Do My Bass Lessons Need A Some Change?

4 stringed fury · #1 08-07-2008, 09:46 PM

I have been taking lessons since I have started playing bass, which was around 6 months ago. My teacher has been a great teacher and influence. We would usually work on the basic stuff like reading music and and learn some funny little things here and there because I am a beginner in a way. He has started me on a few songs in the past but we never really put much time in them until he, yet again, started me on Dani California by the RHCP. We have been working on this song for about a month. I don't really care for the song and I kind of want to learn something very useful instead of a song I can learn in my spare time.

How could I convince him that I am not feeling the song and I want to learn theory, scales, chords, technique, and all that good stuff with out him giving me a WTH look? I mean come on Dani California won't help me with my progressive metal band / jazz band.

4SF
P.S.
I think one reason he started me on that song is because I play a fretless and he believes octaves will help ( which the may).

mutedeity · #2 08-08-2008, 12:12 AM

Just tell him.

I firmly believe that theory and technique should be first and foremost with tuition anyway. If you are learning songs then you should at least be discussing the theory behind them and looking at what technical elements are involved.

If your teacher isn't doing that or is unwilling to do so, then it is time for you to look for another teacher.

fretlessman71 · #3 08-08-2008, 12:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mutedeity

Just tell him.

I firmly believe that theory and technique should be first and foremost with tuition anyway. If you are learning songs then you should at least be discussing the theory behind them and looking at what technical elements are involved.

If your teacher isn't doing that or is unwilling to do so, then it is time for you to look for another teacher.

Agreed. In order of importance, IMHO:

1) Lessons should make you want to come BACK to learn more.
2) Lessons should have GOOD SOLID INFORMATION that you will use for the rest of your life.
3) Lessons should be FUN for you; at the very least, they shouldn't feel like you're headed to the proctologist.

If this criteria is fulfilled, the lessons can go anyway you choose for them to go. If not, you need to have a discussion with your instructor.

DudeistMonk · #4 08-08-2008, 12:08 PM

Dani California doesn't sound all that easy its certainly got a lot of variations in it (I've never tried to learn it). Even so a month is a long time to work on one song, and it sounds like you just want to write the song off cause its frustrating. Ever consider just gritting your teeth and pushing through it? I mean it is a really groovy song, and I can see it pushing your technique up to another level.

My instructor gives me stuff that I don't care for sometimes, sometimes I think a song is too easy or too hard but usually when I've finished learning it there is something I can apply to my playing that I've picked up in the process, even if its as simple as going down a perfect 4th sounds good in a rock line. Can it really hurt you to learn a some flea?

At the same time I do see your point, your paying for private lessons and they should be tailored to your needs. However at 6 months of playing your instructor might know more about your needs then you do, and maybe he is convinced you need to work on your intonation by hearing a lot of octaves (I don't play fretless, btw... but thats what you said)....Maybe you could ask him for a different song with a lot of octave jumps...either way chances are its going to be a pretty funky song if you are playing a lot of octaves.

fretlessman71 · #5 08-08-2008, 12:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 4 stringed fury

P.S.
I think one reason he started me on that song is because I play a fretless and he believes octaves will help ( which the may).

Try learning "My Sharona" in every key that you can reach in 1st position. Less brain drain, more practice and so on.

tranceFusion · #6 08-08-2008, 12:54 PM

lessons need to be a give and take kind of thing.. you need to go in with questions for him, and let him know what your goals are.. you need to leave w/ something you wouldn't have thought of on your own, and a goal you wouldn't have set on your own.. the teacher should be there to help you out with where you are trying to go, and push you a step further..

If you aren't getting that, I would move on to a different teacher. Everybody interacts with each other in different ways and the perfect teacher for you may not be the same person as the perfect teacher for someone else.

All that said, the teacher is still at work, and if you are just sitting there like a stump, it isn't going to motivate him to help you out. Let him know what you feel about the excercises, what is giving you problems, what your goals are, etc.

Martin Bormann · #7 08-10-2008, 07:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 4 stringed fury

I have been taking lessons since I have started playing bass, which was around 6 months ago. My teacher has been a great teacher and influence. We would usually work on the basic stuff like reading music and and learn some funny little things here and there because I am a beginner in a way. He has started me on a few songs in the past but we never really put much time in them until he, yet again, started me on Dani California by the RHCP. We have been working on this song for about a month. I don't really care for the song and I kind of want to learn something very useful instead of a song I can learn in my spare time.

How could I convince him that I am not feeling the song and I want to learn theory, scales, chords, technique, and all that good stuff with out him giving me a WTH look? I mean come on Dani California won't help me with my progressive metal band / jazz band.

4SF
P.S.
I think one reason he started me on that song is because I play a fretless and he believes octaves will help ( which the may).

You should read Mute Deity's comment, and I'll add to that with, if you're not satisfied completely with your tutor's instruction, find someone else. Bottom line is you foot the bill. Instructors are a dime a dozen (not to say that everyone is decent instructor) so don't waste your time or money on one that isn't providing you the service you want.

tlwaps · #8 08-10-2008, 07:42 AM

I took lessons from this guy for about a month and all he wanted to do was have me bring in a song and he'd teach it to me. That's it. Nothing else. Yet, every single song was tuned to C# according to him. I brought in Tool and he said it's in C#; I even brought in Korn and he said that they tuned to C# as well. Not the key of C# the tuning. He was mad when I told him I was done taking lessons with him.

Michael Case · #9 08-11-2008, 10:25 AM

I know of many teachers that will just run students through songs, BUT when they see kids who actually want to learn they'll show them theory and technique. You need to emphasize to your teacher your teacher what you'd rather study. If that doesn't change the direction of lessons, then move on.

skeptikal · #10 08-11-2008, 10:34 AM

My teacher wanted to start teaching me old school songs but I really had no use for them. I know it was to apply some sort of theory behind the songs but they were horrible songs.

I took about 2 months off from him and I'm starting lessons back up again. I'm a little farther along in my playing abilities than I was when I stopped taking lessons with him. I'm understanding the fretboard more and more every day. I am beginning to really get the concept of music and how it applies to a bass. I'm just going to show him what I know and put faith in him. Hahaha he's a hippie stoner though.

Thunderthumbs73 · #11 08-11-2008, 10:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 4 stringed fury

I have been taking lessons since I have started playing bass, which was around 6 months ago. My teacher has been a great teacher and influence. We would usually work on the basic stuff like reading music and and learn some funny little things here and there because I am a beginner in a way. He has started me on a few songs in the past but we never really put much time in them until he, yet again, started me on Dani California by the RHCP. We have been working on this song for about a month. I don't really care for the song and I kind of want to learn something very useful instead of a song I can learn in my spare time.

How could I convince him that I am not feeling the song and I want to learn theory, scales, chords, technique, and all that good stuff with out him giving me a WTH look? I mean come on Dani California won't help me with my progressive metal band / jazz band.

4SF
P.S.
I think one reason he started me on that song is because I play a fretless and he believes octaves will help ( which the may).

Without being snippy about this, teachers aren't mind-readers. Even the best of them. Speak up. That said, good ones should be soliciting feedback from you and encouraging a dialogue not only about bass, but about lessons in general. I always want to know what my students are thinking.

Regards.

thecapm · #12 08-11-2008, 08:42 PM

[quote]My instructor gives me stuff that I don't care for sometimes, sometimes I think a song is too easy or too hard but usually when I've finished learning it there is something I can apply to my playing that I've picked up in the process, even if its as simple as going down a perfect 4th sounds good in a rock line. Can it really hurt you to learn a some flea?[quote]When my teacher brought me "The Groove is in the Heart" I absolutely hated it but worked on it and learned it anyway. Now it's one of my favorite things to play. Learning styles that you don't normally play is an important part of becoming a better musician. Last week he brought me "Flagpole Sitta" by Harvey Danger, which is an incredibly simple song because it basically just follows the chords in eighths, but you know what? It really helped my rhythm playing along with the song.

Earthday · #13 08-11-2008, 09:35 PM

Dani California has a very common groove and a very common chord progression. I'm sure he plans to use it as a basis to teach you some theory. Either way it's a song you should get down, because in the future you'll hear the chord movement and think "Dani California!" and know exactly where you should be playing.