Teaching nephew (13) bass have question

ThomasG · #1 09-21-2007, 01:24 PM

I just started teaching my 13 year old nephew to play the greatest instrument in the world the bass. I am have showed him the names of the notes on the fretboard and we started working on understanding/reading basic notes ( whole notes, half, quarter, etc) I am going to get him reading to learn some songs.

But, in the local/garage band seen, I may be wrong, but, sheet music/charts may not be around. With that in mind,should I tone the reading down and try to learn songs by ear with him including chords/theory etc.

I would appreciate any information for playing bass in the world of kids ? To read or to play by ear ( what is priority).

-Kramer- · #2 09-21-2007, 01:27 PM

IMO the best option would be a mix of both, I learned how to read music but never worked on my ear and theory. 6 years later my ear is by far my weakest asset musically.

hunta · #3 09-21-2007, 02:04 PM

As someone who learned to read very late, I'd have to say there are pros and cons to either approach. If you focus mostly on reading, you will end up being a better sight reader, but your improvisation/creativity will likely suffer. If you focus mostly on playing by ear, you will have a hard time when you just get a chart thrown at you and have to play it on the spot.

When I was at college, there were tons of classically trained guys that could sight read a million times better than I can. However when I heard these people try to improvise or write a tune, I was shocked at how rudimentary their ideas were. I would give a lot to be able to sight read like that (probably will never happen), but I would never give up my creativity. That is MINE and defines me as a player.

I think if you start reading early (or right away) when you start, it's probably the best way to go, but to make sure you spend plenty of time just jamming or playing along with recordings and trying to figure out the bass part (or make your own). Reading is a very valuable skill, but if that was all I could do I'm not sure I'd call myself a musician.

spindizzy · #4 09-21-2007, 02:11 PM

Plus 1 to the mix. You're his uncle and have the luxery of wanting him to succeed and wish to do all that you can to make that happen. A strict academic (Jeff Berlin comes to mind) might draw a line in the sand and say that he must learn the correct way first but that is just not realistic when it comes to keeping the attention of a 13 year old long enough for the deep desire to play to set in. It is only that deep desire that will drive him to sit for hours learning the theory and route. To get there he probably needs to play some music that requires less knowledge first and the skills for navigating the non-academic "garageband" environment.

So mix it up and let him have some fun with it. Be a good uncle and motivate him to learn the right things and encourage him along the way but teach him how to survive amongst the untrained as well. After all in that environment the ear is king and a good ear will help him in formal training as well so none is wasted.

**Thor** · #5 09-21-2007, 02:15 PM

In reference to the above post let me add this insight.

I have 2 kids, both went to the same piano teacher. One
sight reads and plays beautifully, but cannot improvise.
The other has improvisation, creativity and theory as the s
trong points, with the more mechanical style and less
fluidity.

The student will tend to gravitate to the strong points on his own.
I do feel that a reasonable understanding of chord theory and chord
construction is very beneficial to musical development. Playing scales,
practising and reading music are'nt as much fun as jam night. Like football,
good basics make a good player though.

I think learning to read music at that age isn't hard. I know,I have
learned and forgotten at least three times.

Liko · #6 09-21-2007, 02:22 PM

Being able to read music is a very important tool, whether you're in a garage band or a pro jazz combo. Fake books, real books, bass line books, bass theory books, they all deal in standard music notation at least (some also have tabs). For your nephew to have a good grasp of what the books are trying to teach him, he needs to know how to read music.

Sightreading for bass is not AS important, but it's a skill that, though I read music very well, I still struggle with. I get by on theory and ear training, but looking at music and playing it on bass is something I wish I could do much better than I currently do.