Bought my FIRST musical instrument tonight

[Nervous Rex]

I always thought "I'm not good at that and I wouldn't know where to begin anyway".

I used to say that about a lot of things. It's amazing what you find you can actually do if you just start trying stuff.

I hope you love the experience.

 

[Kyou Nukui]

I used to say that about a lot of things. It's amazing what you find you can actually do if you just start trying stuff.

I hope you love the experience.

Thank you. I am not expecting to be able to play anything at all for a while, or ever get good at playing it at all ever; I have no ambition really, but I'll have something to mess around with and fill the time while I'm slouching on my couch instead of complaining that it's cold and raining all day.

 

[Fino]

It is another way of asking the rhetorical question, "Who knew...?"

Thank you for explaining! Now I feel bad for not being sure about that either. Would it be safe to say that "Who knew?" is the same as, "Who would have thought?" which means it's just an expression of surprise..?

Go figure expression is, to me, like...You do the math.

Do expressions have multiple interpretations or do they all have a single, matter-of-fact meaning? I hope it's single meaning, because otherwise that would be endlessly confusing!

 

[Crossbreed]

Would it be safe to say that "Who knew?" is the same as, "Who would have thought?" which means it's just an expression of surprise..?

Yes. "Go figure" is a facetious way of saying "I should have realized that."

Do expressions have multiple interpretations or do they all have a single, matter-of-fact meaning? I hope it's single meaning, because otherwise that would be endlessly confusing!

It's all about context.

This version of Go figure/You do the math means "I shouldn't have to explain it to you." The common denominator for all of the above is "It should be obvious."

 

[Fino]

Yes. "Go figure" is a facetious way of saying "I should have realized that."

It's all about context.

This version of Go figure/You do the math means "I shouldn't have to explain it to you." The common denominator for all of the above is "It should be obvious."

Thank you so much!! One of the things I appreciate most is people kindly explaining things, probably because most people I've known do the opposite. I did get confused for a minute there and thought the last part of your post was some sort of joke about how all of this should have been obvious... but I'm 99% sure I understand!

And if I do understand, then I now know that my original use of "go figure" does not make sense, right? That's kinda funny. I wonder why it popped into my head.

 

[Kyou Nukui]

Thank you so much!! One of the things I appreciate most is people kindly explaining things, probably because most people I've known do the opposite. I did get confused for a minute there and thought the last part of your post was some sort of joke about how all of this should have been obvious... but I'm 99% sure I understand!

And if I do understand, then I now know that my original use of "go figure" does not make sense, right? That's kinda funny. I wonder why it popped into my head.

Go figure = The previous statement was counterintuitive and requires careful calculation to confirm that it is indeed correct

Elizabeth should be here in a few hours!!! Oh um I mean my bass guitar should be here.. Lol nvm.

 

[Fino]

Go figure = The previous statement was counterintuitive and requires careful calculation to confirm that it is indeed correct

Elizabeth should be here in a few hours!!! Oh um I mean my bass guitar should be here.. Lol nvm.

Are you giving an alternate definition or an elaboration? I can't tell because I don't understand it.. I'm sorry! Is the second part your example? It didn't use "go figure"! Or is the "go figure" implied because we're talking about it?

Am I too autistic for an autism forum??

 

[Kyou Nukui]

Are you giving an alternate definition or an elaboration? I can't tell because I don't understand it.. I'm sorry! Is the second part your example? It didn't use "go figure"! Or is the "go figure" implied because we're talking about it?

Am I too autistic for an autism forum??

I think it was an elaboration. I'm pretty sure that I am in agreement with the previous replies.

The second part is unrelated to the go figure discussion. I am very excited to be getting my first musical instrument today.

Possibly. No, I'm joking, you're not. I don't think that is possible.

 

[Fino]

I think it was an elaboration. I'm pretty sure that I am in agreement with the previous replies.

The second part is unrelated to the go figure discussion. I am very excited to be getting my first musical instrument today.

Possibly. No, I'm joking, you're not. I don't think that is possible.

Ohhhhhhhh, I read that Elizabeth part so many times!! HAHAH

You're hilarious! And thank you! And I'm very happy for you! More music in the world!

 

[Theta.G]

overnight shipping? That was fast!
If you're new this tablature is a good way to start learning
BASS TABS - Big Bass Tabs - Free and Accurate Bass Tablature!

 

[Kyou Nukui]

overnight shipping? That was fast!
If you're new this tablature is a good way to start learning
BASS TABS - Big Bass Tabs - Free and Accurate Bass Tablature!

Yeah I didn't know I was buying one right away, I just got the urge on Monday then found the perfect (Fender lookalike) bass on ebay, sniped the auction Tuesday night, and got it this morning. I am really happy with it.
I also got a nasty letter about the water bill haha. Oops.
I have a shoulder strap on the way but I need to wait until next month to get a little practice amp, and I am going to be using up all the data allowance on my phone watching YouTube tutorial videos.. I was totally unprepared for this.

I am a 100% newbie so I don't even know what I don't know yet! I have no friends who can point those things out. I have only heard (read) the word "tablature" in anime so I don't fully understand it lol. I will check out the link now. Thank you!

... Ooooh! Bookmarked that! Thank you!!

 

[Autistamatic]

I've never played a guitar of any sort since I was a young'un but I've been in a few bands as a keyboard player/programmer. In a couple of bands I was in the Bassists/Guitarists didn't have dedicated Amps but used their HiFis to practice by using adaptors to plug their instruments into the mic or line-in sockets. I shared a house with one of them in my twenties and I'm still using the same unit and speakers he used to practice through today.
F**k me - that means I've been using the same unit for about a quarter of a century! I feel old now

 

[Kyou Nukui]

I've never played a guitar of any sort since I was a young'un but I've been in a few bands as a keyboard player/programmer. In a couple of bands I was in the Bassists/Guitarists didn't have dedicated Amps but used their HiFis to practice by using adaptors to plug their instruments into the mic or line-in sockets. I shared a house with one of them in my twenties and I'm still using the same unit and speakers he used to practice through today.
F**k me - that means I've been using the same unit for about a quarter of a century! I feel old now

My "HiFi" is my phone and a Bluetooth speaker or headphones but that probably doesn't make you feel any better.
I want an amp with Bluetooth so I can use my headphones and avoid annoying the neighbours (any more than usual).

It looks like I will need a grip exerciser to strengthen my fingers so I will have a new thing to fidget with which will be nice.

 

[tlc]

Congrats fellow bass player. I started when I was 15, but learned all myself. Just my experience, I preferred to learn from music notation or by ear, so I could figure out my own ways of playing parts. But it was interesting to check the tablature later to see how others did it, maybe use a little bit of both. I have 5 basses and none of them are Fender or anything more than a few hundred dollars new, nothing wrong with something off brand. In these days of CNC production, almost anything is decent enough to get started on, possibly even use in a band. Practice amps are also much better than they used to be, and cheap used gear is so much easier to get.

To answer your question, I did start playing organ about 10 years ago, and started playing synthesizer about 4 years ago. It certainly can be done. On each I learned a handful of songs rather quickly, but then other things got in the way, though I still get spurts when I can learn a part of a song. I think it's not so much brain changes as we age, but lifestyle changes. When you're young you've got little else to think about so you can apply tons of time and brain power to learning. When you're older, life has more responsibility and things like learning music often have to go to the back burner.

 

[Kyou Nukui]

Congrats fellow bass player. I started when I was 15, but learned all myself. Just my experience, I preferred to learn from music notation or by ear, so I could figure out my own ways of playing parts. But it was interesting to check the tablature later to see how others did it, maybe use a little bit of both.

I have just figured out how to read the tablature thanks to a post on the site linked earlier in the thread, but I don't think I can find many of the songs that I'm excited to play, so I expect I will be using it just to get started. I only heard of this thing called tablature when I watched K-on! haha.
I have been saving bass covers youtube videos to a playlist so that I can try to emulate them once I have some basic skills. Most of them look pretty difficult and complex, but maybe I can simplify..
Although I am finding it difficult enough just to keep a regular beat lol, I've always been terrible at even just drumming my fingers on the table.

I have 5 basses and none of them are Fender or anything more than a few hundred dollars new, nothing wrong with something off brand. In these days of CNC production, almost anything is decent enough to get started on, possibly even use in a band. Practice amps are also much better than they used to be, and cheap used gear is so much easier to get.

Yeah thanks to ebay i can get things from outside my area and check out many options to find what I want. I now know which amp I'll be getting, the "Blackstar ID Core Beam", the only one with a built-in metronome, Bluetooth for my headphones, and a line in for my phone/mp3. It'll be a hundred dollars, the same as the bass guitar.

To answer your question, I did start playing organ about 10 years ago, and started playing synthesizer about 4 years ago. It certainly can be done. On each I learned a handful of songs rather quickly, but then other things got in the way, though I still get spurts when I can learn a part of a song. I think it's not so much brain changes as we age, but lifestyle changes. When you're young you've got little else to think about so you can apply tons of time and brain power to learning. When you're older, life has more responsibility and things like learning music often have to go to the back burner.

Haha I think I must be aging backwards then because I have lots of time to kill now, all alone in the silence lol, and needed something to do over the winter so I won't get too bored. I was busy enough just surviving my early adult life and didn't have a place to keep possessions like that anyway.

How long does it take to get past the sore fingers stage? Lol. Ouch!

 

[tlc]

Your fingers need to gain practice but they shouldn't hurt. First make sure you've got a posture that works for you, not like your idols may have. Also, most likely your strings are ridiculously high and your bass needs a setup, most basses do. It can be painful fretting the strings especially close to the tuners and that's not good, you can damage your fingers over time. I did all my work myself, but if you're not comfortable doing it, then find a local guitar tech who can make adjustments like lowering the string action. Even with a moderate adjustment on a budget instrument you'll notice a huge difference. You'll probably find you have to play lighter to keep it from buzzing, but you'll adjust and it will be so much easier.

It took me quite a while to keep the beat, but once I had it, it was a huge step. Then when you are able to hear the chord changes, your progress will explode (in a good way). Took me about a year and a half for all that.

 

[Mia]

Although I am finding it difficult enough just to keep a regular beat lol, I've always been terrible at even just drumming my fingers on the table.

One of the things you might consider doing is using a metronome when you play. Either an electronic one or a mechanical one. It helps.

A metronome, from ancient Greek μέτρον and νέμω, is a device that produces an audible click or other sound at a regular interval that can be set by the user, typically in beats per minute. Musicians use the device to practice playing to a regular pulse.

 

[Kyou Nukui]

One of the things you might consider doing is using a metronome when you play. Either an electronic one or a mechanical one. It helps.

A metronome, from ancient Greek μέτρον and νέμω, is a device that produces an audible click or other sound at a regular interval that can be set by the user, typically in beats per minute. Musicians use the device to practice playing to a regular pulse.

Thanks I'm going to get an amp with a metronome built in so I'll be able to hear the click through my headphones. I'm just waiting for another one to appear on the auctions. Hopefully that will help me.

 

[BraidedPony]

Bass has steel strings so it will take a while to get calloused fingers.