Hi guys. I'm a newbie looking into taking up bass and having lessons. So I've searched online for instructors in my area and there is one thing that I've noticed. All of the instructors who offer bass lessons in my area (Nottingham, England) appear to be primarily six string guitar instructors who also teach bass. I guess that there may always be more people who would feel they would rather learn guitar instead of bass and so it would make a lot of sense to cater for both from a business point of view. My questions are whether or not being taught by someone who may be a guitarist who also plays/dabbles in bass will be a negative because they may not be fully versed in all areas? Are pretty much all bass instructors also guitar instructors? I hope this makes sense and sorry for the long post. Cheers.
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Taking bass lessons from a six string guitar teacher
- Thread starter Redthirteen
- Start date
All of my 'beginner' bass teachers were working guitarists. Once you get the basics down, you can start hunting for a bassist for technique stuff if you think the guitarist might not have a handle on.
There could be a problem if your developing bad right hand technique and he probably wouldn't know it.
thanks for the quick replies. put my mind to rest. ive just read that a guitarist playing bass approaches playing with a completely different mindset so i was a bit worried.
I'm a converted guitarist and say that that is quite so. After guitar, I had to really learn what 'groove' was. Listening to the drummer, and the guitars/keyboards as well. Quite the job. I love it.
Though, I'm thinking about both teaching guitar as well as bass. As a matter of fact, my first guitar teacher was actually a bass player!
Though, I'm thinking about both teaching guitar as well as bass. As a matter of fact, my first guitar teacher was actually a bass player!
ah, did your teachers guitar playing appeared to be from a bassists angle? like focussed more on the groove or whatnot?
I was able to get my techniques down with the help of youtube. Watching various videos of people doing the same style and deriving my own version from it. Worked for slap, tap, finger style, and other experimental techniques
He tought me the 'flamenco' left-hand technique. But at that time I was too much of a noob to start with 'groove'. It was all 'Mary had a Little Lamb' and stuff on a nylon acoustic.
But when I started bass, I got a real bass teacher. I had the greatest revalations with that guy...
This may sound weird, but I think that a bassist that plays guitar might be a better guitar teacher, than a guitarist that plays bass is a bass teacher (you've guitar players thinking it's the same instrument, but then only playing one note at the time, and lower. Those people are obviously WRONG. Bass and guitar are two completely different animals).
My teacher is a guitarist, but also a great bass player. I think it probably varies from teacher to teacher. My teacher would be the first to tell you that guitar and bass require very different approaches, though. Two of the young guitarists I know double on bass, as it is easier for them to find work. They are quite good.
+1. I know a few guitarists who claim to teach bass, but when I watch their lessons I always spot at least a few big mistakes. Some teach bad technique, some just follow the guitar parts and ignore what the bass is actually doing, and some just have no sense of groove. Of course not all are like this, but guitarists are much less likely to appreciate the finer points of bass playing. Just starting off I think it'll be ok, but after a little while you'll want to get a true bass teacher.
Knowing how to find the notes and make sound come from your bass -- anyone that has ever played a bass can help you with that.
How to teach it correctly, well now that is hit or miss at best. Lot of great bassists out there that are a flop at teaching. Word of mouth from the students that have been taught by your perspective instructor is the best source of information about that. Ask several of his bass students what they think of the training they are receiving.
Keep this in mind as you search for an instructor; you hire instructors by the month. You will know rather quickly how effective this one is. If it's not working out, start looking for another. Most charge about the same for the lessons, get the best you can find. The length of the waiting list is an indicator of what you will be getting. Shy away from the guitar guy in the back room of a music store.
Good luck.
How to teach it correctly, well now that is hit or miss at best. Lot of great bassists out there that are a flop at teaching. Word of mouth from the students that have been taught by your perspective instructor is the best source of information about that. Ask several of his bass students what they think of the training they are receiving.
Keep this in mind as you search for an instructor; you hire instructors by the month. You will know rather quickly how effective this one is. If it's not working out, start looking for another. Most charge about the same for the lessons, get the best you can find. The length of the waiting list is an indicator of what you will be getting. Shy away from the guitar guy in the back room of a music store.
Good luck.
I teach guitar and bass.
Although I do spend about half the time with a guitar in my hands (so I can play along with the student) I keep a $100 bass at the studio for use with the lessons. I think this is a small - but useful investment for an instructor.
On a side note - a guitarist with a classical background (or other right hand finger-techniques) should be able to teach good technique and tasteful styles on the bass.
Although I do spend about half the time with a guitar in my hands (so I can play along with the student) I keep a $100 bass at the studio for use with the lessons. I think this is a small - but useful investment for an instructor.
On a side note - a guitarist with a classical background (or other right hand finger-techniques) should be able to teach good technique and tasteful styles on the bass.
I'm in my 50s. Back when I was learning in the 60s there weren't any electric teachers. My first electric bass teachers were a couple of older Union guitar guys. I consider it was a real blessing learning from them. They could show me the basics of groove and how to count, but also the patterns up and down and across the neck.
But most importantly they could play the chords and let me play notes against chords. It was great to, of course, hear the root, thirds, fifths, and sevenths as they strummed; but they could also show me the chromaticisms and little runs and walk up/downs in between the chord tones - how they sounded and worked. Could go through these things really slow.
just my 2¢
But most importantly they could play the chords and let me play notes against chords. It was great to, of course, hear the root, thirds, fifths, and sevenths as they strummed; but they could also show me the chromaticisms and little runs and walk up/downs in between the chord tones - how they sounded and worked. Could go through these things really slow.
just my 2¢
All of the guitar players I know are guitarists first and foremost and the majority will openly admit they can't play bass well. A few of them can get by on bass (and these guys often think they're better on bass than they actually are). I'm sure there are people out there who are good on both, but I don't know any of them myself.
Having said that, I think there's lots of stuff a new bassist can learn from a good guitarist. But at some stage I think you're going to feel the need for some input from a bassist in some way or another.
I teach in the Midlands but I'm West rather than East so too far away to help you, unfortunately. And for the record, I'm a lousy guitarist (and therefore wouldn't attempt to teach it).
Good luck, I'm sure you'll find what you need if you keep looking!
There are very few dedicated bass teachers because there are very few bass students.
I started teaching for a while,only found one bass student.
Everybody wants to try 6 string guitar. A good guitar teacher can get you going.
Check out Fergie Fergunson in the UK.
I started teaching for a while,only found one bass student.
Everybody wants to try 6 string guitar. A good guitar teacher can get you going.
Check out Fergie Fergunson in the UK.
Should that be Fergie Ferguson? I know of someone by that name but I don't think it's the same guy. Is he a guitar teacher or a bass teacher? Just curious.
Any idea where he's based? The UK's a lot smaller than the US, but it's not so tiny that we're all within an easy drive of each other!
For a beginner I advise to look not only for a good player, but for a good TEACHER. Someone with learning material ready, a roadmap, but, most importantly, a PEDAGOGUE. Knowing how to explain, motivate, follow and guide student's developpement, having sufficient (but not excessive) authority, keeping balance between what student needs and what he wants, having a grasp on psychology etc.
There are many great players, few good teachers. I'd rather go with a shabby player good teacher, than with a great player awful teacher. At least in the beginning
There are many great players, few good teachers. I'd rather go with a shabby player good teacher, than with a great player awful teacher. At least in the beginning
- Jan 12, 2011
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I started out taking bass lessons from a Classical Guitarist. My finger dexterity on both hands is on point as well as my fundamental knowledge of music. I eventually stopped taking lessons to learn how to play like Bootsy, Larry Graham, and Louis Johnson. At that time nothing was developed for bassists in terms of programs or bass curriculae (?) for that type of playing.
