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I need practice not lectures...
- Thread starter Raphael-
- Start date
+1
When I read your post, I immediately thought about Real Bass Lessons run by Jim Stinnett (RIP). Lots of great videos delivered in easy-to-digest 15-minute chunks.
First, it's very normal to hit plateaus in your progress. Somethings will go amazingly quick and you feel like you're really moving ahead. Then you will hit a bit of a wall on something a little bit more advanced which can take what feels like an excruciatingly slow pace. It's just nature of learning most skills.
I don't know how deeply you explored the popular source that you didn't like, but I used SBL for a lot of beginner/intermediate skills. I've been a musician for over 50 years, so didn't need any of the basic theory stuff (and really didn't care for his presentation of that topic quite frankly), but in general the site has a ton of quality lessons and seminars. Scot himself can be a little folksy in his presentation (we don't care about what you dog is doing Scott!), but he does present many concepts in a learnable way. He also has a stable of great other instructors with different presentation styles. He also does do some private video lessons.
The videos are intentionally concise. They would be torturous if they paused for every period of time to have the viewer do the hands on work. As @two fingers suggested above - you have the power to pause and play as much as you need. Don't blame the presentation for not being able to keep up.
I'm just saying if you only looked at a couple of examples, you may not have really saw what there is. But I get that he's not for everyone.
But nothing really beats a dedicated, live instructor (private lessons) to help you meet your goals.
If you can't find a local teacher, how about old-school printed books w/ recorded content?
My current favorite learning sources today:
Books/DVDs - Ed Friedland
Bass Books - Fundamental Changes Music Book Publishing
I subscribed to Scott's for a year. Way too much yakking, with not enough printed material to work on, practice, and drill into my skull. Oddly enough, I found Phillip Mann's video lessons in Scott's program to be extremely hard to follow, but far better as printed material in Bass Player magazine. He's obviously a well educated, skilled, accomplished player, but the video lessons moved too quickly with no printed material to reinforce the concepts for me. Phillip is one of the reasons I still download BP from my local library. I checked out StudyBass, too, without a connection.
I've been playing since '78, and had excellent theory classes in high school, but constantly seek new material to challenge myself and grow. The stuff I find most valuable today are almost always books, usually written by folks who teach professionally.
I'm probably spoiled, as living in the Northeast, not far from the Hartt School of Music, and between NYC and Boston, I have some very talented teaching resources to connect with. I feel a great in-person teacher is a great investment.
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The best i ever got from lessons was practice routines. Any teacher who's been to music school can set you up with that and help keep you on track. You might get the first part from videos, but the second part (keeping you on track) requires a 1:1 personal relationship with a teacher.
Yup, like exercise videos vs. a personal trainer.
The video can provide helpful information, the trainer can provide live feedback on form, timing, sound quality...
You can get in better shape and feel better with either source, but one will help you progress faster and correct bad habits as they occur, possibly preventing delays to your goals in the future.
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Online Bass Lessons With Low End University - Low End University
Not affiliated in any way, but I have conversed with Mark at length in person (old bandmate was friends with Chris Letchford of Scale the Summit) and I used the site for a good while. Mark knows his stuff and I found the site quite useful when I was still playing. There are some interesting features such as personal evaluations and topical requests that are actually read by Mark. Not sure what your end-game is with lessons, but the content here is pretty versatile and more self-paced than in person lessons can be.
Not affiliated in any way, but I have conversed with Mark at length in person (old bandmate was friends with Chris Letchford of Scale the Summit) and I used the site for a good while. Mark knows his stuff and I found the site quite useful when I was still playing. There are some interesting features such as personal evaluations and topical requests that are actually read by Mark. Not sure what your end-game is with lessons, but the content here is pretty versatile and more self-paced than in person lessons can be.
I understand how you feel about online videos.
IMO you should get some method books, or books that work on techniques to add to your daily practice. I would also say lessons if you can, but they aren't require but they are really engaging real in person lessons and same with the books since all you can do is play.
IMO you should get some method books, or books that work on techniques to add to your daily practice. I would also say lessons if you can, but they aren't require but they are really engaging real in person lessons and same with the books since all you can do is play.
If possible, get a good teacher, and have a weekly lesson. You need someone to have a path in mind for you to follow, who will watch what you're doing and tailor feedback to help you move forward. Make sure they can teach as well as play. (A great player can be a terrible teacher!)
Youtube etc are great in some ways, maybe to figure out a very specific issue, but if you're learning, the online approach gives you a scattershot approach. You need to build a wall from the ground up, rather that putting in bricks randomly as they come to hand - obvious, the "upper" bricks have nothing to support them and will just tumble uselessly. You need to build a scaffolding so that what you learn becomes part of a structure.
Good luck!
Youtube etc are great in some ways, maybe to figure out a very specific issue, but if you're learning, the online approach gives you a scattershot approach. You need to build a wall from the ground up, rather that putting in bricks randomly as they come to hand - obvious, the "upper" bricks have nothing to support them and will just tumble uselessly. You need to build a scaffolding so that what you learn becomes part of a structure.
Good luck!
Often forgotten! Some great players can teach, but it's far from a guaranteed connection.
Teaching a subject and performing can have no connection at all, they're different skill sets.
This is where I think guys that have been playing a while need more of a coach than a teacher for someone who's just starting out. Kind of like the teaching pro on a golf course.
I once took a lesson here in Nashville with the great Roy Vogt. He kind of felt me out for a minute, and says, 'OK, you can play. But here's what I see . . . . .' then we tried a few things, talked a few things over, and I got 6 months' worth of direction and new things to think about that I would not have gotten anywhere else, just from one visit.
Sometimes, someone more experienced sees where you're at and can make suggestions that really do work for you.
I once took a lesson here in Nashville with the great Roy Vogt. He kind of felt me out for a minute, and says, 'OK, you can play. But here's what I see . . . . .' then we tried a few things, talked a few things over, and I got 6 months' worth of direction and new things to think about that I would not have gotten anywhere else, just from one visit.
Sometimes, someone more experienced sees where you're at and can make suggestions that really do work for you.
Jump. In. The. Pool...
Take some lessons..
Find a Jam partner(s), hit the open mic circuit, join a band or bands.
When you have to learn your part(s) you will grow...
When you (hopefully) get to experience what part you play in the band...(assuming that you experience that connection/magic)...the motivation to find and learn what you need to get better will be there, and be there with a purpose.
And you will know when you are in the right place when the other musicians are better/more experienced than you, but also say: "It's ok...we all started out the same way...let me show you what we need you to do..."
Take some lessons..
Find a Jam partner(s), hit the open mic circuit, join a band or bands.
When you have to learn your part(s) you will grow...
When you (hopefully) get to experience what part you play in the band...(assuming that you experience that connection/magic)...the motivation to find and learn what you need to get better will be there, and be there with a purpose.
And you will know when you are in the right place when the other musicians are better/more experienced than you, but also say: "It's ok...we all started out the same way...let me show you what we need you to do..."
Check out my man Jim Stinnett at Real Bass Lessons.
These lessons are, as titled, real.
Depending on what you try to achieve (which you did not tell us) :
+1 also on private lessons
You can also benefit from software like EarMaster, the rhythms exercices with the software telling you if you're on time or not made me progress a lot.
Playing songs is a a good way provided you have a proper score to confront your skills against AND you choose the songs that will take you to a further level. Some bass covers on you tube can b interesting while some others are total crap. This choice is generally best left to a teacher.
+1 for Arianne Cap for beginner to intermediate (in fact I'm sure you can grab something from her books at any level).
+1 also on private lessons
You can also benefit from software like EarMaster, the rhythms exercices with the software telling you if you're on time or not made me progress a lot.
Playing songs is a a good way provided you have a proper score to confront your skills against AND you choose the songs that will take you to a further level. Some bass covers on you tube can b interesting while some others are total crap. This choice is generally best left to a teacher.
This is a good idea. There are a few pubs around town that have jam night. Anyone who brings their bass will likely get a chance to sit in for a couple songs at least.
I have often considered attending 2 or 3 jam nights while taking note of the songs being covered. Usually the songs are easy and the same, week after week. It seems to me it would be a good idea to practice the more common songs and then show up with a bass.
Jazzdogg
Less barking, more wagging!
Absolutely true! When I was teaching, the thing I told all of my students is that no book or video could provide personalized feedback about their technique, which is something a qualified teacher can and will do.
I went to a Victor Wooten camp - didn't get to play much. They really seem to like talking/preaching at you. Not a fun experience, but more to the point I didn't learn much.
That said, I have been to very good camps by other people, but the camp set-up serves more as inspiration than deep learning.
You seem to be approaching music as an academic approach and not a musical one. If you want to get good, find people to play with and play. You will intrinsically learn the language that musicians use, and how to play the role.
Don’t overcomplicate it.
Don’t overcomplicate it.
