The first time I ever picked up a bass guitar, a big grin slid instantly across my face… I’m sure you can probably relate to that feeling – just loving that deep, rich tone of a great sounding bass.
Now, to be fair, I already knew how to play guitar fairly well, so I at least knew where the notes were… but most of the songs I played ended up sounding remarkably the same.
I honestly remember being surprised that I couldn’t play the bass well, considering I knew how to play guitar already! I figured it should be easy as falling off a log…
Shortly after, someone showed me the octave trick, but it wasn’t until I really dug in and started to understand the theory that my bass playing really took off.
In fact, classical music theory is so boring I’d rather watch paint dry in the middle of a snowstorm!
Terms like “hemidemisemiquaver” and “quindicesima bassa” just about make my eyes jump out of my head! (and yes – those are real terms… you can look them up if you don’t believe me!)
And this is exactly why music theory has gotten such a bad rap: well-meaning but completely misguided music teachers have been teaching people for years all of this arcane theory that only about one-tenth of one percent of the population would ever have a use for.
Am I right? Very few people ever go on to become truly professional musicians, and most who do, STILL don’t understand, let alone use, all that mumbo-jumbo!
So how can I say that theory is what made such a tremendous difference in my playing? Well, perhaps I should replace the word ‘theory’ with something a bit less misunderstood… like ‘basic principles’.
You see, once I began to understand the basic principles of my bass guitar, I began to see all kinds of new ways of playing it.
I don’t know a whole lot about cars – so when something happens to mine, I basically end up taking it to the mechanic. That’s like playing the root note, okay? Having a single response for pretty much every situation.
In contrast, a good friend of mine knows a great deal about cars, and anytime he’s got a problem with his vehicle, he just pops open the hood and gets creative. That’s because he knows what he’s working with. He understands how it works, what the problem is, and what can be done to fix it.
That’s the equivalent of taking a very different approach to the music, and playing intervals and riffs that sound incredibly cool… understanding the mechanics of what makes your music work, and putting that knowledge to good use!
If you answered YES to all three, then you’re already well on your way to mastering the bass guitar.
The basic principles I’m going to show you about your bass guitar don’t require anything more than you already have… and yet these principles are so powerful, that you could use them to go all the way to Nashville, should you have the desire to do so.
Fact is, I believe that once you watch through this bass guitar lesson, and the principles I teach in there sink into your head, you will automatically start playing differently. That’s what knowledge does to you – it actually renews your mind into a different way of thinking!
After going through this lesson, you will not look at your bass guitar the same way again… I guarantee it. (think I’m pulling your leg? I’m dead serious…)
Now – time for the disclaimer – I don’t have any secret potion of bass mastery that I can send you, so just like everyone else in this world, you’re going to have to practice in order to improve. There’s no getting around that. No pain, no gain, right?
However – with these principles in mind, your practicing will be far more effective, and you will literally notice yourself improving very rapidly.
Have you ever been trying to learn a particular thing on your bass, perhaps from a friend or another musician, and you just couldn’t get the hang of it, no matter how hard you tried? It can be a bit embarrassing… (I’ve been there!)
One of the reasons why video lessons are such a great investment is the fact that the video does not get frustrated or impatient if you have to replay a section a dozen times before you get it right.
Fact is, if you wanted to learn the same material that I cover in Decoding the Bass Guitar from a local music teacher, you would end up paying far more for the same information.
Why is that? Well, it’s pretty simple. I’ve taught people in real life, and the process is very different from video. You spent time chatting, you get distracted on a cool riff, you have a question about something else. Time goes by quickly…
On video, the material has been distilled into the purest form of musical goodness… Every last minute has been thoughtfully considered and included in order to offer the student the greatest benefit. Tons of material was first recorded, then considered, then cut, and lastly refined in order to deliver you the best all in one shot.
That means that a two hour video lesson is easily equivalent to at least four hours of in-person lessons… in fact, probably more.
Toss in the fact that you don’t have to pay to go back and hear the same thing again if you didn’t get it the first time, and you’ve got a powerful combination.
A half-decent guitar teacher is going to charge at least $30 per half hour lesson… so do the math. To learn this same material from a local teacher would cost you at least $240. Read more…