Are you signed up for the Beginner to Badass course? If not, and you really want to learn about bass timing, you really should sign up. Josh does a stellar job of breaking it down.
Secondly, you should get the notes of a riff, line or song down before ever considering a metronome.
Knowing what your fingers need to do as second nature is essential. Take this part slowly. Learn the fingering you need from your fret hand and the actions your plucking/picking hand needs to do. Then practice each slowly, practicing each many, many times. Take breaks from this and walk away. Many short practice sessions are more productive than one long one that might end up leaving you sore and/or frustrated.
Lastly, set quick-hit bass goals you can achieve pretty easily, then take deserved pride in each win. Remember, learning to play an instrument as a beginner can be hard, but nailing any bit, large or small, is valuable as they all add up to make you a better player.
Bottom line, go slow, go easy, practice frequently (even for only 5 minutes at a time), and rejoice in small victories. Once you’ve done all of this, then consider using a metronome or drum machine. And only then.
The basic theory behind “locking in with the drummer” is you need to pluck a note every time the drummer kicks his kick drum. Try to pluck at the precise time his foot pedal strikes the drum head. with a metronome you wanna play “in time” with the clicks.
Listening to the drums is something that sort of happens in the background. You should be able to hear whether or not you’re playing in time. If not you’ll certainly notice that it doesn’t sound right. Try practicing a song you know incredibly well already. If it’s new material, it’s important to listen to the piece a few times without even having your bass in your hands. Try to figure out the arrangement with active listening before you try to play along
My problem is when I pick the bass up. I can easily count, stay on time, etc… if I am not trying to play the bass at the same time… it’s just mixing together.
It might be helpful to separate a track into bass/drums/vocals/guitar then load all the separate tracks into your DAW. Turn the volume down on everything except the bass and drums. Should help you hear how they work together with the rest of the song muted
Thanks, yeah I’ve tried with a click track, drum machine, just doesn’t seem to work for me. I’m sure it’s stupid simple and I just need someone to explain it to me like I’m 5; I tend to learn more from hands-on activities than reading about it.
Thanks, yeah I’ve listened to various Youtubers, some in-person lessons, and working on my own, and it’s just not connecting, though I’m sure it’s incredibly simple and I’m just waiting for that AH-HA moment when it finally clicks. I learn more from hands-on activities, and all my musical learning is 99.5% self-taught, but I feel I need to interact and work more with other musicians.
Thanks for all the pointers and info, all very helpful. I’m going to sign up for Josh’s course as soon as I have the funds to do so (money’s tight these days), as I tried out for and got into a band with a couple other guys who are incredibly skilled musicians, and I don’t want to lose my place due to incompetence and not progressing. 99.5% of my musical education is self-taught and I’m hoping the Beginner to Badass course helps (Josh’s free YT videos have been very helpful, and I’m glad to give him my hard-earned $$).
Yeah I’ve read about that and listened to some examples, and while it’s a simple concept that I get, I get lost in knowing what and when and where to play a note even if I get the rhythm of the kick drum. Like I said in another reply, I’m waiting for that “A-Ha!” moment when it all clicks and I can get on board. I’m a slow learner as is, and while many see that as a hindrance, it means I take my time and learn as much as I can and try to learn it as thoroughly as I can…hopefully when come time for me to learn and apply music theory I can grasp most of the concepts.
Ok no sniggering (especially you, @Gloucestre and @Barney - the jokes write themselves here) but I am typing this one-handed due to a sudden severe muscle cramp in my right bicep. Giggity.
No bass for me today. This sucks. I can’t even extend my right arm
