What to look for in a Bass Instructor

[fresnorich]

1. make sure he has a bass

+1

My parents bought me a gift certificate for lessons at a local shop, but when I started the first lesson I quickly realized that my instructor was actually a guitar player who could also play bass.

As soon as he saw that I was beyond the typical newbie, he tried to talk me into taking guitar lessons instead, insisting that it would make me a better musician and that I could always apply what I learned to bass playing if I wanted to.

I was disappointed because I wanted to take lessons from an actual Bass Player.

I called the shop before my next lesson and told them that my wife wanted to learn guitar and would be taking my place for the remaining lessons.

 

[bonzo]

I tossed all my metronomes and bought a drum machine. Boss Dr-880, and oh man...I NEVER EVER wanna play with a metronome again.
If ya can't get a drummer, a good drum machine is the next best thing.

I've been thinking about getting a drum machine. Can you give me some info on this one? Easy to use etc...Any help would be appreciated Thanks.

JM

 

[ras1983]

you don't have to use drum machines, you can use a program like sony acid with drum loops, and then get something like the steinberg bbox to program your own beats.

this is a good point, my teacher always says that practicing with a drum loop of some sort gives a player the experience of playing with drums.

 

[bassmonkey]

If we are talking about feel here, then how does a drum machine give you that. In essence it is just a fancy metronome. Surely the only way to get feel is to play with a real drummer.

 

[ras1983]

If we are talking about feel here, then how does a drum machine give you that. In essence it is just a fancy metronome. Surely the only way to get feel is to play with a real drummer.

thats true, but you can't just decide to play with a real drummer when you feel like practicing. the next best thing is a drum machine of some sort, be it a virtual one or a physical one.

on a side note, Aebersold play-alongs are great for practicing feel. they have a real band (many of them being the top jazz musicians of the era) playing real standards. the bass is panned to the left, piano to the right, and drums centred.

 

[koogie2k]

My daughter has a programmable electric kit....when she isn't around, I pop on something and play....

I do use a metronome....when playing guitar. I don't with a bass. The Dr. Jeckyl in me uses the metronome to play precise runs and all shreddy type stuff....Mr. Hyde in me goes with the flow and if I make a mistake....make it look like you meant to do it.

My instructor does not harp about the metronome.....

 

[bassmonkey]

thats true, but you can't just decide to play with a real drummer when you feel like practicing. the next best thing is a drum machine of some sort, be it a virtual one or a physical one.

I appreciate that. But that wasn't the point I was trying to make. I was pointing out that a drum machine is really nothing more than a metronome with some sounds on it. The real feel of interacting with a human drummer can not be had from a machine. I just wonder whether people are kidding themselves when they buy drum machines, when in actual fact they are just getting a fancy metronome.

BTW I am thinking of getting a drum machine currently.

 

[Mobay45]

I appreciate that. But that wasn't the point I was trying to make. I was pointing out that a drum machine is really nothing more than a metronome with some sounds on it. The real feel of interacting with a human drummer can not be had from a machine. I just wonder whether people are kidding themselves when they buy drum machines, when in actual fact they are just getting a fancy metronome.

BTW I am thinking of getting a drum machine currently.

I would think the difference would be that a metronome only counts on the beat as oppossed to a drum track where you could hear some sychopated rhythms. That's where the machine would come in handy. Also, the drum track would give you a better feel for the one.

Anyway, it's way more fun to play with a drum track.

 

[strummer]

I occasionally take lessons, and the great thing about my teacher is that he has this compulsion to know all kinds of diffenent techniques. He is a solid music teacher, sure, but what sets him apart is that he doesn´t try to make me use "his" technique, but instead he works with me on developing the techniques I have used for so long into something better.

Another big issue is that he doesn´t tell a lot of "stories". When it's lesson time we work. Period.

Oh, and he is always 100% focused on work, always has amps, drum machines and other equipment in perfect condition, the lesson planned in advance (either I have something I demand we focus on, and if not we continue working on the long-term plan) ant hte best attitude ever.

Finally, he never ever tries to show off (unless I ask him to, which happens )

About metronomes, drum machines and such: When beginning to learn a new song I don't use a drum machine, but when I have some control over the structure, difficlut fingerings and so on I go drum machine. I am equally comfortable with a machine and a real drummer. I have a simple zoom 123 which has great feel

 

[bassmonkey]

I would think the difference would be that a metronome only counts on the beat as oppossed to a drum track where you could hear some sychopated rhythms. That's where the machine would come in handy. Also, the drum track would give you a better feel for the one.

Very good point Larry, I hadn't thought about that. Do you ever find that a distraction when you are trying to practice though? The click is simple and doesn't get in the way of anything.

 

[Mobay45]

Very good point Larry, I hadn't thought about that. Do you ever find that a distraction when you are trying to practice though? The click is simple and doesn't get in the way of anything.

Brian, I'm not going to lie to you. I don't use a metronome or a drum machine, I was just trying to make a point. I usually play along to CDs when I practice. When I use to practice piano or trumpet, I would use a metronome but that's because that was before the invention of drum machines.

Although I think I would use a drum machine over a metronome because that get's you used to listening for the one mixed in with the other things going on in the drum pattern. I know that some metronomes have a loud click on the one, but that still doesn't account for all the other sounds both on and off the beat in between when playing with a drummer.

 

[tkarter]

I use a metronome beating on 2 & 4.

tk

 

[Mobay45]

I use a metronome beating on 2 & 4.

tk

How do you know it's not 1 & 3?

 

[tkarter]

How do you know it's not 1 & 3?

You set the metronome at half speed and count 1-1-2-3-4.

tk

 

[ras1983]

this has actually turned into quite an interesting thread.

bassmonkey, i see what you are saying, and i agree with you. a drummachine can at times seem like a glorified metronome, but once you know how to program some seriously synchopated rythms, you're all set. it certainly takes a while to get used to. one thing i found is my understanding of a drummer's role has changed drastically since i started using a virtual drum machine. now that i program the rythms, i am gaining more of an understanding of how the beats come together.

 

[tkarter]

It is fun to play with drums. The drummer isn't the only one in the band that needs to know how to count to 4.

tk

 

[bassmonkey]

Brian, I'm not going to lie to you.

Hey, Larry, I never thought you would.

 

[Mobay45]

Hey, Larry, I never thought you would.

That's just something us southerner's say instead of "Let me assure you....".

 

[Moose308]

this has actually turned into quite an interesting thread. .

Thanks. Umm. HEY! Wait a second!


Well, since this thread seems to have gone entirely off track, I might as well join in. I have only briefly played with a drum machine. I must admit, on first use, it seemed a lot like a glorified metronome. Perhaps I simply didn't give it enough chance. From the way you guys are talking, can I assume that you can actually make them play meaningful lines?

One of the issues I had with the canned patterns in the machine I tried was that the drumlines didn't really sound like anything. I would think that it would be much more useful to have the actual drum pattern from a real song to play to, for changes and the like. Is it fairly easy to make a drum machine sound like a drummer playing an actual song?

 

[PocketGroove82]

I guess I started the whole drum machine notion on this thread, so I'll give my 2cents.

If you have a drummer with perfect time who knows every style of music and is willing to jam all the time, then don't buy one.