Bass is extremely fun and satisfying to play, providing one of the most important functions in music. It’s a critical part of almost any band, in countless genres of music. Whether your dream is to tour and record, or simply play for your own enjoyment, finding the right beginner bass lessons and instructions can make the process much more enjoyable. The more you know about the bass and the more comfortable you are with it, the more you will work and the more fun you will have. Whether you like rock, metal, funk, or jazz, there are basics for learning to play the bass that will help you regardless of genre. The purpose of this article is to help you know what to look for when choosing a bass instruction method or teacher.
Naturally, the actual instructor (or perhaps the author) is an important factor. There are a few things to look for in a teacher, some of which you may need to ask directly. Are they hired to play professionally by a number of different artists? Remember that almost every band needs a bass player, and this means that there are hundreds of people who “play bass in a band.” Many will call themselves professionals and offer to teach, without much experience or a solid foundation. Look for someone who is or has been hired to play in a variety of situations, the higher the level (pro tours, recording etc.) usually the better as it means they know what it takes to sound good in a variety of situations, and reach the level you would like to reach.
It is important that your teacher or method of choice demonstrate proper physical bass playing technique, not only for speed and sound, but also for ergonomics. With poor posture or bad gaming habits, it can be frighteningly easy to develop everything from basic pain to real issues like carpal tunnel syndrome. Be sure to develop good habits early on, although it can be tempting to dive in and play. Although everyone has a different constitution and it is not always possible to “copy” someone else in terms of good posture, a good teacher or course will cover the fundamental principles of sound technique.
Of course, you’ll also want your bass instruction to cover the technical aspects of speed and sound development. While your particular bass, amp, strings, and other gear naturally influence the sound, your hands have an incredible range of tone control. A good teacher or course will cover the different types of picking (fingerstyle, tapping, thumb playing, playing closer to the bridge or neck, etc.), muting, fretting, and all the physical aspects of creating a variety. of great sounds from the same instrument. While he’ll want to develop speed, quality instructors will show him how to play from slow to fast while maintaining a strong, even sound across all strings.
Make sure your teacher or course has a strong background in music theory and can provide you with a good foundation. There will be a wide range of interests among those of you reading this, from those who find music theory fascinating to those who want nothing to do with it. I promise you that learning some of the basics will be so helpful and will help you play so much that you will be glad you learned it. Instead of having to memorize your favorite basslines and songs note-for-note and figure out fingering patterns, when you can see the “big picture” you’ll speed up your progress by light years. Literally thousands of your favorite songs fit into musical formulas that you will be able to recognize, understand, and most importantly know how to play when you have a basic foundation of the scales and chords that most songs are based on.
One of the most fun things about playing the bass is the instrument’s ability to generate a rhythm. There’s a lot more to this than just playing “on time”, although that should be covered by your teacher as well. Rhythm is what makes music feel good, and bass plays a huge role in creating it. This has a lot to do with the duration of the notes, how you attack them, and the general attitude or energy in your playing. Few things are more fun than making the beat for a band, and few qualities are more beloved by your bandmates and by the audience. Watch videos online of players like Victor Wooten or Marcus Miller playing solos and pay attention to how the rhythm feels. Make sure your teacher can learn and explain the physical and mental aspects involved in creating one.
Speaking of groove, perhaps the best way to develop it is also the most fun, which is to play with drummers and rhythm sections who know how to groove hard. As well as feeling great, this will naturally adjust your own playing as you learn to listen and “lock in” with the time and rhythm that other musicians generate. Once the feeling is deeply embedded in your hands and body, you can express it on the instrument yourself. A good teacher or method will provide you with, or be able to help you find resources for, this (there are lots of great records to play along with, as well as specifically designed “play along” tracks where the bass can be removed).
Last but not least, you’ll want a teacher or course that can provide the right balance of moving at your own pace while also being able to push you to the next level. Moving too fast will only make you frustrated and wasting money, while moving too slow or not having enough variety will make you feel bored.
Perhaps the best integration of all these concepts in the most effective and complete way has been done by a seasoned practitioner named Roy Vogt. His DVD course covers all the points and more: he’s a world-class hard-working musician, a great physical and theoretical background, discussions of rhythm, sound and technique, blended audio and visual examples, and playing tracks with a professional rhythm section. combined with his own performance. Being a digital course, you can progress at your own pace (from basic to quite advanced) and play the lessons as many times as you want.
There’s also access to an online forum that allows you to ask questions and post videos of yourself playing the game. Most high end pros will charge in the $50-$100 per lesson range, so having such a comprehensive course to revisit an unlimited number of times makes it a great investment, or even a solid add-on. for whatever studio you are currently in. As someone who plays and teaches professionally this course is very impressive.
