Need advice on bass lessons

saladman · #1 10-21-2010, 05:58 AM

This is quite long...

Ok here's the story.. I'm still a beginner currently having bass lessons with a teacher who I've known for a long time. He has a music degree and owns this music center. I know that he knows music theory well and has good ears and also i can freely talk to him about my music interests.

Now one thing is that bass is not really his main instrument but he can play violin,piano,keyboard,guitar(electric or accoustic) and of course bass well.

My real concern is in our actual lessons because i beginning to notice that most of the time we just try to go over songs and i feel that i should be learning other things like patterns reading how to apply them etc. I really want to be able to do more than just play songs but also understand why the bass lines work and how they interact with the other instrument.

Ok on my part often times i screw up a missing note here and there a little fast sometimes but should i do it all over again until i nail it there.

Our music sessions only last for an hour so i'm asking you guys if this is fine or should i try to ask him to teach me other stuff and assign me that as homework.

I'm not bashing him i know that he is a good teacher and he has great knowledge and experience to help me become a better bass player.

TY

odin70 · #2 10-21-2010, 06:16 AM

You sound like the student i would like to have. It usually the other way around. Students that just wants to learn songs and dont care about anything else.
You should have a man to man talk with your teacher and tell him that you are more interested in the stuff you mentioned. If that doesnt help, maybe you should find another teacher.

MalcolmAmos · #3 10-21-2010, 06:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by odin70

You sound like the student i would like to have. It usually the other way around. Students that just wants to learn songs and don't care about anything else.
You should have a man to man talk with your teacher and tell him that you are more interested in the stuff you mentioned. If that doesn't help, maybe you should find another teacher.

+ 1 and I bet he will get around to what you want, I would imagine he thinks what he has been giving you is what you want.

Now, most of what you are asking for is done in addition to your normal practice session, i.e. on your own. In a 30 minute lesson there is little time for a theory discussion, I do understand you are taking an hour.

Ask your instructor to point you to some theory papers that relate to the songs he is having you learn.

Quote:

Our music sessions only last for an hour so I'm asking you guys if this is fine or should i try to ask him to teach me other stuff and assign me that as homework.

Yes by all means. My old guitar instructor gave me three things to work on each week.

Continue working on last weeks song.
Start working on this weeks song.
A music theory paper that relates to what is happening in both of those songs.

Seeing how theory works with the songs you are learning is a great way to learn theory, and it will help you understand why those %$#&* scales are necessary. LOL

Here are some sites that will help with your independent study.
www.studybass.com
http://www.ibreathemusic.com/forums/...ad.php?t=11975
Music Theory/General Instruction Links.

Good luck.

saladman · #4 10-21-2010, 01:51 PM

ok thanks a lot for all the wonderful answers.

By the way is it ok to have lessons two to three times a week or is it too fast?

odin70 · #5 10-21-2010, 01:59 PM

One lesson each week should give you enough to work on. Its what you do between lessons that really counts in the long run. Good luck!

MalcolmAmos · #6 10-21-2010, 04:01 PM

Yes, your instructor will/can indicate you with stuff. More than you will be able to handle in a weeks time. Be patient, it takes time for all this to be absorbed.

David1234 · #7 10-21-2010, 04:06 PM

I teach different students different things according to what they seem to pick up best (at various stages) and according to what they express a desire to learn. Telling your teacher what you want next is a great idea. At some point, you'll also want to change to a teacher who plays bass in bands. Bass specialists so often have a different musical approach to violinists, keyboardists etc that *not* spending time with one could end up stunting your growth.

Jim Campbell · #8 10-21-2010, 04:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by saladman

This is quite long...

Ok here's the story.. I'm still a beginner currently having bass lessons with a teacher who I've known for a long time. He has a music degree and owns this music center. I know that he knows music theory well and has good ears and also i can freely talk to him about my music interests.

Now one thing is that bass is not really his main instrument but he can play violin,piano,keyboard,guitar(electric or accoustic) and of course bass well.

My real concern is in our actual lessons because i beginning to notice that most of the time we just try to go over songs and i feel that i should be learning other things like patterns reading how to apply them etc. I really want to be able to do more than just play songs but also understand why the bass lines work and how they interact with the other instrument.

Ok on my part often times i screw up a missing note here and there a little fast sometimes but should i do it all over again until i nail it there.

Our music sessions only last for an hour so i'm asking you guys if this is fine or should i try to ask him to teach me other stuff and assign me that as homework.

I'm not bashing him i know that he is a good teacher and he has great knowledge and experience to help me become a better bass player.

TY

learning your chord tones,and reading notation are things he probably did,but i think some players are unsure how essential that stuff is for bass...you can get the ball rolling on your own by sitting down and working out the arpeggios of the diatonic scale .....tell your guy that you are interested in these,and maybe pick up a book by one of the ed's....one or both might chime in here before long

jdthebassman · #9 10-21-2010, 04:26 PM

my advice is to find a real bassist, those jack of all trade teachers know a little, but not the whole picture.If you can not find a bassist to study with in your area try victor wootons groove workshop dvd.I cannot say enough great things about this video. It is not a replacement for a good teacher.As bass teacher my self, I use this video with my students along with other multi media.PS if you get the video learn,live,steps 2-10 It will transform your whole outlook on bass playing, music, life. peace jd

bass_snake · #10 10-21-2010, 05:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jdthebassman

my advice is to find a real bassist, those jack of all trade teachers know a little, but not the whole picture.If you can not find a bassist to study with in your area try victor wootons groove workshop dvd.I cannot say enough great things about this video. It is not a replacement for a good teacher.As bass teacher my self, I use this video with my students along with other multi media.PS if you get the video learn,live,steps 2-10 It will transform your whole outlook on bass playing, music, life. peace jd

Agree! My first bass teacher was a guitar teacher who told me to switch to guitar instead of bass. He sucked and just wanted money.

Find yourself a real bass teacher. Maybe just go once a week. It think that's enough. Practice, practice, practice!!! Listen to a lot of music. Any kind of music with great basslines.

Goodluck to you!

Fred

SeaBassSteve · #11 10-21-2010, 05:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bass_snake

Agree! My first bass teacher was a guitar teacher who told me to switch to guitar instead of bass. He sucked and just wanted money.

Find yourself a real bass teacher. Maybe just go once a week. It think that's enough. Practice, practice, practice!!! Listen to a lot of music. Any kind of music with great basslines.

Goodluck to you!

Fred

This guy doesn''t sound like one of the run of the mill ones.
My brother fits the similar mould to the OP. He just graduated with a jazz degree from leeds college of music, and plays pretty much everything listed there. I can sit there and have a discussion with him about anything music/bass related, and he is a more knowledgeable musician and better player than me. I think you 've got a good sounding teacher here, just talk to him and let him know.