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Houston area instructors

Mach17

Mach17

Guest
Jun 6, 2015
13
1
#1
Hi folks,
First post, been browsing these forums off and on for a couple of years now.

I've been messing around on bass for about 5 years now (actually started long ago in high school, but only recently have I devoted a lot more time to it). I am pretty much self taught and probably have a lot of bad habits, technique-wise. I am at the point now that I am looking for some lessons. Particularly for things like string-muting, left-hand technique (I am lefty btw, so my non-fretting hand), and speed. I basically like playing rock and a little bit of metal, but I'm limited to the slower songs :).

No offense to our guitar playing friends, but I had a couple lessons 20 years ago from guitar players and I'm not sure that I can get what I need from that (I'm sure some are quite capable with bass too). So I'm looking for an actual bass player for instruction. Also, despite a lot of really good online instruction these days, I think I need some actual feedback on what I am doing.

Anyone know of an instructor in The Woodlands area, NW of Houston that might fit the bill? I did a basic search and didn't see any specific thread.

Thanks in advance,
Mach17
 
#3
Next time you are around live music ask the bass who he/she uses for lessons. Word of mouth is the best way to find an instructor. Sorry I'm 5 hours North of you and have no idea about instructors in the Woodlands area.

Lot of live music in that area. Next live bassist you see ask them who they use. I bet they know of several they could send you to.
 
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#6
I took lessons with Andrew Pouska (the guy mentioned above). Logistics, a divorce / remarriage etc... got in the way of continuing with him, he is over on the west side / Westheimer area by the beltway at least when I took classes with him. His instruction REALLY helped me gain traction. I wish like crazy I could get back out there, or he would do classes in the Bay Area....
 
#8
Signed up on his site and sent an email. Definitely would like to talk with him and see what he thinks.

I'm an amateur in every sense even though I've been messing around for a long time. Not super interested in theory, but not against it. Not looking to become a pro or even join a band necessarily. I try to play songs that I like to listen to for the most part, using something like Guitar Pro and playing along with my own music collection. That said, I've developed a lot of self-taught bad habits that I think are really limiting me. I blame the fact that I didn't have an amp for about 10 years, so my "technique" was whatever I could do to actually hear myself play :).
 
#9
I also took lessons with Andrew for 1 1/2 years. Stopped mainly because I recently got married and had a baby. Definitely provided a good foundation on playing technique and theory. Would highly recommend, despite the possible inconvenience of commuting to that area of town.
 
#10
I agree with going through Studybass.com. There are also a ton of videos out there that teach slap techniques, thumb, picking, etc. If you can read tab, print some up of your favorite songs and try playing them the way the player does (if they use a pick, use one, if they slap, slap etc.) I try learning a song a week this way, and it has helped out alot!!
 
#16
camardelle said:
That's who I was referring to. I use a great bass teacher in Conroe which is not too far from him. I'll send him a pm and let him know. Thanks!
Click to expand...

Thanks for the responses guys. I was taking lessons with Andrew and had to stop due to a crazy travel schedule for work which hasn't let up yet. It was also a bit far for me to go to and took up a large chunk of my free time when I was home. Agree that I wasn't so sure that a half an hour format was working out very well, but I assume that is fairly standard. Feels like longer sessions would work better.

Anyway, good to know there are some other options closer to me if I pick up with lessons again.

~ Mach
 

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