Getting started ....

[Nick Bassman]

Hi guys and gals !

As a bass player just stepping into the touch style arena I would appreciate some help.

When you started the instrument what were the things you focussed on initially i.e. scales etc; ?

I'm particularly looking for guidance/exercises in developing independence of the hands and what you might call the necessary starting blocks to get playing in this wide new world.

Your help will be much appreciated.

Thanks

Nick

[rjgoos]

Nick, I play a Chapman Stick (10-string) in classic tuning.

When I started, I only wanted to know how to make three basic kinds of chords on the bass (left) hand...a major chord, a minor chord, and the root-fifth-octave drone.

Then I simply learned melodies with the right hand (and practiced them until I could do them mindlessly), and I learned the simple chord progressions with the left hand that went with it (until I could do them mindlessly), then I put them together. I wore headphones to keep my wife from divorcing me during that period.

I have no idea if what I did was a "good" or "bad" way of getting started, but it seemed like as good of a place to start as any.

You can listen to my first and second month's progress at:

http://members.ifmcs.net/rjgoos/Public/Music/Stick-Music/one-month-stick.mp3

http://members.ifmcs.net/rjgoos/Public/Music/Stick-Music/two-month-stick.mp3


Unfortunately, the subsequent have not seen as much progress (although I have written a couple nice songs on the Stick). I can only play 10-15 minutes without wrist pain, whereas I was practicing 60-90 minutes per day before.


R. Jay Goos

[rjgoos]

I meant to say, "the subsequent two months"

[Nick Bassman]

Hi RJ

Thanks for your post.

I think your approach sounds well considered and by the evidence of the progress examples it seems to have worked for you.

Are the songs your own compositions ?

Nick

[rjgoos]

Nick Bassman:


>Are the songs your own compositions ?


The first little two-finger drill on the one-month recording, yes (I could only stare at my Stick for two or three days after getting it, I had no idea what to play, so I thought...well, dummy, just write something that just uses one finger on each hand).

The others...I wish. Most are either old folks songs or hymns.

But thanks for asking.


R. Jay Goos