Advice on Teaching Yourself

[Kmonk]

I am completely self taught on bass, guitar and keys. I didn't use books or videos. I sat down and listened to songs and figured our how to play them.

If you are having trouble staying motivated, you either don't really want to learn or you should consider getting a teacher who can give you some structure. This will hold you accountable and hopefully, keep you motivated.

If you cannot afford a teacher or just don't want one, I suggest that you only play when you really feel the desire to do so.

 

[delta7fred]

I'm completely self taught but I readily admit that had I been able to find (and afford) a bass teacher when I started playing (mid to late 60s) I would have got to where I am now in a fraction of the time it took me.

The things that helped me the most were playing in a band with others, and having to learn songs from records, or very bad taped copies, because the sheet music available to us was usually scored for piano, not in the same key as the record, and often wrong. We were all learning together so it was a like self help group and after a while we even got paid which encouraged us more.

If it hasn't already been mentioned you have to remember that TAB is not always right, if you try playing it and it sounds wrong then it probably is. It is ok to get the simple basics of a song but once things get complicated it is not to be relied upon.

 

[Deleted member 165050]

Hello Everyone
I was wondering if anyone has advice on learning an instrument by yourself. I have a hard time being disciplined and was wondering if anyone has any tips. How to keep a good practice schedule, different things to practice, stuff like that! Also if you have taught yourself tell me your experience in that and how you kept motivated. Thank You!
-Sophie

Play along with loads of stuff you like listening to. Don't set a schedule, just do it because you enjoy it. I'm classically trained cello but self-taught on bass [yes we noticed - the band] and each way has its motivational issues, but playing what you like to hear is always a good motivator.

 

[Ric5]

Hello Everyone
I was wondering if anyone has advice on learning an instrument by yourself. I have a hard time being disciplined and was wondering if anyone has any tips. How to keep a good practice schedule, different things to practice, stuff like that! Also if you have taught yourself tell me your experience in that and how you kept motivated. Thank You!
-Sophie

1-Get a few basic lessons
2-Learn some piano
3-Learn some guitar
4-Get some books on theory
5-Play in a good band
6-Find some bass players you like and study their style
7-Learn slap, pick playing, finger playing, and all other styles of play out there
8-Put 10,000 hours in playing bass
9-Get a bass you like to play

 

[Guitarodeo]

Interesting!
when I try to play along to some music, it often can sound a bit 'off'.
My bass is in tune, but pitches don't seem right.
This would explain that maybe?

It could be that your bass is not in tune with itself, i.e. bad intonation. Play the 12th fret open and fretted, and see if they are in tune with each other per string. If they are different, you will have to adjust your saddle screws to lengthen or shorten the individual strings.

 

[40Hz]

If you want something badly enough, you'll do whatever it takes. If that's what you mean by "discipline," the real question you need to ask yourself is just how badly you want it.

FWIW, independent studies are usually most beneficial to people who can muster or already have some degree of self-discipline. I really think you might be better off with a good instructor to start if you have trouble staying focused and keeping motivated. A good instructor or mentor can help you with goal setting and provide some insights and encouragement to get you over the initial hump you'll run into any time you start to learn something new.

Luck!

 

[Ed Fuqua]

The other thing to remember is that there is no book, video, CD in the world that can change the way it is presenting material to you. It's STATIC, it's going to be the same thing the same way every time you turn to that page or press play. The great thing about a good teacher is that they can adapt the skill set they are trying to impart to how YOU AS INDIVIDUAL learn, they can keep changing the approach to the material until they find the best way to communicate to YOU.

Look, it's your life and you're the only one who can decide what amount of energy you want to put into this. But bear in mind that RESULTS are generally contingent on the WORK you put in. It can be easy or it can be hard. But it depends really on what you want.

Consider something other than music, like baseball. What kind of baseball career do you want? Getting together a few weekends during the summer to play with friends, city parks league, minor leagues, major leagues? Look at what each of those choices requires, look at what the folks that are already doing them have done to get there. Look at where there level of effort has gotten them, are they still moving forward or stopped? Have they reached their peak and are in decline? Things only get a little disparate and frustrating for folks when they only want to put in the effort for one but expect the results of the other. You're not going to make the major leagues if you only put forth the effort that the guys playing every third weekend at the local high school lot.

 

[hrodbert696]

A lot of people are jumping on a thread about self-teaching to say "don't self-teach." I think that, honestly, there are a lot of advantages about getting a teacher, like avoiding bad habits and progressing faster. But also, honestly, a lot of the great bass players we all admire DID self-teach. And for that matter, so did I, and while I'm not the greatest bassist in the world, I seem to manage well enough for what I do.

 

[bristol92]

Hey guys. Thanks for all the advice. While I respect peoples advice to get a teacher I just prefer to teach myself, you can think what you want about that XD I dont know, honestly its all way more complicated for me. Being able to play songs I love would be so cool to me, but I dont know.. its hard to explain. Im just gonna keep trying to go at it, and we will see where I go... thanks again guys!

 

[Cropduster]

Hey guys. Thanks for all the advice. While I respect peoples advice to get a teacher I just prefer to teach myself, you can think what you want about that XD I dont know, honestly its all way more complicated for me. Being able to play songs I love would be so cool to me, but I dont know.. its hard to explain. Im just gonna keep trying to go at it, and we will see where I go... thanks again guys!

I don't think anyone is saying you have to get a teacher, but if you have trouble staying disciplined having a teacher will help with that as long as the other benefits a real person sitting across from you will bring as well.
That said if you're gonna keep trying to go at it then that's great, picking up your Bass for even 10 mins is better than walking past it and not, and your desire to play isn't hard to explain at all, i think we all get it, we're all here for the same reason, just to varying degrees of commitment intensity and definitely talent.

I use a teacher but i also use study bass for online instruction, have a look, i find it very useful, some of the others don't have structured lessons that are easy to follow or are too advanced for a beginner like me.

Good luck, and keep practising!

 

[Badwater]

To teach yourself.
1) Learn the basics of the bass, the history, and the parts.
2) Learn the basics of how to hold the bass, and how to fret, and how to pick.
3) Observe great bass players, and how they pick, hold, and fret the bass.
4) Emulate and duplicate their playing, and their bass lines.

All the information for this is online. Take it at your own pace, and enjoy.

 

[Badwater]

Hey guys. Thanks for all the advice. While I respect peoples advice to get a teacher I just prefer to teach myself, you can think what you want about that XD I dont know, honestly its all way more complicated for me. Being able to play songs I love would be so cool to me, but I dont know.. its hard to explain. Im just gonna keep trying to go at it, and we will see where I go... thanks again guys!

One of the easiest ways to learn the songs you like are with tabs. Within reason of course, very complex songs will take longer. Nevertheless, because you like the song, you already have the melody and tempo in your head.
With tabs, take it measure by measure. Eventually, you'll see patterns, and be able to play more consecutive measures. And take it slow, and build up to tempo and play along with the music.

Over time you'll be able to do this faster and faster. Start with the simple bass line songs you like. Good luck, and enjoy your success.

 

[Later_Peter]

Don't.