Ripped off!

[skampino]

Wanted to learn slap alongside a bit of theory so looked up local tutors and arranged to go for my first lesson tonight.
Spent first 5 mins waiting for him to finish chatting with a previous learner
Next 10 mins checking my bass over and suggesting truss rod adjustment, which he proceeded to do with a cheap screwdriver before I could query it.
I then intervened and asked when we going to start so he spent the next 2 mins setting up a drum beat and writing out tab to teach me 1st's & 5th's, (which I already knew).
At this point I asked if we could move onto the slap and show me how to position my arm, hand correctly. He showed me how to slap the E string and it was at this point I felt like bashing him with my headstock.
He looked very awkward so I asked him how much slap he has played and he said 'very little' he is more of a 'theory man' and maybe I would be better off with a tutor who specialised in bass.
Why the hell didn't he tell me this before arranging lessons!
Didn't even have the decency to let me off with only paying half the fee.
Looked forward to this and am absolutely gutted that all I came away with was an empty purse.
So if there are any decent tutors around Southampton who can play what they teach and will not beat around the bush to drag out my learning in order to line their pockets, let me know!

[Sibob]

Wow, a bit odd.
Whenever anyone has phoned me for lessons, I've always spent at least 5mins on the phone asking about what they are looking to get out of it before even talking about a date/time.
Live & learn I guess, vet the next a bit more

Good luck.

Si

[EdwardHimself]

That's really annoying. I mean what a joke. You should have said to him, why the hell should I pay you for a service that you have failed to provide? You wouldn't pay a builder if he didn't build what you asked him to build.

[allighatt0r]

Beware of guitar tutors who decide they can branch out to bass because "it's practically the same"...

[Jellyfish]

I gotta echo what allighatt0r said. Beware of the guitar tutor who teaches bass . I had one, was taught some [i]great[/i] tunes such as Crazy Train and Vertigo by U2.

Needless to say I found a bass teacher here off Basschat who is brilliant, so keep up the search.

[waynepunkdude]

I got a slap lesson once, the two ladies were great,

[skampino]

Vet ?
I spent 15 mins on the phone to him and gave him the 3rd degree....lol.
Seriously, I made it clear what I wanted and he said all the right things.
Guitarist he definitely is and probably gets away with making money giving bass lessons to beginners if slap isn't involved.
Gotta laugh at one thing....He asked me to choose a simple song on bass that our band covers. I gave him Pink's 'Raise Your Glass'. can't get simpler than a 4 note jobby on root notes! His reply was: 'how about something more rocknroll like Buddy Holly.
I can play a 12 bar and got nothing against Bud, but man, it's difficult to get the passion if it's not your thing. Teach me theory using contemporary songs.
Good job I never said Plug In baby by Muse....lol

Forgot to add that when I asked why his technique was different to what I'd seen on youtube vids, he obviously clicked that I noticed he wasn't get that slap pop so he blamed my bass saying it wasn't suitable for slap.
I have a Sterling Ray34 by Musicman.

Edited January 19, 2012 by skampino

[LukeFRC]

[quote name='skampino' timestamp='1327014296' post='1505397']
Forgot to add that when I asked why his technique was different to what I'd seen on youtube vids, he obviously clicked that I noticed he wasn't get that slap pop so he blamed my bass saying it wasn't suitable for slap.
I have a Sterling Ray34 by Musicman.
[/quote]
and at this point you didn't walk out the door laughing (and not paying)
Also... I would check whatever he's done to your truss rod too.....and check the intonation...

[matt-bass-sparkes]

[quote name='allighatt0r' timestamp='1327012842' post='1505372']
Beware of guitar tutors who decide they can branch out to bass because "it's practically the same"...
[/quote]
Yea I get so pissed off with those arrogant guitarists who think that bass playing is somehow "inferior".

[LukeFRC]

[quote name='matt-bass-sparkes' timestamp='1327015741' post='1505414']
Yea I get so pissed off with those arrogant guitarists who think that bass playing is somehow "inferior".
[/quote]
look at me I can do my little show off runs up and down the fret board far better than you this is easy..... then stick a drumbeat behind them and they fall apart!

[JakeBrownBass]

That is dreadful, name & shame.

Also, what sort of a teacher is using tab to teach intervals?!

There's a massive difference between teaching bass & guitar, i don't understand why guitarists think they have a right to teach both!

[skampino]

[b]Also... I would check whatever he's done to your truss rod too.....and check the intonation...[/b]

I asked whether it would affect the intonation and he said it wouldn't. He adjusted it as there was a slight string buzz in the middle section of the neck. It has cured it and intonation is fine.

[Chris2112]

Sounds like this bloke has taken the piss. Mind you, if he had failed to deliver on what he had agreed to teach in the lesson I wouldn't pay him a penny. Learn from this, that you should never stand for people mugging you off.

[skampino]

You're right but a bit difficult for a girl to say to a bloke in his house....lol

[jakenewmanbass]

It makes my blood boil. A poor lot.
You have a PM coming

[Monckyman]

I reckon he was just stringing you along.
He knew it wasn`t rigth but just couldn`t put his finger on it?

Edited January 20, 2012 by Monckyman

[muttley]

When I was looking for a teacher for my daughter all those I contacted offered a free trial session. Definitely worth asking in future.

[thumperbob 2002]

Theres a million youtube vids on how to play slap- should`nt cost you a penny. I only took lessons for revisiting my reading skills so didnt need a bass specialist teacher. Slap is mainly just practice and other than impressing musos in the audience is not really that useful.

[thumperbob 2002]

My last post was a little negative- Slap is another skill on the bass that is worthwhile learning I think. Get the groove workshop DVD by Victor Wooten- worth it for the price of a couple of lessons.

[leftyhook]

Tis True, Youtube is full to the brim with bass lesson. i.e. Marlow DK is a top guy (sure he will have been mentioned) No need to sit in front of someone to learn to slap.

We are so fortunate in these modern times!

I am sure the more 'experienced (time!) can tell you that once upon a time, there was nothing but your vinyl albums and cassette recorders to learn from.

I recall my ' bedroom days' when my amplifier was a wardrobe that was scratched to bits from my bass headstock pushed up against it, using it for its natural vibrational enhancements,
Those were the days.....................not!

[thepurpleblob]

To be fair, I had lessons from a guy who was primarily a guitarists but taught bass as well and he was very good. The main thing was that he did actually play bass now and again and had a lot of appreciation for the role of the bass. The fact that he came from a guitar background gave it all an interesting twist.

[LawrenceH]

[quote name='leftyhook' timestamp='1327055335' post='1505643']
Tis True, Youtube is full to the brim with bass lesson. i.e. Marlow DK is a top guy (sure he will have been mentioned) No need to sit in front of someone to learn to slap.
[/quote]

Youtube is incredible for lessons, but to make use of it in this way you have to be able to dissect your own technique, not everyone can do that especially while they're concentrating on something they can't do.
Always worth having a few lessons to pick up on problems. Whether it's youtube or a teacher though, you need to learn from someone with a thorough understanding themselves or you just learn someone else's bad habits.

Edited January 20, 2012 by LawrenceH

[chrismuzz]

[quote name='leftyhook' timestamp='1327055335' post='1505643']
I recall my ' bedroom days' when my amplifier was a wardrobe that was scratched to bits from my bass headstock pushed up against it, using it for its natural vibrational enhancements,
Those were the days.....................not!
[/quote]

You had a wardrobe??? I had to make do with resting my chin on the top horn of my bass... Worked pretty well though

[ThomBassmonkey]

Annoying. I've been taught by a guitarist that thought he could play bass before, I ran rings around him for a couple of weeks before deciding to take a few guitar lessons. Then I realised he was just a crap teacher as well as a bassist.

You should name and shame, otherwise there's a chance someone else might go to him and waste their money too. It's not worth the hassle to let these people get away with scam after scam (and it is a scam, if they don't put in the effort to learn something, how they think they can charge for teaching it is beyond me).

[chrismuzz]

[quote name='ThomBassmonkey' timestamp='1327059539' post='1505774']
It's not worth the hassle to let these people get away with scam after scam (and it is a scam, if they don't put in the effort to learn something, how they think they can charge for teaching it is beyond me).
[/quote]

Never thought about it that way, but you're right! It would be like me charging for someone for a guitar lesson... I wouldn't dare!