Who here is entirely self taught?

ALiP BoB · #1 03-20-2007, 08:46 AM

Ok, maybe once in a while get pointers from others but mostly it's all you?

How didja do it?
You feel you know as much as the teacher-taughts?
Or do you feel lacking?

Aaron Saunders · #2 03-20-2007, 09:23 AM

Self-teaching always seemed to me like trying to fix the pipes under your sink without first knowing how to use a wrench, what the pipes do, or where they go. Why not go out there and figure out how to do it?

There's definitely worlds of benefit from trying to figure it out yourself first, but you don't need to reinvent the wheel. People have done it before you, and they've found easier paths through the forest so you don't have to stumble through the bushes.

ALiP BoB · #3 03-20-2007, 09:24 AM

Uh, there's books?
Plus TB!

Rakie · #4 03-20-2007, 10:57 AM

www.soundclick.com/rakie

im 100% self taught on the bass. However i have played flute for 14 years and had lots of theory classes, so that knowledge of music doesnt apply, but just because i know theory doesn't make me able to use my hands to play a bass, that came from practice and listening to other musicians.

I've been playing bass for 3 years now.

EDIT: However... I would still want a teacher myself... having played in concert settings with a flute, i know the value of private lessons... Also, being a flute player made me a different type of bassist, i can wank off a bit like everybody else, but my primary focus in playing bass is tone tone tone... on flute in orchestra settings, First chair doesn't always get the solo, no... the guy with the best style, dynamic contrast and tone, gets the solo.

Phalex · #5 03-20-2007, 11:15 AM

I'm self taught. Not sure how it happened, I've just been noodling around with bass for about 27 years now. I can't read or write a lick, but I can pretty much figure anything out by ear.

Matt Till · #6 03-20-2007, 11:23 AM

I'm self taught
I'm lacking

ElMon · #7 03-20-2007, 11:36 AM

Self-taught doesn't necessarily mean 'ignoring any outside influences'. I'm self-taught in that I've never had a single lesson on bass, but I've put in just as much work as anyone else, which is what truly matters IMO. Jaco was self-taught, but also was ravenous in his studies. In the Milkowski biography it mentions that he would avoid doing chores to play thru a homemade amp, and that he would later on go to play flute music and anything he could get his hands on.

I had a firm background in music from middle school-thru high school from playing tuba and euphonium in concert/marching bands. I simply took the rudiments of music that I learned there (the importance of scales, articulation exercises, working out of etude books) and applied them to the bass. That and I stayed true to what is still my greatest teacher: listening to TONS of music. Listening and constantly dissecting an analyzing what you hear (as well as emulating it)
is IMO/IME just as important as anything else you might study (theory, technique, hand exercises, etc.).

On top of that, I'm the type of person who if I'm presented with information that is foreign to me will go out of their way to learn as much as possible about it. Like when a band director in high school gave me a copy of Charles Mingus' Blues and Roots. It totally reshaped my musical landscape, and that made me hit the theory hard so that I could possibly one day make sounds as cool as Mingus. So did a lot of other players through the years.

I don't think I'm missin out by not ever having had a teacher. Sure, I can't rip Be-Bop licks at 250bpm and solo like Matt Garrison, but then again thats not what made me want to play bass in the first place. I like makin the band sound good by keepin it in the pocket. YMMV.

bassist 4 life · #8 03-20-2007, 12:51 PM

Me...

I ow it all to TB

buzzbass · #9 03-20-2007, 01:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ALiP BoB

Ok, maybe once in a while get pointers from others but mostly it's all you?

How didja do it?
You feel you know as much as the teacher-taughts?
Or do you feel lacking?

I taught myslef by just palying along with records. I have a bass playing buddy who is a Berkely Grad. I run my "music theory" questions by him. Other than that, I'm on my own. It HAS hurt me though, I can't improv my way out of a wet paper bag. I can listen to a record, and with enough practice, reproduce anything I hear though.

Lazylion · #10 03-20-2007, 01:37 PM

I never had bass lessons, but I give all the credit to:
1. My folks, for the musical genes and encouragement to use them.
2. My cousin Steve, who came along to help pick out my first guitar, a $30 nylon-string, which I still play.
3. The Beatles, who inspired me and everyone I knew to rock and roll.
4. My first girlfriend Sue, who... well, let's just say she encouraged me in a way that no other girl ever had before.
5. All the greats listed in my profile and in dozens of threads on this forum.
I'll take some credit if and when my sons become musicians!

simongpaez · #11 03-20-2007, 01:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Phalex

I'm self taught. Not sure how it happened, I've just been noodling around with bass for about 27 years now. I can't read or write a lick, but I can pretty much figure anything out by ear.

+1 , never had a class and I can also play anything except tapping I really suck at tapping

pointbass · #12 03-20-2007, 02:09 PM

I am definitely NOT self-taught. I started studying music at a very young age and went on to college for music. For me, those many years of direct instruction have proven to be beyond any value I could ever assign to them. I am a firm believer in the study of music and personal instruction.

That said, I also think it's entirely possible to teach yourself just about anything you set your mind to. It might be quicker with a teacher, but not impossible to go for it on your own. One of the obstacles in being self-taught is the lack of discipline most of us naturally have .... if someone isn't watching over us we have a tendency to take short cuts or not meet goals/deadlines, etc. Then all of a sudden the learning curve stops ....

But I also think that learning to play the bass just enough to get by limits your opportunities. I know that, for me, the ability to sight read and understand theory have created countless situations for playing that I never would have gotten without these learned skills. I'm just one of the lucky ones that had the chance to get a formal musical education, but dedicated home study can afford anyone these same opportunities ....

Kronos · #13 03-20-2007, 02:21 PM

I'm self taught...but I look at it like this....

Think of it as language. I'm well spoken, but my reading and writing skills consists of having trouble spelling "CAT" or "BALL".

bassbully43 · #14 03-20-2007, 02:35 PM

100% self taught.I had one or two guitar lessions in 8th grade and piano that year but i dont read music.
I understand a little theory from study and play by ear and can play from a chord chart written out if i heard the song first or i am told the breaks ,stops etc. I enjoy the satisfaction i get from learning on my own since i have no time for a teacher nor do i want one.Feels good when i am told "hey your pretty good"...i did it myself. There are lots better im not a slapper or a tapper just a grover and bottom player but thats where i like it.

Stinsok · #15 03-20-2007, 02:45 PM

100% self taught (it probably shows.) I cannot read music (but the Nashville number system helps.) Started as a kid with guitar, played drums in bands for years. Started bass late in life.

*smb · #16 03-20-2007, 02:49 PM

I'm completely self taught. I just listen to a lot of records and try and figure out how to recreate what sounds good!

Sundogue · #17 03-20-2007, 03:18 PM

One can learn without being taught, and one can be taught with nothing being learned.

When it comes down to it, we are all self taught, even though everything learned is built on the knowledge of others. There are many ways to obtain knowledge. Some unlock the door to knowledge with the assistance of a teacher, while others must break it down. And some are born with the key in their hand. All lead to the same place.

A teacher is only as good as the willingness of the student. The best teachers I ever had taught me the value of interest in the subject. Which is far more important than the teaching of the subject itself.

The more you want to know something, the quicker you will learn it, whether you find it on your own, or someone helps you.

Apocalypse Dude · #18 03-20-2007, 05:00 PM

I've been playing for a year and haven't had a lesson. I would like to get some now though because I know I'll get in bad habits, but I like learning on my own, I can take my time and learn it how I want to.

Mike N · #19 03-20-2007, 05:23 PM

I'm totally self taught. I like to think I have a decent ear and can pick stuff up of records or the radio semi-easily, but for the most part have no clue what I'm playing. I also have no improv skills whatsoever.

Yeah, I feel I'm lacking by being self taught, but being in my 40's with no chance of ever being a professional musician, I'm comfortable where I'm at.

invader3k · #20 03-20-2007, 06:09 PM

Self-taught...I've never taken a single lesson. My best friend (who I'm still in a band with) had played bass previously before switching to guitar, and got me started with some pointers, but mainly it was playing along to songs and using tabs. I also took advantage of a lot of good websites out there. I learned a lot from the articles on hamony-central.com, for example.

I've been playing for about nine years now, but I have a long way to go. I don't know a lot about theory. I can do major and minor chords, but that's about it. I feel I'm decent at improvising, but I could learn a lot more. I did play piano and sax previously, so I probably could read music if I really had to (let's face it, you don't in a rock cover band, generally).

I'd love to be more dedicated and take some formal lessons, but between being married, owning a house, and running my own business, there's simply no time for that right now. I'm lucky to get in one practice session a week, aside from band practice.