Self-taught all the way. Never had a lesson, although I have learned a lot from such teachers as Geddy Lee, John Entwistle, and Paul McCartney.
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Formal musical education or self taught?
- Thread starter jordan2
- Start date
Self-taught on electric bass starting at around age 13 after teaching myself guitar. Had some piano and drum lessons as a kid and studied music theory pretty seriously in college just because I liked it. Later in life, took up double bass and I still take lessons on that because I'm still learning. So, both.
That's a good point, for this purpose I would say no because all of us have used it and it wouldn't get any new information.
i earned a music degree in '96 however most of what i have to offer as a guitarist and bassist is due to my own drive and self study before, during and well after the schooling. gigs and working hard on a few different styles is the main thing.....most of my musical heros were far less educated than I.
I had a pretty heavy musical mentor before i went to music school and that is pretty cool/ important i think as far as inspiration ...i don't know if it works the same when we are adults or not ...because i don't see my mentor thru the same eyes now as i did then ...i can clearly see his limitations and snobbery for some styles....i don't like music snobs ...jazz snobs, metal snobs or what have you....years of cover bands changed and informed my musicality greatly especially in the snobbery aspect.
to see what the general public loves to hear night after night....at first it's hard on an educated player but after a while ...hell, who am i to argue!
I had a pretty heavy musical mentor before i went to music school and that is pretty cool/ important i think as far as inspiration ...i don't know if it works the same when we are adults or not ...because i don't see my mentor thru the same eyes now as i did then ...i can clearly see his limitations and snobbery for some styles....i don't like music snobs ...jazz snobs, metal snobs or what have you....years of cover bands changed and informed my musicality greatly especially in the snobbery aspect.
to see what the general public loves to hear night after night....at first it's hard on an educated player but after a while ...hell, who am i to argue!
Although I've taken a few lessons on guitar from other guitarists in bands I've played in my bass playing is all self taught. There was a lot of trial and error that went into all these years of playing too.
As a vocalist I have a pretty good ear for melody and harmony and I think that's helped a lot as far as picking bass lines out of a song just by listening. After a while playing a bass line also becomes somewhat instictively to me. I can hear what I want to play and experience has taught me how to feel the "pocket".
I have far more trouble building solo chops on a guitar than a I do building bass lines and I think it's because I "think" like a bassist, not a guitar soloist.
As a vocalist I have a pretty good ear for melody and harmony and I think that's helped a lot as far as picking bass lines out of a song just by listening. After a while playing a bass line also becomes somewhat instictively to me. I can hear what I want to play and experience has taught me how to feel the "pocket".
I have far more trouble building solo chops on a guitar than a I do building bass lines and I think it's because I "think" like a bassist, not a guitar soloist.
I'm also self taught on guitar, bass and with writing songs. That's not to say that what I do is fantastic, but I do okay with what I have and I'm under no illusions of anything.
While my number one mentor is Paul McCartney, I love the scores by John Williams and Hans Zimmer.
While my number one mentor is Paul McCartney, I love the scores by John Williams and Hans Zimmer.
I'm self taught - which really means I've had ten years of trial and error that seems to have worked.
Looking back on the way I taught myself the most work went into training my ear to work out what other people were doing. This and playing in bands has got me to a good level.
It's always best to remember that there's always more to learn though - you're always a student of the instrument no matter how long you've played. I'm still self-teaching as opposed to being self-taught if that isn't too trite a thing to say.
Looking back on the way I taught myself the most work went into training my ear to work out what other people were doing. This and playing in bands has got me to a good level.
It's always best to remember that there's always more to learn though - you're always a student of the instrument no matter how long you've played. I'm still self-teaching as opposed to being self-taught if that isn't too trite a thing to say.
- Aug 14, 2008
- 698
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- Disclosures
- Owner and Operator, Xylem Handmade Basses and Guitars
Wow, more self-taughts than I thought...
I'm glad I was self-taught. Like others have noted, there was more trial and error and re-adjustment of technique in the beginning. But now that I'm past most of that I feel like I have an advantage in that I might be a little more open-minded in terms of theory and technique than someone who had a traditional education.
I'm saying that with the utmost respect to all who were traditionally taught, many of you are far better and more creative than I to be sure
I'm glad I was self-taught. Like others have noted, there was more trial and error and re-adjustment of technique in the beginning. But now that I'm past most of that I feel like I have an advantage in that I might be a little more open-minded in terms of theory and technique than someone who had a traditional education.
I'm saying that with the utmost respect to all who were traditionally taught, many of you are far better and more creative than I to be sure
I'm primarily self taught but I did have about a year of formal lessons.
The biggest advantage to having a teacher is the structure that a good one can bring to your learning and to help you see and correct your mistakes sooner.
In another life I was a flight instructor and I have some idea of what it takes to teach someone. Even with that I'm certain I could've progressed more with more formal instruction.
The biggest advantage to having a teacher is the structure that a good one can bring to your learning and to help you see and correct your mistakes sooner.
In another life I was a flight instructor and I have some idea of what it takes to teach someone. Even with that I'm certain I could've progressed more with more formal instruction.
I spent years in school band and took lessons and stuff, didn't do it when I was in college, though, but so glad I got a formal education in music. I doubt I'd have understood it if I hadn't.
I learned to play the trombone through my elementary school, but taught myself nearly a dozen other musical instruments and studied theory on my own to the point that when I studied music in college it was all review for me... But had I not been taught how to play trombone by the elementary school's band director I never would have had any interest in pursuing studying any music on my own
This is the same way I ended up playing bass. I started playing trumpet in the school band in the 4th grade. I took music classes all the way through my senior year. I didn't start playing bass until I turned 19. On the trumpet, I played everything by reading sheet music. On bass, just the opposite. I learn all of the cover songs by listening and memorizing the parts or occasionaly using tabs.
i've never had a lesson, i'm 13 and tour abroad with gospel musicians.
Self tought works best for me.
Self tought works best for me.
Self taught on electric,although a guitar player friend of mine showed me some things to start back in '79-80.In 2006 i went to a summer camp for musicians and learned a lot in that week.Just bought an upright bass and will take lessons regularly for reading and arco technique with that.Education is never a bad thing,beats being a DA.
Self taught? Far from it.
I haven't had formal education apart from a whopping 4 half hour lessons, but i've looked at many instructional videos and countless interviews, along with the many things I read, practice, and learn from Talkbass.
I wouldn't be a fraction of the bassist I am without you all here, as well as Youtube.
I haven't had formal education apart from a whopping 4 half hour lessons, but i've looked at many instructional videos and countless interviews, along with the many things I read, practice, and learn from Talkbass.
I wouldn't be a fraction of the bassist I am without you all here, as well as Youtube.
Ticked all three boxes.
Formal lessons on piano and guitar, then self-taught on bass guitar, then formal lessons on upright. Plus high school music. Lots of mentors at different stages.
Even though I never had lessons on bass guitar, the technique I learned on guitar definitely made me a better bass player (both how to use your hands and the way chords and notes work) and my reading is all built on theory I learned as part of piano studies.
I count myself fortunate to have always had the right teachers. My double bass teacher is a retired symphonic player, very unassuming, who has a resume that would make most jaws drop and qualify him to teach most people on TB, but he doesn't talk about it much. While my lessons with him turn into torture sessions (because it doesn't matter how much I improve, there's always something I'm doing wrong, and correcting it usually involves working muscles harder) I am constantly amazed at the opportunity to learn from him, and the difference it makes with my playing. And also his passion.....lessons that are nominally an hour usually go for 90 minutes plus because we get so engrossed in the material. So it's good for my technique and my passion.
I strongly urge anyone who is self-taught to seek out a good teacher and take a few lessons in an area where you want to improve, just to see what difference it makes.
Formal lessons on piano and guitar, then self-taught on bass guitar, then formal lessons on upright. Plus high school music. Lots of mentors at different stages.
Even though I never had lessons on bass guitar, the technique I learned on guitar definitely made me a better bass player (both how to use your hands and the way chords and notes work) and my reading is all built on theory I learned as part of piano studies.
I count myself fortunate to have always had the right teachers. My double bass teacher is a retired symphonic player, very unassuming, who has a resume that would make most jaws drop and qualify him to teach most people on TB, but he doesn't talk about it much. While my lessons with him turn into torture sessions (because it doesn't matter how much I improve, there's always something I'm doing wrong, and correcting it usually involves working muscles harder) I am constantly amazed at the opportunity to learn from him, and the difference it makes with my playing. And also his passion.....lessons that are nominally an hour usually go for 90 minutes plus because we get so engrossed in the material. So it's good for my technique and my passion.
I strongly urge anyone who is self-taught to seek out a good teacher and take a few lessons in an area where you want to improve, just to see what difference it makes.
I played tuba in middle school and high school but am totally self taught on the bass. I mean no books, internet lessons, or otherwise. I just picked it up and started to mess with it. I've spent MANY hours just sitting alone with my bass, my ears, and my hands.
