Teaching Bass to Beginners Book or course

[magic8161]

I would like to know if there is anything out there to learn to teach bass guitar without reading music. I want to start teaching but dont know where to start. I cant read music just Charts. but I know Music theory and how to get around on bass. is there a course or a book I could read to get a idea what to do first and such.

 

[fearceol]

I am not a teacher, but here (FWIW) is my tuppence worth.

I can't help regarding a book/course, but be aware that "knowing your stuff" is only half the equation when it comes to teaching. What is just as important is possessing the gift of being able to convey that "stuff" in a precise and understandable way to a potential student. This is quite a different kettle of fish altogether.

Where to start? Before diving into theory, I would begin with teaching good/safe technique (how to hold the bass, safe right and left hand technique, strap length, applying just the right amount of pressure when fretting etc.)

From there, I would concentrate on the notes on the neck, (first five frets to start) followed by scales and arpeggios, showing how chords are derived from scales. Following naturally from this would be teaching how to harmonise the major scale.

 

[Papageno]

What do you want to teach and to whom?

If you are an experienced musician but cannot read, I assume you are an ear player. So why do you want or need a book in the first place? Why not teach what you know, essentially the way you learned it yourself?

But I am puzzled by the fact that you say you don't know where to start. Sincerely, I would not suggest anybody to take lessons from a teacher who does not know where to start and who could not teach without relying on a book.

Most (good) teachers make their own teaching material (notes, charts, exercices,...) themselves. They frequently suggest their students to use some books as an optional complement to their teaching; but their teaching should stand by itself.

 

[onda'bass]

If you can't read I would not take lessons from you. What else do you not know how to do fundamentally?

 

[Jazzjames]

If you can't read I would not take lessons from you. What else do you not know how to do fundamentally?

Pino can’t read and I’d happily take lessons from him!

But yeah, I broadly agree.

 

[Manticore]

I know many players that wished they were much better at reading. I know no one who reads well and wished they didn't, or thought learning to read was a waste of time. The very first step to take toward learning to teach is learn to read.

 

[erratick]

1) search up "bass curriculum"

2) then "bass curriculum book"

3) then maybe "berkelee" bass method or "bass curriculum book".

Then start identifying what you'd use in your bass curriculum. Or use chatgpt or similar to make one for you. Then go through the docs you have and synthesize your own.


I mean synthesize in the hegelian sense. thesis + antithesis = synthesis. Not a music sythesizer.

 

[Heiwa]

I think you should learn to read music if you're going to teach, unless it's free lessons for friends or family…

 

[Geddaric]

As a beginner, I do not see an immediate "need" to read music (which I still don`t/can`t, but have managed well for over 40 years). I`ve taught a few beginners and happily "graduated" them once they`ve surpassed the basics. I cover parts of the instrument, tuning, the 1st 5 notes on each string, "shapes of the 1,4,5, which can transition into many songs, and octaves/arpeggios, and some scales. Try to keep it fun. The student will determine how deep they want to go (pun intended). YouTube can also be of great assistance.

 

[magic8161]

I think you should learn to read music if you're going to teach, unless it's free lessons for friends or family…

I disagree. There is no need to learn to read music. Not saying it's bad, but there are a whole lot of pro bass players who make a great living myself included who never learned to read music and have no desire to. But if that's the way someone wants to go, then they should find a teacher that would teach them to read music. I'm looking for something where I can get started on teaching. How to play bass without reading music.

 

[TheReceder]

There's an old saying, "those that can't do, teach".... I'd say the best thing you could do is start with absolute beginners, and try to learn to read very basic music theory. Personally, the students I've taught start with basic scales in bass clef. and moved on to some exercises out of the book. I let them know that down the road they might not need it that much, but it can help when charting songs.

The toughest students were usually those that could play well but didn't know the notes names on a fretboard and sheet music was alien to them. They could turn out to be great players, but down the road they could easily lose auditions to people that understood the basics. Most of them learned from youtube.

Might not hurt to grab a Simandl for double bass book just to get a start.

 

[magic8161]

As a beginner, I do not see an immediate "need" to read music (which I still don`t/can`t, but have managed well for over 40 years). I`ve taught a few beginners and happily "graduated" them once they`ve surpassed the basics. I cover parts of the instrument, tuning, the 1st 5 notes on each string, "shapes of the 1,4,5, which can transition into many songs, and octaves/arpeggios, and some scales. Try to keep it fun. The student will determine how deep they want to go (pun intended). YouTube can also be of great assistance.

Excellent.!! This is what i'm trying to do and trying to learn to do. Thank you.

 

[Pdaddy1978]

When I was taking my first lessons, it was the "Mel Bay electric bass guitar method ".
Micheal rooow the boat ashore..Halleluuuuujha.
I worked really hard not learning that.

 

[Pings Bass]

Reading is fundamental and written music is lingua franca around the world. I don't understand the resistance to learning and teaching it. I wouldn't take lessons from a teacher who didn't know how to read and write the language they're teaching.

(I understand rock/blues/folk/country are aural traditions, and if that's all you want to teach and learn, reading and writing may seem superfluous. But why hamstring yourself or your students from the start? What if they want to play other genres later?)

 

[Hurricane Jimmie]

So Anyway, I've got several music books. The best one I own is The Bass Bible by Paul Westwood. It has theory, standard notation, tablature and a couple of CDs where examples are played. It could keep someone busy for a very long time.
In fact, if I could play 1/10 of it, I'd be more annoying than I already am.

BTW, I'm 'self-taught' in that I've never had formal music lessons on electric bass. It would have been very helpful if someone early on had given me a few lessons on the fretboard and went over simple major and minor scales. It took me a long time to stumble upon these on my own.
Good Luck to you and your students.

 

[bass12]

I disagree. There is no need to learn to read music. Not saying it's bad, but there are a whole lot of pro bass players who make a great living myself included who never learned to read music and have no desire to. But if that's the way someone wants to go, then they should find a teacher that would teach them to read music. I'm looking for something where I can get started on teaching. How to play bass without reading music.

It's true that there are lots of professional bassists out there who can't read music, however...

If you are looking at helping to form future professionals it might be worth considering that a large proportion of the musicians vying for a piece of the shrinking "pro bass gig pie" are academically trained and know how to read. Also, while there might be a lot of professional bassists out there who can't read, I'd wager there aren't too many professional music teachers in the same boat. Being able to read music opens a lot of doors where teaching is concerned.

You don't have to become a great sight reader, but why not see this as a good opportunity to develop a new skill (reading)? Jeff Berlin's reading package is a great (and easy) entry point.

 

[overit]

I would like to know if there is anything out there to learn to teach bass guitar without reading music. I want to start teaching but dont know where to start. I cant read music just Charts. but I know Music theory and how to get around on bass. is there a course or a book I could read to get a idea what to do first and such.

How about checking out a youtube bass lessons channel to find a curriculum and add your own stuff to it? Alot of youtubes don't have an emphasis on reading and alot have tabs instead. I'm not advocating either side, but it's a modern time and your approach isn't traditional so starting at a more modern place (the internet vs. books) seems like a logical start.

 

[Craig22221]

The once per month "this is why i don't need to read" forum. LOL. Ok.

 

[KenSmithFan]

The once per month "this is why i don't need to read" forum. LOL. Ok.

The only ones who think reading is a waste of time are the ones who can’t read. No, you haven’t “done well” without reading, you’ve “gotten by” without reading.

Got a passage you are having trouble remembering? Write it down. That’s right you can’t because you can’t read or write. Tricky rhythm? Same thing. Someone trying to teach you an original? Nope, out of luck again. Never missed out on a gig because you can’t read? Wrong; you weren’t called because you can’t read. Theory is exponentially easily to learn and understand if you know how to read music.

Pino doesn’t read so you don’t need to? You aren’t a pimple on Pino’s buttocks. Don’t kid yourself.

Now get off my lawn and go learn to read.

 

[onda'bass]

Pino can’t read and I’d happily take lessons from him!

I can't stand that answer.