"Binary Code" Fretboard Memorization

jebmd · #1 06-13-2011, 01:52 PM

Anyone else get this email?

Binary code

Anyone ever hear of Alex Sampson?

Smokin' Toaster · #2 06-13-2011, 02:38 PM

I'm afraid he'd have to kill me after telling me those secrets.

JimmyM · #3 06-14-2011, 01:25 AM

I already have the fretboard memorized so it wouldn't do me any good.

fearceol · #4 06-14-2011, 02:08 AM

I assume this is the same Alex Sampson of "Bass Guitar"SECRETS" fame ?

IMO, anyone who thinks there are "secrets" to playing the bass is fooling themselves.

jebmd · #5 06-14-2011, 04:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fearceol

I assume this is the same Alex Sampson of "Bass Guitar"SECRETS" fame ?

IMO, anyone who thinks there are "secrets" to playing the bass is fooling themselves.

Unknown.

I recieved that link in an email yesterday and was wondering if anyone else here got it as well.

BassPlayingCat · #6 06-14-2011, 05:37 AM

I was linked as well. No idea. I do find it funny these websites that announce they have a secret that will allow you to learn a multitude of things in 5 minutes and your playing will 'never be the same again.' If something was that simple and effective, it'd be common knowledge I'm certain.

cybersnyder · #7 06-14-2011, 06:53 AM

I got one of those "secret" systems awhile ago when my daughter wanted to learn bass. They make words and sentences out of the notes on the E string and other phrases going up the strings from those notes or something like that. Technically, you can learn the notes on the entire fretboard in one evening but for each note you have to start at E work up and then go across to the correct string. So, it's not very practical. Surprisingly, they did give me my money back and I got to keep the CD full of Bass Tabs, I'll give them that.

Pick two notes and practice those all over the fretboard for a week. Next week do two more. In 6 weeks you know the entire fretboard.

Russell L · #8 06-14-2011, 08:15 AM

Here's a secret: ther ain't no secret.

What's wrong with learning the "hard" way, like most musicians. Everybody wants a short cut, something for nothing, wants everything to be easy. There's nothing wrong with hard work and effort, not to mention using your noggin a bit. Besides, it's not that hard to learn the fretboard anyway. I understood it right away at age 13 when I first started playing guitar. I had a music background, though, but it was easy to apply what I already knew on piano to guitar.

fearceol · #9 06-14-2011, 09:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fearceol

I assume this is the same Alex Sampson of "Bass Guitar"SECRETS" fame ?

I checked ! Same guy !

Learn to Play Awesome Bass for Any Song Completely By Ear, In Just 3 Simple Steps

R. Laevinus · #10 06-14-2011, 09:10 AM

Here's my three simple steps:

1: Learn to play your instrument.
2: Learn to listen to what the other instruments are doing.
3. Learn to complement the other instruments with your instrument.

And BAM, you're done! You can now play awesome bass for any song completely by ear!

john grey · #11 06-14-2011, 10:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Russell L

Here's a secret: ther ain't no secret.

What's wrong with learning the "hard" way, like most musicians. Everybody wants a short cut, something for nothing, wants everything to be easy. There's nothing wrong with hard work and effort, not to mention using your noggin a bit. Besides, it's not that hard to learn the fretboard anyway. I understood it right away at age 13 when I first started playing guitar. I had a music background, though, but it was easy to apply what I already knew on piano to guitar.

That pretty much says it all.

It's interesting that he uses the term BINARY. a zero or one, a yes or no. I'm not entirely sure if I would seek out a "short-cut" as there are SO MANY things available when learning (especially fretboard logistics, scales, fingering shifts, whatever). Short-cuts deprive the individual of working on things that crop up during the common "practice" sessions.
It might be more defeating than productive. but I would like to understand what's so "new".

I had always remembered that "there's nothing new under the sun" & "vanity, all is vanity" especially when applied to foundational standards dealt with centuries previously......but who knows? Maybe he DID find a secret new method of learning that no one has ever thought of ever before.....

I would like to think I could keep an open mind about this but it sounds so much like hype, it's a challenge.

JimmyM · #12 06-14-2011, 10:47 AM

Shortcuts appeal to lazy people. There are no shortcuts to ANYTHING worthwhile, let alone playing music.

fearceol · #13 06-14-2011, 10:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by john grey

Maybe he DID find a secret new method of learning that no one has ever thought of ever before.....

I would like to think I could keep an open mind about this

Only one way to find out....sign up, pay the money, and report back to us all, with regards to it's secrecy and authenticity!

Personally, I have not a doubt in the world that it is hype, otherwise it would not be a "secret" for very long.

mambo4 · #14 06-14-2011, 11:27 AM

Clearly the "secret" is marketing.
Alex Sampson has come up in these forums before, in fact some even suspected that the posts about it were shills -fakes to draw attention (maybe this one is too.)

I actually spent an afternoon looking over Alex's free vids for the substance of it.
I may get flamed for saying so, but Alex is not completely full of it: once you wade through the hype, There is some substance to his instruction.
But there's A LOT of hype to wade thru which is a big turn off.

But It's NOT secret, unique, nor easier than other approaches, nor something you can't get thru any competent instructor. That part is BS and hype.

Targeted for beginners with more money than patience.

jebmd · #15 06-14-2011, 01:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mambo4

Clearly the "secret" is marketing.
Alex Sampson has come up in these forums before, in fact some even suspected that the posts about it were shills -fakes to draw attention (maybe this one is too.)

I actually spent an afternoon looking over Alex's free vids for the substance of it.
I may get flamed for saying so, but Alex is not completely full of it: once you wade through the hype, There is some substance to his instruction.
But there's A LOT of hype to wade thru which is a big turn off.

But It's NOT secret, unique, nor easier than other approaches, nor something you can't get thru any competent instructor. That part is BS and hype.

Targeted for beginners with more money than patience.

No shill here brother, I was just asking who got the email. Since it came to the email address I use for TB, I wanted to know if he was somehow targeting TB members. I'm not lazy, looking for shortcuts or affiliated with Alex Sampson in any way.

It was just a question.

mambo4 · #16 06-14-2011, 02:33 PM

Please forgive my toughtlessness. I didn't mean to imply anything about you specifically, tho reading back I can see I may have. Sorry, man.

BobaFret · #17 06-14-2011, 03:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by R. Laevinus

Here's my three simple steps:

1: Learn to play your instrument.
2: Learn to listen to what the other instruments are doing.
3. Learn to complement the other instruments with your instrument.

And BAM, you're done! You can now play awesome bass for any song completely by ear!

GAAAHHHH!!!! You just unveiled the secret.

jebmd · #18 06-14-2011, 04:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mambo4

Please forgive my toughtlessness. I didn't mean to imply anything about you specifically, tho reading back I can see I may have. Sorry, man.

Thank you for that, no offense taken. I just wanted to make clear this thread wasn't an ad for someone whom I'd never heard of until yesterday.

The point of the thread was to find out if that message I recieved was spam. I didn't intend to get some folks' panties all tied in a knot.

john grey · #19 06-14-2011, 04:20 PM

It's a good thing you put it out there on front street so now if anyone else got one they have a forum to discuss it. However, depending on how he "mass-mailed" it might get spam-killed.

His marketing approach fosters skepticism. The "new, fast, easy" approach doesn't seem inviting to me personally. If it was something like a "new in-depth, powerful but manageable" approach....it's would seem more "real". But how "new" could you get????? I suppose there could be some unique concept like abandoning any visual access to the fret-board and working on feel of the frets or some unique pivot of the fingers so that you have less shifting of the hand.....but most all that stuff must have been tried by someone at some point as fretted instruments are not exactly new.
The teaser is free but I wonder how much the the real-deal costs?

Russell L · #20 06-14-2011, 08:47 PM

Hey, no offense meant from me, either, Jeb. It's just a topic I love to pick at. I don't know why anyone needs a short cut, or new method. It's just something you have to learn, and it's best to go from the ground up. I suppose that if there's any secret at all it's to play a lot and think about what the notes are. The more you do it, the more you know it.