Possible to get lessons playing a righty upside down?

collicsws6z28 · #1 01-27-2008, 07:36 PM

I think its time to get some lessons so I'm looking around my area for a good teacher, but would he be able to teach me effectively playing a righty bass upside down (g string closest to body?

santucci218 · #2 01-27-2008, 07:37 PM

well first off...why?

collicsws6z28 · #3 01-27-2008, 08:01 PM

Well its pretty self explanitory..I just want to get lessons...I can play a bunch of stuff by ear, but would like to know what I'm playing and how to improve...im still young so I think it'd be a good time to get lessons..wasn't sure if playing upside down would effect training, I guess it depends on the teacher

Kalyptic · #4 01-27-2008, 08:03 PM

i think he meant, why do you want it upside down?

collicsws6z28 · #5 01-27-2008, 08:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kalyptic

i think he meant, why do you want it upside down?

Cause thats the why I grew up playing, its become habit. I've tried playin an acutally lefty bass and it didnt feel comfortable

dan.ablett · #6 01-27-2008, 08:32 PM

if it is what u want, and you choose to play like that go for it, but i personally think it will be very hard for you to find a teacher of excellence that plays that way. chances are most teachers will try and convince you to just play a real lefty. ergonomically it makes much more sense to play "the right way up" given the nature of most bass parts (in most styles). how long have you played this way?

Wootsticks · #7 01-27-2008, 08:34 PM

His whole life, lay off him, if it's how he plays it's how he plays.

As for finding a teacher, I don't think it'll be a problem at all. You can just mirror the teacher. Maybe it'll be even easier.

envika · #8 01-27-2008, 08:37 PM

wilser built a lefty bass for some guy that strings it upside down...

Rocketpriest · #9 01-28-2008, 12:24 AM

If a teacher is worth two (expletive of your choice)s, it won't matter which way your bass is strung. Besides, if guys like Jeff Schmidt and Jimmy Haslip can play like that, it means it's not only possible, but not even a hinderence.

The notes are the same, you just have them layed out opposite, meaning all of the scale shapes will be the same, just upside down. Also, because of how you have your bass strung, your teacher is more likely to teach you by writing things out and having you read them, rather than simply showing you fingerings, as the latter could get pretty convoluted.

Short version: Good teacher = no problem.

SmittyG · #10 01-28-2008, 05:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rocketpriest

Short version: Good teacher = no problem.

I agree. Good technique is still good technique. We are still talking about the same 12 notes. As long as the teacher is about more than showing memorized fingering patterns, they won't even react to the fact you play the instrument differently.

mutedeity · #11 01-28-2008, 12:52 PM

I think you might have some trouble finding a teacher that is willing to teach you that way, but I am sure a good one is capable. If I was you, though I would be prepared to pay extra. I know that I personally would charge more to teach someone like that due to the fact that I would have to spend a lot of time customising my lessons around that approach. I would also have to concentrate a lot more on what they are doing. Teaching a lefty is no problem but having to think upside down and adjust technical applications to suit would be more work.

dlloyd · #12 01-28-2008, 01:09 PM

Just ask them. Any teacher worth his salt will be able to cater to you. Worst they could do would be to say no.

Sonny Thompson (ex-New Power Generation) is another bassist who plays this way. I've had the pleasure of jamming with him and he's a monster player.

jeff schmidt · #13 01-28-2008, 06:13 PM

I hard a hard time finding an instructor that could see past my upside down-ness.

In the end, my playing upside down was a great way to weed out the riff raff of crappy instructors.

like what everyone has been saying - a great instructor won't have trouble teaching you.

good luck!

theshadow2001 · #14 01-28-2008, 06:30 PM

I don't think it would be a problem. Especially if you can instantly see someone playing something with a bass in the regular fashion and repeat it. Without having to think about how your going to have to change it so you can play.

If he showed you something like a minor scale for example you could just play it back without really having to think about how to rearranging for yourself