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Anyone else working through Jeff Berlins Bass Mastery, package #1?

FearNoEvil65

FearNoEvil65

Jan 12, 2023
942
3,174
#1
It's been a year since I bought the 1rst lesson package, after hearing Jeff's "read music it's the way" deal, I had been wanting to use more of the fretboard, and work on fingerings.
I've finally reached and am working on the last Etude, #24.
Just over 100 pages of sheet music, and although I learned a little years back in Jazz Band as a teen, it's really been new as nearing 60 years old I've played by ear and feel my whole bass playing life, after Jazz Band that is.
Curious if anyone else is working on these Etudes, or something similar. They're still difficult for me, and I'll be reviewing them for a year to come I imagine. Good luck to anyone giving it a go ! I don't see any drawbacks in learning to read music, more than the time and frustration put in.
Best wishes to all.
 
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#3
I've been spending time with it off and on for the past year, but I've really buckled down the last few months. I made it through the first book and am on to the second, I'm at Eb Major etudes right now. I've basically done what Jeff suggests and just add on another 20 to 30 minutes to my normal practice time every day, adding reading to my routine.

I said I got through the first book but I could definitely go back and work on it some more, I can't play the etudes very fast in time, but I can read them pretty well. My main purpose for learning to read is to really get the fretboard down and it's working. I felt like I was ok enough with the first book to jump into sharps and flats. I think it's important to keep moving forward and pushing yourself even if you don't have something down perfect, it's too easy to get stuck going over the same thing without moving forward... if that makes sense.
 
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#6
jd50 said:
I've been spending time with it off and on for the past year, but I've really buckled down the last few months. I made it through the first book and am on to the second, I'm at Eb Major etudes right now. I've basically done what Jeff suggests and just add on another 20 to 30 minutes to my normal practice time every day, adding reading to my routine.

I said I got through the first book but I could definitely go back and work on it some more, I can't play the etudes very fast in time, but I can read them pretty well. My main purpose for learning to read is to really get the fretboard down and it's working. I felt like I was ok enough with the first book to jump into sharps and flats. I think it's important to keep moving forward and pushing yourself even if you don't have something down perfect, it's too easy to get stuck going over the same thing without moving forward... if that makes sense.
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Cool glad to hear someone else is working through the Packages. I feel the same, some of the exercises are difficult for me, I do my best and then move on. I've been going back reviewing some of the older lessons, and they're still difficult for me !! Here's my attempt at the last lesson of the first package, Etude #24.
I may regret posting me playing on TB, but we'll see !! Keep at it, good luck
 
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#7
FearNoEvil65 said:
Seemingly nobody working on the Bass Mastery !! I've never followed the crowd, no exception here. Off to shred a few Etudes LOL
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I gave a fairly involved breakdown on all of these. I still draw on them heavily in my teaching and I can only say they continue to give me the same results every time. As long as the student is consistent.

Here is a link to the thread:

Jeff Berlin Bass Education Packages
 
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#8
BrotherMister said:
I gave a fairly involved breakdown on all of these. I still draw on them heavily in my teaching and I can only say they continue to give me the same results every time. As long as the student is consistent.

Here is a link to the thread:

Jeff Berlin Bass Education Packages
Click to expand...

That's a great thread, very interesting. Doing the Etudes in all 12 keys, on what package would you start this? I've heard Jeff talk about that and give small exercises to do that in, is this something you do just playing or get blank sheet music and actually write it out? Just the thought of it hurts my mind ! LOL

I would also be curious, your opinion between Berlin's Package #4 on Chord tones, or Phil Mann's books on Chord tones, if you are familiar with them. I originally bought Berlin's packages 1, 2 and 3 but they came with the videos which I downloaded. If I buy package 4 now on chord tones, the video is no longer available. Maybe this isn't a big deal, but I've liked having the videos to watch at times. A couple people on your thread stated they see Phil Manns books on chord tones more in depth and with more explanations.
 
#9
All of them can be done in every key. I usually start from Lesson 2 - Etude B as those ones begin to very clearly have a sense of key to them.

You can write out the Etudes in every key. Writing will improve your reading massively as well but mark up what each scale degree is and it will make transposing them a lot easier. Eventually you’ll be able to do it on the fly.
If it hurts your head then it’s the best practise you can do!

I’ve only got volume 1 of the Phil Mann book which is also good. I think Phil does a lot of the work for the reader and they are able to just parrot what’s on the page whereas Jeff leaves it up to the reader to fill in the blanks of the exercise. I feel that approach really helps elevate your playing and knowledge base because you are required to think about it all. Remember if you study with Phil he does use the Jeff stuff himself as well.

Phil does cover inversions and more permutations which I think is great to plug those into the package 4 exercises. However, all of this stuff is covered in Jeff’s chord tone book from back in the day. Understandable when you look at the fact Phil was a student of Jeff’s himself so they are going to be similar and draw heavily on the same approach.

I would say come package IV and V you’ll really get a ton of mileage, and another lifetimes worth of practise, if you use both Jeff and Phil to supplement one another.
 
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#11
FearNoEvil65 said:
It's been a year since I bought the 1rst lesson package, after hearing Jeff's "read music it's the way" deal, I had been wanting to use more of the fretboard, and work on fingerings.
I've finally reached and am working on the last Etude, #24.
Just over 100 pages of sheet music, and although I learned a little years back in Jazz Band as a teen, it's really been new as nearing 60 years old I've played by ear and feel my whole bass playing life, after Jazz Band that is.
Curious if anyone else is working on these Etudes, or something similar. They're still difficult for me, and I'll be reviewing them for a year to come I imagine. Good luck to anyone giving it a go ! I don't see any drawbacks in learning to read music, more than the time and frustration put in.
Best wishes to all.
Click to expand...
Yes, I am working my way through Berlin's #1 book. I bought it a year ago when I bought my bass. Then I set both aside for a while while tending to other life matters. Now starting to pick it back up again. I am well behind you guys at Lesson #5, but try to work 20-30 minutes on them when I play (and I need to be more consistent about playing regularly). As a gigging woodwind player, I am far more comfortable reading notes, so Berlin's material and method of reading notes on a page is far more natural for me than just chords or ear.

I have also been working through talkingbass videos. I like Mark's presentation style. What I really need to do is just dedicate an hour every day to play. Harder to do when I am working up clarinet and flute parts as well.
 
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#12
I have been meaning to get back to these packages as my daily reading practice and have been pondering the whole in all 12 keys approach. Of course I know it’s really 30 (15 major and 15 minor) but that’s beside the point.

I’m very curious how folks approach this as I’ve most often tried to do it on the flu which had me clinging to fingering patterns and getting easily tripped up by range and shifts. I guess I should really write some out as @BrotherMister suggests. Open to other thoughts/opinions.

I’d give a plug to the SBL Fretboard Accelerator program as it’s INCREDIBLE. Scott being a Willis student got a lot from him but he’s really put together an amazing package/method. There’s a recent video he posted on YouTube which gives a quick glimpse into the approach.
 
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#13
I'm an SBL lifetime member but haven't tried the Accelerator program. Learning to read via these books has REALLY helped my fretboard knowledge, especially once you get to book two and start working with sharps and flats. I joined SBL years ago and went through the Chord Tone classes and liked Phil so much as a teacher I signed up for Skype lessons with him, best decision I ever made. I got super busy with a couple bands so didn't have the time to continue with lessons, it's been about a year, but I routinely go back through the lessons and exercises he gave me.

I've actually been dividing my time between reading and the Joe Hubbard walking bass course and I've been making a lot of progress. I'll get back to lessons with Phil once I finish this course most likely.
 
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#15
Matt Zory said:
I’m working on his Ascending and Descending Chord Tone Lines. I can read already and a retired symphony bassist. I’m trying to find my way around on electric and was hoping for fingerings in this package but…nope. Got any thoughts?
Click to expand...
I will admit that this is one of the things I also find lacking in the instruction resources I have been using. So far, the only reliable fingering notation I have found is tabulation (I use Ultimate-Guitar for this). But Jeff Berlin does not have that in his stuff that I have found.
 
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#16
Matt Zory said:
I’m working on his Ascending and Descending Chord Tone Lines. I can read already and a retired symphony bassist. I’m trying to find my way around on electric and was hoping for fingerings in this package but…nope. Got any thoughts?
Click to expand...

Berlin wants you to figure out your own fingerings for the most part, that's probably the hardest thing for me. I'm on his 2nd package now and in A flat major, not where I typically would play. I know where the notes are on the fretboard but I have to go through the etudes several times to get an idea of how I'm going to fret the passages.
All I can suggest is go slow and work through it, after several attempts I usually get an idea of what will work best. It's uncomfortable, but I think it helps me learn LOL. Good luck keep at it !
 
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#17
I got Book 2 and it's a well written book.
BUT.... I just tried to purchase Book 3 (only available as downloadable pdf). The website took my card info, and set me a link to download. Chrome will not deal with it saying it's 'Dangerous'.
I send an email to the company, but no reply so far.
Anyone else have a hassle with them? I'd imagine that the problem was on my end, if the Book 2 purchase had been a problem.
Any help you can give would be nice.
 

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