Need advice on learning how to start playing Jazz bass

[FattMusiek]

I'm relatively competent at playing guitar, bass, and drums. A friend of mine studies jazz drums at his college and I would very much like to start playing jazz bass, eventually moving up to the stand up bass. What is a good starting point for someone who has not studied music theory? Any help would be appreciated, such as a site with blues/jazz scales or any personal experience.

Thanks guys!

 

[AGCurry]

Register at talkbass.com. Lots of good information there.

 

[mshilarious]

If you want to eventually learn upright, my advice would be to rent one. It's not that expensive, like $75 per month or so, and at a reputable shop the rental payments can be applied towards purchase.

It feels like a completely different instrument than an electric. The scale length is much longer, and of course it is fretless. Therefore I would start with that if that is where you want to end up.

They are BIG instruments so you have to rearrange your life around transporting them around.

 

[Wide Awake]

Any help would be appreciated, such as a site with blues/jazz scales or any personal experience.

I bought a good instructional book for learning jazz and blues progressions, constructing melodic walking bass lines, use of chromatic and passing tones, II-V-I progressions. Uses standard notation and TAB and it comes with an audio CD. I learned so much from this book/CD, so I have no problem recommending it. It is :

"The Art of Walking Bass" by Bob Magnusson Hal Leonard publishing