Hi, this is my first time using talkbass, I if anything's in the wrong place I am sorry. I am located in the Simi Valley area in California. I just got my bass and amp and would like a bass teacher to help me learn. Do any of you guys know any bass teachers or bass players in LA or Ventura county that offer teaching services? Thank you and have a nice day.
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Bass Guitar Teachers
- Thread starter Andrew Luo
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If you’re a beginner then I would start with a local music store. Finding a teacher as a beginner is pretty simple. Some of the “better” teachers out there are only interested in working with more advanced students.
If you can update your thread title to "Seeking Instructor in Ventura CA"
(or ask mods to do so)
you may get some responses.
(or ask mods to do so)
you may get some responses.
Most any music store will offer lessons. Its how most of them get by since instrument sales alone are hard to get by on. Call around.
If you go the rout of the music store, make sure it's an outside teacher partnering with the store to give lessons in their space, not some random employee who teaches lessons between selling gear. I'd also do a quick google search on their name to make sure they have some legit background.
You might have a local community-focused music school/conservatory as well that provides lessons. A nice thing about this kind of place is that they do some of work of making sure a teacher has a vague idea of what they are doing before letting them in the door. A music store might not care, and could be willing to rent a space to anyone willing to pay.
You could also look at the adjunct faculty of any colleges in your area with music programs. If there's a person there who teaches bass guitar, find their email somewhere and message them about the idea of lessons. Also look into their musical interests and background.
But either way, do a bit of your own research and realize that many people that call themselves teachers aren't competent.
You might have a local community-focused music school/conservatory as well that provides lessons. A nice thing about this kind of place is that they do some of work of making sure a teacher has a vague idea of what they are doing before letting them in the door. A music store might not care, and could be willing to rent a space to anyone willing to pay.
You could also look at the adjunct faculty of any colleges in your area with music programs. If there's a person there who teaches bass guitar, find their email somewhere and message them about the idea of lessons. Also look into their musical interests and background.
But either way, do a bit of your own research and realize that many people that call themselves teachers aren't competent.
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Make sure you find somebody who teaches BASS GUITAR, not upright bass. My first attempt at lessons was via a local Conservatory, and the teacher was an upright bass instructor who insisted I use only three fingers on the left hand for the lower positions, which is completely unnecessary on electric bass. Unfortunately good bass teachers are much harder to find than guitar, sometimes it's just a guitar teacher who dabbles in bass.
Learn from the best! I have been taking lessons from David to add tapping and slapping. Amazing player and a great and patient teacher. We do it virtually and it works well.
Is it just me or does everybody always hear Hans' posts in Alan Rickman's voice?
Related to topic: are there good music stores in Simi Valley?
I sound like his American accent. Clay, Bill Clay.
I know some great players out of Simi, I'll ask around.
If you are willing to pop down to TO, hit up Wally World Music.
When I was taking some guitar lessons back in the day, it was probably the only thing that felt like a bargain in the entire county.
When I was taking some guitar lessons back in the day, it was probably the only thing that felt like a bargain in the entire county.
Stage One Music in Simi has three teachers for bass. That's all they do, teach. One teaches both upright and electric. The other two are guitar and bass teachers, but look to be primarily guitarists who also play bass. Cal Lutheran College in Thousand Oaks offers bass lessons but it is more formal, and probably more oriented to learning classical and theory, with lessons once per week. I suggest you decide what type of music you wish to learn to play, and use that to narrow your search. Personally, I don't find anything wrong with taking lessons from a guy who plays upright who also plays electric. Depends on what type of music they play.
If you have a good internet connection the online one-on-one teachers can also be a good way to go.
If you have a good internet connection the online one-on-one teachers can also be a good way to go.
He’ll die of old age sitting in traffic!
When I lived out that way, even going to the Valley was stressful.
I wouldn't drive into LA right now if Paul McCartney offered me lessons..
I second this. Find a bass guitar teacher, someone who only teaches bass. Half of the beginner “bass” teachers I run across also teach piano, guitar, and voice! Amazing
I wouldn't drive into LA right now if Paul McCartney offered me lessons..
“Hey, we found a cure for cancer - can you go pick it up for us so we can save this child?”
“Sure, where is it?”
“It’s right off the 405”
“Rest in peace, kid.”
I've actually been to west LA a few times to get my bass set up by a luthier and pick up an amp I found on Craigslist. Downtown LA on the other hand....... You couldn't pay me to go there. I am fine with driving about an hour though if the instructor is a bass guitar player who is truly a great teacher.
He doesn't need to go past the West Valley to find several good bass teachers. I used to live up in the area he is in, and these days it can be an hour each way to West L.A., or more if there is an "incident" on the 405. If he goes to Cal Lutheran he can play the '72 Rick I donated when I lived next door (terrible mistake, with I still had it). If he wants to go downtown, or to Hollywood (where most of the music scene is centered), he's going to need to spend extra money to buy a gun first!
Start with a music store. Hopefully someone that primarily plays bass guitar. Also think about how and what you want to learn as well as your learning style. I mean beyond “I want to learn to play bass”. Good luck. Come back to Talk Bass again. Good resources on here (people).
