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Self Taught
- Thread starter xxfaux_punkxx
- Start date
I realize no one came out and said it explicitly, but it sure sounds like the implication is "I have a good ear *because* I'm self-taught rather than having studied under a good instructor". If that's the case, that's simply a false statement. I'm not saying you can't become an accomplished player on your own because a lot of people have done it, but doesn't it make sense you could progress a lot farther a lot faster learning under someone who knows their stuff and can teach it effectively? Why be proud of not knowing what you're doing?
FWIW, the reason I started taking lessons is because I was self-taught and was getting frustrated trying to learn things the hard way for so many years. After a year, I was amazed at how far I had come - and at how far I have to go!
I don't think that the implication is that self-teaching leads to having a good ear.
However, if you don't read music and don't know theory you have to develop a good ear in order to be able to play. You just have to. I'm sure not everyone can develop that good ear by teaching themselves - but plenty do.
I'm self taught on bass but I know one of the reasons it has been a breeze to pick up has been because as a kid I was taught suzuki piano (effectively learning piano by ear). I learnt to read a bit when I played trumpet but not enough to sight-read now (more because i'm out of practise). And i don't know any scale/chord theory really.
But - my ear guides me. I know what i want to play in my head and it comes out through my fingers half the time before I realise what i'm doing. I have very good instinct for the notes that will be "wrong" and avoid them, I also have the ear to "play jazz" (that is, make a mistake into something that works, if and when that happens). If you tell me you want me to play a minor 6th (?) or something i'll stare blankly. Play the chords for me, sing the note for me, and i'll nail it no problems and not forget it. I don't need to rely on someone telling me either, if I feel it needs a "minor 6th" it will be there regardless of what anyone calls it. Give me 5 minutes with a track and I'll figure it out no sweat, or at least something that will work if my technique isn't good enough.
Which brings me to the next point - i'm aware of my limitations. I don't have time with a young family and fairly intensive job to practise for hours which i know would improve that technique. I know also there is plenty i couldn't learn myself about technique... but I don't sweat it. I'm happy with what I can do for the time that i put into it and for what i want to get out of it right now.
DIY all the way for me.
Self-taught on bass, but played piano for five years reading music and sax for eight years reading music. I know theory and could, I believe, learn to read bass guitar sheet music easily enough. But I have a good ear, play really well as is, and get gigs. I'm good for now. 
I have never had a lesson,i wish i could . I just cant afford it ,because of being out of work. I would love to have someone show me their way of looking at something. I have noticed that for the most part the people in bands around here will chat with you ,but its almost impossible-- no so far impossible----to get anyone to let you come to a practice or jam with them . unless its an open mike night i cant seem to get anyone to play with. so i keep pluging awaay with my ipod and computer. have great fun for sure .but you can only go so far without playing in a band setting. i quess its like a band is a team,and playing with a band requires you to be able to do certain team things,which you cant learn because your not on the team. i feel stuck in the catch 22.
I'm self-taught, but I'd never say "completely". Schooling in music doesn't hurt, but may get in the way of creating sounds and scales that otherwise would be lost to history. Blues scales for example. There is no "correct" way to play music.
Self taught here.
we'll my dad taught me some scales and my notes and a bit of music theory. though i didnt know any of it was theory till i recently started learning theory and to read.
but after the very basics he set me free and i've taught myself everything since.
learning to read music and really learning music theory is going kinda slow, but im making sure i really take it in and im making alot of progress. it does take much more time to learn yourself but i dont have any regrets and like all of you my ear is pretty good. i can usually pick out the notes in a few seconds.
we'll my dad taught me some scales and my notes and a bit of music theory. though i didnt know any of it was theory till i recently started learning theory and to read.
but after the very basics he set me free and i've taught myself everything since.
learning to read music and really learning music theory is going kinda slow, but im making sure i really take it in and im making alot of progress. it does take much more time to learn yourself but i dont have any regrets and like all of you my ear is pretty good. i can usually pick out the notes in a few seconds.
Learn the neck and Learn good technique at a minimum, but learning as much as you can will never hurt you.
Just remember to always play it like you mean it with feeling and emotion.
Feel it and play it. I am glad I got early instruction to get solid technique and a lot of the basics.
Then I started learning songs and jamming. Keep it fun, for a while I was so hung up on being perfect and that can take the fun away.
Just remember to always play it like you mean it with feeling and emotion.
Feel it and play it. I am glad I got early instruction to get solid technique and a lot of the basics.
Then I started learning songs and jamming. Keep it fun, for a while I was so hung up on being perfect and that can take the fun away.
I'm self-taught, but I've also had some of the finest teachers in the world teach me. You might have heard of some of them, gentlemen named Geddy Lee, John Entwistle, Paul McCartney, Jack Bruce, John Paul Jones, James Jamerson, and so on. The best thing is, their lessons are anywhere from extremely inexpensive to free, and when you're unemployed that's an important consideration!
im self taught, i went to one formal guitar lesson and it just wasnt for me. i cant read music and i dont understand theroies or chords so i think it has limited me
I'm self-taught, mostly through playing with as many people as possible and listening to and learning songs and licks from other players. I never had the motivation to take lessons...I was playing all the time with people, and preferred that approach. I never would have stuck with a structured practice regimen. To each his own.
I do get the vibe that self-taught players use the whole "outside the box" or "create my own sound" reasoning as a rationalization or an insecurity that they didn't take lessons. Like, somehow taking lessons or going to school removes your individuality...or knowing a ton of theory or reading music makes your playing rigid. I hope that no one really thinks that.
Some of my favorite musicians went to music schools, and they're as creative as the next guy - they just have a few different tools at their disposal. For every awesome self-taught Les Claypool there's a Tony Levin to balance him.
That said, I definitely don't agree with this:
I do get the vibe that self-taught players use the whole "outside the box" or "create my own sound" reasoning as a rationalization or an insecurity that they didn't take lessons. Like, somehow taking lessons or going to school removes your individuality...or knowing a ton of theory or reading music makes your playing rigid. I hope that no one really thinks that.
Some of my favorite musicians went to music schools, and they're as creative as the next guy - they just have a few different tools at their disposal. For every awesome self-taught Les Claypool there's a Tony Levin to balance him.
That said, I definitely don't agree with this:
Self taught sucks when you get to point in your bass playing when you want to play like the proggy bass players but realize you've never learned all those concepts...and had I been taking lessons and such from the beginning, I'd be where I wanted to be today, if not further.
I took a few months worth of lessons early on, then went several years of just playing...I'd say the learning curve is just much longer (like 15 years for me) if you are self taught. I've learned rhythm, feel, tone, technique, etc. ...but now I'm hitting a wall as far as growth. I can for sure play with a variety of people in a variety of different styles but that doesn't mean there isn't room for growth...I'm now looking for a great teacher to take me to the next level.
self taught here but ready for lessons for that thing called theory thats all the rage now. i play several instruments and cant read a lick of music 
I took some guitar lessons as a kid (5th and 6th grade) and 2 semesters of music theory (one in high school, 1 in college). I took 5 bass lessons to get some basics.
I played bass a long time before the college theory class, and before the 5 bass lessons (maybe 2-3 years).
With that very little training, I mostly learned about bass listening to music, and not just bass players. I was in a moderately successful band that covered the northeast playing original music for a handful of years in the early '90s. I think my playing back then shows a developing musical voice on the instrument. Lessons would have probably helped me develop more disciplined practice habits though, and my feel could have been better. My note choices and parts were good, but my groove not as deep as I'd like in hindsight.
Now, a couple of decades later (I'm in my early 40s now), I am considering studying with a teacher for enjoyment purposes. I understand how to read music, but I am like a little kid sounding out words. I don't sight read at all well. I can use written music to help guide me through once I learn a piece. Also, my left hand is sloppy as hell. I could use someone to crack a whip to get me to do some dexterity exercises and give me feedback on my technique.
I played bass a long time before the college theory class, and before the 5 bass lessons (maybe 2-3 years).
With that very little training, I mostly learned about bass listening to music, and not just bass players. I was in a moderately successful band that covered the northeast playing original music for a handful of years in the early '90s. I think my playing back then shows a developing musical voice on the instrument. Lessons would have probably helped me develop more disciplined practice habits though, and my feel could have been better. My note choices and parts were good, but my groove not as deep as I'd like in hindsight.
Now, a couple of decades later (I'm in my early 40s now), I am considering studying with a teacher for enjoyment purposes. I understand how to read music, but I am like a little kid sounding out words. I don't sight read at all well. I can use written music to help guide me through once I learn a piece. Also, my left hand is sloppy as hell. I could use someone to crack a whip to get me to do some dexterity exercises and give me feedback on my technique.
I've formally studied piano, violin, clarinet, and voice. I'm teaching myself (you never stop learning, regardless of how you do it!) bass, guitar, flute, and sax.
As a result, I can read and write music, understand and utilize theory, and have a great understanding of how other instruments work and how to harmonize and arrange.
I can also understand the joys of self-learning - I find that the inspiration to simply play is much stronger in self-learning, as opposed to practicing because the lessons are expensive. I will honestly say that I enjoy learning far more on my own.
HOWEVER - having gone both routes, I can also honestly say that self-learning is much, much slower than being taught by a competent teacher. As in, no comparison at all. We're talking rowboat vs. fighter jet. Honestly and truly.
You can teach yourself theory and how to read music - that's not hard in this day an age of the internet. However, you can never reclaim that lost time - seeing as I never plan to be a great player, this doesn't bother me. But if you want to be better than the next guy, I guarantee that in the long run, you won't regret studying the instrument formally. (Disclaimer: a competent teacher is necessary.)
As far as theory goes - I find a lot of people seem to be afraid of/angry at/condescending towards/etc music theory. I personally have no idea at all why this is.
In all fairness, I have worked with people who were entirely self-taught, and knew no theory. Some of them were outstanding musicians, and together we produced great music.
However, I have also worked with people who had trained in theory - either through a teacher, through classical methods, and even by themselves, through the internet. Some of these folks were also outstanding musicians, and together we produced great music.
Thing is, the great music tended to be produced much faster with the latter group.
The plain and simple advantage of theory is that it allows you to understand why the notes sound good - and therefore, to play more notes (or less notes, each with greater impact), each of which sound better, and which relate better to the music. Theory also allows you to easily step into genres other than those that you are used to, because music theory is universal.
You CAN play without theory. But it's foolish to limit yourself.
(second half of this post regurgitated from here: http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showthread.php?t=595776&)
As a result, I can read and write music, understand and utilize theory, and have a great understanding of how other instruments work and how to harmonize and arrange.
I can also understand the joys of self-learning - I find that the inspiration to simply play is much stronger in self-learning, as opposed to practicing because the lessons are expensive. I will honestly say that I enjoy learning far more on my own.
HOWEVER - having gone both routes, I can also honestly say that self-learning is much, much slower than being taught by a competent teacher. As in, no comparison at all. We're talking rowboat vs. fighter jet. Honestly and truly.
You can teach yourself theory and how to read music - that's not hard in this day an age of the internet. However, you can never reclaim that lost time - seeing as I never plan to be a great player, this doesn't bother me. But if you want to be better than the next guy, I guarantee that in the long run, you won't regret studying the instrument formally. (Disclaimer: a competent teacher is necessary.)
As far as theory goes - I find a lot of people seem to be afraid of/angry at/condescending towards/etc music theory. I personally have no idea at all why this is.
In all fairness, I have worked with people who were entirely self-taught, and knew no theory. Some of them were outstanding musicians, and together we produced great music.
However, I have also worked with people who had trained in theory - either through a teacher, through classical methods, and even by themselves, through the internet. Some of these folks were also outstanding musicians, and together we produced great music.
Thing is, the great music tended to be produced much faster with the latter group.
The plain and simple advantage of theory is that it allows you to understand why the notes sound good - and therefore, to play more notes (or less notes, each with greater impact), each of which sound better, and which relate better to the music. Theory also allows you to easily step into genres other than those that you are used to, because music theory is universal.
You CAN play without theory. But it's foolish to limit yourself.
(second half of this post regurgitated from here: http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showthread.php?t=595776&)
1/Lessons can help you "play by ear" better. Learn sight-singing, Kodaly Solfege.
2/You can't know whether music lessons are good if you have never had one.
3/Everyone, in every way, is self-taught, even after they take lessons.
4/Lessons shouldn't kill your creativity (I wish I could say they can't. . . but it happens).
5/Good teachers help you learn to think about music, and make good decisions.
2/You can't know whether music lessons are good if you have never had one.
3/Everyone, in every way, is self-taught, even after they take lessons.
4/Lessons shouldn't kill your creativity (I wish I could say they can't. . . but it happens).
5/Good teachers help you learn to think about music, and make good decisions.
I took guitar lessons for six years when I was a teenager, plus the usual junior high jazz band, and followed that with a little bit of theory in university. Then I put it all away for fifteen years because I was bored silly.
When I picked up the bass last year, I learned everything by ear and a couple of books -- no formal lessons, but a lot of practice. Made a lot easier with my background in theory. Does that make me self-taught?
When I picked up the bass last year, I learned everything by ear and a couple of books -- no formal lessons, but a lot of practice. Made a lot easier with my background in theory. Does that make me self-taught?
When my guitar friend moves away and I am jamless again, this is what I am going to do.
I have always played by ear but I find that sometimes my ear doesn't know whats going on. Being able to read music would be great... someone showing me would be better. (I'm an AV learner)
