Lessons are humbling.....

[GhostLobby]

I've been playing off and on for close to twenty years now and I'm self-taught and learned by ear and playing with people. Until today I've had two lessons, both of which were less than helpful. Having hit a wall in my playing and experiencing tendonitis in my plucking hand I decided to find a teacher and rebuild my playing from the ground up.

Wow. I knew I wasn't the best player but when you break your playing down to the very basic of fundamentals it's amazing how hard it is. Just proper hand shapes, let alone timing and feel, are difficult. Because of my bad habits it's incredibly difficult to maintain the proper curve in my plucking fingers and the right relationship to the neck with my left hand. Oy, I have my work cut out for me. But.... it feels really good to finally start learning a proper way to play bass. I always watch the bass player in any band and his/her hands and always wish I could look so effortless. Now I know why I haven't been able to.

Anyhow, I guess one lesson I learned today is that no matter how good you think you are a good lesson, with a good teacher, can really open your eyes and there is never a point at which you can't learn something and improve.

[Growler]

Amen. I play mostly funk, and I'll spend the better part of a week working on a Bernard Odum (James Brown) bassline, only to think I've got the rhythm down, only to have my instructor say "Well, you've pretty much got it, 'cept if you look closely *points to sheet music* here..."

And then it sounds funky.

Moral of the story: Resting a wee bit longer adds more funk than coming in too early.

[Disc]

As I see it, their is no proper technique. Its those people that play differently that change the face of music. So far Ive been teachign myself, still considering lessons but I feel they wont be worth it. There is just a feelign that lessons will make playing bass work rather then fun.

[daffy]

I taught guitar for about 6 years before stopping playing altogether for 8 years, then reinventing myself as a bass player.

Having taught, I knew what I needed to do to get my chops up and my motor skills and I picked up some books to start teaching myself - and I went right back to basics and forced myself to literally start from scratch (Hall Leonard Bass Method 1-3, I REALLY mean scratch).

About a month in, I went and got a couple of technique lessons from a bass teacher - best money and time I have ever spent and I have not looked back since. I would say my learning capability probably doubled in speed from just a lesson or two.

[jadesmar]

Originally Posted by Disc

As I see it, their is no proper technique. Its those people that play differently that change the face of music. So far Ive been teachign myself, still considering lessons but I feel they wont be worth it. There is just a feelign that lessons will make playing bass work rather then fun.

Probably the same thinking that the OP had for 20 years prior.

[Neb Maro]

My first lesson was a little dissapointing, but I think ti was mostly because the instructor wanted to get a feel for where I was at. He was fairly impressed because I was more advance than he thought I was going to be.
I want to go back when I can afford lessons. The instructor is an amazing bass player and I am sure I will learn more being taught by a professional than I would if I were to just go out of books, instructional videos and jamming.
Some people can't afford lessons and some don't want to.
That's perfectly alright, but that does not discount from the benefits of taking them. The OP's post gives a testement to that.

[Sean S]

Originally Posted by Disc

So far Ive been teachign myself, still considering lessons but I feel they wont be worth it.

Dude, they are MORE than worth it if you find the right teacher. I didn't think I really needed lessons, and I've been playing for 6 years

going to school for music has opened my eyes...we were assigned (thankfully) teachers that suit our playing level...

...it helps A LOT when you have an experienced outside opinion...seriously...

[lemur821]

Originally Posted by Disc

As I see it, their is no proper technique. Its those people that play differently that change the face of music. So far Ive been teachign myself, still considering lessons but I feel they wont be worth it. There is just a feelign that lessons will make playing bass work rather then fun.

There may not be any one proper technique, but there's a whole lot of wrong ones.

[mattblissett]

I went to my friends house, who played bass ages ago and now picks up the guitar intermittently, and he showed me some real basic techniques that took me to another level, and he explained open and forced harmonics in a way that had me picking them up that evening. We're going back to basics, starting with 12 bar blues patterns and aiming to jam around 'sunshine of your love' and black magic woman, for fun

[dave_p]

Originally Posted by Disc

As I see it, their is no proper technique. Its those people that play differently that change the face of music. So far Ive been teachign myself, still considering lessons but I feel they wont be worth it. There is just a feelign that lessons will make playing bass work rather then fun.

good luck with that

[Poop-Loops]

Originally Posted by Disc

As I see it, their is no proper technique. Its those people that play differently that change the face of music. So far Ive been teachign myself, still considering lessons but I feel they wont be worth it. There is just a feelign that lessons will make playing bass work rather then fun.

How can you tell if you've never had one?

My instructor gives me things to practice that are not songs, things like chord arpeggios and progressions, modes, etc. But even practicing those is kind of fun. But more importantly, by doing a few hours of work, you can have A LOT more fun because you've learned so much. Self teaching is really hard, since you have no idea where you are or where you are going.

[BrandonBass]

it really depends on your teacher, plus even given the same teacher some players will benefit more than others. might even screw you up if your teacher doesnt know his stuff

[GhostLobby]

Originally Posted by BrandonBass

it really depends on your teacher, plus even given the same teacher some players will benefit more than others. might even screw you up if your teacher doesnt know his stuff

I think there a couple of things to keep in mind: First of all it really helps to have a good idea of what you want to get from lessons if you're going to spend the money on them. In my case I really wanted to get back to the fundamentals so that's what we're working on. My previous attempts at lessons failed miserably because I didn't know what I wanted to work on and since I could get around on the instrument my teachers jumped into theory, something I have a really hard time wrapping my math-retarded brain around. As a consequence I quit going after a lesson or two and never learned anything.

Second, find the right teacher for you. If you don't like someone's approach there is no reason to stick with someone who rubs you the wrong way or isn't providing you with the information and guidance you're looking.

All I know is I wish started with lessons a long time ago. It's sort of like wishing I'd never started smoking.

[Carlo Tanori]

Originally Posted by Bobb

Dude, they are MORE than worth it if you find the right teacher. I didn't think I really needed lessons, and I've been playing for 6 years

going to school for music has opened my eyes...we were assigned (thankfully) teachers that suit our playing level...

...it helps A LOT when you have an experienced outside opinion...seriously...

Right on dude! I fortunately had a great teacher who taught me the ''fundamentals''. Eye opening and most important, music to my ears. Best training I've EVER had!

Carlo T.

[JohnBarr]

Originally Posted by lemur821

There may not be any one proper technique, but there's a whole lot of wrong ones.

Nicely put.

And if learning isn't fun, maybe you should just give up and watch TV.

[tycobb73]

black magic woman

Great song, That ending riff makes use of all 4 fingers and excessive use of the pinky. I can't do it without pain.