What would you like to see from an instructional DVD series???

[adamnitti]

hey everyone-

i begin filming a bass instructional series this month, and i've been polling players to try and find out what types of things they are looking for. of course, i won't be able to cover a huge variety of subjects in my first release, but i plan on releasing several that cover topics such as improvisation, technique, getting great tone, styles studies, and even transcriptions of my own music. i'd love to hear from you all on where you feel current dvd offerings are falling short in helping you to get to the next level... i'd love to be able to 'help fill in the gaps'. thanks in advance for your feedback!

adam

[Bocete]

Hi Adam

I've always been bothered how technique sections of instructional videos are only about showing what the instructor is famous for doing, briefly and unquestionably. I'd like to see the entirely different - instead of whowing raking excercises, you could discuss different ways of the simpler techniques, and why use them, why not, when to use them etc.

For example, you could take a few minutes talking about three finger plucking. But, instead of just showing simple excercises, you could talk about the benefits of that technique, the penalties you take by using it.. You could show where you use it an why have you decided that way, where you've decided not to use it and why, your estimation on how much time one needs to invest to get comfortable in using it, etc..

The same approach could go for raking/not raking, floating anchor/thumb or simple anchor.. Most people can easily adapt to any of these techniques, but most I've talked to insist on either the more complicated as it's superior in a way, or the simpler because it's, well, simpler. IMO, it's best to use either, depending on the situation. I think you do it that way. Let's call this "correct technique application".

An other topic that hasn't been touched elsewhere is the amplification and compression/eq skills. Though, such a topic would be very time consuming and I'm not sure the result would benefit anyone apart from a bass rookie. If you've got a point to make on the topic it would be most beneficial. Otherwise, just introducing what can you do with the eq and showing examples would not be worth the time spent.

Will this instructional series be available on DVD, or online as monthly articles?

Regards,
Bocete

[Funkturnal]

One area I've found to be lacking in the instructional materials for bass has been improvisation. (That's why I've been checking out instructional material for guitar and horns for quite some time now.) Of course, this is such a huge area to cover, and everyone watching the video will be at a different level, so it would probably be difficult to cover the topic in a way that would address all of the viewers' needs in respect to their ability and experience.

For example, some people, like myself, may already know all about the modes, arpeggios etc, and may be on a quest to refine their vocabulary/phrasing and explore the deeper elements of jazz. However, someone who has minimal theoretical knoweldge would be lost if the material presented to them assumed that they already had an understanding of, for example, the various aspects of diatonic harmony.

I've always thought it would be cool if there was a video or book for bass players that covered a variety of jazz standards, a jazz blues, maybe some ii-V-I's and turn-arounds, and a couple of different one-chord vamps etc. I would like to see different approaches to improvising over these changes with an analysis and explanation of the "nuts-and bolts" that made the musical ideas sound good.

Personally for me, I've transcribed many solos (or snippets of solos) by different sax players or guitar players (bass players too!). Once I get that line or that lick under my fingers and into my ears, I sit down and analyze the line over the chords/harmony. Then I strip down the lick to the bare essentials, and I am able to pick out the scale or idea (the nuts-and-bolts) behind it, and I realize why the line was appealing to me in the first place. The hard work is always worth the effort. However, sometimes I wish there was some material out there that could "spoon feed" me some of these concepts.

Anyway, that was just my selfish "I want this type of DVD" rant, but there seem to be a lot of people who ask questions about theory or "How do I put it all together?" type of posts, so hopefully I'm not alone!

Good luck with the DVD, and looking forward to checking it out when it comes together! And thanks for your generosity in helping out us bass players!

[adamnitti]

hey, these are fantastic suggestions so far. thank you very much for posting. bocete, in answer to your question, these will be available on dvd and possibly in some sort of downloadable format.

i completely agree on the technique stuff. it seems there are a lot of videos that teach the signature techniques of the players, but i'm assuming this is because that sells dvds. there is a very good chance that my first dvd will cover applied techniques in practical scenarios, in an effort to help players master right and left hand duties. the nice thing about this is that is applies to all players, regardless of their level of experience.

related to improvisation, it seems i have gotten more positive feecback from my 'chordal improvisation' video on bass player live than any other thing that has been posted... i will definitely be doing material that expands on this topic and also discusses the application of modes, arps, etc, and not just learning the forms...

keep 'em coming!

[robthegaff]

If you are looking at more than playing techniques it would be good to cover players posture, strap height etc. even just to mention that having the strap too low strains your wrist and poor posture while playing leads to back problems. I agree with Funkturnal, I'm only getting into listening to Jazz and Blues and really looking at funk, what would be of interest to me is a presenter being able to relate how the bassline fits in the song, what feeling does it bring to the song and how does it do that, with stops, passing notes, all of that. These are the elements I try to add to my lines and if I was looking for instruction it's what I would be interested in learning theory behind.

[Bassman7PM]

For me it would be more on improv, an area I've never felt confident in up until I started using the Chordal Improvisation techniques you show in the youtube video. Just seeing what you did with a Cm7th Chord totally opened my ears to hearing things differently and your approach was without intimidation. I would like to see more of this many applied to other chords especially for those of us who have been challenged by theory/modes/scales and to make it more musical with less science.

[Gab124]

I would have to give a +1 on improvisation and harmonic approaches. I don't know how many books, dvds etc are out there that show one different scales, arps, etc without really giving one info - and examples - on how to tastfully use or practice them. I also watched the video on the Cm7 chord and could not believe how differently I looked at things after that.

[PaPaVB20]

Thanks a lot Adam, I´m a bassist from Costa Rica. Actually you are one of the most respected bassists for me, so having this oportunity of actually speak my mind on DVD´s topics is great!
I´m on a extensive study of new techniques and harmony theory. I would love to have that mix, maybe study on jazz standards usind racking, independence of the hands on a tapping.... Maybe some demonstrations on your melodic slap, because I´ve heard a lot of percusive slap with amazing speed but musically weak. The best slap I´ve heard for my taste is Alain Caron`s. I found your slap very musical so maybe your aproaches on applying the technique, and studying methods would help a lot bassist´s like me, because for example I`ve been practicing double thumb for about two months and I have a good sound and speed, but I can´t find a way to use it harmonically in my pieces or solos. And finally maybe a topic on your composition methods, and how to take advantage of technology on that matter. Thanks a lot Adam, you are an inspiration, right here in Costa Rica you are well respected by a lot of bass players. Im sure It would be a great DVD, obviously I will buy it!

[bottomzone]

Adam, it's great to hear that you are actually filming your instructional DVD!!! Some topics that I would like to see covered are fretboard fluency-knowing the neck, not being so root-dependent when it comes to soloing/improvising, ear training and locking in on odd time grooves.


A Groove is a Terrible Thing to Waste!

[QuintrKD]

More on fretless techniques! I've only found about 2 or 3 instructional resources that are geared exclusively to fretless, but they all seem to be incomplete.

[kamakiriad7]

Wow, these are really all great suggestions. I'd get a DVD with these criteria on it in a second.

One aspect that is often overlooked, at least for me, is comfort/pain-reducing practice on the instrument. I've studied at two post-secondary institutions on electric and double bass, and have found that there is very little information in the curriculum that deals with avoiding pain and injury while playing. This is also true of instructional DVDs - I can imagine, though, that this may be the case because it "may not sell". (The only exception has been books/courses on Alexander Technique.) Whatever the matter, it's an important issue for many of us. I'm guessing that you can provide some insight from your own experience. (6-string bass is not the easiest to manoeuvre around on.)

After all, what's the point of putting in 5-hour practice days when it's painful to do so?

Cheers,
Chris Davis

[ethompson2]

Let me know as soon as this is released I would love to pick it up as well.

[jdbrewst]

Another vote for improvisation, working from the ground-up. I too am a fan of your 'chordal improvisation' video. I think, for me, something which really explains the choices you have, why you can use x pattern with y chord. Maybe it's just me, not quite getting it yet!

But, having seen you live at Bass Day, checked out your vids and received a quick response to an email question, I'll be a customer for your DVD if it's available in the UK.

[adamnitti]

hey everyone-

i just wanted to say thanks again for all of your fantastic input. thanks to all of you and others who have replied on my other pages, i have successfully put together outlines for my first couple of instructional series, and i really hope that the info presented will be helpful to each of you considering checking it out.

i also wanted to let you know that this past wednesday we filmed the first of the videos for an improvisation and applied harmony and theory video series!!! the working title right now for the first video is, "The Improviser's Toolbox For Bass, Part 1" and there will ultimately be 3 videos in the series.

part 1 will cover such topics as: ear training, fingerboard visualisation, modal studies and practical application, chordal improvisation, basic substitutions, and practice strategies. i'm really excited about it!

once again, i really appreciate all of the feedback, and i sincerely hope that this will be a useful tool for bass players looking to gain a greater understanding of their instrument and refine their own voice through improvisation.

i will of course be posting updates as we get closer to the release date. right now we are in the editing stages, so i'll periodically check in as we move closer to production!

[Bocete]

Nice, looking forward to it

By bass teacher won't be happy though

[adamnitti]

Originally Posted by Bocete

Nice, looking forward to it

By bass teacher won't be happy though

LOL... we'll keep it our little secret...

[lsu921]

any idea when these will be ready adam? norm stockton's videos have been the best i've found to date, but it's definitely time for something new!

[SBassman]

I'm probably too late to offer input, and I'm probably going to offer input that's a minority view, but ...

I think the thing lacking most in instructional videos is: the fact that none of them really substitute for lessons. Now, I know they can't be a complete substitute, but - most don't even come close.

Lots of materials out there are just a Stream Of Stuff, - stuff not organized and partitioned into lessons that you'd get with an instructor. It makes it hard for non-natural-self-teachers to teach and pace themselves with the material. I'd love to see materials that offered instruction and then offered very specific exercises and criteria that should be met before the next lesson is attacked.

[adamnitti]

hey sbassman-

those are great points, and i really appreciate your feedback. first of all, let me say that i agree with you wholeheartedly... lots of content out there lacks cohesiveness or exemplifies a progressive method. when i first started outlining my video series, i had originally planned on doing things in the way you have described; my plan was to offer a large number of smaller lessons that were all part of sub-series content. however, once i started piecing things together, it became apparent to me that from a marketing perspective it would be tougher to quantify exactly what i was offering, because it started to look more like "a-la-carte" topical lesson material. just because i might have offered a "fingerstyle funk" series of lessons, it didn't mean players would necessarily want to pick them up. now that i have actually gone through the process of creating content for a couple of these, i can see why it might be tough to create a video that is as sequential as you have described that would appeal to a large cross-section of players. it could definitely be done, (heck, maybe i'll do it, myself one day), but you'd have to create a pretty long series that was broken down into very many videos, each dedicated to a different 'chapter' of learning that included several lessons based on a concept or category of musical training. it's a daunting task for the creator of the content, because first of all the investment in production cost is significant if you are planning on releasing, say, for example, 10 sequential videos for starters. the unfortunate reality is that it is going to be hard to guarantee the payoff in sales because frankly most video purchasers out there will watch a video a handful of times and then maybe never break them out again... couple that with the fact that you'd be counting on players to hold enough interest in your series to commit to purchasing at least 5 or more in a series, and you can see how the math might get risky. the other option is to offer many multiple hours of content in a single video or across 2 or 3. the challenge there is that if you are measuring the price point compared to other videos out there that mostly run between 45 and 90 minutes of instructional content, you'd have to ask a significantly higher price for a system as comprehensive as what we are discussing. think about it this way... if you had a weekly lesson with a private instructor, he/she would be able to monitor your progress and give you the next lesson that builds on the prior lesson at each meeting. most private bass lessons are between 30 and 60 minutes on average, which includes demonstrative commentary from the teacher and evaluation of the student. if you tried to emulate this approach and subsequently createe even just 30 minutes of content for each individual 'chapter' in your video, you'll be up to 3 hours of video content after only 6 chapters/lessons. you get the point, i'm sure... you'd really have to specifically tailor your content to a player's current level of proficiency, and probably create multiple levels across multiple topics, etc, like you would have at a music school or similar. because every player out there will have a different background and progress at a different level, it would be tough to satisfy every scenario with a single video or even 2 or 3.

anyways, i'm really sorry to ramble. honestly, my reply was an example of me just thinking out loud and typing in a stream of consciousness!

bottom line: i agree we need more products like you have described. i'm still learning as i go here, and will keep that in mind for future releases.

as for my first release, it is done in the spirit of trying to teach players to teach themselves. that is why i present concepts that players can use as a foundation for them to develop their own ideas and approaches. for me personally, that was the best compromise i could come up with that would allow me to both teach some of the things i use in my own playing without just teaching 'licks', and also give players something that they can expound on in the practice shed.

sorry for the long-winded response. you definitely got me thinking.

[tomwilliams1983]

Hey Adam

Firstly i'd like to say that I really dig your solo work and your playing in general, to cut a long story short: you rock.
Secondly and more on topic I think your video on chordal improvisation was really useful and opened things up for me so anything that continued in that style would be great as it seems like an area thats relatively untouched by most instructional dvds/websites. And from the looks of it improvisation is a popular topic.