Mom wont let me take lessons anymore... Is there any free online alternatives?

[bassmasta05]

My mom doesnt want me taking lessons anymore because she thinks there's plenty of things I can teach myself on bass.

I have a really good theory book that Im working with right now, cant remember what its called(I think its called Serious Electric Bass or something)

Anyways, is there any good free online sites that have good videos/lessons regarding integrating music theory with writing music?

I guess I just feel that I need more "direction" with my bass playing. Maybe some free online lessons could help with that?

any suggestions? I really am interested in applying music theory with writing music.

O yea I only have 3 years experience, so many of you Im sure would say that I need to still be taking private lessons, but Ive had so much negative experiences with lazy teachers who never have lesson plans, I dont even want to get into that

[The_Juke]

That blows! Tell her I said so... I am 38yrs old been playing Guitar for 30yrs and Bass for about 10 and I am thinking of taking lessons again!

There's Active Bass http://www.activebass.com/


what about your school band, my highschool band had a bass and my daughters middleschool has a few.

[Rudreax]

Here are two great theory sites to try out if you haven't already:

www.musictheory.net
www.teroia.com

As for lessons, there's always Youtube.

[bassmasta05]

Originally Posted by The_Juke

That blows! Tell her I said so... I am 38yrs old been playing Guitar for 30yrs and Bass for about 10 and I am thinking of taking lessons again!

There's Active Bass http://www.activebass.com/


what about your school band, my highschool band had a bass and my daughters middleschool has a few.

I dont play in my highschool band, I should but I cant with the way my schedule is

activebass is good, Ive used that before.

[buddyro57]

Try looking around on Youtube, I bet you can find some good resources there. Do a search for Ed Friedland, I think he's a good teacher. Also, I bet if you make some progress and your mom sees you are staying with it, she might rethink her position. Most of all, stay after it and don't give up, if you pusue this hard enough- you will make it.

All best
Jon

[mutedeity]

If you are old enough, get yourself a job and pay for the lessons yourself. Make sure you spend the money on a decent teacher and not on some hack that only teaches you songs or teaches you scales and modes without explaining diatonic function.

[NKUSigEp]

There's one website I can't really remember the name of...Talk-something. Oh darn, this is gonna drive me nuts. I was just on it the other day...

















OH YEAH!!! TALKBASS.COM!!! THAT'S IT!!!!

[HaVIC5]

musicdojo.com

Cheaper than lessons in person.

[Thunderthumbs73]

Originally Posted by bassmasta05

My mom doesnt want me taking lessons anymore because she thinks there's plenty of things I can teach myself on bass.

I have a really good theory book that Im working with right now, cant remember what its called(I think its called Serious Electric Bass or something)

Anyways, is there any good free online sites that have good videos/lessons regarding integrating music theory with writing music?

I guess I just feel that I need more "direction" with my bass playing. Maybe some free online lessons could help with that?

any suggestions? I really am interested in applying music theory with writing music.

O yea I only have 3 years experience, so many of you Im sure would say that I need to still be taking private lessons, but Ive had so much negative experiences with lazy teachers who never have lesson plans, I dont even want to get into that

Youtube is a nice place to pick up some bass technique things. And sometimes it's not. Watch with discretion. Also, provided an answer can be reasonably and rationally provided here in this type of forum, I'm sure people around here can be very helpful. And sometimes not. Read with discretion.

Feel free to ask questions either to the readers in general or individuals (PM) in specific.

Involving yourself (as a bassist or potentially as a writer) in a local songwriting community or a music community which has a songwriting element is an excellent way to network with songwriters to be involved in the songwriting craft as well as becoming known as a performing musician backing up or supporting other artists.

Good luck with it.

[Jazzdogg]

Originally Posted by mutedeity

If you are old enough, get yourself a job and pay for the lessons yourself. Make sure you spend the money on a decent teacher and not on some hack that only teaches you songs or teaches you scales and modes without explaining diatonic function.

Great point.

If there's a thread that talks about how to select a competent bass instructor, our young friend might save himself a lot of grief.

Note to bassmasta05: don't burn any bridges with you mother - your comportment and actions will be far more convincing than your words: actions persuade where precepts and speeches often fail.

[Timbo]

Originally Posted by HaVIC5

musicdojo.com

Cheaper than lessons in person.

Always liked this place.

[Mazatleco17]

studybass.com

[Robybass]

When you pick up your bass don't play anything else but scales for at least an hour, No Radio!. Read at least for half hour and after that play whatever tune you like.
It will help you and at the same time maybe your mom will get tire and reconsider lessons again.

Buy this book you'll learn a lot from it. http://www.amazon.com/101-Bass-Tips-...055359-6106422

[SubGuitar]

Beware of youtube video lessons and the like. 90% of the people posting them can't teach and, worse, often don't have a clue what they're doing.

If you've been taking lessons for a few years, then I'd expect your technique at least to be solid at least which is the major danger in teaching yourself.

Could you be a little more specific? The basic scale/chord stuff is all the place online. What kind of music are you wanting to apply it to?

[bassmasta05]

Originally Posted by SubGuitar

Beware of youtube video lessons and the like. 90% of the people posting them can't teach and, worse, often don't have a clue what they're doing.

If you've been taking lessons for a few years, then I'd expect your technique at least to be solid at least which is the major danger in teaching yourself.

Could you be a little more specific? The basic scale/chord stuff is all the place online. What kind of music are you wanting to apply it to?

To be more specific:

What Im mainly doing right now is learning about modes and applying them towards writing music. I know my modes pretty well, and Im starting to learn 2 octave scales(all of this stuff is in my book)

I guess thats the reason why I want lessons, I need direction. Right now I feel that learning as much as I can about modes and chords and scales and applying them towards writing music is the best thing I can do. But maybe Im wrong? Maybe there is a ton of other stuff Im missing out on and should be learning? Thats why I need some direction

But anyways Im mainly into punk rock, hardcore, more aggresive music.

[DocBop]

Originally Posted by bassmasta05

My mom doesnt want me taking lessons anymore because she thinks there's plenty of things I can teach myself on bass.

I have a really good theory book that Im working with right now, cant remember what its called(I think its called Serious Electric Bass or something)

Anyways, is there any good free online sites that have good videos/lessons regarding integrating music theory with writing music?

I guess I just feel that I need more "direction" with my bass playing. Maybe some free online lessons could help with that?

any suggestions? I really am interested in applying music theory with writing music.

O yea I only have 3 years experience, so many of you Im sure would say that I need to still be taking private lessons, but Ive had so much negative experiences with lazy teachers who never have lesson plans, I dont even want to get into that

As the old saying goes.... Where there is a will, there is a way. You have some books, you have music to listen to, you know other musicians, you have TB ask questions, all you have to do is both them together and practice, practice, practice.

I would bet you keep practicing and improving your mom after awhile will see how serious you are reconsider. Better yet you improve your playing and start doing some gigs and can pay for your own lessons.

Practice is the best of all instructors - Publilius Syrus

[Freddels]

What music do you listen to? How many of those tunes can you play by heart? Start playing along with recordings and learn as many tunes as you can. Ask whatever questions you have here on TB. You should have the basics down by now since you've been playing for a few years. Now you need to apply it.

[basskopf]

Tell your Mom that I am 50 and still taking bass lessons. Tell her my Mom doesn't approve either, but it's none of her beeswax. No matter how old you are or how much experience you have, a good instructor is worth his weight in gold. Try to find a compromise with your Mom. If she is worried about money, help her out around the house or something and try to get some more lessons in as a trade off. Besides, bass playing is a fantastic use of your time. Der Basskopf

[Audiophage]

Get a new Mom.

Or just a job so you can pay for your own lessons. As good as it is to be able to figure out something on your own(and I still recommend doing that while working with a teacher, regardless of what they say) a teacher can really introduce you to all sort of new resources and ideas that you might not have come by with your own filters.

[pedro]

Originally Posted by bassmasta05
My mom doesnt want me taking lessons anymore because she thinks there's plenty of things I can teach myself on bass.

You can teach yourself all sorts of things - most likely bad habits. Anyway, clearly I disagree with your mom but perhaps its a matter of finances and if that's the case its something I can't argue with. However, if its not, I would mention that when I saw Arturo Sandoval a few years ago at clinic in NYC he mentioned that he was still taking lessons.