My Bass Teacher

[neillucas]

I've just come from probably my 7th weekly lesson with my teacher and I'm feeling particularly unmotivated.

I'm a 36 year old guy and been playing for around 3 months now. I brought a couple of books (Bass Guitars for Dummies and Absolute Beginners books 1 & 2)

I feel I am getting along fine, although yearn to play with others to jam, but I dont feel Im there yet.

My teacher, however, does seem to get a little bogged down with a lot of theory, which I feel is perhaps either irrelevant at this stage or a bit too advanced. Today for example during a rare quick 2 minute jam he went off on a tangent about relative minor and major scales and how 6 chords can use the i and iv of a harmonized scale. Dont get me wrong, this is all interesting stuff, but its really not helping me play better at the minute. I would like critique on my picking and fretting hands.

He has given me some interval pattern sheets, and some fretting hand exercises but most of the stuff in the week i'm gaining from my books.

I found a teacher to add a bit of structure to my practice but I'm just not feeling it.

It is normal not to gel with your teacher or should I look around?

Cheers for any advice.

[Chef FourString]

Maybe the teaching is not focused on the way your brain works. If you feel you are wasting money than I suggest you find a new teacher or do it all yourself. Check out studybass.com.

[Rockmusician]

There are three basic types of learners:

Auditory Learners: Hear
Auditory learners would rather listen to things being explained than read about them. Reciting information out loud and having music in the background may be a common study method. Other noises may become a distraction resulting in a need for a relatively quiet place.

Visual Learners: See
Visual learners learn best by looking at graphics, watching a demonstration, or reading. For them, it’s easy to look at charts and graphs, but they may have difficulty focusing while listening to an explanation.

Kinesthetic Learners: Touch
Kinesthetic learners process information best through a “hands-on” experience. Actually doing an activity can be the easiest way for them to learn. Sitting still while studying may be difficult, but writing things down makes it easier to understand.

Unfortunately, people usually teach in the same manner in which they learn. Try to determine your learning style and your instructor's teaching style. You might find that you need to find a teacher who is more in line with your style of learning.

[monroe55]

Be patient.
Theory is overwhelming at first, but it's so necessary for playing with others and improvising and learning songs. Dont let it scare/bore you. Basic theory is easier than you think. Just let that stuff soak in and marinate in your brain. Dont get discouraged if you cant understand it. It will make sense in time.
Try taking lessons every other week. A teacher is important but you can find tons of bass info on the internet, or even just here at TB. Then use your teacher to help explain things you find interesting.
As for your right/left hand technique, ....post a video here. I'll critique it

[buddyro57]

I would say that at 7 lessons, you should be able to get a sense of where the lessons are going and to predict the degree of success you might expect. However, I would stick with it a bit longer; your teacher has the task of assessing where you are, and then trying to devise a strategy that will work for you. Its hit or miss sometimes. If you like the way he plays, and if you feel that you have a decent rapport, give it a bit more time. If those prerequisites are not in place, then you have a decision to make. Good luck with it- try to be patient- though I know that's hard.
JS

[MalcolmAmos]

IMHO there is not a lot of time in a normal 30 minute lesson to get deep into theory. Most is taken up with how to make "good noise" come from your bass.

Hang in and trust where your instructor is taking you. Would not hurt to have a conversation to see if where he is taking you is where you want to go are down the same road, but 7 weeks is just the beginning of your journey.

Good luck.

[dave64o]

I agree with sticking with it for at least a little while longer and also talking to your instructor to find out where he's planning to take you and how he's planning to get there. That really should have been a conversation you had with him in the first lesson, but maybe he didn't explain it very explicitly or you didn't quite get what he meant?

In any case, if you're frustrated for any reason, talk to him.

[kesslari]

Originally Posted by dave64o

In any case, if you're frustrated for any reason, talk to him.

Quoted for emphasis. You're an adult learner. Make sure he understands what your immediate (and longer term) goals are, and ask him to explain how what he is doing will help you meet those goals - and perhaps to shift emphasis if appropriate.

[tekdiver500ft]

Originally Posted by kesslari

Quoted for emphasis. You're an adult learner. Make sure he understands what your immediate (and longer term) goals are, and ask him to explain how what he is doing will help you meet those goals - and perhaps to shift emphasis if appropriate.

Absolutely right!

Everyone learns at their own pace, in their own way. Be sure that he teaches how you learn (doesn't sound like it at the moment), or that he is willing to. Otherwise, find someone who will.

[LM Bass]

I hope I'm not off base, but I have a feeling that the "Auditory/Visual/Kinesthetic" division is a lot more flexible in most people than we think. I also think that one's preferred learning style can change over time.

Anyway, that's not really why I chimed in -as a long time bass teacher at the University level up here in Vancouver, I think you might be able to help your situation. Tell the teacher what your goals are and that you need a lot of structure. If he or she is a good instructor, then he or she will be able to put together a program together for you with weekly goals, as well as helping you target weaknesses you may need help with.

Are you learning scales and modes? Have you worked on sight-singing, or triads and 7th chords? I only ask because a lot of teachers over-emphasis fingering patterns for the diatonic scales, which is, in my opinion, a bit out of balance.

[jallenbass]

Work on your lesson stuff and also start learning some songs off of recordings. Just use your ear. Learn the first few notes then the next few etc. A lot of us started that way without knowing anything.

[enricogaletta]

You need to keep to be patient because some concept can look's like little bit hard to understand good and to see their utility, however just ask and ask and ask, when you study with a teacher you don't have to get doubt, is his job help you and fin the right answers to your questions.
Cheers. Enrico
YouTube
WebSite

[stevemac]

Hang in there, you probably arent that far away from joining a casual band anyway. Many people dont even do lessons though I am sure it helps, but you can take what you've learned already and start just learning songs if that improves the enjoyment.

I cant say when you are ready, thats up to you.

I mean that, confidence comes from within, your ability will catch up if you really want to get out there now. Playing with others is the best learning you can do, since you'll find out really fast where you are lacking.

[streetknight]

I'm in a very similar boat as the OP, even the same age, have 4 kids, job, bills, etc like most people. So time to practice is an issue for me.

Here's what has helped me tremendously. My teacher is not huge on shoving Theory down my throat, but he sneaks it in on me.

For instance, he gave me a chart of the 7 modes with the notes you would play for each mode. EX- Ionian Mode (major)
So, that means the notes of that mode are 1-2-3-4-5-6-7

So, I can play any of these notes as long as I'm back to the Root note on the chord change, do I have to play all of them, nope, as long as I've got the Root in time with the change, the rest is "gravy" the way he put it to me.

He also gave me a chord progression for each mode in the key of A. For the example I used for the Ionian Mode was A-D-E-A

I have a looper pedal, so I had him record the progression on my looper with an acoustic guitar. Now, anytime I want I can practice basslines over that progression.

Works great for me. I have a chord progression on guitar recorded on my looper for each MODE.

[Jazzdogg]

Originally Posted by Rockmusician

There are three basic types of learners:

Auditory Learners: Hear
Auditory learners would rather listen to things being explained than read about them. Reciting information out loud and having music in the background may be a common study method. Other noises may become a distraction resulting in a need for a relatively quiet place.

Visual Learners: See
Visual learners learn best by looking at graphics, watching a demonstration, or reading. For them, it’s easy to look at charts and graphs, but they may have difficulty focusing while listening to an explanation.

Kinesthetic Learners: Touch
Kinesthetic learners process information best through a “hands-on” experience. Actually doing an activity can be the easiest way for them to learn. Sitting still while studying may be difficult, but writing things down makes it easier to understand.

Unfortunately, people usually teach in the same manner in which they learn. Try to determine your learning style and your instructor's teaching style. You might find that you need to find a teacher who is more in line with your style of learning.

+1 The thing that matters most is not what the teacher knows, but whether his approach to instruction is congruent with your learning style.

The OP's frustrating experience with this particular teacher can be viewed as a good thing IF it helps him clarify his goals, expectations, and learning style in a way that makes it easier to communicate with and shop for prospective teachers.

For many of us, becoming a bassist is a life-long activity (I've learned more in the past five years than I did during the previous thirty-nine). Be patient and kind with yourself, and enjoy the ride!

[Billnc]

We are in an auditory art.

[sigmafloyd]

Just jumping into this thread, but the best advice I can give you is buy an album of the music you want to play, learn every song, then start looking for people to play with. There is nothing more fun or more educational than playing with a few people. For me, it was learning all the songs on the Allman Brothers Live at the Fillmore, easy blues changes but enough space for interesting bass improvisation. You may be into a totally different style, but you get the point. Assuming you know the major, minor and blues scales, I would save the theory for later.

[JimmyM]

I would be insulted if I took lessons and the teacher didn't teach me theory. I don't even see the point in taking lessons if you're not interested in learning it.

[Nick901]

I've been taking lessons for a couple of months. One hour lessons - anything less is a waste of time for me. I discussed my needs with the teacher on day one (I'm in my fifties and have gotten back into bass playing after decades of putting it aside). Each hour we cover the necessary theory (chords, scales, ear training) and also specific stuff that I want to know (like slap bass, etc). So far so good. Bottom line: you need the theory but also the enjoyment.

[vishalicious]

Originally Posted by neillucas

I've just come from probably my 7th weekly lesson with my teacher and I'm feeling particularly unmotivated.

I'm a 36 year old guy and been playing for around 3 months now. I brought a couple of books (Bass Guitars for Dummies and Absolute Beginners books 1 & 2)

I feel I am getting along fine, although yearn to play with others to jam, but I dont feel Im there yet.

My teacher, however, does seem to get a little bogged down with a lot of theory, which I feel is perhaps either irrelevant at this stage or a bit too advanced. Today for example during a rare quick 2 minute jam he went off on a tangent about relative minor and major scales and how 6 chords can use the i and iv of a harmonized scale. Dont get me wrong, this is all interesting stuff, but its really not helping me play better at the minute. I would like critique on my picking and fretting hands.

He has given me some interval pattern sheets, and some fretting hand exercises but most of the stuff in the week i'm gaining from my books.

I found a teacher to add a bit of structure to my practice but I'm just not feeling it.

It is normal not to gel with your teacher or should I look around?

Cheers for any advice.

I'm the same age as you and married... working on the kids part still though.

I just wanted to add 2 potential resources to your list. You have Bass Guitar for Dummies already. The author wrote another book that compliments it well called Bass Guitar Exercises for Dummies. I just grabbed it today and was searching on these forums to see what other people thought of it when I saw this thread.

Anyway, I'd recommend getting that because it breaks down a lot of things very concretely, like scales (in all modes), chords & arpeggios, progressions and a ton of other stuff. It has lessons to practice along with explanations as to why to practice them and how they fit in with other lessons in the book and then how they apply to actual songs. Most of the concepts taught in the book are then applied directly to songs in a variety of styles.

I look at it as the hands-on segment of BG for Dummies. I actually read the entire thing today after I got home... not even skimming, just gobbling up the text because I wanted to get a feel for what was being presented. I didn't realize that 3 hours had passed, but I really like how its all put together so far and will begin using it tomorrow. (Wifey was reading Fit Pregnancy magazine alongside me... does that count as quality time?)

The 2nd resource is another book that I actually just mentioned in another thread. Its Hal Leonard's Bass Method Complete (the one with 3 books bound into one). It teaches you how to read music in very small chunks. I've had that for a while and its completely demystified reading for me (at least for the bass clef). The lessons are broken down into very small pieces, like a few frets on one string at a time. Its actually my favorite book on bass right now... although I have to see if playing through the one I picked up today factors in on that now.

Here's a link to it on Amazon:
Amazon.com: Hal Leonard Bass Method - Complete Edition: Books 1, 2 and 3 Bound Together in One Easy-to-Use Volume! (9780793563838): Ed Friedland: Books