Bass lessons

[TGSoundWave]

Should I take lessons from an instructor or teach myself?

[4-Stringer]

wait a minute, I need some popcorn and a beer.....

[WuvMuffin72]

Originally Posted by TGSoundWave

Should I take lessons from an instructor or teach myself?

How much experience do you have with the bass so far?

[TGSoundWave]

Originally Posted by WuvMuffin72

How much experience do you have with the bass so far?

Just starting.

[bassplayeroreo]

well depends on a lot of things. Do you just wanna play songs or do u want to play a lot of styles of music. Also if u learn by urself you might have a tough time reading music. So an instructor can help you a lot. Also if you learn by yourself you might get bored of the bass really quickly cuz you won't really know what to teach yourself. So I say instructor if you want to get serious with the bass.

[FeuerFrei]

Seriously, get an instructor, even if for a couple of lessons, and make sure he actually plays bass and isn't just a guitarist.

Get him to teach you basic technique, where your hands go, ect, don't develop bad habits now where they're going to really hurt you later and limit your enjoyment.

And the biggest thing, get a guy you like, don't not look forward to your lesson, having a good guy one you get along with helps the process out greatly.

[-=DanAtkinson=-]

You can't teach yourself at first. Good initial instruction will provide you the tools and understanding to teach yourself. But you need guidance at first, especially on the fundamentals.

I highly, highly recommend this site for online clasroom instruction. Very low cost and good quality lessons: www.musicdojo.com

[EricF]

It is possible to teach yourself, but it's not the most efficient way to learn, and it's a good way to develop bad habits. Nothing will improve your skills faster than working one-on-one with a skilled instructor.

[RickenBoogie]

Originally Posted by EricF

It is possible to teach yourself, but it's not the most efficient way to learn, and it's a good way to develop bad habits. Nothing will improve your skills faster than working one-on-one with a skilled instructor.

Truth.

[spade2you]

There is a lot of technique and form involved in playing bass and many ways you can make yourself inefficient or hurt yourself. There are volumes of music you can learn in books and on the web, but nobody but a teacher can give you feedback.

[finalrequiem]

I had a musical background, had a natural ear, was a singer, etc (all the stuff that some people lean on instead of getting instruction) and finding a good teacher has helped me more in just a few months than two years of just picking things up on my own. You won't regret finding a *great* teacher.

[TGSoundWave]

Thanks guys

[SLaPiNFuNK]

Im self learned... except for reading and theory...

[brekfustuvluzer]

i taught myself and have been playing for 14 years now, and i am currently looking for a good teacher. i feel like there is still so much to learn and i would like to have some one give feedback on my technique and work with me on bass line building and improv. i also hear that chuck rainey gives lessons in my area!

[shadowtippy]

"Self" is usually a pretty good person, but is not the best teacher. Someone, quailfied, is almost always better, even if it is just for learning the basics. Learning proper procedure instead of poor technique will go a long way towards being able to play good instead of merely being able to play.

[embellisher]

Originally Posted by FeuerFrei

Seriously, get an instructor, even if for a couple of lessons, and make sure he actually plays bass and isn't just a guitarist.

Get him to teach you basic technique, where your hands go, ect, don't develop bad habits now where they're going to really hurt you later and limit your enjoyment.

And the biggest thing, get a guy you like, don't not look forward to your lesson, having a good guy one you get along with helps the process out greatly.

+1

I am self taught, but I recommend that anybody starting out should take at least a couple of lessons from an experience bass player. I have learned a lot in 30 years of playing, but I am certain that if I had a few lessons when I was starting out, that I would be better than I am today.

Oh, and we do have forums for different topics, not just the Basses forum. This one is being moved to General Instruction.

[Bob331]

Check this out.

http://www.how-to-play-bass.com/

If you take the "Protege" lessons you can get video feedback. I really enjoy these lessons.


There is also "MarloweDK" whose site is playbassnow.com. He advertises live lessons (via video hookup).

Bob

[rcarraher]

Originally Posted by TGSoundWave

Should I take lessons from an instructor or teach myself?

Hi TG, I've been playing for over 35 years now, and I go back for lessons everyonce in awhile. A teacher can see things you are doing, or help you change things you are doing wrong or harder than they need to be, where you won't see them yourself.

Strat with an instructor, you may out grow him or her, or find that one particular instructor doesn't meet your needs, but a formal/semi formal relationship with an instructor is invaluable.

[Rudreax]

Originally Posted by embellisher

+1

I am self taught, but I recommend that anybody starting out should take at least a couple of lessons from an experience bass player. I have learned a lot in 30 years of playing, but I am certain that if I had a few lessons when I was starting out, that I would be better than I am today.

Oh, and we do have forums for different topics, not just the Basses forum. This one is being moved to General Instruction.

I don't know why, but I never realized you were a Moderator.

Anyway, if you have the time and money to do so, you should always at least try to get an instructor. If you find a good one, it will always be worth it.

[BD Bass]

Originally Posted by 4-Stringer

wait a minute, I need some popcorn and a beer.....

Bassist have a great sence of humor, not to mention, we're all so cool