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Jim Stinnett
- Thread starter Geepers
- Start date
I got to know Jim at his Bass Workouts. He brought in the the best bass players in the business.
Real Bass lessons is a great resource. Got to study with Grant for tap & slap methods.
RIP Jim. Fire it up.
Real Bass lessons is a great resource. Got to study with Grant for tap & slap methods.
RIP Jim. Fire it up.
Sure thing.
My favorite Jimisms are along the lines of "grab your bass and play along" or "you know the c major scale so let's practice it."
I learned how to do exercises around the cycle of 4ths from him, which is about the best practical tool I have for all-key repetition.
Favorite Jim-ism #9:
“Some people call my lessons ‘music store’ teaching. They can call them what they like. I call them GOOD.”
“Some people call my lessons ‘music store’ teaching. They can call them what they like. I call them GOOD.”
Favorite Jim-ism #10:
“Get busy developing your technique. Only when you don’t have to worry about your fingers will you be able to focus on the music”
“Get busy developing your technique. Only when you don’t have to worry about your fingers will you be able to focus on the music”
I have his Finger Funk books and while I love his videos, if I'm going to learn from a book I want it to hold together as lesson material. Those particular books really don't. I'd like to try some of his others, mainly for sight reading material, but feel like I've been burned once and it would be dumb to try again.
I know what you mean! Jim’s books present a whole lot of (graded) material that should be worked through in consecutive order BUT it’s not broken down into discrete lessons. As is his way, he leaves us to “dig it out” in the belief that this leads to the most effective learning/retention. Personally I like this approach but can see that it’s not for everyone. Thanks for contributing!
This book was my introduction to Jims teaching. it is as step by step as you can get, and a lot of work top do right! There are a whole bunch of these monthly workouts!
daily practice level 1
I'm not sure about his other series, but the problem I have with the Finger Funk books is that they are not graded material that can be worked in consecutive order (also called "progressive"). There's really not a progression through the books in any way, basically a jumble of musical excerpts in pretty much random order. Maybe the intro book is slightly more simple than the others, but within any given book there is no order, and after the first book they are all a similar mixture of difficulty. I spent a lot of money on these hoping for something I can work through to improve my reading and skills. They won't help you do that at all.
The FF series could really be improved if someone with time and knowledge would curate them, rearranging in better order and some instruction between them.
Also we need the audio tracks with and without bass!
What I really like about Jim’s lessons are that they are life lessons as much as musical ones.
And really the two are inseparable anyway. Do you want to be a better musician? Be a better person: more disciplined, more consistent … more humble.
The last one is huge. Jim was a full-on, confident and outspoken person but there was a genuine humility about him too. He was someone who recognised his own limitations (“I’m certainly not the most talented guy out there” … “I’m not particularly quick at getting things”…. “I know I don’t have great ears like some”) and accepted that the only way to transcend those limitations was to work… repetitions! He had the humility to be a perpetual beginner in order to keep growing. He was a wonderful teacher … tough, disciplined and unwavering, yes, but also kind and generous towards those who really wanted to learn and grow.
Jim’s gone now but he’s still here, urging us on, sharing his delight in the simplest of musical things through his fantastic library of videos. I hope they’re never taken down because they are gold for players at any level, beginner or pro. Besides, like Jim, we’re all really beginners every day when it comes to music because the growth never stops. Getting us to understand that is his great legacy in my opinion.
And really the two are inseparable anyway. Do you want to be a better musician? Be a better person: more disciplined, more consistent … more humble.
The last one is huge. Jim was a full-on, confident and outspoken person but there was a genuine humility about him too. He was someone who recognised his own limitations (“I’m certainly not the most talented guy out there” … “I’m not particularly quick at getting things”…. “I know I don’t have great ears like some”) and accepted that the only way to transcend those limitations was to work… repetitions! He had the humility to be a perpetual beginner in order to keep growing. He was a wonderful teacher … tough, disciplined and unwavering, yes, but also kind and generous towards those who really wanted to learn and grow.
Jim’s gone now but he’s still here, urging us on, sharing his delight in the simplest of musical things through his fantastic library of videos. I hope they’re never taken down because they are gold for players at any level, beginner or pro. Besides, like Jim, we’re all really beginners every day when it comes to music because the growth never stops. Getting us to understand that is his great legacy in my opinion.
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Favorite Jim-ism #11:
“You don’t create groove by jumpin’ around and playin’ the bass real hard and sweatin’ a whole bunch. No, you create groove by being accurate!”
“You don’t create groove by jumpin’ around and playin’ the bass real hard and sweatin’ a whole bunch. No, you create groove by being accurate!”
Sean Hurley: “If we can’t perfect the simple things, we got nuthin’ “
Jim would like Sean.
Jim would like Sean.
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Jim-ism #12:
“Don’t be afraid of mistakes when you’re learning something new. KEEP GOING! Remember, you can’t steer a parked car.”
“Don’t be afraid of mistakes when you’re learning something new. KEEP GOING! Remember, you can’t steer a parked car.”
Jim talked a lot about “laser” practice: ie getting really specific about what the problem is and hammering it. “Don’t go wide, go deep” he would say. Sometimes I think he’s the only guy out there who actually gets what musical training is really about. Jim’s gone now but he’s continuing to be a blessing to so many … me included.
Certainly not the only one, but possibly part of a diminishing minority. At least when it comes to electric bass.
I can’t stop buying Jim’s books! They’re addictive and wonderful. My latest purchase is his deep dive into Motown licks and phrases called “What Makes Motown Bass, Motown?” I never listened to Motown music growing up but wow, those bass lines. As Jim says, “some of the coolest ever created”.
