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Vince wrote:Hand size is not huge issue on bass as you don't have to do chords. It's mainly single note runs.

Does arm size come into it, ie. can you reach along the neck without having your wrist at completely the wrong angle?

(you see, I do genuinely know nothing. Maybe I need to actually borrow a bass and have a go myself)

Vince wrote:Hand size is not huge issue on bass as you don't have to do chords. It's mainly single note runs.

dunno,first 5 frets are a long way away if you have short arms....
Prolly not so bad on a p-bass or similar -and you could alway get an inbetween scale like a jag.something 32" ish

When I picked up a bass, after playing guitar for many years, I grabbed RockSmith (the game/cable) to learn with. Loved it, and gave me a bit more of a grounding in playing bass like a bass player rather than a guitarist faking it. I really do recommend it for bass learning.

Kris wrote: dunno,first 5 frets are a long way away if you have short arms....
Prolly not so bad on a p-bass or similar -and you could alway get an inbetween scale like a jag.something 32" ish

I'm 5' 6" and I've never had any trouble. P-Bass is pretty standard for scale length.

I reckon the easiest thing to do is go to a music shop and try.

Thanks for all the advice and insight, caught myself watching way too many bass videos on youtube now... must avoid starting to learn it myself now

We've decided to push the boat out and sign him up for two music teaching sessions this year at High School, one for vocals - he's too good to not do this - and one for Bass hopefully although it wasn't on the list of choices, and drums as a fallback and I'll sort him out with a tutor myself from somewhere (I know a couple of bass players in CHCH, no idea which ones do lessons).

I've also borrowed a Bass and Amp from a neighbour who I knew had bought a beginner setup (I think) during the start of a mid-life process and hasn't been playing it. I've been invited to put in an offer to buy it if I like, so I'll see exactly what it is but in the meantime, all systems are go....

moliere wrote:When I picked up a bass, after playing guitar for many years, I grabbed RockSmith (the game/cable) to learn with. Loved it, and gave me a bit more of a grounding in playing bass like a bass player rather than a guitarist faking it. I really do recommend it for bass learning.

I still play bass with Rocksmith most days.... I've spent way too many hours playing Rocksmith in fact

Bg wrote:

moliere wrote:When I picked up a bass, after playing guitar for many years, I grabbed RockSmith (the game/cable) to learn with. Loved it, and gave me a bit more of a grounding in playing bass like a bass player rather than a guitarist faking it. I really do recommend it for bass learning.

I still play bass with Rocksmith most days.... I've spent way too many hours playing Rocksmith in fact

Given I have Rocksmith, and it allows great headphone practice I suspect this might be something I give a go as well.

How is it going?

foal30 wrote:How is it going?

It's going really well.

the borrowed Bass got him started and we had loads of fun with Seven Nation Army and Another One Bites the Dust, he then started working out TNT. His first lesson went well but the teacher recommended we look out for a 3/4 size instrument.

So I just picked up a Squire Vintage Jaguar Short Scale and a 100W 1x15 HiWatt that was up for sale in Christchurch which seems absolutely perfect and the teacher was happy with it.

He's also impressed the teacher with how fast he's picking stuff up, no surprise given he can kind of play piano, can read basic music and has been in the Canterbury Representative Choir for the last few years (little bugger might have close to perfect pitch as well).

And they're already trying to start a band at school...

So 2 lessons in and we'll see how he gets on this term. Cross fingers.

In related news, this now means that I have 2 guitar amp setups, a bass setup and a drum kit in my man cave, and keyboard but no amp, so looks like I need to hunt down a cheap PA