I'm not sure what to do. I have a bass teacher now that is actually a guitarist, he has a mumbling issue and talks a little fast but he is the nicest teacher I've had on any instrument. He thanks me for working and is very encouraging. I like him a lot as a person. I met another bass teacher today. He is a lot younger than my teacher. Has a different attitude but seems nice. He also actually plays BASS. This was apparent when he asked me where I played on the fretboard. I did not know that I was supposed to play in a different part than I was playing. Is there that many differences in teachers that play two different instruments? Should I switch teachers?
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To switch instructors or to stay
- Thread starter xavplusplus
- Start date
I can't say for sure that you should definitely switch teachers, but by and large, the best way to learn to play bass is to take lessons from a bass player. Guitar and bass are very different instruments that require different approaches to contributing to a piece of music as well as presenting different physical challenges.
The relationship between student and teacher is built on trust. Liking a person normally helps with the relationship.
I'll answer it this way. Your teacher is taking you down a road of discovery. Where you and your teacher are at this moment in time I have no idea - that is where trust comes in. I would presume you have decided on the normal fee of four lessons a month for X dollars. How many more lessons do you have left in this "contract"? You owe that, now renewing for another month is another story.
Discuss this and any doubts you have with your current instructor and see where that takes you.
I personally put more faith in a person's ability to teach how to play an instrument than his actual ability to play that instrument. Now if we are taking lessons on technique, this this is another matter.
So it really gets back to which teaching style do you think will help you the most?
Good luck.
Malcom makes very good points.
The pros and cons of studying bass with a guitarist have been discussed before, I'm sure, and I've always felt that it's best to study from a teacher who plays your instrument.
That said, my very first teacher was a guitarist who had never played bass and still got me going in the right direction. He taught me basic techniques that i still use now, twenty-plus years later. I didn't study with him for long - only a few months - but my foundation in basic left hand technique and simple music theory I owe completely to him. Most importantly, he never taught me any bad habits that I needed to un-learn later on.
I later moved on to bass teachers who play bass and refined my playing further at those points. I recently started lessons again after a many-year layoff. I don't regret starting bass lessons with a guitarist one bit. He got me up and running.
As Malcom pointed out, it all depends upon your feeling good about your teacher and trusting him to point you in a good, solid direction. As long as you're learning and growing from the experience, it's cool. Perhaps he's showing you a way to play that isn't how the bassist you met would play. That doesn't mean it's wrong. Discuss it with your teacher and see if he's receptive to showing you both ways. That way, you can explore both approaches without having to give up a teacher you feel comfortable with, and with whom you already have a rapport.
The pros and cons of studying bass with a guitarist have been discussed before, I'm sure, and I've always felt that it's best to study from a teacher who plays your instrument.
That said, my very first teacher was a guitarist who had never played bass and still got me going in the right direction. He taught me basic techniques that i still use now, twenty-plus years later. I didn't study with him for long - only a few months - but my foundation in basic left hand technique and simple music theory I owe completely to him. Most importantly, he never taught me any bad habits that I needed to un-learn later on.
I later moved on to bass teachers who play bass and refined my playing further at those points. I recently started lessons again after a many-year layoff. I don't regret starting bass lessons with a guitarist one bit. He got me up and running.
As Malcom pointed out, it all depends upon your feeling good about your teacher and trusting him to point you in a good, solid direction. As long as you're learning and growing from the experience, it's cool. Perhaps he's showing you a way to play that isn't how the bassist you met would play. That doesn't mean it's wrong. Discuss it with your teacher and see if he's receptive to showing you both ways. That way, you can explore both approaches without having to give up a teacher you feel comfortable with, and with whom you already have a rapport.
Yea I think he is a great teacher for me(my original teacher) I'll stick with it for a while and see what happens.
Some good responses here.
My teacher was predominantly a guitar player. He could play
pretty much any kind of music, was strong on theory and
encouraged it, encouraged sight reading and encouraged
singing. Also, we could play together and that was a blast.
Except for not playing bass, he was rock solid musically.
He would give me every one of my bass lessons with his
guitar in hand.
Like you, I always had a nagging feeling that I should get a
bass playing teacher. Then, one day he picks up a bass and
starts playing. He blew me away. He was amazing. I thought
he would be good but I didn't expect great. From then on,
that nagging feeling was gone.
My teacher was predominantly a guitar player. He could play
pretty much any kind of music, was strong on theory and
encouraged it, encouraged sight reading and encouraged
singing. Also, we could play together and that was a blast.
Except for not playing bass, he was rock solid musically.
He would give me every one of my bass lessons with his
guitar in hand.
Like you, I always had a nagging feeling that I should get a
bass playing teacher. Then, one day he picks up a bass and
starts playing. He blew me away. He was amazing. I thought
he would be good but I didn't expect great. From then on,
that nagging feeling was gone.
Always remember that good players don't have to be good teachers. In fact, most players, including the great ones, aren't very good teachers. Teaching is simply a completely different skill.
I would suggest looking up Anthony Wellington online. He's not only a very good player, but he has a very deep understanding of the art of teaching.
He has a few lessons on Youtube and his website Bassology.net and he also has a spot in the 'Ask a pro' section. Read up on him and it will help you figure out what you need in a teacher. Anthony also gives private Skype lessons, I recommend taking at least 1. Notice how quickly he 'diagnoses' your issues and how much he gives you to work on...
I would suggest looking up Anthony Wellington online. He's not only a very good player, but he has a very deep understanding of the art of teaching.
He has a few lessons on Youtube and his website Bassology.net and he also has a spot in the 'Ask a pro' section. Read up on him and it will help you figure out what you need in a teacher. Anthony also gives private Skype lessons, I recommend taking at least 1. Notice how quickly he 'diagnoses' your issues and how much he gives you to work on...
Hmm.. Well I would suggest you would switch to the BASS teacher instead. The reason is (like said earlier), the guitar and the bass guitar are 2 different kind of instruments, both different techniques ánd very impornant : 2 different way of approaching..
Like you said yourself : You had to play a completely different way on the bass with the bass teacher, then with you guitar teacher.. Otherwise buy Roy Vogt's ''Teach Me Bass Guitar'' (if you have the money ofcourse), then you'll learn to play bass properly
Like you said yourself : You had to play a completely different way on the bass with the bass teacher, then with you guitar teacher.. Otherwise buy Roy Vogt's ''Teach Me Bass Guitar'' (if you have the money ofcourse), then you'll learn to play bass properly
Just cause a guy plays bass does not automatically make him superior as a teacher of bass.
assuming you had the correct notes in either positon,
If the teacher insisted that there is a 'right' and 'wrong' place to play it on the neck,
I would be a little wary.
OTHO If he explained the advantages/disadvantages and, backed up with accurate info
"this position requires less left hand movement, and would produce a different tone in this way..." ,
that's a different story...
Why not take lessons from both? I started lessons in May and my original teacher is outstanding. In July I met a local pro bass player while tooling around the used gear at Guitar Center and started lessons with him.
Both are amazing musicians, but they have very different influences and teaching styles. No good teacher should be threatened by that -- they became pros by studying under many different teachers themselves. Hope that helps!
Both are amazing musicians, but they have very different influences and teaching styles. No good teacher should be threatened by that -- they became pros by studying under many different teachers themselves. Hope that helps!
It doesn't matter where you play on the fret board as long as you play the right notes.
That said, sometimes it's more "efficient" to play a riff on a particular part of the fretboard, but that kind of varies from person to person anyway...
I agree that the best way to become a better bass player is to study with a bassist who can teach. The relationship with that teacher is important, but it's even more important that your instructor knows your instrument very well.
How long have you been playing bass? Is it your first instrument? How old are you?
When you were an absolute beginner on the bass, working with a guitarist was enough to get you started. You like your teacher, so that encourages you to go to lessons and (hopefully) practice your assignments. However, you are not an absolute beginner any more, right? I'd suggest working with a bassist. Perhaps you could stay in touch with your current teacher socially, and even stop in once in a while for a lesson or to play duets. He will enjoy seeing you progress, and appreciate that you want to remain in contact.
Good luck!
I played bass about five years ago and then sold it. I bought my new bass about a month and a half ago so I'm pretty much a beginner if you don't count my six years of percussion.I agree that the best way to become a better bass player is to study with a bassist who can teach. The relationship with that teacher is important, but it's even more important that your instructor knows your instrument very well.
How long have you been playing bass? Is it your first instrument? How old are you?
When you were an absolute beginner on the bass, working with a guitarist was enough to get you started. You like your teacher, so that encourages you to go to lessons and (hopefully) practice your assignments. However, you are not an absolute beginner any more, right? I'd suggest working with a bassist. Perhaps you could stay in touch with your current teacher socially, and even stop in once in a while for a lesson or to play duets. He will enjoy seeing you progress, and appreciate that you want to remain in contact.
Good luck!
I took my time and found an actual, well-qualified, bassist to learn from. A guitar player has a different approach to the instrument. They (mostly) lack, as well, the "bass" point of view. Yeah, I know, but I've been doing music for a loooong time and have made some useful observations along the way. Try to find a qualified bassist to teach you. Worth EVERY PENNY.
Josh
Josh
I know of a bass player who has toured with Smokey Robinson, BS&T, Billy Cobham, George Benson and he teaches, records, has his own music group and does music for clients like A&E, BET, ABC Sports, the NBA, ESPN and others. He studied with the same teacher I did- a guitar player who dabbled with bass, but has a degree in music, has done a lot of arranging & playing with various Milwaukee groups/jazz musicians.
It's not absolutely necessary but for bass-specific technique, a bass player as teacher has a different insight and usually, abilities.
If you have actually learned to play bass by studying with your current teacher, there's no reason to stop but learning bass-specific technique needs to come from someone else.
It's not absolutely necessary but for bass-specific technique, a bass player as teacher has a different insight and usually, abilities.
If you have actually learned to play bass by studying with your current teacher, there's no reason to stop but learning bass-specific technique needs to come from someone else.
