Self-taught or formal lessons?

[MirageBass]

Self taught. I like learning on my own, and I don't have the greenbacks for lessons.

 

[motleystew]

I'm self taught on the bass. I had formal training on the Saxophone and Tuba so, when I went to bass, I knew the role of the bass and how to read bass clef which has really helped.

 

[BullHorn]

Self taught. I could use some lessons.

Same here.

 

[AlphaMale]

I'm for the most part self taught. I learned everything about scales and theory just from talking to people. I hadn't had a teacher but I will be going to music school soon to learn theory and ear training. Does that mean I'm no longer self-taught?

 

[KingOvHell]

Man, i cant believe the amount of people that didint take lessons. I always had a feeling i was wrong for passing on them. Makes me feel better now. I didint take lessons cause i dont plan on joining/starting a band and am not looking for a carrer in music, just something i do for fun.

 

[Norwegian Bass]

Another formally self-taught here haha

Self-taught when it comes to the instrument. Learned a crapload of theory in music class. Mostly harmony and arranging. Useful stuff.

 

[baalroo]

Um, what exactly counts as "formal?" everyone learns from everyone around them. I played bass & guitar in HS and college jazz & pep bands and percussion in orchestra/march/pep/jazz/concert bands, but no one ever directly taught me anything about how to actually physically play the instruments, only the music theory... they basically expected me to figure out the HOW myself.

 

[Chipsonfire]

Self taught on the instrument itself, but I've had a bit of general theory and how-music-works instruction. I'd really like some lessons, but in a small, very poor town with a science and engineering college in it, instructors are hard to come by Along with that, paying for college doesn't really leave me with much money to spare on lessons.

 

[The Golden Boy]

I started out with a few lessons. Without those lessons I wouldn't be playing- as the teacher was a dude from my church- he let me borrow basses for a long, long time. He also gave me my first "amp." It was a tape deck that was rigged for playback.

Most everything else is stuff I picked up on either from listening to records or watching other people.

 

[Araillac]

I mostly taught myself but I hand a lot of credit to my high school guitar class in my senior year. I learned enough there to be able to progress and pass a limit of playing that I was stuck on. Since then I've been able to increase my playing ability far faster than I would have ever been able to on my own. Teachers deserve better pay.