iconic Posted February 8, 2012 Share Posted February 8, 2012 Ok I thought I'd take some bass lessons, got recommended to a local guy who is known face in the local music scene and has played with some 'names'....the problem is I don't think he is 'bass' player per se, he has a fantastic collection of guitars but just the one bass, all be it a lovely old vintage Fender P and does play crushingly well be it bass or guitar. But.....I don't seem to getting anything from the lessons, apart from being told that I'm not clean enough and not spanning my pinkies enough over the frets and that I rely on quick shifting of my left hand instead....bad habit I know...but I'm self taught. ....I was then ticked off for a wandering muting thumb on my fingering hand, now this goes against everything I hold dear about bass playing and when I mentioned it as to stop harmonic ringing of unplayed open strings I was given a look of puzzlement? any suggestions, do I plug on as it may get better latter on, as we both need to know each other or do I get a full blown bass teacher from further afield? To my mind a lead guitar and a bass are two different instruments only related by the fact they look similar and have strings, it ends there for me and I have zero interest in those cat string things? cheers guys Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jellyfish Posted February 8, 2012 Share Posted February 8, 2012 I was in a similar situation, as i'm sure many others on here might have been at some point. I would 100% recommend that you look for a teacher who actually plays the bass as his main instrument. My old teacher was a guitar player, and not a bad one at that. But I wasn't getting what I wanted from the lessons. In fact, I wasn't even taught correct technique properly and my playing wasn't much better for having had those lessons. Although you seem to be experienced with bass (from looking at your gear list ), there's nothing that really compares to having another bass player to bounce ideas off and ask questions, or at least that was the case for me. I found a bass teacher here off Basschat and couldn't be happier. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wylie Posted February 8, 2012 Share Posted February 8, 2012 My opinion, a different teacher, the sooner the better. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JTUK Posted February 8, 2012 Share Posted February 8, 2012 Look for someone else. Lessons can mean anything and everything...and it is what you come away with that is important. It doesn't seem this is working on any real level so therefore look for someone else...!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marvin Posted February 8, 2012 Share Posted February 8, 2012 [quote name='JTUK' timestamp='1328730463' post='1531896'] Look for someone else. Lessons can mean anything and everything...and it is what you come away with that is important. It doesn't seem this is working on any real level so therefore look for someone else...!! [/quote] Totally agree. I gave up on lessons with a tutor as I wasn't getting anything from it. There seemed little point on spending good money on something that didn't seem to get me any further. Unfortunately, bass tutors are rare and good ones are even rarer that and I'm not really in a position to get lessons now Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sarah thomas Posted February 8, 2012 Share Posted February 8, 2012 There's not much point in having lessons if they are not helping you get better. You could tell your teacher what sort of thing you want to learn and you could tell them what level of criticism you're happy with - if you think it's worth a go. And in the meantime, look for a bass player to teach you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BassBunny Posted February 8, 2012 Share Posted February 8, 2012 As someone who converted from Guitar to Bass, i neede a good teacher to get rid of my bad habits. Definately a different ballgame playing Bass from guitar. If the teacher doesn't recognise a known method of "muting", that would set alarm bells ringing for me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pentode Posted February 8, 2012 Share Posted February 8, 2012 Look for somebody else my friend - a dedicated bass teacher. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dood Posted February 8, 2012 Share Posted February 8, 2012 Hi Iconic, where in Norfolk are you? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StraightSix Posted February 8, 2012 Share Posted February 8, 2012 [quote name='dood' timestamp='1328731583' post='1531923'] Hi Iconic, where in Norfolk are you? [/quote] ...funny...I was about to recommend the OP had a look here: http://basschat.co.uk/topic/109296-bass-and-guitar-tutor-teacher-norwich/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
icastle Posted February 8, 2012 Share Posted February 8, 2012 There are obviously certain similarities between a bass guitar and a 6 string guitar, but not enough to make the experiences of one translate seamlessly to the other without a lot of hard work. I can nearky always pick out a bass player who's actually a guitarist, and I don't mean that in a nasty or snobby way, it just generally doesn't quite 'work' is all. In all fairness, I guess that the way I play 6 string guitar would give me away to a dedicated guitarist in exactly the same manner. If you're gonna spend hard earned cash on lessons then it's really in your own interests to find a bass guitar teacher who specialises in that particular field as opposed to a guitar teacher who plays a bit of bass as a sideline. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dood Posted February 8, 2012 Share Posted February 8, 2012 Thank you StraightSix! Much appreciated! Iconic, I'd be happy for you to come over to my studio for a 1-2-1. Feel free to ping me a PM. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StraightSix Posted February 8, 2012 Share Posted February 8, 2012 Hey dood - I've just noticed your post count Do you ever sleep...? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dood Posted February 8, 2012 Share Posted February 8, 2012 Predator never sleeps! ;0) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dood Posted February 8, 2012 Share Posted February 8, 2012 Oh wow, first time i've noticed... The head of my little predator dude is missing! <<<<<<<<<<< must edit! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marvin Posted February 8, 2012 Share Posted February 8, 2012 [quote name='dood' timestamp='1328733823' post='1531979'] Oh wow, first time i've noticed... The head of my little predator dude is missing! <<<<<<<<<<< must edit! [/quote] I'd get onto the people who run the site and complain Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dood Posted February 8, 2012 Share Posted February 8, 2012 [quote name='Marvin' timestamp='1328733874' post='1531980'] I'd get onto the people who run the site and complain [/quote] I know! Then when I've done that, I'll have a moderator fired! It's..... It's..... An outrage! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve G Posted February 8, 2012 Share Posted February 8, 2012 Hi Iconic, I can definitely recommend Dood! Just started with him and he has really fired both my enthusiasm and desire to progress. Give him a call, you won't regret it i'm sure. Really nice guy too! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
icastle Posted February 8, 2012 Share Posted February 8, 2012 [quote name='Steve G' timestamp='1328734484' post='1531989'] Really nice guy too! [/quote] ...even if his head has dropped off... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gust0o Posted February 8, 2012 Share Posted February 8, 2012 Lessons from dood?! You'll be playing technical progressive death melody metal on a headless 7-string before you know it Joshing aside dood is, well, a total dude. That's a brilliant offer Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve G Posted February 8, 2012 Share Posted February 8, 2012 [quote name='Gust0o' timestamp='1328734870' post='1531998'] Lessons from dood?! You'll be playing technical progressive death melody metal on a headless 7-string before you know it [/quote] I think we're covering that next lesson Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gary mac Posted February 8, 2012 Share Posted February 8, 2012 Yes, time to move on to a new teacher. Just the fact that you are questioning it, I guess means that you know it's not working or even likely to long term. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iconic Posted February 8, 2012 Author Share Posted February 8, 2012 Thanks guys, new teacher needed, dood got a pm Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charic Posted February 8, 2012 Share Posted February 8, 2012 Another recommendation for dood. Enjoy it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dood Posted February 8, 2012 Share Posted February 8, 2012 Ok ok ok guys, the cash is in the post! ;0) No honestly, I genuinely mean this: Thank you for the kind words, it's very much appreciated and I'm happy that you've enjoyed my sessions as much as I have delivering. I love my job and can't think of anything better than playing Bass all day and sharing the low end goodness! Iconic, I've ping'd you a reply back. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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