Method for teaching Bass to 7 year old

[sladams1]

Hey All,

My son is asking for an electric bass for his 7th birthday. He has played violin (suzuki) for 4 years, and is wanting to expand his horizons.

I will be teaching him (35 years playing guitar, 10 years in the middle of that teaching) but would like a recommendation on a beginner method we can use together. He is an extremely strong reader and knows music theory and can read music pretty well.

Thanks to any that provide their thoughts!

Steve

[sixx788]

I think the Hal Leonard Method Books are great for beginner bass. That's what my instructor has me using and it's really helped alot. Just don't be in a big hurry. I would get the red book. It has books 1,2 and 3 all in one. I think you can get it at amazon.com

[VroomVroom]

Wow, how awesome is this? Kudos to your Son, and bigger kudos to you for encouraging and supporting him! The Hal Leonard approach is a great recommendation. The only suggestions I could possibly add are to ensure that develops strong right-hand technique and that whatever both of you do is fun with ample room to explore. It should be interesting seeing and hearing what he does with an instrument tuned in fourths.

Please keep us posted!

[dlloyd]

Good luck, but if it doesn't work out, don't worry overly about your own abilities as a teacher or about his abilities as a student. My own experience would suggest that kids are generally more receptive to being taught by somebody they identify specifically as a teacher, rather than somebody who is also their parent. You might have a different experience.