ' playing ' stand by me by ben e king ,we were both playing in the wrong key , i was asked to stop seemingly i was in the wrong ! we both obvioulsy just played in the key we both knew the best or easiest to play i played in e key i think on the a and d strings between the frets 4 to 7 !
Great stuff!! I've been playing bass only since 1991 and started first at church. We had regular rehearsals on Wednesdays and Sunday mornings before service... That's all fine and good, but then the Pastor would invite guest speakers in, and sometimes they would break into songs that we had no clue what to play.. sometimes the keyboard would know.... This really develops your ear training! Your glance method is also awesome when someone hits you with a song you don't know.... I've learned to call songs I don't know "2nd verse songs"... Watch and listen during the first verse and chorus, and then you got it!.. Oh.. and pray it doesn't have a totally bizarre bridge!!!
Great lesson! This skill is pretty much a must unless you have a really good grasp on finding pitch by ear quickly. I doubt I would've had the successes I've had so far without it. You always have top-notch content and I appreciate the time and effort you put into your lessons.
Unfortunately this isn't enough if you don't know the chord changes of a tune. And this is what I'm struggling with when trying to jam with guitarists. I can recognize the chords...but I'm playing late.
@@MattTheLizard not really. But I took-up double-bass and it's been eating most of my time dedicated to music, playing in a music school jazz band. As long as I know the chord progression I'm fine to play a walking or rythmic line, but I'm still struggling when jamming with others on unknown tunes.
Usually, when jamming, the solo is the same as the regular progression. Now you just have to remember what you figured out when you were watching the guitarist playing a few minutes ago. 8-)
Are these comments below relevent to the video I'm getting? (John Scofield jazzing up two old country three-chorders). It seems like UA-cam is feeding me one video and comments that belong to something else all together.
!["Zero-Scale" Bass Solos: How To Start Improvising On Bass [No Scales Needed]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/gqIVab46KV8/mqdefault.jpg)
!["Zero-Scale" Bass Solos: How To Start Improvising On Bass [No Scales Needed]](/img/tr.png)
This is exactly how I started to learn bass about 25 years ago (I already played basic guitar). My friend's band needed a bass player and I had just bought a vintage Gibson EB2 in a whim because it looked nice. We had one brief rehearsal then straight on to a live gig - where they didn't play any any of the songs we had rehearsed! It worked well for several weeks until I started to learn the songs properly. Roots first, then roots and 5ths, and eventually the proper bass lines.
I would have probably called it the 'stare' method rather than the 'glance' method as I hardly moved my eyes off his left hand fingers for the whole gig.
Imagine... The most common scenario you are likely to encounter when playing with guitarists. This is awesome.
or do my tactic play a one note bass line
Thanks! being a beginner level bass player this really helps a lot, I've been a guitarist only for a year, and then switch to bass after that, I didn't get to learn more about playing a guitar, but I do know the basics, plus learning using a really old, low grade, 2nd hand bass is a pain in the neck, not to mention fingers, cause the truss rod is removed by the current owner because its rusted to the core. It's fun playing bass and that's the only thing matters. I'll be watching more of your vids, please keep it up and god bless.
Good stuff, Luke. I got this advice from my 1st teacher many years ago (not the best teacher, truth be told, but he meant well), to watch the guitarist's fingers for chords. - it didn't mean much considering I didn't know guitar chords. It helped to an extent but only by watching where their fingers were on the lower strings. Your vid & examples make better sense of it. Well done!
4:23 And that's when I usually play the wrong note.
Either that, or the guitarist moves a barre chord up really far, and I need to count frets.
And of course by the time I've figured out that chord, he's moved on to the next one. 8-)
BTW, I've been jamming on and off (mostly when I'm on vacation) with the same guys over the past few decades. I've been basically using the glance method.
5:36 Until the guitarist switches to drop-D tuning ...
i was playing bass with a vocalist who was also playing guitar, we were ' playing ' stand by me by ben e king ,we were both playing in the wrong key , i was asked to stop seemingly i was in the wrong ! we both obvioulsy just played in the key we both knew the best or easiest to play i played in e key i think on the a and d strings between the frets 4 to 7 !
that's a cool lookin' bass!
My goto method is hack away until I find something sounds good lol...thanks so much for this...
Bahaha! That can work too @Andrew A
Great stuff!! I've been playing bass only since 1991 and started first at church. We had regular rehearsals on Wednesdays and Sunday mornings before service... That's all fine and good, but then the Pastor would invite guest speakers in, and sometimes they would break into songs that we had no clue what to play.. sometimes the keyboard would know.... This really develops your ear training! Your glance method is also awesome when someone hits you with a song you don't know.... I've learned to call songs I don't know "2nd verse songs"... Watch and listen during the first verse and chorus, and then you got it!.. Oh.. and pray it doesn't have a totally bizarre bridge!!!
Keyboardists might use a fake book that they rest on the piano/organ. That's not as easy when playing bass, though.
Great lesson! This skill is pretty much a must unless you have a really good grasp on finding pitch by ear quickly. I doubt I would've had the successes I've had so far without it.
You always have top-notch content and I appreciate the time and effort you put into your lessons.
Thanks so much Scott! I can't tell you how much I appreciate it.
Thanks.
Unfortunately this isn't enough if you don't know the chord changes of a tune. And this is what I'm struggling with when trying to jam with guitarists. I can recognize the chords...but I'm playing late.
I am in the exact same boat, I noticed your comment was from 5 years ago. Did you defeat this problem?
@@MattTheLizard not really. But I took-up double-bass and it's been eating most of my time dedicated to music, playing in a music school jazz band. As long as I know the chord progression I'm fine to play a walking or rythmic line, but I'm still struggling when jamming with others on unknown tunes.
How would you play if the keyboard player was playing how do you follow
Sit on the keyboardist's left side and watch their left hand. (You also need to memorize the layout of white and black keys.)
Awesome video! Can’t wait to watch more! I think you will love my channel and let’s connect! 🤘
i just dont like it when a guitar player expects me to hear when he changes key during a solo and im jealous of guys that can
Usually, when jamming, the solo is the same as the regular progression. Now you just have to remember what you figured out when you were watching the guitarist playing a few minutes ago. 8-)
Are these comments below relevent to the video I'm getting? (John Scofield jazzing up two old country three-chorders). It seems like UA-cam is feeding me one video and comments that belong to something else all together.
Disregard the above - now I'm seeing the same comments with yet another video!! Crazy.
Stink eye...haha no one wants that
Why do you need a guitar in your hands if you didn’t even play one example on it?