Coilte

[quote name='bassjim' timestamp='1490799973' post='3268156']
Learn some theory from a good teacher = very good idea. Then you can teach yourself.
[/quote]

Agreed. However, for someone starting out, I think where a good teacher is really beneficial is on learning technique...especially SAFE technique. Youtube or the internet cannot observe and advise on your technique.

Obviously, a decent teacher will teach a little of every aspect of playing.

Some people (like myself) dip in and out of taking lessons, i.e. take say, a half a dozen...then go it alone for a while...then return for a top up. Rinse and repeat. Best of both worlds.

[quote name='leftybassman392' timestamp='1490797716' post='3268121']
It's not good enough IMHO to say not everybody knows what they want. [/quote]

Just to be clear : Perhaps earlier, I should have said that not everyone knows what they.. [b]need[/b]. Of course everyone will know what they want as far as goals etc are concerned, but may lack the knowledge of what's required to achieve them. So they put their trust in the teacher to guide them on the learning journey.

[quote name='ambient' timestamp='1490796042' post='3268101']
Needs to fulfill his ambitions, also what he wants to learn. One guy just comes to me for advice on playing lines that he's learning. He doesn't know anything about harmony, he has no knowledge about the fretboard or what notes he's playing, even, he doesn't want to learn that. So I sit with him and help him learn a bass line, he's happy, even if it goes completely against my own beliefs.
[/quote]

I accept your point here. If a guy does not want to accept guidance, then there is nothing you can do about this, except to give him what he requires.

I am talking about the scenario where a guy buys a bass for the first time. Next day he goes for lessons expecting to be the next Jack Bruce over night. The teacher needs to incorporate a a balancing act to.. 1. Keep him motivated and interested enough to come back for more lessons. 2. Keep him on the straight and narrow road towards his goal.

[[quote name='ambient' timestamp='1490795786' post='3268092']
My eldest student is 79, he's absolutely no desire or ambition to play in a band. He just enjoys learning to play. His previous 'tutor', just spent 6 months teaching him bass lines from TAB. I started by showing him the notes, we progressed on to triads and we're now looking at walking bass. He's a huge Sinatra and jazz fan. Yesterday we spent an hour with him playing the melody to a couple of tunes, all of me and I've got you under my skin, I was playing the chords under him on my bass. The smile in his face, and him singing and dancing down the hall as he saw me out made my day.
[/quote]

Well done !! You sound like the ideal teacher.

[quote name='ambient' timestamp='1490794721' post='3268066']
I disagree, it's part of getting to know the student. You can't as a teacher assume the student knows something, the only way to find something out is to ask.

I wouldn't automatically assume a student wants to spend time learning to read for instance, so I would ask them. It's part of the question, what do YOU want to learn, it's after all their lesson and time and money, so it's not for me to tell them what I want to teach them, merely advise them.
[/quote]

Well...I did mention that asking a student what their goals and aspirations were are important. This is different to asking them what they want to learn. I agree that learning to read may not be appropriate for some. Once a teacher is equipped with the pupil's goals and aspirations, then it is his (the teacher's) job to teach the student what he [b]needs[/b] to learn.

[quote name='Sammers' timestamp='1490794130' post='3268055'] I never knew the questions to ask to get the answers I needed either.[/quote]

Apart from asking a question(s) about something you are being taught, and don't understand, the only other question you [i]should[/i] need to ask a teacher is..."can you teach me to play the bass...". If the answer is .."yes"..then a good teacher will equip him/herself with the information (your goals, aspirations etc) needed to provide you with good constructive lessons.

[quote name='Grangur' timestamp='1490793513' post='3268046']
And a good teacher will know what questions to ask to probe to get the right action plan together. I'm afraid I don't think I know what those questions are in my case.
[/quote]

Agreed. Playing the bass to a high degree and teaching others how to play, are two TOTALLY different skills.

[quote name='mikel' timestamp='1490793304' post='3268040']
Never had a tutor. Back in the day there was no such thing, not that I was aware of anyway. It was rock and roll and it was being made up on the spot. Learned to play bass the same way I learned the drums, by listening and practice. Going to a tutor would have made it too much like school, something I had to do, rather than breaking the rules and doing something that was "Ours" not the establishments. Never deliberately played a scale or felt the need to learn to read music. Still playing and loving it after 50 years.
[/quote]

At 62 years old, I learned exactly the same way as yourself. This did not stop me going for lessons later in life. I regard the time and money spent on lessons as a major benefit. I too am still playing...only better...since I took lessons.

[quote name='crompers' timestamp='1490793149' post='3268038']
I think it is fair enough to ask what music they are into, what they want to play and what the ultimate goal is (play for yourself, play in a band)

I would then expect them to have some techniques to teach you to help you get there.
[/quote]

Yes. In order to keep the pupil interested and motivated, a teacher would ask the pupil about his/her's musical interests.

[quote name='ambient' timestamp='1490791941' post='3268010']
But surely you have to know what it is you want to learn for, in order that they can help you?
[/quote]

No..not necessarily. Someone completely new to bass and learning to play, will not know where to start. All they know is that they want to learn to play. It is up to the teacher to find out what the pupil's goals are and then advise/teach accordingly. This is what I meant earlier when I mentioned the importance of getting a [i]good [/i]teacher. It is not enough to be a good player and know your stuff if you don't have the teaching skill.

IMO, if a teacher has to ask a pupil what to teach...it's time to look for another teacher.

I definitely think that a tutor is very beneficial. There is nothing like sitting knee to knee with a real live teacher. IMO you learn much faster with a teacher. Having said that, it is important to get a teacher who you gel with. You seem to have done this. There are lots of people teaching, who are great players and know their stuff, but at the same time lack the skill to convey that knowledge.

I have had some great, and not so great teachers, so it is important to choose carefully, and not be afraid to move on if a teacher is not working out for you.

A great album of Miles' that does not get mentioned very often is "Miles In The Sky" with Ron Carter on (electric) bass.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cY96aBGZv9I

Spoonful. (I love CREAM'S version).

[quote name='Thunderbird' timestamp='1490553400' post='3265925']
true but I tried to order some and it came up at £24 posted on ebay and I don't think they sell directly to the UK
[/quote]

AFAIK there are other products on the market, that do the exact same thing, but don't have the "Gorgomite" brand name. FWIW, the people I spoke to had the item (Gorgomite itself) posted to Ireland for the equivalent of about $10.


Looks like they DO ship to the U.K...if you get in before Brexit..!!!

http://gorgomyte.com/Puchase4.html

[quote name='gafbass02' timestamp='1490537314' post='3265755']
Can't recommend it highly enough, used it for years and love the stuff
[/quote]

Glad someone's heard of it. Two guitarists and a bassist I know, also recommended it. Going to give it a try. Cant go wrong... for the price.

A great album, though does not get as much mention as it deserves.

As we are on the subject of fretboard cleaning...has anyone tried "Gorgomite" ? It claims to clean both fretboard and frets...[i]at the same time !![/i] This eliminates the need for masking the board when cleaning the frets ?

http://gorgomyte.com/index.html

[quote name='Skybone' timestamp='1490431989' post='3265065']
Some people think it's cool to not look after their guitars, kind of a "relic" vibe.[/quote]


True...the famous quote.."the funk is in the gunk"...by James Jamerson, springs to mind. Personally, I'm with the OP here. I can't understand why/how people let so much gunk build up.

[quote name='RhysP' timestamp='1490270537' post='3263757']
Scratching it is all I do with it these days.
[/quote]

So...your "instrument" is road worn ?

[quote name='Downdown' timestamp='1489835592' post='3260176']
Adrenalin?
[/quote]

I'm no expert, but I'm inclined to agree. Besides, to get even the smallest benefit from a cardiovascular "work out".. (if indeed your experience qualifies as such).. the heart rate has to be continuously maintained for a long(ish) period (minimum twenty minutes).

https://www.healthstatus.com/health_blog/wellness/cardio-exercise-definition-and-benefits/

[quote name='crompers' timestamp='1489758001' post='3259539']
Up to the last few days i was practicing a lot, say 2 hours a day and yes I was using my grip in particular to fret
[/quote]

This could be the cause of your problem.

Try breaking up the practice time into one hour sessions then take a break. This is beneficial for both brain and hands/wrists/fingers alike.

Incorporate playing [u]without[/u] the thumb behind the neck for a couple of minutes, just to get an idea of how much ( or little..) actual pressure is required to fret a note cleanly. Do this, briefly a few times during the course of your practice, until the fingers "get the message" about how much pressure to apply.

I'd agree with the suggestion to first...[b]see a doctor. [/b] Afterwards, when you get the OK to resume playing, you should revisit your technique. Below is a clip that deals with safe left hand technique.

Having said the above, it is quite possible that your problem is not bass related, but that playing simply aggravates it.

Either way, I hope you recover soon.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VRkSsapYYsA

For me it started with Glenn Cornick in Jethro Tull, followed closely by Peter Cetera on the early Chicago albums.

Flats are not really expensive ..(initially...yes..).. when you consider that they can last for up to ten years...longer in some cases.

[quote name='LewisK1975' timestamp='1487592870' post='3240947']
Interesting point with number 2. A certain Mr Steve Harris famously uses flatwounds and has them changed before every gig / session. I guess for him then it's about the feel of flats rather than the sound?
[/quote]

Far be it from me to question what Mr. Harris does. However, the above does not make sense to me. As for the feel...some flats actually feel a bit sticky for a while, until they are broken in.