Teaching Bass for the First Time

djdarkmeat · #1 06-03-2009, 09:16 AM

What's up all,

I play bass for my praise & worship team at church, I have been playing for some time now (8-10 years or so) with no real instruction, someone taught me some basics and I went from there (I already knew alot of the basics from playing guitar) to get to my point someone apraoched me about taking bass lessons from me, now I have never taught someone to play the Bass I play fairly well myself just from experience but I wouldn't even know where to start, I want to teach the man out of a book but I don't know what book, I'm going to give him my hand exercise book for now and let him condition his fingers to play for a little while, does anyone know of any really good beggining Bass books out there, I really need some help on this one....thank you ahead of time.

santucci218 · #2 06-03-2009, 09:25 AM

The most popular bass beginner book is Hal Lenord Bass Method Book 1.

BUT, i think the best would be

Essential Elements 2000 for Electric Bass

HEADLE · #3 06-03-2009, 09:27 AM

I'm in the same boat as you. (pretty much self taught, first time instruction, etc..) I'm teaching my daughter, and my buddy who teaches regularly gave me a book that he uses. I'll get the name of it for you when I get home tonight. Good on you for sharing your gift.

H

liltommyg · #4 06-03-2009, 09:39 AM

Chuck Sher's "Improvisers Bass Method" is great

Jojabeau · #5 06-03-2009, 12:40 PM

If they are interested in a technique or genre where you feel competent go for it, if not consider helping them find a qualified teacher. In general I find it more rewarding to teach other people rather than my family and friends BTW my kids are GREAT musicians.

derekd · #6 06-03-2009, 01:21 PM

I have taught guitar for many years, and have come to be known as the guy to study with in my small town, if you want to make your jazz ensemble at school.

Just got a kid (Middle School) who has a couple of years on tuba, so can read the bass clef. His band teacher handed him the school owned MIM J bass, a sheet of music and told him to be ready next week to audition for jazz ensemble.

I got a call from his mom in a panic. We scheduled 2/1 hour lessons that week. First was just an intro to the fretboard. Got him playing notes on the 4th & 3rd string around the circle. 2nd lesson we started going thru the sheet the teacher gave him. First up was a one octave blues scale. I also gave him a couple of right and left hand exercises.

Since he had learned all the notes on the 2 lowest strings, I showed him how to play the pattern around the key circle with the root on the 4th or 3rd string. No problem. Next line was a rock progression, mostly roots. He had to read the rhythm. Next line was a dotted quarter + 8th note bossa rhythm, and next was a swinging jazz rhythm ala Satin Doll with mostly just major triads.

At the bottom of the page was a 12 bar blues in Bb. We read/played thru all that, and when he came in for his regular 30 minute lesson the next week, he pretty much had it all down. He called me the next day after the audition and said his band director was shocked at how well he was able to play.

So, I would say this was a pretty compressed version of how I (as a hobbyist bass player) teach. we probably covered a couple of months worth of material in 2.5 hours.

Unfortunately, there is a shortage of bass teachers, as there are with bass players around here. I am pretty clear about my limitations, and would state such, but why not help the next generation out? Good luck with it.

WyrdoBass · #7 06-03-2009, 01:39 PM

Who said anything about tabs? I personally think it is unfair to assume that because the OP was more/less self taught, he is ignorant of theory and devoid of musicianship. You shouldn't be insulting the OP just because he decided to learn on his own, and someone obviously admires his playing and wants him to teach them.

WyrdoBass · #8 06-03-2009, 01:56 PM

Alright, I understand what you're talking about regarding maybe looking into how to teach, but also what you said about not knowing what materials to teach from = not knowing how to teach, to me that is like looking for an item and not knowing where to find it, as opposed to not knowing what you're looking for. If you don't know what you're looking for, then you can't find it. But the OP seems to have an understanding of what to go over- he just needs to find the right material to supplement it.

SmokeyB · #9 06-03-2009, 02:23 PM

"the lesson lies in learning and by teaching I'll be taught
that there's nothing hidden anywhere it's all there to be sought"
-- Keith Reid, Procol Harum

Sorry, just free associating. This thread brought the quote to mind, haven't thought of it in years.

At anyrate, I think you'll enjoy the opportunity to teach. It is a great way to learn.

MrLenny1 · #10 06-03-2009, 06:14 PM

Get a good method book.
Edouard Nanny Bass method.

djdarkmeat · #11 06-04-2009, 08:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by onlyclave

Just what we need is more tab addicted, "I play by ear, don't kill my feel man" bass operators.

Okay for one I don't play by tabs, unless I have a specific song from the radio I want to learn and even then I can figure it out on my own most of the time, on the praise team we use chord notations w/ the lyrics so that is how I play most of the music I play, I do know a slight bit of theory I am not completely devoid of musical knowledge don't treat me like a complete idiot, haven't you ever heard that teaching is the greatest way to learn...

droskobass · #12 06-04-2009, 09:22 AM

for theory:

I really l like "serious Electric Bass" by Joel di bartello, Chuck Sher's "The Improvisor's bass method", and The bass grimoire (as a reference tool great for explaining chords)

For groove: , Bass Bible by Paul Westwood, and Bass Grooves by Ed friedland,

Reading: Standing in the shadows of motown, any Bach 2 part invention

basic reading: Berklee's Reading Contemporary electric Bass,

good luck, bass player had an article about ten years ago called "ten reasons why students quit lessons" it's the article that got me started teaching ten years ago, good luck!

WyrdoBass · #13 06-04-2009, 09:28 AM

back on topic...

I've never used the electric bass edition, but the Essential Elements 2000 series are very good.

Hal Leonard is also widely used.

djdarkmeat · #14 06-04-2009, 10:14 AM

Have any of you guys used Bass Logic, I used it for some reference and it seemed to help some of my understanding of the Bass, I don't think I would give it to a beginer though I used it after I'd been playing for at least 6 years.....

Stumbo · #15 06-04-2009, 11:58 AM

Here's a couple of links that may interest you:
1 Teaching ideas
2

You might want to check out the links in my sig. below for more TB info that may help you out. Good luck on your teaching.

As long as you stay one lesson ahead of the student, you'll be fine.

**Blackbird** · #16 06-05-2009, 06:33 PM

Folks,

Please be nice of I'll have to close the pool.

Even teaching is a skill that needs to be practiced to be really learned. Everybody has to start somewhere.

The OP sincerely want to do good. Let's give him a change before jumping all over him, m'kay?

EADG mx · #17 06-06-2009, 12:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by droskobass

Reading: Standing in the shadows of motown, any Bach 2 part invention

Just wondering why you picked the 2 part inventions. For compositional analysis or counterpoint studies, sure, but as a bass player ??

On topic, ditch all of the bass-oriented theory. Anything with grips and movable shapes - gone. Your students will thank you later.

djdarkmeat · #18 06-10-2009, 11:19 AM

Thanks for all of the ideas, I think that I'm going to work my way through a few books with this student, I've already used your advice and one of my old Beginers books for formulate some of the lessons plans for the first classes, I will be getting both Bass Guitar for Dummies & Music Theory for dummies to help make lessons plans, I will be teaching him theory along the way, even though I'm a little rusty since college, I think I'll start with Bass Method 1 or something like that, I'll mainly use the early book for a visual reference of what I'm already trying to explain, then I think I'll move him to the Improviser's Bass MEthod or maybe that Essential Elements 2000, when we've finally finished all of that I'll move to Serious Electric Bass or maybe the Bass Bible, the books will mainly be used for it's sheet music and I'll explain the concepts being covered orally to make sure I get them across, I know it's a big thing to take charge of but I think as long as I stay reading and keep my chops fresh I shouldn't have a problem guiding a young grasshopper along (although he is like 38)...

djdarkmeat · #19 06-17-2009, 12:40 AM

I got Bass Guitar for Dummies and I have going through my old beginer's method book, I also just got the Hal Leornars Bass Method DVD in the mail...

Stradavus · #20 06-17-2009, 06:19 PM

Another vote here for the Essential Elements 2000 electric bass series. I haven't laid my hands on the Hal Leonard method books, but I can say that when I first started playing cello back in the 90's it was with the EE books and it was a smooth experience. The thing that I like best about them is how naturally they introduce you to reading sheet music and basic theory.

Bass Guitar for Dummies is a great one, too.