BassPlyr Randy
Long Winded SOB
- Joined
- Sep 7, 2008
- Messages
- 1,506
- Reaction score
- 9
OMG, I just watched the first couple lessons of some guys online bass guitar lesson series. I won't name the guy, because I really don't want to bash on someone, especially someone that is trying to be helpful, and he's just one of many many people all doing it, and unfortunately many of them just as bad as this guy. One of the things that struck me about this guy, is he clearly teaches music professionally.
Before I really get into what my rant is about, let me explain that in these times with such easy availability to information via the internet, I think its great that someone can come online and take lessons for free, which allows them to progress at their own speed with no pressure. Also, its great that they can find lessons that cater from the very basic through the more advanced techniques. But in this is where my rant lies.
Is it just me, or when you set out to give basic bass lessons on whatever instruments, don't you have a responsibility to the student? Especially a beginner. Ok sorry I'm ranting and haven't explained what my rant is about. The following paragraphs hopefully will explain.
The instructor actually had a fairly well layed out series. The first lesson was purely the parts of the bass, and while I found some of his termanology interesting I can't whine too much. Personally, when I give lessons, I tell them what I call a specific part and the tell them all the alternate names I know for the part. For example, being fairly old school, I would say Machine Heads, but I have also heard them refered to as tuning machines, machines, tuners, tuning keys, tuning pegs, etc... This was the first time I heard them called string winders, but whatever.....
Anyway... Second lesson, he is going to talk exclusively about right hand technique. He uses a two finger technique. No discussion of other techniques, its his technique period. I could live with that, but his technique was horrible and basically he is teaching his students bad habbits that down the road are going to really hinder their playing ability. For example, the first thing I noticed is he has the students resting their forearm on the top edge of the bass and their thumb anchored on the string or pickup above the string they are playing at the neck pickup position. This causes their wrists to be bent forward at an extreme angle which can/will cause problems with endurance, finger dexterity, and speed. I know that at times I will let my arm rest on the top edge of my bass like that, but that is laziness. A proper right hand technique for no matter what finger or picking style you are going to play, is to keep the elbow up away from your body enough to keep your wrist straight. I find it very irresponsible of the instructor to teach such poor technique. I firmly believe that with students, especially beginners, it is important to teach proper technique and not allow them to fall into bad habbits.
I was tempted to email the instructor and point this out to him, but I am mad and knew I would just babble on, like Im doing here, and not get my point across, so I thought I would come here, where your used to reading between the lines of my babble to get my meaning and see if it's just me, or if you guys agree that these guys need to be called on their teaching of such poor technique. Also, should I call him on it privately or post a comment so that beginners that are watching these videos in earnest to learn will know that it is poor technique and possibly include a brief explanation to improve the technique so that the lessons are then still useful.
Or should I just be happy that these people are kind enough to take the time to try and help beginning musicians and just keep my comments to myself.
What do you think?
Before I really get into what my rant is about, let me explain that in these times with such easy availability to information via the internet, I think its great that someone can come online and take lessons for free, which allows them to progress at their own speed with no pressure. Also, its great that they can find lessons that cater from the very basic through the more advanced techniques. But in this is where my rant lies.
Is it just me, or when you set out to give basic bass lessons on whatever instruments, don't you have a responsibility to the student? Especially a beginner. Ok sorry I'm ranting and haven't explained what my rant is about. The following paragraphs hopefully will explain.
The instructor actually had a fairly well layed out series. The first lesson was purely the parts of the bass, and while I found some of his termanology interesting I can't whine too much. Personally, when I give lessons, I tell them what I call a specific part and the tell them all the alternate names I know for the part. For example, being fairly old school, I would say Machine Heads, but I have also heard them refered to as tuning machines, machines, tuners, tuning keys, tuning pegs, etc... This was the first time I heard them called string winders, but whatever.....
Anyway... Second lesson, he is going to talk exclusively about right hand technique. He uses a two finger technique. No discussion of other techniques, its his technique period. I could live with that, but his technique was horrible and basically he is teaching his students bad habbits that down the road are going to really hinder their playing ability. For example, the first thing I noticed is he has the students resting their forearm on the top edge of the bass and their thumb anchored on the string or pickup above the string they are playing at the neck pickup position. This causes their wrists to be bent forward at an extreme angle which can/will cause problems with endurance, finger dexterity, and speed. I know that at times I will let my arm rest on the top edge of my bass like that, but that is laziness. A proper right hand technique for no matter what finger or picking style you are going to play, is to keep the elbow up away from your body enough to keep your wrist straight. I find it very irresponsible of the instructor to teach such poor technique. I firmly believe that with students, especially beginners, it is important to teach proper technique and not allow them to fall into bad habbits.
I was tempted to email the instructor and point this out to him, but I am mad and knew I would just babble on, like Im doing here, and not get my point across, so I thought I would come here, where your used to reading between the lines of my babble to get my meaning and see if it's just me, or if you guys agree that these guys need to be called on their teaching of such poor technique. Also, should I call him on it privately or post a comment so that beginners that are watching these videos in earnest to learn will know that it is poor technique and possibly include a brief explanation to improve the technique so that the lessons are then still useful.
Or should I just be happy that these people are kind enough to take the time to try and help beginning musicians and just keep my comments to myself.
What do you think?
