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Can you learn the bass without a teacher?

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Comments

  • #32
    setanta74
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 388 ✭✭setanta74


    Fair point Malice.

    Just on tabs I know I used to get hung up on them a bit and try and learn a song perfectly. This was a head wreck and eventually I gave up and just got the main gist of a song and then started my own improvs and runs.

    Much more fun and helps to develop your own playing style.


    ...or maybe i'm just lazy;)


  • #33
    JonasBridgous
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3 ✭JonasBridgous


    You can check out my youtube channel for many videos of my playing.

    http://www.youtube.com/user/JonasBridgous


  • #34
    HxGH
    Closed Accounts Posts: 767 ✭✭✭HxGH


    Of course you can.
    It's a fun and simple instrument.
    Many self-teaching resources available.
    Online/book form.
    Head down to your local library or just google it.

    Best of luck.


  • #35
    Tar.Aldarion
    Moderators, Science, Health & Environment Moderators, Social & Fun Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 60,115 Mod ✭✭✭✭Tar.Aldarion


    You can indeed, as my friends did. None of us took guitar or bass lessons at all, you just play what you like. I started off with a metallica tab book and took it from there


  • #36
    Rigsby
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,457 ✭✭✭Rigsby


    HxGH wrote: »
    It's a fun and simple instrument.

    I feel I have to comment on this ( the "simple" part ). I have seen this mentioned many times. Like any instrument, bass can be as easy or as hard to play, depending on the music played, and how far you want to go with the instrument. Granted, bass is fairly easy to get up and running with. You can play roots and fives till the cows come home, and it will fit nicely. However if you want to move on from that and play for example, the music of "Steely Dan", that is a different matter altogether. I challenge you to tell me that this is easy. When people make remarks like yours, they are usually referring to the type of music being played rather than the instrument itself. ;)


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  • #37
    HxGH
    Closed Accounts Posts: 767 ✭✭✭HxGH


    Rigsby wrote: »
    I feel I have to comment on this ( the "simple" part ). I have seen this mentioned many times. Like any instrument, bass can be as easy or as hard to play, depending on the music played, and how far you want to go with the instrument. Granted, bass is fairly easy to get up and running with. You can play roots and fives till the cows come home, and it will fit nicely. However if you want to move on from that and play for example, the music of "Steely Dan", that is a different matter altogether. I challenge you to tell me that this is easy. When people make remarks like yours, they are usually referring to the type of music being played rather than the instrument itself. ;)

    Obviously some people have different learning abilities.
    I was more referring to the accessibility, that you can just pick it up for 10 minutes a day and put it back in the corner.
    While a piano on the other hand sits there, mocking you, taking up space with a high price tag, so you wish you never bought it! That is all...


  • #38
    Rigsby
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,457 ✭✭✭Rigsby


    HxGH wrote: »
    Obviously some people have different learning abilities.
    I was more referring to the accessibility, that you can just pick it up for 10 minutes a day and put it back in the corner.
    While a piano on the other hand sits there, mocking you, taking up space with a high price tag, so you wish you never bought it! That is all...

    In that case I apologise. I interpreted "simple" as meaning easy to play, as apart from being to hand or accessible. :)


  • #39
    HxGH
    Closed Accounts Posts: 767 ✭✭✭HxGH


    Rigsby wrote: »
    In that case I apologise. I interpreted "simple" as meaning easy to play, as apart from being to hand or accessible. :)

    No apology required my fellow boardsman :)

    Good day to you.


  • #40
    setanta74
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 388 ✭✭setanta74


    HxGH wrote: »
    Obviously some people have different learning abilities.
    I was more referring to the accessibility, that you can just pick it up for 10 minutes a day and put it back in the corner.
    While a piano on the other hand sits there, mocking you, taking up space with a high price tag, so you wish you never bought it! That is all...

    Haha...I can relate to this. Bought a doublebass once, it definately stood in the corner laughing at me and my inability to give it the time and love it deserved. Ended up selling the fecker. Just not enough hours in the day!!!


  • #41
    Rigsby
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,457 ✭✭✭Rigsby


    setanta74 wrote: »
    Just not enough hours in the day!!!

    I suppose that could be said about any instrument. Regardless of it's size, an instrument requires lots of time and patience in order to become any way proficient on it...even the humble tin whistle. ;)


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  • #42
    Fandango
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 795 ✭✭✭Fandango


    Learning yourself is good and bad. Good as you do it at your own pace, learn to play in a way you feel comfortable and through songs you personally like. Bad as you can get into bad habits that may or may not affect your play when you get to a more advanced stage. The dmanlamius is very good alright. I would also suggest getting or downloading the grade books as they can be quite helpful also. I did lessons myself at the very start but my tutor had a habit of zoning out and spending 4/5ths of the lesson jamming away to himself but a good tutor can definately help you get going. The best way to learn tho is by learning songs you like as it keeps it from getting too boring when its theory galore and your also learning the way the basslines are written in the songs which is the most important thing imo.


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