Bass Guitar Newbie

at my praise team director's suggestion(prodding) I bought a Bass guitar in order to free up some of the team members to do other things. I am completely green. i have picked up the guitar 20 times in my life(i in fact own an acoustic) and learned chords but i have never played seriously.
i've tried piano and have played trumpet as a yout'. I say that so you know I am not unfamiliar with music. i have ordered books and a DVD from the library to learn the bass. i have been online as well. i am looking for the best direction for "lessons" or techniques to learn in order to expedite the learning process-----any suggestions?

well I can't give you much technique, I don't play bass, but the tuning of each string from the top down, is E A D G and each fret is a half step, (A A# B C C# etc.) so you can play any key you want. you're supposed to pluck the strings, but you can use a pick.

Originally Posted by: grape nutwell I can't give you much technique, I don't play bass, but the tuning of each string from the top down, is E A D G.

you got it backwards. from the top down its g d a e. sorry im picky.

its basically the same as a guitar- you just play single notes.
do you know how to read tab? cuz if you do, it will make your life alot easier.

basically, you need to learn where notes are on the fretboard. then you can learn some scales and stuff but the most important thing for bass is to learn the where the notes are.

heres a link .

this site will probably help-- the ads in the background are really annoying tho. theres no cool "basstricks" site. pity.

anyways, when you see any sheet music or whatever- you know the guitar chord sheet that they give out to yall's guitarists? well, you see the note. and you just play that note, wherever it is on the neck. get it?

the tuning of each string from the top down, is E A D G

you got it backwards. from the top down its g d a e. sorry im picky.

What do we have here?......the paradox of interpreting graphics, uh?
It`s a matter of semantics, I guess.
Anyway. What really matters is knowing that the thinnest string on the standard bass is "G". And the thickest is "E".
So in tablature looks like this:
G---------------------------(thin)
D---------------------------
A---------------------------
E---------------------------(thick)
The distance from one fret to the next is a Semi-tone or half step; therefore a Tone or Whole step is two frets appart.
You can use a pick or your fingers.
However, you get best results using your fingers, when playing a technique called "Pop & Slap". Which is pulling the string and then releasing it, so the string hits the fretboard, producing a metalic sound.
Slaping is using the fleshy part of your thumb to "slap the string"... rigth where the fretboard ends.(close to the pick-ups).
There is so much to learn, like, arpeggios, chords, scale patterns, and techniques used in guitar playing as well, such as: trills, tapping, harmonics,etc.
My advice to you is, get some books and videos, and talk to other bass players.
I wish you luck man. I played the bass for five years, and I loved it.

exctaly, I meant physicly top, the highest string would be the G

Practice, practice, practice!