Looking for Fretless Teacher in Massachusetts

Silver Hammer · #1 01-08-2009, 11:20 PM

Honestly I don't know if I should put this in Wanted: Bass Players or here so if I'm in the wrong mods feel free to move it and PM me to let me know.

Ok, so I'm 17 and I've been playing for about 2 years now. I've taken lessons on fretted bass before from two different teachers, one who tried to just show me tabs and call that teaching and one who explained the basics of theory to me very well but kept trying to get me to play latin music as that's what he played (I don't have anything against latin music but it's just not my thing). I just got myself a fretless SX to mess around with for Christmas and I was a little surprised that I haven't really touched my (more expensive) fretted bass much since. My intonation is horrible though and rather than go it alone I'd like to take lessons again.

I'm in Taunton which is below Boston (if you're close enough you probably know where it is). I'm looking for a teacher who mainly, or equally, plays fretless not some one who just messes around with it every now and then as I want to make the fretless my main bass and my playing on it is no where near presentable on it right now. Also I want to learn how to read bass clef as I started learning it before I quit the second teacher and I really want to be able to read music. I'd love to learn more theory also as I've kind of been slacking on that lately. If anyone has any questions or is up for it just shoot me a PM or reply here.

debassr · #2 01-08-2009, 11:40 PM

Playing fretless isn't that difficult, it's just about using precise fingering where the frets would be and practicing a lot. There are some very fine points too but most people figure them out on their own via practice. Bottom line: I don't think you need a special teacher to teach you fretless.

On the other hand - if your current teacher is not teaching you with music you want to learn or does not know enough theory then that's a different problem and you probably should seek a new teacher. There are lots of people around Boston - check Craigslist and audition the prospects - they should provide a free lesson to see if theres a fit. If they don't, you probably don't want them.

iplaybassguitar · #3 01-09-2009, 02:51 PM

you dont need a bass teacher specific for fretless, its pointless. the only thing different about fretless as far as the player is concerned is being accurate on the notes, and only practice will help with that, no teacher will.

debassr · #4 01-09-2009, 02:59 PM

^^^^ Are my posts showing up? Seriously, sometimes I wonder. Not being sarcastic.

iplaybassguitar · #5 01-09-2009, 03:05 PM

no, im just in a parrot-like plagarization zone. my bad

debassr · #6 01-09-2009, 03:07 PM

No worries man - It's just that I see it happen so often that I was beginning to wonder.

iplaybassguitar · #7 01-09-2009, 03:09 PM

its probably me most of the time. dont tell anyone, but sometimes i dont even read any of the other posts before dropping my 2c in the bank. sorry. im an arse

Silver Hammer · #8 01-10-2009, 12:39 PM

I know I don't NEED a special teacher to learn fretless but as I don't have the best ear for when I'm playing in tune I'd rather have some one who actually has experience playing fretless to call me out on it when I wouldn't notice. Also I'd like to start taking lessons again anyway so I just figured it'd make more sense to learn during lessons on fretless from some one else playing fretless than to learn on my fretted bass then go home and apply it to my fretless as I want that to be my main bass.

iplaybassguitar · #9 01-10-2009, 01:10 PM

just bring your fretless to your lesson. any teacher is likely to have a good enough ear to tell when your out of tune regardless of whether or not they play fretless. if they cant, they should NOT be teaching ANYONE.

Silver Hammer · #10 01-10-2009, 01:16 PM

Exactly, but many teachers should not be teaching which is why I'm asking here instead of going through the bull of finding out which ones shouldn't be teaching.