i think this is cool

[Fontaine]

well first off id like to say i live in a small community were everyone knows everyone (well my parents live here now, im home from college for christmas) So i went to get my haircut that time, and i was sitting in the chair when the girl cutting my hair brought up the topic of bass, and bass guitars. Of course being a bass player im always ready to talk about bass, and she started to say how she bought her son a bass....and hes in garde 8 so i think its a great time for him to start playing. Anyway we were just chatting about it when she asked me to teach him how to play...appearently "im really good" (i didnt say this...) but the thing is were do i start?? see if the guy knows what all the components are on a bass before we bust out a tune? or just start showing him some basic things right away?...oh and she said she would pay me to do it...but i really dont want to accept money for it (because i would be playing anyway), but they insist???

im actually kind of flattered that someone would ask me to teach their kid how to play considering i pretty much thought myself minus that one lesson...

ps: i got a free hair cut for agreeing

[CincyBassMan]

That's totally cool!

Maybe try to break the lesson into parts: you could start with a little bit about the bass, i.e. how to tune, parts of the bass, change strings, etc.; then get into playing notes and scales; then some simple bass lines.

It will really depend on how interested the kid is. And yes it is interesting when your reputation/family preceeds you! Good Luck! Post your progress!

Cheers, Russ

[keyboardguy]

If the kid is interested in the bass, have him start listening to Cd's and the radio and see if he can figure out bass notes/chord changes. If he develops good ears, that will help in the future.



Mike

[Fontaine]

thanks guys!

ill do all that haha

[IanStephenson]

When I've taught people I always strip it down to basics. Make sure he warms up (stretchs and stuff, away from bass), gets his wrists straight, and wears ear plugs - stuff like that won't get him excited today, but in when he's 30, he'll still be able to play. This is stuff he won't pick up by himself - everything else he can figure out in the future.

Get him playing A's on the open string 1/4 and then 1/8th's, solid, with alternating fingers, then move to the D, G and finally E. Get him muting the E with his thumb properly (thats why we leave E till last). Now you can jam a 12 bar with him, and start having fun, knowing he's got the basis of a solid right hand.

Then you can add some left hand. Show him some technique (scales, harmony theory etc. book work), then pick a song and work on it. As he starts to get it point out how the song he's just learned used the theory that was just tedious "school work" a few minutes previous.

Ian