Scotts Bass lessons lifer? pros vs. cons?

[Knavery]

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Gracias!

 

[David Lenda]

i have been playing for 35 years and love the site. if you are a complete beginner with no other instrument experience you will want some knee to knee for sure. Still very useful for beginner to pro.

 

[JPaulGeddy]

Been on the site for a couple months now, went ahead and bumped to the annual plan - easily worth that. The site is well-done, and there's a huge amount of content.

Only downside I've felt so far is the inundation of 'personal' emails, which are just form letters with 'Dear <firstname>'. Now that I've turned those off in the control panel, much more enjoyable experience.

Phil Mann's 'Functional Theory for Bassists' is a great way to start (or in my case, brush up) on theory. Tremendously useful.

I'm still eyeing Jeff Berlin's stuff, as I'm coming around more to his way of thinking - but for now, this is certainly useful (and recommended).

 

[IamGroot]

I have taken a few lessons from bass pro instructors at $50 to $75/hr when i could get an opening. They immediately identified flaws in my technique to be corrected. If you are serious about your playing, you might want to try this.

I also just finished a semester of jazz saxophone solos played on bass with a great sax performer/ educator. Even though he didnt play bass, he helped me with phrasing and timing that only a 1 on 1 instruction can do. Like recording and analyzing my improv technique.

I am not knocking Scotts lessons, but you may want to do some 1 on 1 with pros if you are ready. Ps. Great performer does not necessarily mean great teacher.

 

[JimHouchin]

Yep, I just signed up for the lifetime myself. Been very happy with the content this last year AND the weekly and constant updates are great. Can't say enough about how much I like Scott's approach and presentation. (That said, I subscribe to talkingbass.net as well AND love Mark's approach just as much but it's from a different angle.)

We do "suck" we're beginners! We're suppose to make ALL the mistakes. That said, Scott's SBL academy is progressive and there's some REALLY bone head low level sh!t that I even knew! So there is hope. ALSO, Mark @ Talkingbass.net has a very cool "absolute beginner" course that you can purchase separate from a membership if you want to minimize upfront cost. Mark has a very "facts" oriented, "by the numbers" way to give you just the distilled nugget (I'm ex-army and I like that spoon feed way!) I think Scott expands more verbally, but to be honest a lot of it is personality and viewpoint. But for me, they BOTH have their merit. (that's why I'm a member of both.) On a last note, SBL is a "group" of bassists with Scott at the helm, with guests and seminars galore with trips around the world and fantastic landscapes. Talkingbass IS Mark... and that's it. This means you get him from all angles and in all light. The grass is not greener, but different.....

I think it's a style thing.... and LIKE ME! Scott is an expounder. He can go ON and ON... and will. Because that's him. He's not gunna change that in my opinion. So for me, you should JUMP, RUN or FLY over to Talkingbass.net and subscribe to Mark's content. He cuts through and certainly doesn't B.S. in his vids. Again for me, I like both presentations and their varied approach.... and for my ADHD that works best!

There's something to that for sure. And Joe is a world class educator and musician. Sounds like a great option for self based study.

I have taken a few lessons from bass pro instructors at $50 to $75/hr when i could get an opening. They immediately identified flaws in my technique to be corrected. If you are serious about your playing, you might want to try this.

I also just finished a semester of jazz saxophone solos played on bass with a great sax performer/ educator. Even though he didnt play bass, he helped me with phrasing and timing that only a 1 on 1 instruction can do. Like recording and analyzing my improv technique.

I am not knocking Scotts lessons, but you may want to do some 1 on 1 with pros if you are ready. Ps. Great performer does not necessarily mean great teacher.

IamGroot hit it on the head for my experience, but I can't over emphasize enough you need a PRO = qualified instructor. I was a Scott's/Talking bass guy for about a year. Then I found Joe Hubbard and start taking lessons with him. I wish I would explain it better, but there is no comparison to having THE MAN give you direct feedback on sh!t you never considered. He's also there to reel you in and keep you progressing at the same time. To save you from yourself and your "whims" and "feelings" about playing the bass and teach you to play music. I've taken private lessons from three or four other instructors before him, some with some REALLY BIG NAMES, but it wasn't like what Joe is offering. Working on year three with him right now. I promise you I'd still be working on year one concepts over and over if it wasn't for his "program."

FOR ME, everything/everyone else was just spinning gears.....

 

[Spin Doctor]

IamGroot hit it on the head for my experience, but I can't over emphasize enough you need a PRO = qualified instructor. I was a Scott's/Talking bass guy for about a year. Then I found Joe Hubbard and start taking lessons with him. I wish I would explain it better, but there is no comparison to having THE MAN give you direct feedback on sh!t you never considered. He's also there to reel you in and keep you progressing at the same time. To save you from yourself and your "whims" and "feelings" about playing the bass and teach you to play music. I've taken private lessons from three or four other instructors before him, some with some REALLY BIG NAMES, but it wasn't like what Joe is offering. Working on year three with him right now. I promise you I'd still be working on year one concepts over and over if it wasn't for his "program."

FOR ME, everything/everyone else was just spinning gears.....

So you study with Joe Hubbard as well as do Scotts Bass lessons AND Talkingbass.net, simultaneously?

 

[JimHouchin]

So you study with Joe Hubbard as well as do Scotts Bass lessons AND Talkingbass.net, simultaneously?

HELL NO... I dropped all but Joe's lessons once I started and really got moving with him. But it took a good six to eight months for me to "get there." But I got to where I understood he was covering all the corners and you can't study with him and someone else, because you can't server two masters. (SOME very talented people do have more than one master, but they themselves are already a "black-belt." Where as I'm a white-belt all the way. So I couldn't do it.) One time about 6 months in, I tried to take a eight week, weekly Jazz standard series and I couldn't handle the work load of both. Joe took PITTY on me and took the next few lessons on a side journey around Dorian for his lessons and some BARE BONES walking ideas so I wouldn't have such a slit brain. Then when the Jazz class was over he said in his super cool friendly Drill Sergeant way, "You might not aught to do that again." And I got it... It really did click. F^CKING around on 3,4, or 5 avenues of thought with no real method isn't going to work.

Now which direct to go is easy because I've got a "coach" who's bonafide, knows "all" the materiel, has a method to teach it to me AND gives me weekly corrections and constructive criticism. I feel it's all up to me know, and have felt that way for a the last couple years. No road blocks, only hard work on the methods PRESCRIBED by the doctor specifically for me.

THANKS JOE!

 

[Timothy Pascale]

Scott does a great job in his niche.
Been a member since I could.

Now price is up to $100 yr. $200 for life.
Tempted.

I enjoy his work, but get a lot of insight from TB too!
MarloweDK has his share of riffs, advice & interviews.

Even some good French stuff out there, aussi! Allez!


What thoughts do y'all have?
Besides his great personality, what other value are you
benefitting from ?

2020 update 175 per year. Not sure if it is worth it, will find out

 

[reddog]

FWIW- I believe SCOTTS has continually grown and really upped their game as of late... Adding a lot of material and structure.