Howdy Shaun - Your Opinion

[paintitblack]

Hey Shaun, there are a few things I would like to have your opinion on:

Do you think it is necessary for a bass player in band to know scales or how to read music, cuz I don't really know much about music, just the basics (like what harmonys and octaves are and notes on fretboard and just real basic stuff) and I was wondering if anybody in a rock,emo,punk band should know this stuff if they are in a band? ;D

Also who do you think is the best bass player ever and who are your influences as a bassist?

-Kyle

P.S. You are awesome!

[Pigs On The Wing]

i would learn it....but im not shaun...it will really pay off in the future if you do learn all that stuff.like me im learning all the scales and how to write music and stuff.

[innovea]

yeah, I would say definitely put the time in to learn.. it just opens up so much more you can do with your songwriting. You'll create music that gets its message across better and just plain sounds better to your listeners.

[Shaun]

In my opinion, I'd say learn all that you can. You can never learn enough, let alone learn too much.

My first year of playing bass I never read any music, and my teacher at that time would only teach me songs I brought in to him. I think it kind of hurt my bass playing, and I think I could've been a lot better earlier on.

My next teacher taught me how to read well, and we worked on a lot of music theory. It opened up a whole new world to me. I think it definitely is what let me develop my style.

This is only the way I did it. There are plenty of bass players way better than me that don't know how to read a note of music. So take my advice for what it's worth.

-Shaun

[paintitblack]

Thanks Shaun for replying I will definetly keep that in mind! ;D

[carkey]

paintitblack said:

Thanks Shawn for replying I will definetly keep that in mind! ;D

hahahah i cant believe you spelt shauns name wrong even after he wrote it himself in his reply

-Carla

[emuposerbass]

I'm currently using the Shaun Cooper method, altought I'm using the discount bin extended edition. I had my bass for a year before I ventured outside of Mark Hoppus basslines and took lessons for 6 months that were just my "teacher" tabbing out basslines for me and watching me play them. For a year I just played what the drummer in my band told me to and then I sorta flatlined and didn't get better for a year. Then I got into light rock/emo whatever you want to call it and decided I needed some theory! So now I've just been kicking myself and buying every beginner books and jazz theory and scales books I can find/afford and trying to catch up. Personally though I use books and practice to make up for my lack of ear.