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How long did you take lessons?

rydin4lifebass

rydin4lifebass

Sep 13, 2009
1,381
326
Pennsylvania
www.burymedeepmusic.com
#1
I've been taking lessons for over 2 1/2 years and have learned a lot of songs, worked through some instructional books, and gained some knowledge of theory. I've come to the point where I think I lean of lessons only as a way to know what key something is in or to have something written out for me. I don't want to give up the ability to take a song to someone and have them write it out for me but I also don't want to pay the money when what I really need is to sit down and just practice the hell out of something to improve my speed and accuracy. So the question is, how long did you take lessons and when did you know it was time to stop? Keep in mind, I'm not saying I'm done learning or that I'm happy with where I'm at, just that I don't know that it's worth my money for what I'm using it for.
 
#2
I took clarinet lessons for about 6 years when first learning music which overlapped and then segued into 4 years of guitar lessons. I learned electric bass all on my own based on that knowledge. Then about 16 years later I took 6 years of lessons on double bass to learn both the instrument and to expand my jazz theory.

I can see how you might be feeling burned out even though there are no doubt dozens of concepts you've yet to be exposed to. Maybe take a break for a few months and see if you can learn to write the song out for yourself rather than having someone else do it for you.

Perhaps you'll start up again at some point, either with the same teacher or maybe a change of approach from anew teacher would help.
 
#4
8 years ... 4 years with a private teacher the moment I had a bass in hand +3 years of DB at my local music college and another years of private teaching on bass where I discovered that I know enough and I'm enough structured to learn by myself and only play the music that I love know ... I had enough of music that I didn't like.
 
#6
When I was twelve, my middle school band teacher got me started on bass. I learned how to read sheet music and a lot about dynamics and technique with 1 hour of practice every weekday that whole year. After he left I just stopped taking lessons and started playing with my church worship band. I learned even more from the "lessons" of playing with a consistent band.

All in all, formal lessons: 1 year. Band experience: 7 years
 
#7
The question is if that teacher is worth the money you're paying. If you have been taking lessons for over two years, rather than just playing some songs you should be working on improvising, walking bass and other advanced stuff, jam together with your teacher over a chord progression. He could lay down the chords with his bass and have you walk underneath or solo above it. He would make you use different pentatonics and scales so you could learn how they all sound and "feel" different. Then he could teach you different ways to walk and/or play chords so he could solo over your comping. Make sure you're paying the right guy who's able and willing to teach you the valuable stuff rather than just playing songs and killing time.
 
#8
AndreBas said:
The question is if that teacher is worth the money you're paying. If you have been taking lessons for over two years, rather than just playing some songs you should be working on improvising, walking bass and other advanced stuff, jam together with your teacher over a chord progression. He could lay down the chords with his bass and have you walk underneath or solo above it. He would make you use different pentatonics and scales so you could learn how they all sound and "feel" different. Then he could teach you different ways to walk and/or play chords so he could solo over your comping. Make sure you're paying the right guy who's able and willing to teach you the valuable stuff rather than just playing songs and killing time.
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Not everyone progress the same way ... for some people they will go over very complicated stuff faster than other ... and also ... I learn a lot of stuff buy learning a song with a teacher. Like showing slap then you learn a song with slap ! Learn to master hammer-on/pull-of + slide then you have a song that incorporeted that etc
 
#9
Clef_de_fa said:
I learn a lot of stuff buy learning a song with a teacher.
Click to expand...
That's cool as long as the songs are challenging for your level. But since the thread starter seems to be bored by just learning songs, I suppose it's time for him to move on, make his own grooves, compose his own tunes, solo. Get into styles he hasn't been playing yet, whatever makes him improve as a musician.
 
#10
I guess it seems that I'd like to progress further but it seems that I lean on the instructor for "hey, show me this" or "can you correct this if its wrong"...type stuff. I'd like to be able to take a tab or chord sheet and work through something myself. My worry is 1) What if I can't get through it, where do I go for a definitive answer and 2) Even if I do it correctly, how will I know without someone checking what I did?

Maybe the instructor is fine and I'm not asking things correctly, any help with putting that into words?
 
#11
rydin4lifebass said:
I guess it seems that I'd like to progress further but it seems that I lean on the instructor for "hey, show me this" or "can you correct this if its wrong"...type stuff. I'd like to be able to take a tab or chord sheet and work through something myself. My worry is 1) What if I can't get through it, where do I go for a definitive answer and 2) Even if I do it correctly, how will I know without someone checking what I did?

Maybe the instructor is fine and I'm not asking things correctly, any help with putting that into words?
Click to expand...

If, after 2.5 years of lessons, you still need to use tabs, then I'd say you have the wrong teacher. Besides that, you shouldn't be telling him what to teach you. He should be telling you what you need to know.
 
#12
I was in Concert/Symphonic/Jazz/Pep/Marching bands from 6th to 12th grade. Besides Band Class, I never had a lesson on anything. I only ready sheet music and I also like reading my bass music in the fundamental pitch of the instrument rather than written up an octave which is how bass music is written. But if it weren't for band class, I would never be able to play in 19/16, 15/16, and 13/16 time signatures my current music requires.
 
#14
AndreBas said:
The question is if that teacher is worth the money you're paying. If you have been taking lessons for over two years, rather than just playing some songs you should be working on improvising, walking bass and other advanced stuff, jam together with your teacher over a chord progression. He could lay down the chords with his bass and have you walk underneath or solo above it. He would make you use different pentatonics and scales so you could learn how they all sound and "feel" different. Then he could teach you different ways to walk and/or play chords so he could solo over your comping. Make sure you're paying the right guy who's able and willing to teach you the valuable stuff rather than just playing songs and killing time.
Click to expand...

+1, my teacher is my best friends uncle, I go there every week with him. I LOVE that day of the week, he is the best guitarist I've seen in real life (he teaches guitar, but definitely is also the best bassist I've ever seen in real life). I imagine that I will be going there for a LONG time, because I enjoy it and because I've gotten SO much better since I've been going.
 
#15
I've been taking weekly lessons for 3 years from a professional bass player. I recently decided to start going one time a month only because I am now with a band that gigs regularly. I spend so much time practicing our entire set list, which has swelled to about 100 tunes, that I don't have as much the time for what he gives me to work on. By no means do I intend to stop taking lessons, but I need to do so at a manageable pace.
 
#16
I took 3 years of lessons when I started playing bass, then gained some experience, played along with records, played in bands... A couple of years later, I took more lessons with a bass player I knew who offered occasional lessons. These were the greatest. They were longer lessons, with tons of homework, and each one of them made me explore something new. I took this type of lessons for a year or two, then got a permanent band.
 
#17
I'm 59 and still taking lessons. I have, periodically, taken time off from taking lessons. Taking time off is not a bad thing. It lets the stuff you've learned percolate. But don't be afraid to jump back in and ask for help or some new stuff to incorporate into your playing. There's no point to trying to re-invent the wheel and there will always be someone who knows something you don't Don't be afraid to ask.
 
#18
rydin4lifebass said:
I'm not saying I'm done learning or that I'm happy with where I'm at, just that I don't know that it's worth my money for what I'm using it for.
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I suggest that you sit down and figure out what your goals are. If you are taking lessons, you should always be working toward something, otherwise it's easy to lose focus. I also agree with some of the other posters that you should take occasional breaks to stay fresh.

I'm 54 and have been taking lessons on and off since I was 16. I still go back to one of my favorite teachers for a refresher occasionally.
 
#20
Figuring out my goals is a good idea. I can't say that I really have anything "set in stone" for what I want to get out of this. I'll be honest that I come to TB to get clarification on some things and that this site has helped me figure some things out that my instructor has me work on. My instructor is good with helping me figure parts to a song and for writing out lines that I want to learn. He has suggested that I write some things on my own and improvise but it's mainly whatever I take him is what we work on. My thought was to stop lessons (minimum for a few months) and work on really nailing the songs I'm working on and developing my accuracy/speed with them. I also can work on improvising with chord charts which is something the "root-fifth country" side of me likes to do. Does that sound reasonable? What started this for me is that I started to have a problem paying every month and just taking a song to someone and having them write it out. I'm not saying that isn't a valuable resource, but something that I can get online, get help with here at TB, and can start working on myself to develop my ear and my skills as well. If I find that I miss the lessons or that I'm not able to do it on my own, I can always go back.

For those of you who have taken lessons for many years, what have you worked on to continue developing? What did you ask your instructor to do for you?
 

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