Mel Bay

Structured Bass Lessons Can Often Help A Student Learn Faster   by Tom Allen

Learning the bass can be frustrating for bass students whether they study online bass lessons, private lessons or simply learn at home using books from Mel Bay, Hal Leonard or Music Dispatch. If, as a bass player you ever feel this way, remember it is ok and perfectly normal. Whenever you approach any subject for study whether it is a specific musical instrument such as thebass or piano, or whether you study medicine or auto repair, there is always much more to the subject than you probably ever possibly imagined.

For example one of the reasons learning the bass can be slow and frustrating at times is because you need a structured lessons approach to help you navigate the various subjects that are involved. For example, simply tuning the bass is a subject in itself. There are different approaches and devices suited just for this task. How about an advanced use of open bass scales? Often open bass scales are considered the more “easy” scales for beginners, but did you know that advanced bass players use them all of the time. Some of the most common and “more simple” of scale patterns are used by advanced players in a way that you don’t understand because you have not had a clear way to approach this. On the other hand you will never move from being an intermediate bass player to an advanced player without having a far greater understanding of the instrument then some of the standard basic arpeggio and scale patterns that you thought by learning would give you what you need to really understand and play the various styles of music that you enjoy.

Some people have the ability to study the in a more half hazard approach and it can work for their needs. This approach can be beneficial for picking up ideas here or there with regards to things such as the specialized technique of a particular artist such as how they like to bend a string, or how they like to play certain arpeggios and scales, or some of the ways that they practice. They may use a certain type of harmonic technique or specific type of slap technique in their playing style. However, for the beginner this method of pursuing bass lessons is a disaster. The intermediate player will get some benefit and the advanced player will always get the most benefit because he or she has the most knowledge to make the various fragments of information useful. The half hazard approach to bass learning will most often result in a very slow and tedious progress with the ability to play the bass in a meaninful manner for any level of player. However, regardless of the current skill level of the bass player, it is always most productive and desirable to have a structured approach to musical and instrument specfic study so that for example the ability to create a great bass solo is fully understood and attainable.

Today the world of music is diverse with a number of bass players performing in many exciting and creative ways. It is imperative that the bass player has a structured lessons approach to the bass so that he or she can make full use of the instrument and equipment that they have purchased as well as really enjoy them. Think of your favorite artists and songs and think about how it would be exciting to really be able to enter the world of music as they do. It can be done. It can be learned in a fast way. You just want to have a very structure approach so You Can learn more in a shorter amount of time then you have experienced before.

About the Author

Would you like to master the guitar or bass? At www.springofknowledge.com you can find the ultimate guitar or bass university at home with the most powerful interactive guitar and bass lessons software.
Chet Atkins, Tommy Emmanuel “Ode To Mel Bay”