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Talkingbass.net - Bassic Fundamentals - Opinions?

Hey low end brethren,

I dig the lessons over at talkingbass.net and am considering buying his $70 Bassic Fundamentals course. Anybody try it? I emailed Mark and haven't heard back from him yet so figured I'd see what you all have to say. I'm curious about what it has that his free lessons don't...
 
Yes I'm here! I've pm'd you about the email. I tend not to mention the premium courses around these parts coz I don't want to be seen as spamming. So thanks for the plug!

The Bassic Fundamentals course is REALLY big. 4 Modules, 48 lessons in total and over 10 hours in length. It took me forever to do. Covers a bit of pretty much everything. I'm still suffering the effects of making it!
 
Yes I'm here! I've pm'd you about the email. I tend not to mention the premium courses around these parts coz I don't want to be seen as spamming. So thanks for the plug!

The Bassic Fundamentals course is REALLY big. 4 Modules, 48 lessons in total and over 10 hours in length. It took me forever to do. Covers a bit of pretty much everything. I'm still suffering the effects of making it!
Cool, I'll shoot you an email. Thanks Mark!
 
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Hey low end brethren,

I dig the lessons over at talkingbass.net and am considering buying his $70 Bassic Fundamentals course. Anybody try it? I emailed Mark and haven't heard back from him yet so figured I'd see what you all have to say. I'm curious about what it has that his free lessons don't...
I purchased the "Basic Fundamentals" course. To say this is well worth it is an understatement of the highest order. Let's put it this way, I purchased it in summer of 2015 and I haven't finished it. I practice on average 10hrs a week. My routine includes lessons from the basic fundamentals, material from his free lessons and learning tunes.
Private lessons around here are about $55-$75/hr I can't imagine how much I would have spent for the hours I have into this program.

Mark
 
I'd like to learn to read music. Has any bought the "site reading portion" and now you can sight read with ease?
FWIW: I started playing bass exactly one year ago. I did my first bass gig in January of 2016. While I have extensive experience as a drummer and on mallets, I was completely new to the instrument. Via Mark's site I got comfortable on the instrument very quickly. I can't imagine anything on the site wouldn't be worth the modest fee. In fact, when you compare it to sites charging three figure annual fees, it's probably under priced.

Go for it.

BTW, I have no affiliation with Mark. Just giving credit where due.
 
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Without constant practice, you'll never sight read with ease. It's a skill that needs continual work, but it's worth it.
Right I get that. Im trying my best to teach myself and I am making baby steps, but its taking forever as Im trying to invent the wheel. So would this program for $70 be worth it? Does it actually really teach you to sight read well and teach you up to say an intermediate level of rhythm?
 
Right I get that. Im trying my best to teach myself and I am making baby steps, but its taking forever as Im trying to invent the wheel. So would this program for $70 be worth it? Does it actually really teach you to sight read well and teach you up to say an intermediate level of rhythm?

Mark also has a sight reading course available. Here's a link to it:
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

I have no link to Mark or TalkingBass other that I have bought both these. Mark is articulate and explains things clearly. Check the page out for course content and a sample lesson. I think Mark's lessons are well work the money.
 
Yes I'm here! I've pm'd you about the email. I tend not to mention the premium courses around these parts coz I don't want to be seen as spamming. So thanks for the plug!

The Bassic Fundamentals course is REALLY big. 4 Modules, 48 lessons in total and over 10 hours in length. It took me forever to do. Covers a bit of pretty much everything. I'm still suffering the effects of making it!
Your recent e minor scale lesson was really good. Thanks for what you do.
 
Thanks for the kind words everyone.

The Sight Reading course will eventually be made up of 9 levels. I actually came up with the idea of it and designed it back in the 90s. It's split into 3 packs of 3 levels:
Pack 1 - Beginner (levels 1,2,3)
Pack 2 - Intermediate (levels 4,5,6)
Pack 3 - Advanced (levels 7,8,9)

After completing level 9 you should be able to read most stuff that's going to be handed to you on the majority of professional gigs. Tied 16th notes, every major and minor key up to 7 sharps and flats etc. etc.
I've approached it in a progressive manner so that you should find it easy at every step. The problem a lot of people have with learning to read is they either 1) don't know where to start or 2) jump in the deep end with stuff beyond their ability. I was able to play to a pretty good level when I started reading and the only advice I got from other musicians was "You just have to read, man". They'd always tell me to get in reading bands etc. That is all terrible advice. How do you start reading in a band if you can't read. It's like telling a child to just go and read books before they can read any words. So, I taught myself from absolute scratch. It's an ego hit and a drag because you have to be an absolute beginner again but it's just something you have to do.

I've already released Pack 1. Pack 2 comes out after the new slap course is released. Then it's the harmony course. Then pack 3. That should be out by the end of the year. I'm alternating the releases because there's a lot of material in each pack. Plus it takes FOREVER to record and write everything.

Like I said, I don't mention the courses because I don't want to spam, but I am happy to answer any questions.

Mark
 
Thanks for the kind words everyone.

The Sight Reading course will eventually be made up of 9 levels. I actually came up with the idea of it and designed it back in the 90s. It's split into 3 packs of 3 levels:
Pack 1 - Beginner (levels 1,2,3)
Pack 2 - Intermediate (levels 4,5,6)
Pack 3 - Advanced (levels 7,8,9)

After completing level 9 you should be able to read most stuff that's going to be handed to you on the majority of professional gigs. Tied 16th notes, every major and minor key up to 7 sharps and flats etc. etc.
I've approached it in a progressive manner so that you should find it easy at every step. The problem a lot of people have with learning to read is they either 1) don't know where to start or 2) jump in the deep end with stuff beyond their ability. I was able to play to a pretty good level when I started reading and the only advice I got from other musicians was "You just have to read, man". They'd always tell me to get in reading bands etc. That is all terrible advice. How do you start reading in a band if you can't read. It's like telling a child to just go and read books before they can read any words. So, I taught myself from absolute scratch. It's an ego hit and a drag because you have to be an absolute beginner again but it's just something you have to do.

I've already released Pack 1. Pack 2 comes out after the new slap course is released. Then it's the harmony course. Then pack 3. That should be out by the end of the year. I'm alternating the releases because there's a lot of material in each pack. Plus it takes FOREVER to record and write everything.

Like I said, I don't mention the courses because I don't want to spam, but I am happy to answer any questions.

Mark


So when is pack two getting released? in a month? 6 months?
 
Thanks for the kind words everyone.

The Sight Reading course will eventually be made up of 9 levels. I actually came up with the idea of it and designed it back in the 90s. It's split into 3 packs of 3 levels:
Pack 1 - Beginner (levels 1,2,3)
Pack 2 - Intermediate (levels 4,5,6)
Pack 3 - Advanced (levels 7,8,9)

After completing level 9 you should be able to read most stuff that's going to be handed to you on the majority of professional gigs. Tied 16th notes, every major and minor key up to 7 sharps and flats etc. etc.
I've approached it in a progressive manner so that you should find it easy at every step. The problem a lot of people have with learning to read is they either 1) don't know where to start or 2) jump in the deep end with stuff beyond their ability. I was able to play to a pretty good level when I started reading and the only advice I got from other musicians was "You just have to read, man". They'd always tell me to get in reading bands etc. That is all terrible advice. How do you start reading in a band if you can't read. It's like telling a child to just go and read books before they can read any words. So, I taught myself from absolute scratch. It's an ego hit and a drag because you have to be an absolute beginner again but it's just something you have to do.

I've already released Pack 1. Pack 2 comes out after the new slap course is released. Then it's the harmony course. Then pack 3. That should be out by the end of the year. I'm alternating the releases because there's a lot of material in each pack. Plus it takes FOREVER to record and write everything.

Like I said, I don't mention the courses because I don't want to spam, but I am happy to answer any questions.

Mark


Ok i took the plunge and bought the Pack 1, because I cant afford to go to school and work and pay bills and gig. So hopefully this will finally once and for all give me the foundation I need to tell cats here in NYC, yeah I definitely can do that gig, because I can definitely read music.
 
Apologies for once again dredging up another years-old thread but I just signed up for Mark’s free class and was looking for the free ebooks page. I can’t find it anywhere on the site. I saw the pay ebooks on the store tab (and will be investing in those as my skills warrant!). Can anyone tell me if those are even still available? I see Mark is a member here but hasn’t been on in almost 10 months. I expect he’s been pretty busy, lol!!