L-mac Posted October 28, 2007 Share Posted October 28, 2007 my 10 year old boy has been pestering me to get him a bass for the last year. he is currently learning piano - to a reasonable standard - grade 3 jazz. I am deciding what to do......... - keep encouraging him on the piano so he gets a really strong foundation in theory, sight reading, etc. He can pick up bass later on with the advantage of a great grounding in music theory. - or let him go with his heart - get him a bass and find him a tutor (doing both is not an option) thoughts? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wil Posted October 28, 2007 Share Posted October 28, 2007 I got my first bass aged 10. I was learning trumpet at the time but my heart wasn't in it, and my dad got me my first bass for my birthday. I've been hooked on making music for the last 12 years, but if I'd carried on without a bass I doubt I would have continued with the trumpet, and perhaps not been interested in keeping on with music generally. I now play a number of instruments, have played in many bands and have loved every bit of it, and don't know much theory at all. Its not essential. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OutToPlayJazz Posted October 28, 2007 Share Posted October 28, 2007 (edited) Get a short scale instrument like an EB0 or a little Squier & send him to someone who teaches proper technique & reading. There's no substitute for a good technique to build upon and grow from My best string players have been the people who did some piano first. Seems to give an excellent grounding. Carrying on the piano lessons is a good idea, too. At least to about AB Grade 2. Edited October 28, 2007 by OutToPlayJazz Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Faithless Posted October 28, 2007 Share Posted October 28, 2007 Piano's good thing about theory, it also has some similarities with bass ( such as finger development and so on), but why do you reject option - playing piano & bass together? I don't think 10 year-old boy could be that busy ( as I think, I'm busy, so I don't have time to sit by piano... I'm sure I'd need to do it, after playing it for 8 years). Or maybe young boy is too.. umm, young to undertake both instruments seriously, that's a strong option, truly. I don't know other possible options, so, warn me, if I'm wrong. In my case, I'd possibly give him bass to play. Due to distressing myself now, because I didn't start to play it in young days. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
L-mac Posted October 28, 2007 Author Share Posted October 28, 2007 thanks for the thoughts guys. I think you are right - if his heart is in bass thats the way to go (with a good tutor so he doesnt pick up his old man's sloppy technique!) faithless - not so much about whether the boy has the time, more about the dads finances to pay for the lessons & dads time to get him to/from lessons thanks again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Faithless Posted October 28, 2007 Share Posted October 28, 2007 [quote name='L-mac' post='80491' date='Oct 28 2007, 06:39 PM']not so much about whether the boy has the time, more about the dads finances to pay for the lessons & dads time to get him to/from lessons thanks again.[/quote] Umm, yep, it came out of my mind... By the way, what "direct" music your boy is interested in, if he is? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bass_In_Yer_Face Posted October 29, 2007 Share Posted October 29, 2007 I agree with your heart being in a particular instrument. I tried to learn lead guitar about 10 years ago and gave up very easily. I can't put the bass down. My missues plays piano to a very high standard but it does nothing for me. Go on get him a bass! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MB1 Posted October 29, 2007 Share Posted October 29, 2007 Keep up with the piano lessons and send him to cheathams,never did me any harm! Mike Lindup....Level 42. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Funk Posted October 29, 2007 Share Posted October 29, 2007 [quote name='MB1' post='80742' date='Oct 29 2007, 11:39 AM']Keep up with the piano lessons and send him to cheathams,never did me any harm![/quote] My drummer went to Chethams! He finished this summer. I'd say buy him a decent entry-level bass and find him a good tutor. Also buy him a good theory book - he can work on that himself, working some things out on piano. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slaphappygarry Posted October 29, 2007 Share Posted October 29, 2007 I teach kids as young as 9. And piano is perfect for helping with bass. The left hand is the bass part, the clef is the same, the harmonic understanding they will (unkowingly) already have. Go for it G Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slaphappygarry Posted October 29, 2007 Share Posted October 29, 2007 PS - i start all my pupils on full size basses right away. From experience its a harder transition going from the 3/4 size bass to full size than it is just struggling with the big monster from the start. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MB1 Posted October 29, 2007 Share Posted October 29, 2007 MB1. Is it Mark King thats getting smaller or just his basses? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
E_MaN Posted October 29, 2007 Share Posted October 29, 2007 Let him go with his heart and when you look for a tutor make sure you find one that will teach him theory as well as well as sight reading? Seems the perfect solution? maybe... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul, the Posted October 29, 2007 Share Posted October 29, 2007 My gut says stick with piano. Although, if he's been persistent with requests to learn bass it might be best for him. Gah, that's a horrible situation. I played piano for a short while when I was 8 and quickly gave it up. I really regret it now and I would regret it more so if I had gotten to a competent level. I've just started learning somemusic on piano and it pains me to think how good I would be if I had stuck at it for 10 years. But I wasn't interested at the time. If your lad still enjoys practicing and learning piano despite a pining for bass, I would urge him to carry on with piano. I'm sure a lot of the best bassists were ex-pianists/organists (Steely Dan, Zeppelin...). I reckon there are ways of doing both though. Perhaps just suggesting learning the notes on the fingerboard or theory that's shared with both instruments. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tait Posted October 29, 2007 Share Posted October 29, 2007 (edited) personally, i'd get him to start on guitar then bass when he gets a decent understanding of guitar. bass would be much harder to learn than guitar to start with, and i doubt there are many on here that didn't start on guitar. i understand if he doesn't want to play guitar or something, it was just a thought that popped into my head when i read this thread. EDIT: i just want to add that i don't think he's too young to start, either, and that i don't think its a matter of age at all, i started when I was eleven, so not much older than him. Edited October 29, 2007 by lwtait Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clauster Posted October 29, 2007 Share Posted October 29, 2007 Which one's his heart in? Piano or Bass? Music's like sport.....a common goal for the pusuit as a whole, but different techinque for each discipline. If your son wanted to take up ice hockey would you make him play football instead because it is the more popular sport? IMHO playing piano (which I had to do for ten years) does not make you better at other instruments, if anything it made the transition to strings harder for me (why can you play the same note/chord in several different places, coordinating two hands to play one note etc etc). It is great for theory though (which if he's got grade three in jazz piano he's got enough technique to explore the rest of theory). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zoe_BillySheehan Posted October 31, 2007 Share Posted October 31, 2007 I started playing bass when i was 10 But i really wish i started learning theory and technique earlier But im now 15 and i still love bass! Z x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cantdosleepy Posted October 31, 2007 Share Posted October 31, 2007 Do you own a bass, L-mac? Do you own more than one bass? Why don't you keep sending him to piano lessons for the theory'n'schooling etc etc, but let him noodle around on your basses at home and grab tabs off the net for music he likes etc? That way he's learning theory that'll be useful later on, and still have the bass as a 'fun' instrument with none of the associactions of homework etc. I played trombone at school and hated every minute of it. My brother got a guitar and I learned to play Oasis songs on it. Never looked back. Not progressed far, though! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
queenofthedepths Posted October 31, 2007 Share Posted October 31, 2007 I've never had any lessons at all (I used to go to keyboard classes a couple of years ago though) and I've learned plenty of theory for myself - if I were you I'd just get him a decent cheap bass to play (he shouldn't need lessons or much encouragement if he's been pestering you for a year ) and let him carry on with the piano lessons as well - much better to be playing an instrument he's enthusiastic about and he won't thank you later on for stopping him playing bass now! I wish my parents had got me into it much much earlier Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cheddatom Posted October 31, 2007 Share Posted October 31, 2007 I would keep sending him to piano lessons, and teach him a bit of bass on one of yours. Lend him one if they're not that precious. I think the combination of lessons on piano with fun/creative developement on the bass would "stand him in good stead". Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mobius Posted October 31, 2007 Share Posted October 31, 2007 [quote name='clauster' post='81006' date='Oct 29 2007, 08:37 PM']IMHO playing piano (which I had to do for ten years) does not make you better at other instruments, if anything it made the transition to strings harder for me (why can you play the same note/chord in several different places, coordinating two hands to play one note etc etc). It is great for theory though (which if he's got grade three in jazz piano he's got enough technique to explore the rest of theory).[/quote] I disagree there, i played for 3 years before i picked up bass. Certainly taught me a lot about music and theory, and the extra hand dexterity helped. It doesn't help with the basics of bass playing like fretting noted and your picking action but of course there's more to being a musician than that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul, the Posted November 1, 2007 Share Posted November 1, 2007 I respect a lot of the comments but I think if you're going to take on a new instrument you have to get the foundation right. L-mac knows this and that's why it's such a difficult decision. As I mentioned; I think if he started learning the notes on the fingerboard and then thumb-picking along to some simple notation whilst ensuring the one finger per fret rule is enforced - what harm could come? Perhaps you could ask his teacher what piano theory he has learned will smoothly transfer to bass (if that's kosher). If he sticks at and continually shows interest and progress, you'll both be able to make a more informed decision. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
L-mac Posted November 1, 2007 Author Share Posted November 1, 2007 Guys thanks for all the input, ideas and advice - am loving this community! what I've decided is............ he sticks with piano lessons, plus I get him a bass of his own and I teach him some basics. If after 6 months - once the novelty factor has gone - and his heart is really with the bass, then he can drop piano and concentrate on bass. so all I need to do now is find him a 1/2 or 3/4 scale bass - he is just too small to handle any of my full scale basses. Thanks again & I will let you know how he gets on! cheers L Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Funk Posted November 1, 2007 Share Posted November 1, 2007 I've got a cheapo Westfield P-bass copy. I think it's 3/4 size. It looks silly but it works properly enough. The P pick-up is full-size. I think it cost me 65 quid. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
L-mac Posted November 1, 2007 Author Share Posted November 1, 2007 The Funk - you got PM Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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