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Double Bass Self-taught bassists (DB forum thread)

OmNomNom

OmNomNom

Jul 10, 2011
110
3
Wilmington, DE
#1
Just out of curiosity, I am wondering if anyone can name any notable self-taught bassists from any style? I have been teaching myself (with intentions of lessons in the next month) but cannot think off-hand of any well-known players that did not receive personal instruction or get a further education.
 
#4
jtlownds said:
If you were familiar with the Billie system, or the so-called Italian fingering, you would know that this is not a no-no. Many of us use 1 - 3 - 4 fingering instead of 1 - 2 - 4.
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That system is generally rejected by many bassists due to the physiology of the human hand (there are no tendons for the ring finger). It requires much more strength and dexterity to play using the ring finger.
 
#5
skychief said:
That system is generally rejected by many bassists due to the physiology of the human hand (there are no tendons for the ring finger). It requires much more strength and dexterity to play using the ring finger.
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Of course the ring finger has tendons! There is relatively reduced independence of the ring finger with respect to the others, although this affects extension more than flexion. I happen to find it easier to use the middle finger, but can use the ring if I focus. This has more to do with the distance between notes than the power required to stop the note, at least for me.

I assume you've used your ring finger on a fretted instrument, for example (or at least seen someone do it)? Or perhaps played a keyboard? Or drummed your fingers on a table? Or typed .....?
 
#7
OmNomNom said:
Just out of curiosity, I am wondering if anyone can name any notable self-taught bassists from any style? I have been teaching myself (with intentions of lessons in the next month) but cannot think off-hand of any well-known players that did not receive personal instruction or get a further education.
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I already wrote about him once today (see Bassists), but coincidentally, Tony Marino is an autodidact on upright bass. He started on guitar and BG, but I don't know if he studied them formally.
 
#10
There's a great line in the Jaco Pastorius' "Modern Electric Bass" video where Jerry Jemmott asks Jaco if he was self-taught. Jaco answers slyly, "Formally self taught," meaning he that while he did not have a teacher, he learned through careful observation, asking a lot of questions, doing a lot of listening and playing a ton of gigs.

I have not taken formal lessons in many years, but I feel that my playing has improved over the past few years due in no small part to reading the great posts from the folks here at TalkBass. I've also joined several orchestras and learned a ton from watching and listening in that environment.

I would always encourage beginners to find a good teacher, but keeping your mouth shut and your eyes (and ears and mind) open can be of great benefit as well.
 
#11
OmNomNom said:
Just out of curiosity, I am wondering if anyone can name any notable self-taught bassists from any style? I have been teaching myself (with intentions of lessons in the next month) but cannot think off-hand of any well-known players that did not receive personal instruction or get a further education.
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I think you pretty much answered your own question here. Don't find an exception to the rule and then use that as an excuse to follow that path. A good teacher is invaluable.
 
#12
Mike Goodbar said:
There's a great line in the Jaco Pastorius' "Modern Electric Bass" video where Jerry Jemmott asks Jaco if he was self-taught. Jaco answers slyly, "Formally self taught," meaning he that while he did not have a teacher, he learned through careful observation, asking a lot of questions, doing a lot of listening and playing a ton of gigs.
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On electric bass there are many examples of great bass players who didn't have formal teachers and are basically self taught.
On double bass this is a little rarer. But in Rockabilly or country styles and even jazz there are many self taught bassist as well. In classical double bass playing there are not many self taught players. Having lessons all your life is not everyone's path though.
 
#18
Nasty Nate said:
Les Claypool, to some degree. But I think it is important to stress that teaching your self is unarguably the wrong way to learn any instrument, and more importantly, music in general.

If some one set out to teach themselves calculus, we would wonder why they would ever want to do that.
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But in all due respect, people don't do calculus to express their emotions. Wouldn't that be odd? Haha

Music isn't just learn this scale, that chord, this style. It's about playing what you feel. While yea its helpful to be taught, but learning the instrument like its a part of yourself, is more important than learning any scale or chord. IMO.
 
#20
curbowkid said:
But in all due respect, people don't do calculus to express their emotions. Wouldn't that be odd? Haha

Music isn't just learn this scale, that chord, this style. It's about playing what you feel. While yea its helpful to be taught, but learning the instrument like its a part of yourself, is more important than learning any scale or chord. IMO.
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You can't play what you feel without knowing the basics first though. Unless your emotions can be captured with just pentatonic scales ;)
 

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