Frequently asked questions

1. Q: Is it still possible for me to learn bass as an adult?

YES. It's never too late to start learning bass.

I have two main reasons for answering this question with such confidence. The first reason is that I hear it from people in their 30s, 50s, 70s, and beyond, which shows me that, except for children, everyone else harbors the false belief that it might be too late for them. A 70-year-old thinks they should have started at 50, while a 50-year-old believes they should've begun at 30, and so on.

This misconception arises because many people start learning bass as children, often due to external pressures or by chance (like being assigned bass in school music classes). However, the main reason for starting young has never been because it's the only age you can learn. So, the answer is a resounding YES for all ages.

The second, and most relevant reason, is that in my experience, this isn’t just a theory but a proven concept. In my experience, 100% of adults start bass lessons because THEY WANT TO, not due to pressure from parents or school. This personal drive gives adult learners more motivation and focus, which often leads to faster progress.

2. Q: Why don’t you normally teach kids under 13 years of age?

My approach is ideally designed for learners aged 13 years and above, as it takes into account the importance of personal motivation and genuine interest in learning the bass. By focusing on self-expression and nurturing a deep connection with the instrument, my method fosters a fulfilling and successful learning experience.

This approach empowers individuals to explore their own feelings and ideas through music, rather than merely becoming players of someone else’s emotions imprinted on a piece of paper.

While it’s understandable and sometimes commendable for parents to aspire for their children to excel in music, it is crucial to recognise that this can inadvertently hinder a child’s interest in playing an instrument by excessively encouraging an activity that may not resonate with them on a deeper level.

That said, I have recognised the authentic drive and passion in students under the age of 13 and have had the pleasure of witnessing their remarkable progress in bass playing. If you believe your child genuinely possesses a personal and authentic desire to learn the bass in a pressure-free environment, I encourage you to get in touch. I would be delighted to schedule a consultation to discuss how my approach could support your child’s musical journey.

3. Q: How much time will I need to dedicate to practicing in order to see progress?

Although this is a common question, the more important one to ask is: "Can I commit to practicing at least 5 days a week?" This is the true key to steady progress. While the amount of time you spend practicing each day matters, it’s secondary to consistency. Of course, the more you practice, the faster you'll improve, but practicing just 15 minutes a day, 5 days a week, will take you much further than cramming 4 hours into a single Saturday. In short, consistency is far more important than the duration of each practice session. We'll give you some tools to help you realise your practice regime.

4. Q: How can I learn to play the bass without reading sheet music?

By understanding that music is a language. Think about it: we all learned our native languages without needing to read or write. No innate skill was necessary, no special talent required, and no dictionary or grammar was used. We were all able to listen, understand, speak, and communicate our ideas long before we reached school age.

We learn to speak our native languages through exposure and imitation, without consciously understanding grammar rules. Over time, we gradually develop an intuitive sense of our language's grammar through repeated exposure to correct sentence structures.

This is known as the "input-based" or "data-driven" approach to language acquisition, where children learn language primarily from the input they receive from their environment, rather than explicit instruction. Your voice will be your bass.

5. Q: Can I learn to play classical music by ear?

No. The reason is that classical bass players usually play "upright" bass, and are required to play every note in the original piece exactly as written, with very little room for personal interpretation compared to jazz, blues, pop or funk bass players, who mostly use chord charts. A chord chart provides "pointers" and a set of guidelines for how the song should be played, but it doesn't demand that the bass player follow it note for note as classical pieces do.

It’s important to remember that when musical notation was created, live performances were the only way composers could present their music to an audience. This meant the bass player needed to play exactly as the composer wrote, note by note.

A useful analogy is that a classical bass player is like an actor playing Romeo in a Shakespearean play. The words were all written by Shakespeare, and while the actor has some flexibility in delivery, the lines must be performed as intended by the author. In contrast, a jazz, blues, or pop bass player is like someone having a conversation with friends on a specific topic. The conversation has parameters—like the subject and language—but what will be said is not pre-determined or rehearsed. It’s entirely improvised, allowing for a great deal of personal expression.

In short, with the right techniques, playing Bass by Ear can feel as natural, free, and enjoyable as having a relaxed conversation with family or friends.

6. Q: Will I ever learn to read music and tabs?

That's entirely your choice. You will not learn to read music notation (sheet music) or classical theory at Bass by Ear. You'll need someone who teaches classical theory and methods for that. You will learn how to read TABs, even though we only use them as a resource to check our ears interpretations of the bass line. Our focus is really on developing your ears to the point that you can hear a bass line, find it on the fretboard, feel the exact rhythm being played (something often incorrect in TABs), and then use TABs only at the end to check that you've heard the right notes. Remember - TAB's are only as good as the ears on the person who wrote the TAB in the first place.

We do learn practical, useful theory along the way. Music is a language, and to 'speak' with other musicians, truly play with them, there is a common language. So we learn where all the notes are on the fretboard and name them. We learn common patterns that repeat during a song to make learning faster. These patterns are usually dervived from parts of scales, and most musicians learn the really necessary handful of useful scales to develop dexterity and an understanding of how songs are constructed. They help us not only perform bass lines, and play from chord charts (NOT sheet music!), but anticipate what is coming next when using our ears.

7. Q: What are the payment terms?

Payment is due 24 hours before the booked lesson. Invoices are issued when bookings are confirmed. Invoices contain all the options to pay. With 4-week multiple lessons payment is due 24 hours before the first booking. The 4 lessons must be started within 4 weeks of your booking, and all 4 lessons need to be used within 60 days of booking.
If you have any problems meeting payment terms, simply contact us via email at: bassbyearcoach@gmail.com or by the filling in the Enquiry Form on the Home page, or on the Contact Us page.