Beginner bassist here.

[Idlemessiah]

So I picked up a bass guitar last week. Been learning some pretty simple stuff. Sum 41, The Offspring, Blink 182. Couple of others too but I seem to be focusing on 90's American pop-punk. Any suggestions where else I could look for some beginner level riffs?

CAPTCHA: draw a blank; exactly why I'm here.

 

[Esotera]

I guess this could be a beginner riff if you finger it rather than doing slap bass...otherwise you'll find it insanely hard. And have you tried Wild Thing and Smoke on the Water? They're really easy on guitar so I'm assuming the bass is a similar sort of technical level.

 

[Tiger King]

So I picked up a bass guitar last week. Been learning some pretty simple stuff. Sum 41, The Offspring, Blink 182. Couple of others too but I seem to be focusing on 90's American pop-punk. Any suggestions where else I could look for some beginner level riffs?

CAPTCHA: draw a blank; exactly why I'm here.

punks a good place to start out on bass. do you use a pick or fingers? both sound good in my opinion though i used fingers myself. i found learning punk songs gave me quick plucking fingers though i didnt learn much in the way of left hand ability because a lot of punk is just chugging along to power chords.


i started out with stuff like
pennywise
bad religion
then stepped up to
red hot chilli peppers
muse
rage against the machine
rancid (still a punk band but matt freeman is a hell of a bassist)
then moved up to really techy stuff like jaco pastorius (not that i can play 99 percent of his stuff!) and primus

i tried to learn many different styles, from ska to metal to funk and jazz and hip hop. there is something to learn from every style, even if you dont like it.

but i would recommend rage against the machine or red hot chilli peppers. their songs will get your fingers moving around the fretboard without being too demanding to learn.

 

[BathorysGraveland2]

This is widely regarded as one of the best songs for novice bassists to learn to play. After you've mastered it, you are ready for anything!

Spoiler

 

[Idlemessiah]

ker-snip

I've moved to bass from playing guitar, so a pick feels better right now. And I just finished learning Bliss by Muse, still trying to get used to the wider string spacing though.

And those look like some good suggestions, cheers, I'll have to go tab hunting after dinner. Although I do already have a tab for Maxwell Murder that my friend tried to learn ages ago. I don't think I'll be trying that too soon heh.

 

[Tiger King]

ker-snip

I've moved to bass from playing guitar, so a pick feels better right now. And I just finished learning Bliss by Muse, still trying to get used to the wider string spacing though.

And those look like some good suggestions, cheers, I'll have to go tab hunting after dinner. Although I do already have a tab for Maxwell Murder that my friend tried to learn ages ago. I don't think I'll be trying that too soon heh.

ah bliss, good tune.
i forgot to mention as well....
if you can, play as much as possible with other people, especialy drummers.
mostly because it's fun and also because its the best way to learn how to put bass lines to songs.
if you dont have anyone to play with get a drum track and jam along to it.

maxwell murder is good tune, man that solo!!

 

[TheFunPolice]

The songs already listed seem pretty good to me

But one thing I reckon is important to think about. It's easy to just go LEARN a song, but once you've learned it, you're kinda still just facelessly copying the original line. Once you've learned a song, then try thinking about how to IMPROVE upon it

There's too many shitty basslines out there which just strum root notes. Try adding some colour into those! I'm not talking about writing a whole new line or anything like that. Just add in some fills or some slides or whatever the hell you want, it doesn't matter! As long as every song you play still retains part of YOU and what YOU do!

Once you start to get good at doing your own thing, you'll start finding general improvisation much more natural and fluid, and you might even develop some kinda signature style or sound. DEFINITELY find a drummer to play with if you can ^_^ if you do, just remember to follow the Kick Drum and you should be fine GOODLUCK MY FRIEND!