Online lessons…again. (I know, ugh)

[camardelle]

I played a lot of bass 10 years ago and recently picked it back up again. I’m really enjoying it…even more than a few years ago.

A little about me. Not a new player but somewhere between rookie and advanced novice. I know what the string names are, how to tune and while I’m not ready to tour in able to play a root and a fifth on most country songs.

Read several threads on here about online lessons. Watched what I figure are the big three’s (Josh, Scott, and the nice guy from talking bass) and while they are all great I feel like I’d enjoy BassBuzz the most. I like his casual and humorous style.

I like SBL’s method style and while I app talking Bass’s info the delivery seems clinical which can be effective, but for me only in small dosages.

Problem is I wonder if BassBuzz is too basic for my skill level and whether I should move to one of the other courses that seem more advanced or maybe just more “serious”?

Thoughts?

 

[camardelle]

Basic question is once you get past the basic stuff on BassBuzz are ygere higher learning opportunities?

Should have just asked that as opposed to that short story I wrote above. LOL

 

[SteveCS]

My advice would be to hang the video lessons and get a decent method book based on solid musical principles that follows proven (progressive) music teaching methods. I would recommend something like the Hal Leonard Bass Method, written by @edfriedland. It is over 20 years old now, but really is the gold standard in taking the complete beginner to a decent level of competence in the 3 key areas of technique, praxis and theory. Get the 'Complete' edition in a ring binder that will stay open on your music stand. You have a music stand, right?

 

[KevInDaBassment]

REALLY depends on what your goals are...some folks on here will advocate the self-taught route and others having in-person instruction. In either case, having a clear understanding of your goals as a bassist is a necessity before you pursue any paid lessons. Online stuff is meant to provide convenient, catch-all information for people who aren't sure where to start or what they want. Folks who learn best when self-paced or have erratic schedules do well with these. Or people who are just sponges who want to soak up all they can.

Is your aim to be "ready to tour"? Want to join a cover band or write your own music? Any particular techniques or skills you want to focus on (pop/slap or double-thumbing)? Any good teacher is going to ask you these questions right off the bat. While you'll have access to a large library of info with most online lessons, the curation (AND Feedback) you get from a qualified teacher can be incredibly valuable.

I needed help with cleaning up my technique, some better understanding of scales/modes, and a few reality checks on what's a reasonable goal for someone writing originals. I made a lot of progress with the teacher I had (Andrew Pouska in Houston), and that was after about 8-9 years of playing with decently good results. I wasn't there permanently, and both of us understood that was the goal before even starting lessons.


Well, all that to say...what's your goals as a bassist?

 

[JonathanPDX]

The teacher you find most engaging and enjoyable is likely to be the one you get the most out of. If you're having fun and feeling entertained while learning you'll probably absorb more, practice more, and return for more lessons. If you're bored or not motivated by the lesson it really doesn't matter if other people tell you that teacher is "better."

 

[Lobster11]

Problem is I wonder if BassBuzz is too basic for my skill level and whether I should move to one of the other courses that seem more advanced or maybe just more “serious”?

I don't see any harm in signing up for lessons that might initially seem "too basic" for you. A review of the basics might prove useful, and also might possibly demonstrate that some things you thought you knew were wrong. If not, you can always skip through the early lessons and move more quickly into more advanced ones.

 

[camardelle]

Well, all that to say...what's your goals as a bassist?

I'm certainly not a pro bassist like most of you guys are and I'm neither gigging or really have any plans to....for now at least.

The fact is I feel confident I'm learning songs pretty well and having a ball. But I think I want to learn the bass....not just songs. I'd like to be able to get the chords for a song...no matter what the genre and come up with a respectable bass line and improv on that skill. I'm thinking about some of the more technical aspects of learning like modes and developing enough skills to be able to do some original fills during songs.

To the group: Please keep in mind that asking questions when I don't know all the terminology is difficult at best. This is why I'm here. Will BuzzBass be able to show me that stuff, or should I go with either SBL or TB?

I hope I'm making sense. Thanks for everyone's input. I take it all seriously and appreciate the help.

 

[RicheyLather]

Former bassist here, played in touring and party bands on guitar for the last 35. Retired, disabled and doing bass now for FUN (mainly, doing some writing and GarageBand, bass program on GB is…awkward). Love gear, love TB, and am enjoying video lessons too. Been focusing on what I always wanted to learn. Carry on!

 

[teopatl]

I'm certainly not a pro bassist like most of you guys are and I'm neither gigging or really have any plans to....for now at least.

The fact is I feel confident I'm learning songs pretty well and having a ball. But I think I want to learn the bass....not just songs. I'd like to be able to get the chords for a song...no matter what the genre and come up with a respectable bass line and improv on that skill. I'm thinking about some of the more technical aspects of learning like modes and developing enough skills to be able to do some original fills during songs.

To the group: Please keep in mind that asking questions when I don't know all the terminology is difficult at best. This is why I'm here. Will BuzzBass be able to show me that stuff, or should I go with either SBL or TB?

I hope I'm making sense. Thanks for everyone's input. I take it all seriously and appreciate the help.

Josh has an "intermediate bassist" checklist that I wish I'd seen before buying the beginner to badass course. I bought b2b, not realizing the target audience is first-time-picked-up-bass. The ear training and original fills you mention are beyond the scope of that course.

 

[kbarboza4]

I'm certainly not a pro bassist like most of you guys are and I'm neither gigging or really have any plans to....for now at least.

The fact is I feel confident I'm learning songs pretty well and having a ball. But I think I want to learn the bass....not just songs. I'd like to be able to get the chords for a song...no matter what the genre and come up with a respectable bass line and improv on that skill. I'm thinking about some of the more technical aspects of learning like modes and developing enough skills to be able to do some original fills during songs.

To the group: Please keep in mind that asking questions when I don't know all the terminology is difficult at best. This is why I'm here. Will BuzzBass be able to show me that stuff, or should I go with either SBL or TB?

I hope I'm making sense. Thanks for everyone's input. I take it all seriously and appreciate the help.

Hey man! Full time private teacher and YouTuber here (kyleteachesbass). You said "I want to learn the bass...not just songs," and I love when I hear that. Good on you brother, it will be a rewarding journey if you put the time and effort in. Regardless of where you get educational materials, here is where you will want to start (*assuming you have good rhythm, and have good technique):

1) Learn to be a great rhythmic improviser. Yes, I mean rhythm specifically. The question is: can you improvise crisp and varied rhythms if you're just playing one note? Can you do that and stay aware of the downbeat? If so, the world of "creative and original" playing opens up to you...it's just a matter of learning where to put your fingers. I have a video coming out next week where I talk about "how to learn 1,000 bass licks"....spoiler alert, it's 90% about rhythm.

2) Speaking of where to put your fingers, I can not stress enough that knowing all 15 major scales, both memorized, and on your bass is a huge pillar of understanding this instrument. Virtually all musical language is derived directly from major scales (aka keys). As my college music theory instructor said, "you want to be able to spell major scales as fast as you can spell your name." Whether it be playing on the road with a country artist or playing a jazz trio gig, nothing has *informed* my playing more than knowing my scales cold. It's not everything, but it's the foundation.

All the other stuff: the ear training, the modes, building your chops, etc. etc. is GREAT. It's all totally worth working on throughout the journey. But nothing will service all of that like the two things above.

I know private lessons may not be what you're looking for, but regardless, I offer a free consultation (that's *actually* free from commitment). Email me if you'd like a seasoned instructor to take a listen and make sure there aren't any other "holes" in your playing that might slow down the journey. I'm one of the best out there and I love helping people on this ax!

[email protected]

All the best brother!

 

[NotHereNow]

I've tried several online lesson/learning platforms and they haven't worked well for me. My recommendation would be to find a teacher that can both challenge you and simultaneously support you in your growth. This could be a local person you meet with or a remote "zoom" lesson online as long as it's live and specific to your needs I've had some pretty mediocre bass teachers, and I've gotten more out of the 1 on 1 lessons than I've gotten from the youtube virtuoso teachers.

 

[Topkat13]

It’s an inside job bro. It’s like getting someone to order for you at a restaurant when they don’t know what you really like.

 

[manbass]

You want Damian Erskine.

 

[Dana R Gregory]

A good way to improve your skills is to attend an open mic/jam. You will improve your ear and ability to follow along with songs you are not familiar with. I did this several years ago and it was one of the best things I ever did to improve my playing ability. Good luck.

 

[JPK_DK]

I can see how it is difficult for you to find an online source that fits your (perceived) level. Bassbuzz is a good option though (as others have stated) to get a refresher on the basics and perhaps it lets you more easily identify your "weak areas". That said, Bassbuzz is very much geared to complete beginners. Then again, this doesn't mean that later lessons/exercises are easy (if you do them right). Also, Josh has tons of extra material and exercises on his YT channel.

Many people who finish Bassbuzz turn to Mark on talkingbass.com and pick courses there to slowly build their understanding of bass and music.

SBL is an option, but the sheer amount of different classes and pathways is often overwhelming. They have options that follow certain main interests (slap, funk, basic technique, jazz, etc.), which are like courses you can follow (often with peer groups and feedback!).

Damian Erskine's teaching website offers a lot of material in video form, where you can follow in your own tempo. If you have questions, there is a community forum and Damian also chimes in most of the times. It's a good resource, but you need to bring the discipline.

The one thing that is hard with most of these courses is how you receive feedback on your progress. There is really no substitute for a real (one-on-one) teacher when it comes to getting feedback, steering/nudging you, seeing your weaknesses and focusing on those and giving you tailor-made exercises, etc. And - a very important point - only a teacher-student relationship provides a sense of accountability, i.e., you having to show up, having to put in the work, having to do the exercises and so on. It is often because of a lack of accountability that a lot of self-studying slowly fades out over time...

Kyle (who replied earlier) had a great offer for a free consultation. I'd take him up on that and see how you like interacting with a teacher online.

Good luck!

 

[BassicJazzy]

I'm certainly not a pro bassist like most of you guys are and I'm neither gigging or really have any plans to....for now at least.

The fact is I feel confident I'm learning songs pretty well and having a ball. But I think I want to learn the bass....not just songs. I'd like to be able to get the chords for a song...no matter what the genre and come up with a respectable bass line and improv on that skill. I'm thinking about some of the more technical aspects of learning like modes and developing enough skills to be able to do some original fills during songs.

To the group: Please keep in mind that asking questions when I don't know all the terminology is difficult at best. This is why I'm here. Will BuzzBass be able to show me that stuff, or should I go with either SBL or TB?

I hope I'm making sense. Thanks for everyone's input. I take it all seriously and appreciate the help.

I'm sort of coming from the same place, have been playing since I was 18, 71 now, with some long hiatuses in between. When I picked it back up almost 2 years ago I decided to go back to basic level, relearn the thing from the ground up. I chose one online teacher, Rich Brown, The Brown'sTone channel on YouTube, and worked through all his lesson material. That gave me a solid place to move on from. Since then, I choose from the vast amount of free lessons out there from many teachers, including BassBuzz. I also do the lessons from the upright teachers, which are particularly useful if you want to learn walking lines, chord substitutions, etc. I have gotten some good technique tips from members here, plus really got a boost from adding fretless to my collection.

Mainly, the thing is just to keep playing and practicing steadily, and moving forward, trying (if not necessarily succeeding) to be better each time you play. You need to set at least short term goals to do this, even if they are only set for a week at a time. My goal for last 6 months has been to be able to improvise solid walking lines on major and minor jazz blues, all the forms. I am well past the lesson materials, now just working on picking up speed and fluidity. Soon I will move on to a new goal.

This approach works for me, but I should note that I cannot read music, have never been able to learn that, so if you can, books may be more efficient?

 

[camardelle]

Hey man! Full time private teacher and YouTuber here (kyleteachesbass). You said "I want to learn the bass...not just songs," and I love when I hear that. Good on you brother, it will be a rewarding journey if you put the time and effort in. Regardless of where you get educational materials, here is where you will want to start (*assuming you have good rhythm, and have good technique):

1) Learn to be a great rhythmic improviser. Yes, I mean rhythm specifically. The question is: can you improvise crisp and varied rhythms if you're just playing one note? Can you do that and stay aware of the downbeat? If so, the world of "creative and original" playing opens up to you...it's just a matter of learning where to put your fingers. I have a video coming out next week where I talk about "how to learn 1,000 bass licks"....spoiler alert, it's 90% about rhythm.

2) Speaking of where to put your fingers, I can not stress enough that knowing all 15 major scales, both memorized, and on your bass is a huge pillar of understanding this instrument. Virtually all musical language is derived directly from major scales (aka keys). As my college music theory instructor said, "you want to be able to spell major scales as fast as you can spell your name." Whether it be playing on the road with a country artist or playing a jazz trio gig, nothing has *informed* my playing more than knowing my scales cold. It's not everything, but it's the foundation.

All the other stuff: the ear training, the modes, building your chops, etc. etc. is GREAT. It's all totally worth working on throughout the journey. But nothing will service all of that like the two things above.

I know private lessons may not be what you're looking for, but regardless, I offer a free consultation (that's *actually* free from commitment). Email me if you'd like a seasoned instructor to take a listen and make sure there aren't any other "holes" in your playing that might slow down the journey. I'm one of the best out there and I love helping people on this ax!

[email protected]

All the best brother!

Just checked out your channel and am a new subscriber. Thanks for reaching out. Already have your two learning scales videos on my watch later listing.

 

[FullumMusic]

I played a lot of bass 10 years ago and recently picked it back up again. I’m really enjoying it…even more than a few years ago.

A little about me. Not a new player but somewhere between rookie and advanced novice. I know what the string names are, how to tune and while I’m not ready to tour in able to play a root and a fifth on most country songs.

Read several threads on here about online lessons. Watched what I figure are the big three’s (Josh, Scott, and the nice guy from talking bass) and while they are all great I feel like I’d enjoy BassBuzz the most. I like his casual and humorous style.

I like SBL’s method style and while I app talking Bass’s info the delivery seems clinical which can be effective, but for me only in small dosages.

Problem is I wonder if BassBuzz is too basic for my skill level and whether I should move to one of the other courses that seem more advanced or maybe just more “serious”?

Thoughts?

You can get online lessons from teachers locally too. Or if not locally, just from an individual teacher who's not part of a big service churning through students. It doesn't need to be from one of the big name services. Most friends i know who give in-person lessons give lessons over Zoom or some other video call service. I'm not trying to knock or completely dissuade you from one of the bigger lessons programs online. I've never taken them. Just pointing out you can probably get great lessons from an individual teacher who will cater the lessons exactly to where you are and what you need.

 

[kbarboza4]

Just checked out your channel and am a new subscriber. Thanks for reaching out. Already have your two learning scales videos on my watch later listing.

Love it man thank you for the sub. Hope the content is helpful!

 

[Enrique M]

REALLY depends on what your goals are...some folks on here will advocate the self-taught route and others having in-person instruction. In either case, having a clear understanding of your goals as a bassist is a necessity before you pursue any paid lessons. Online stuff is meant to provide convenient, catch-all information for people who aren't sure where to start or what they want. Folks who learn best when self-paced or have erratic schedules do well with these. Or people who are just sponges who want to soak up all they can.

Is your aim to be "ready to tour"? Want to join a cover band or write your own music? Any particular techniques or skills you want to focus on (pop/slap or double-thumbing)? Any good teacher is going to ask you these questions right off the bat. While you'll have access to a large library of info with most online lessons, the curation (AND Feedback) you get from a qualified teacher can be incredibly valuable.

I needed help with cleaning up my technique, some better understanding of scales/modes, and a few reality checks on what's a reasonable goal for someone writing originals. I made a lot of progress with the teacher I had (Andrew Pouska in Houston), and that was after about 8-9 years of playing with decently good results. I wasn't there permanently, and both of us understood that was the goal before even starting lessons.


Well, all that to say...what's your goals as a bassist?

Andrew Pouska’s free online resource StudyBass - Free interactive online bass lessons does not get enough exposure in these kinds of threads as far as I am concerned. Highly recommended.

And, I could not agree more about having goals. My bass teacher keeps an eye on what I am doing as far as self-teaching techniques, theory etc …. But really functions as my “so you wanna be the bassist in a couple of bands that gig around town” coach. And has accelerated my journey up that learning curve.