If you were starting today, what’s the best way to learn?

[Dood]

37 minutes ago, SumOne said:

I'm gonna disagree with the consensus here and say that Bass isn't an instrument you particularly need formal lessons and grades for (how many people here have done Bass grades vs people on a Piano forum? I'd say much more for Piano as it is more of a solo technical instrument that needs music reading) but Bass is a very 'sociable' instrument - you need to pay along with others to get the feel of what works with a band. So as soon as you can head along to a rehearsal with others, even to just listen in then try and do it.

 

Things like the 'Bass method' books are decent. And there are so many free online resources. I'd say paying for lessons is a 'nice to have' rather than essential.

 

Caveat being that I'm talking from my perspective as a gigging pub covers band sort of Bass player where I feel just listening to recordings to learn what to play, playing live for timing and knowing when to shut up are more important than reading music or knowing what Mode is playing. If you want to read music etc and play at west end musicals then formal training I'm sure it's very important. 

 

A lot of people equate lessons as just being about technique, reading music and theory. Yet all of the elements you mention I teach in lessons. The other day I was teaching recording techniques, another, soldering and electronics, the weekend I'll be setting up a video recording and editing software. My friday student is learning about stage craft ( and many of the points you've mentioned) and today a student is learning a quick way to remember all the notes on the bass neck. 

 

Genuinely, hand on heart, I learned the long and hard way. The internet didn't exist, my ear was honed dropping the needle on the vinyl. I had a long (previous) career in IT and have an obsession with audio technology and, I've picked up a stack of stuff on the way that I wish I knew sooner - and given the amount of questions I get about the same things, I figure everyone else does too - so, thats what I teach (as well as what folk would term 'the usual stuff').

 

Do we need formal lessons though? Not entirely no. I can draw a picture without going to art school, but for those who haven't been to art school, may never know what they are missing out on. - And no, in case it comes up, music theory doesn't ever  dillute one's identity on the instrument. That's gatekeeping BS.

[Dood]

1 minute ago, SteveXFR said:

 

Like those times your guitarist forgets what song you were playing as he goes in to a solo and drifts off in to a different chord progression. If you have the skills to spot it quickly and follow the daft b*****d you will save your band from many embarrassments. 

 

Or knowing when the song you are playing is totally killing the dance floor on that occasion and how to communicate quickly to seamlessly get out of it in to the next song! 

[SteveXFR]

17 minutes ago, Dood said:

 

Or knowing when the song you are playing is totally killing the dance floor on that occasion and how to communicate quickly to seamlessly get out of it in to the next song! 

 

I just throw a pick at the singer

[Shaggy]

Much sage advice on this thread (as ever on BC ) that I can't really add to.

 

Reading it though, kind of made me glad that when I started on bass, like a great many 16 year olds in 1977 it was forming a punk band in school.   We could barely play a note between us, but it was such incredible fun making an unholy noise together, creating something original together and (unknowingly) rapidly developing musically,  and also feeling that we were a part of some great tidal shift in music and culture that was currently happening.   I did buy a paperback tutor for bass from the early '70's with a flexi-disc, which was the only tuition I've had then or since.  It was some help - would have been more if I'd followed it properly.    By the time I became a half-decent player I'd (a) learned a great deal about band-craft and gigging and (b) become far more confident as a person - I'd been painfully shy before - which for me personally was the right way around to do it.

 

If starting now, I think my 16 year old self would be bewildered by the sheer amount of information available, and probably depressed by watching the "virtuoso" whizz-kids on YouTube (though my present self would tell him to ignore such cr@p) - not sure I'd have taken that first step to start. 

[Geek99]

1 hour ago, SumOne said:

I'm gonna disagree with the consensus here and say that Bass isn't an instrument you particularly need formal lessons and grades for (how many people here have done Bass grades vs people on a Piano forum? I'd say much more for Piano as it is more of a solo technical instrument that needs music reading) but Bass is a very 'sociable' instrument - you need to pay along with others to get the feel of what works with a band. So as soon as you can head along to a rehearsal with others, even to just listen in then try and do it.

 

Things like the 'Bass method' books are decent. And there are so many free online resources. I'd say paying for lessons is a 'nice to have' rather than essential.

 

Caveat being that I'm talking from my perspective as a gigging pub covers band sort of Bass player where I feel just listening to recordings to learn what to play, playing live for timing and knowing when to shut up are more important than reading music or knowing what Mode is playing. If you want to read music etc and play at west end musicals then formal training I'm sure it's very important. 

Not everyone had that level of natural talent. I certainly do not 

I respect your opinion, this isn’t talkbass. I just note that I, for one, needed and benefitted from guidance as to the “normal way” to play bass and not get into bad habits. 

[Linus27]

Very interesting topic and one size does not fit all as what works for one may not work for others. I think the first thing you need to decide is, do you want to learn to play bass or be a bassist as they are two totally different things. Learning to play bass is just a tick box and is very much like learning to drive a car, you might pass your test and get from A to B but still be a crap driver. Being a bassist is like being a racing driver, extremely competent, understanding the dynamics and physics and technique along with understanding ones own strengths and limitations.

 

When I started out playing bass nearly 40 years ago, I literally saw U2 at Live Aid and said, that's what I wanted to do. I then got into more music, got myself a bass and then spent the next two years learning to play every bass line to every song I could get my hands on. Some I could easily play and some were way above my ability but I improved and got there. I drowned myself in everything bass, watching music video's, reading magazines and studying as much as I could. The best advice I was given was don't limit yourself to one genre, be open minded and learn to play everything, even if you don't like the music or genre, there is always going to be something that the bass player can teach you. You basically need to be open minded and be a sponge and certainly don't form any prejudices, for example, anti pick, anti slap, fingers only, hate pop, hate punk etc. After two years or locking myself away, I came out, joined a band and learnt my craft from being on the road. I did have two lessons but they were a complete waste of time for me.

 

The rest is history as they say and I went on to be signed, have music on TV and adverts, toured, work with some big artists and have a great career. I put my success down to simply hard work, commitment and being open minded. My goals when I started out was to be a fretless bassist, have a song played on the radio and go on TOTP's. I did all of that (except TOTP as it had stopped by then) and way more. That is however my journey and things are very different these days but the basics are still exactly the same in my opinion, the more you play, the more you commit and the more you listen, the better you will become and the more you will learn. The good thing these days is there's so much resource out there, YouTube is such a valuable resource and tool for learning that wasn't available when I started. I had to record TOTP and The Tube on a Betamax and rewatch it again and again to learn.

 

Lessons can work and do work but in my opinion, they suit a certain type of person and certain way of learning. They can even be too restrictive and hold you back but for others, its the perfect way to learn. I would still personally put the best way to learn is to throw yourself in, open minded into studying all things bass by listening to as much as possible, watching as much as possible, read as much as possible, learn to train your ear, and play as much as possible, every day if you can.

 

One thing I would also add is there is no right or wrong way to play bass or play music. Some of the best musicians in the world have bad or unconventional technique, Jamerson for example with his one finger hook technique or Flea wrapping his thumb over the top all the time. It doesn't matter, as long as it works for you, it is not causing pain or injury and is efficient then play the way that works for you, innovation, creativity and the enjoyment of playing is way more important.

 

What I would do different, I would learn to read as that would have opened many more doors for me. I would also understand gear more. I was always a Jazz bass into an amp and that was in. I wished I'd discovered pedals sooner and the different ways to record bass.

Edited 6 hours ago by Linus27

[fretmeister]

When I started to learn to read in my forties it was a game changer.

 

It really did open up loads of playing opportunities. Just pitch up and play. No more worrying about if I had learned the wrong key or arrangement.

 

There’s endless community music groups around and often it’s only the bass and guitar players who can’t read. 
 

Far more chance of getting the gig if you can. And it really is not difficult to get to a grade 3 level.

 

5 mins a day of proper practice on reading and that’s achievable in a year.

[chris_b]

On 22/02/2026 at 07:31, Useless Eustace said:

 

If you were starting out today, how would you go about it?

 

 

What are you doing when you first play a musical instrument? I'm not talking about the guys being sent for lessons on piano or violin, by enthusiastic parents, but the average guy who has probably been inspired by a band or some songs. You want to play those songs with the band, so you chose an instrument, buy one and play along. That either works or it doesn't. If it works, and you are struck by that bolt of lightening, you start playing along with other songs, as many songs as you can find. Which is pretty easy these days, with YouTube etc. Before you know it (in this case) you're a bass player. Lessons can come later, if you want to get serious. It took me over 50 years to have my first lessons, so whether lessons are relevant or not depends on your ability to work things out. I can't think of any player I follow or rate who had lessons.

[Dad3353]

35 minutes ago, chris_b said:

... I can't think of any player I follow or rate who had lessons.

 

It's difficult to know how many have suffered from bad posture or hand/finger issues, or may even have had advice on how to reduce these health issues since acquiring 'bad habits'..? If they have had any modicum of financial success or media exposure, these issues could, maybe, have been addressed. How many 'unknowns' carry these, and other, 'bad habits' throughout their whole playing career (often cut short by physical problems, such as shoulder injury, or limited to light-weight instruments...)..?

On the other hand, one may sail along in youthful ignorance and/or stupid hubris until it's too late and the damage is permanent. It's a choice. 

[TheLowDown]

Well the first thing anyone wants to do is play their favourite songs, but I don't think just learning songs is the best way. I would learn some basic theory such as intervals and chords, proper fretting and plucking and holding the bass(including minimising injuries), learn the fretboard well, learn notation(not tabs). This way puts more meaning to the songs that you want to learn, and you can understand why a song is played the way it is. 

Being able to transcribe is also a massive plus.

Edited 7 hours ago by TheLowDown

[Dood]

1 hour ago, Linus27 said:

Very interesting topic and one size does not fit all as what works for one may not work for others. I think the first thing you need to decide is, do you want to learn to play bass or be a bassist as they are two totally different things. Learning to play bass is just a tick box and is very much like learning to drive a car, you might pass your test and get from A to B but still be a crap driver. Being a bassist is like being a racing driver, extremely competent, understanding the dynamics and physics and technique along with understanding ones own strengths and limitations.

 

{snip}

 

Lessons can work and do work but in my opinion, they suit a certain type of person and certain way of learning. They can even be too restrictive and hold you back but for others, its the perfect way to learn. I would still personally put the best way to learn is to throw yourself in, open minded into studying all things bass by listening to as much as possible, watching as much as possible, read as much as possible, learn to train your ear, and play as much as possible, every day if you can.

 

What I would do different, I would learn to read as that would have opened many more doors for me. I would also understand gear more. I was always a Jazz bass into an amp and that was in. I wished I'd discovered pedals sooner and the different ways to record bass.

 

Absolutely, one size definitely does not fit all - an argument often levelled at mainstream school teaching in general. However, on a 1-2-1 basis, if lessons are 'too restrictive' or 'hold a student back', then that is the teacher at fault. They haven't understood the students needs or are not experienced enough to cater to those needs. That said, personal drive is necessary for progress and if the horse doesn't want to be led to water or accept the water is there to help them.. 

 

 

 

Edited 6 hours ago by Dood
typo

[Linus27]

11 minutes ago, Dood said:

 

Absolutely, one size definitely does not fit all - an argument often levelled at mainstream school teaching in general. However, on a 1-2-1 basis, if lessons are 'too restrictive' or 'hold a student back', then that is the teacher at fault. They haven't understood the students needs or are not experienced enough to cater to those needs. That said, personal drive is necessary for progress and if the horse doesn't want to be led to water or accept the water is there to help them.. 

 

 

 

 

This 100% and as I was always told, its not the students fault that they don't understand what they are being taught, it just means the teacher hasn't explained it in a way that the student can understand. Its not always that simple or black and white as you do get students who don't want to learn or can't learn for one reason or another but the emphasis should be on the teacher to understand their students and their learning style.

[Dood]

7 minutes ago, Linus27 said:

 

This 100% and as I was always told, its not the students fault that they don't understand what they are being taught, it just means the teacher hasn't explained it in a way that the student can understand. Its not always that simple or black and white as you do get students who don't want to learn or can't learn for one reason or another but the emphasis should be on the teacher to understand their students and their learning style.

 

Yes, yes and yes!! I've been lucky enough to work with a wide range of students for many, many years - those at school, retirees, SEND, those with greater complex and specialised needs and even groups of sufferers of dementia. I slammed like on your post! 

 

I'm also a fan of that lil quote by that chap who was quite good with science: “If you can't explain it to a six year old, you don't understand it yourself.”

[Mrbigstuff]

10 hours ago, fretmeister said:

That’s not a fault of the classical system. That’s a fault of the student ignoring the art element of music and not going out and playing with others outside of the educational structure.

 

I absolutely agree that many classical only students don’t improvise because it’s not a genre that ever requires it.

 

That’s why I said I would also take jazz studies - jazz is the biggest use of improvisation and it is taught and encouraged.

 

Studying both is important but saying playing the line is only 10% just isn’t true. Bass generally requires far less improvisation outside of jazz as it’s used as a foundation for the rest. Playing the part right is always at least 90% of the job.

If playing the part right was 90% I’d still be gigging. Unfortunately I found it is 90% behaviour and social skills, 10% musical skills.

 

9 hours ago, SumOne said:

I'm gonna disagree with the consensus here and say that Bass isn't an instrument you particularly need formal lessons and grades for (how many people here have done Bass grades vs people on a Piano forum? I'd say much more for Piano as it is more of a solo technical instrument that needs music reading) but Bass is a very 'sociable' instrument - you need to pay along with others to get the feel of what works with a band. So as soon as you can head along to a rehearsal with others, even to just listen in then try and do it.

 

Things like the 'Bass method' books are decent. And there are so many free online resources. I'd say paying for lessons is a 'nice to have' rather than essential.

 

Caveat being that I'm talking from my perspective as a gigging pub covers band sort of Bass player where I feel just listening to recordings to learn what to play, playing live for timing and knowing when to shut up are more important than reading music or knowing what Mode is playing. If you want to read music etc and play at west end musicals then formal training I'm sure it's very important. 

 

Don’t limit your education to genres or instruments, you’re only putting hurdles in the way. Learn music!

 

Take the same approach no matter the genre or instruments, music is still only made up of rhythm, harmony and melody.

[SteveXFR]

Definitely agree on nit limiting yourself to one genre. I did, it was a mistake. Im a huge metal fan and all my favourite metal musicians have a background in either jazz or classical. 

[SumOne]

38 minutes ago, Mrbigstuff said:

 

 

Don’t limit your education to genres or instruments, you’re only putting hurdles in the way. Learn music!

 

Take the same approach no matter the genre or instruments, music is still only made up of rhythm, harmony and melody.

 

 

....well, I'm currently having piano lessons. And I DJ/produce DnB and Techno as well as being in a Ska/Reggae band playing Bass and occasional keys. And I dep Bass for a rock band. So there is that.

Edited 1 hour ago by SumOne

[Reggaebass]

I had lessons from the age of about 15, and if I was starting out again I’d do exactly the same thing, I think it set me on the right path of how to learn, my teacher played mainly blues so I learned a lot of that first aswell as doing my own thing with reggae, I was also taught how to read music which is one thing I didn’t continue with, sometimes I wish I had but it hasn’t stopped me from playing anything I wanted, there’s no harm in just trying a few lessons just to see how you get on 

[Useless Eustace]

8 hours ago, Shaggy said:

 

 

If starting now, I think my 16 year old self would be bewildered by the sheer amount of information available, and probably depressed by watching the "virtuoso" whizz-kids on YouTube (though my present self would tell him to ignore such cr@p) - not sure I'd have taken that first step to start. 

 

 

Hahaha, I remember first seeing that little girl at 9 years old???

Lovely to watch, but did make think why bother!   

[iainbass]

In addition to bass I can play a solid drum beat and I can also play a couple of additional instruments not so well. After all that lot I reckon bass guitar is probably the easiest 'professional' instrument you can learn to play and, sound competent without having to study much. 

 

U could if you were so inclined learn a bit and join a country band and play two step for the rest of ur days...probably the easiest genre there is. In fact I know one guy who kind of did just that. But for most that wouldn't be enough. But how to progress? What's the plan? Its not that easy.