No formal lessons. Self-taught bass,guitar,keys.Closest I had to lessons was some old play-along records.I learned mostly by ear. Nothing wrong with lessons,my family could not afford any.I have a friend who is fantastic guitar instructor. I wish i could read better,can't sight read(lazy),but if given a chart(and time) i will go through and memorize it. I always considered it a handicap. On the other hand, I came across a situation(actually more than once) where i worked with a keys guy that could immediately play any sheet you put in front of him. However,on the gig when we would comp or take it outside etc. he was completely lost! I guess the point is ,find YOUR balance. I think reading and theory important but not near as important as your ear.
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Did You Take Lessons Before You Joined A Band???
- Thread starter El_Charro
- Start date
I never took lessons. In the late 60's, I took lessons and played clarinet and sax in a High School Band. My brothers band would rehearse at our house, and the bass player would leave his bass there all week, not learning their new songs. I eventually picked up the bass and noodled on it. Till one day the bass player heard me and asked if I would learn the songs for him, and show him before practice. This went on for months, till my brother told me that he "fired " the bass player, and that he knew I was teaching him the songs, and that I was their new bass player. That was 1968, and we've been playing together since. Dont worry so much about lessons if you have the love and will to play. Bass is'nt rocket science. Its all about feel and listening to your drummer. Your right hand is more important than your left.
Did I have lessons? Not a one yet, and I'm 68, and in my current band nearly 25 years now.
I began with guitar at about 15, learning 6 or 8 chords from a Mel Bay book. When I couldn't form any more chords and couldn't play any leads, (never much call for rythem players) I bought a $40 Tescoe del Rey bass brand new, and BOOM! In my first gigging band at around 18 yrs old or so.
My method was playing with the record player, until I could copy. Nothing wrong with copy tunes for learning, because you have to do what it takes to make it sound right. That statement should even carry over to original tunes. Play to each individual song. Making each one special each time you play.
I have very good rythem, which helps, but playing bass seemed much easier than trying to learn anything on guitar.
When I hear a band play originals, I have no clue how good they really are, even if that song sounds good. If they start a set with
Poor attempts at copy tunes, I probably won't stick around.
I'm terrible with any kind of instructions anyway, so if I'd have had to have lessons over 50 years ago, I would never have been able to play in a band, probably.
Now, covid is what holds me back, and after a year and a half hiding, we have a gig day after tomorrow. Another in Oct. Yes, some of the vendors are calling us back, but now I'm nervous about gigs for a reason I never expected.
I began with guitar at about 15, learning 6 or 8 chords from a Mel Bay book. When I couldn't form any more chords and couldn't play any leads, (never much call for rythem players) I bought a $40 Tescoe del Rey bass brand new, and BOOM! In my first gigging band at around 18 yrs old or so.
My method was playing with the record player, until I could copy. Nothing wrong with copy tunes for learning, because you have to do what it takes to make it sound right. That statement should even carry over to original tunes. Play to each individual song. Making each one special each time you play.
I have very good rythem, which helps, but playing bass seemed much easier than trying to learn anything on guitar.
When I hear a band play originals, I have no clue how good they really are, even if that song sounds good. If they start a set with
Poor attempts at copy tunes, I probably won't stick around.
I'm terrible with any kind of instructions anyway, so if I'd have had to have lessons over 50 years ago, I would never have been able to play in a band, probably.
Now, covid is what holds me back, and after a year and a half hiding, we have a gig day after tomorrow. Another in Oct. Yes, some of the vendors are calling us back, but now I'm nervous about gigs for a reason I never expected.
I did not take lessons before I started playing in a band, but as soon as I started playing with others I noticed that also taking lessons would help me a lot. There's no right answer here. If you've never played in a band before, no lessons can ever prepare you for how to be a good band member, so basically just do it! =) It's not all about being able to play in the pocket, harmonizing, coloring, rhythmically adding to the beat or to the feel. Sometimes a straight line is the best, sometimes totally freaking out is the best, it also depends on the band ambitions, the other members and type of music.
As a lot of others already said, just start to play with others, it's the best way to learn, and the best way to figure out your own "style", and it's definitely the most fun way to learn and to play, about fifty11 times more fun than playing by yourself! =) We'll never get fully taught, if anyone would ever think so they're regressing at best.
I think it's very helpful to also play some guitar. It'll help you to understand how similar and different they are in different aspects, and please fiddle with some pedals, just for the fun of it and to be able to learn more about how one setting sounds awesome by itself but totally crappy in a band setting, and just as often the opposite =)
Stay curious, challenge yourself and your borders, never stop exploring and you'll have fun always!
*EDIT* Learn the fretboard and strings (start from thick E and down, no need to learn them all at once), learn to read tabs and basic theory about intervals, circle of fifths/forths, chord notes, major and minor. (maybe also some modes) If you cant "read" your own fretboard not knowing what you're doing, it's very difficult to convey your ideas or to understand other band members instructions, it's a bit like making noises but in a language no one can understand, not even yourself =) It's very important to be able to correctly communicate in a band setting or it might get pretty frustrating. It'll take some time but it'll be easier over time practicing both theory and playing. Basic theory will boost your learning, it sure did for me at least.
As a lot of others already said, just start to play with others, it's the best way to learn, and the best way to figure out your own "style", and it's definitely the most fun way to learn and to play, about fifty11 times more fun than playing by yourself! =) We'll never get fully taught, if anyone would ever think so they're regressing at best.
I think it's very helpful to also play some guitar. It'll help you to understand how similar and different they are in different aspects, and please fiddle with some pedals, just for the fun of it and to be able to learn more about how one setting sounds awesome by itself but totally crappy in a band setting, and just as often the opposite =)
Stay curious, challenge yourself and your borders, never stop exploring and you'll have fun always!
*EDIT* Learn the fretboard and strings (start from thick E and down, no need to learn them all at once), learn to read tabs and basic theory about intervals, circle of fifths/forths, chord notes, major and minor. (maybe also some modes) If you cant "read" your own fretboard not knowing what you're doing, it's very difficult to convey your ideas or to understand other band members instructions, it's a bit like making noises but in a language no one can understand, not even yourself =) It's very important to be able to correctly communicate in a band setting or it might get pretty frustrating. It'll take some time but it'll be easier over time practicing both theory and playing. Basic theory will boost your learning, it sure did for me at least.
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No lessons. In fact I got a gig for a band, formed the band, couldn't find a bass player, so I bought a bass and taught myself enough to get through the gig. I liked it (and we got more gigs). That was 42 years ago, I've been playing ever since.
My parents were both musicians. Formal piano lessons age 7- 9. Church band and choir.
Friend of mine in Scouts w rich parents gave him a Gibson 175. I talked my mom into a
pawnshop Motsumoku Conrad. Learned fret board basics. Ninth grade newly acquired
from CA friend offered me bass slot and it was off to the self- taught races. Still play
keys and guitar as gig requires. Formal piano lessons from a professional is the basis
for everything. IMHO. Beware the Derp wants to take your money and show you his
Jaco/ Flea not licks. YouTube can't replace hands on instruction neither instruments
nor sound. Like anything else, the more time spent...
Got my first bass - a white Mako P-Bass copy - for my fourteenth birthday. Played it through the aux. in of an old stereo amp (with 8 track and am/fm receiver) with a Y-cord. Was in my first band two weeks later. That folded within another two weeks, we were all young/immature and didn't have two clues to rub together as to what we were doing. My next band came a few month later. I had picked-up on a lot but started taking lessons with a local guy who happened to be a cousin of mine. Did that for a few months then moved on to doing my own thing. Thirty years later, I'm still at it, enjoying it and even had a pretty-good career at it for a while 
So, about eight or nine months of one on one lessons which were pretty much me and the other guy showing me how to pick-up on the songs I had to learn. Other than that, pretty much self-taught. Loved every minute of it and STILL loving it!
So, about eight or nine months of one on one lessons which were pretty much me and the other guy showing me how to pick-up on the songs I had to learn. Other than that, pretty much self-taught. Loved every minute of it and STILL loving it!
I had studied music theory before I started playing bass & I took lessons from the beginning of my bass playing. I had started playing left-handed (I am a south paw), but switched to right hand when I started lessons (made it easier for me to follow/imitate my instructor).
I learnt music at school and played the cello in the school orchestra... I had no formal training on the bass... just picked up the only bass we had at school - it was right handed (I'm a leftie) and just taught myself
bought my first bass at 17 (cheap fender copy) and a practice amp about 6 months later... the rest is history I guess
I believe I'm a better bass player now than I was at 17 - so yes, I've made progress
bought my first bass at 17 (cheap fender copy) and a practice amp about 6 months later... the rest is history I guess
I believe I'm a better bass player now than I was at 17 - so yes, I've made progress
I had lessons in church choir. And then of course sang in a metal band inspired by Danzig and similar.
