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How did you get your start?

B

BHurn

Sep 29, 2008
34
0
Baltimore, MD
#1
Hey Justin, I just want to say, I was playing pool with a friend of mine this evening and a Beck song came on and only you could produce that magic.

Onto my question,
I am 15 years old and I was planning on going into the session bassist business. How did you get your start? Was it a real struggle from the beginning or was it just like an instant gratification deal? And what kind of formal training, if any, did you have?

Sorry if you already answered a question like this, but I just thought I'd ask.

Thank you!
 
#2
Hi, thanks for writing.

A lot of this has been covered in other threads, but I'll say that getting my start was a fairly haphazard thing. I never wanted to be a session musician, actually. All I cared about was being in a band. I think my friendly attitude, and fairly broad stylistic interest, are the things that naturally pointed me in that direction.

So, in a sense, I don't really know how to articulate to anyone in a clear way as to how one can get a start! I know this was all going on in my early 20's:

- I was friendly and open.
- I played many styles and didn't have too overpowering of an aesthetic identity...or at least some flexibility and transparency when needed. In other words, I was no Lemmy, or Jaco, or Peter Hook.
- I had a fair amount taste and restraint not only with my playing, but in conversation.
- I was around; in clubs, at parties, at record stores, at other people's sessions, etc.

It wasn't a struggle in the beginning, because I was too busy juggling a day job and my band projects to worry about my session career faltering or gaining. In a way, not obsessively focusing on it made it easier to grow naturally.

I've taken lessons from The Faunt School in LA, but no formal training otherwise.

Best,
JMJ
 
#3
so Justin i got a question about your lessons. Did you take lessons and learn scales and music theory before you ever played in a band setting? I personally have never had a lesson and played for a little over a year only knowing where the notes were on the frett board and nothing more. I only a month ago found a thread here on talkbass explaining Major and minor scale. Knowing those two have improved my music ten fold lol.

thanks for your time Justin, you are my hero man.

TA
 
#4
No, I didn't take lessons until I was around 18 I think. I was already playing in bands. Those scales are bread and butter, for sure. Very vital. And it just continues on and on from there. Keep it up the learning, I certainly intend to.

JMJ
 

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