Taking up Bass - starting with a (single) lesson - what to ask for?

MentalSharps

I've finally organised my life to get back to focused learning, and have decided to take up the bass guitar! Have done about 6-7 months of guitar in the past so have some limited experience.

I'm going to have a lesson with a tutor, but sadly can only afford just the one, to get me started.

I'm wondering what are the most useful things I can ask for in that situation as compared to learning online.

 Perhaps getting fingering technique demonstrated to me and being guided on an hours worth of technique drills? Something like 3/4 finger or slap bass? So that I can just practice that with the memory of what correct technique should look and feel like and hopefully have some muscle memory in, and then work on repetoire on my own.

What would you recommend?

Whistler

I would explain to him that my budget does not stretch to weekly or regular lessons. Which book would he recommend that he has used and recommends so that you might be able, from time to time, come to this teacher for further help?

CaseOfAce

Personally once I learnt the basic rule of right hand plucking rest strokes and raking I was off to the races applying it to songs. It's no more complex than that - and that tuition is readily available on-line. There's no reason to have bass guitar lessons for beginners if you are in any way already competent on guitar.

Someone on here said approach bass playing like you would classical guitar and there's a lot of truth in that as regards rest strokes.

I've been in bands with bass players (all 5 string owners) who couldn't even play rest strokes and rakes so if you get these 2 things going you'll be ahead of the pack.

Slap bass is it's own thing which I'm still working on. Getting the sound and using ghost notes (especially with open strings) is tougher than it looks!

AntonHunter

Note production. So basic technique, like mentioned above. The benefit of a tutor is they can make sure you don't start with any bad habits.

Definitely not slap, but that's my prejudice to be honest.

ToastHat

I think you'll have a much more clear opinion of what a tutor can most help you with after you've played (and struggled!) a bit on your own first. A lesson on slap (for example) is going to be way more valuable from a human, especially once you've got the basics down from YouTube lessons.

ICBM

Whistler said:

I would explain to him that my budget does not stretch to weekly or regular lessons. Which book would he recommend that he has used and recommends so that you might be able, from time to time, come to this teacher for further help?

This.

Winny_Pooh

Let him watch you play and talk through right hsnd technique, timing, right and left hand muting plus the musical & rhythmic thinking behind a good bass part. 

fretmeister

I generally find "technique drills" to be pointless as they have bugger all musical value.

Whatever technique you want to learn - pick an actual song that needs it and learn the song. Then you are learning music and getting the technique bit as a byproduct. Woodwind players do not do embouchure exercises - they play actual tunes until they dribble all over the place and then do it again the next day.

As often annoying bassist / educator Jeff Berlin has stated - you never see a chef practising stirring technique, you see them making a dish.

And something that is really important: 5 mins a day is far more effective than 2 hours in a single sitting at the weekend.
The brain learns from repetition and reinforcement and once a week or even twice a week doesn't do that nearly as efficiently as 5 mins a day. Do longer by all means, but a bit every day is the key. 

Funkfingers

Whereabouts in the UK are you? I have a Doug Wimbish tutor DVD that might help. (Fear not. He does not launch into slap style until the later chapters.) PM me if you are interested.