Bass Lessons Online: The Road to Improvement.

The subject of what to practice on bass is overwhelming in the number of posts and videos available on the internet. At times the content offers so little! On occasion I have ” deprogrammed” new students who had accepted ( because they didn’t know better) unworkable methods that were not grounded in music content.

The electric bass enjoys a unique position as it determines the '' shape'' of the song harmonically as well as directing the energy of the music.

Learning music informs your art of playing at minimum and enables you to be competitive to ” earn in the real world”. Why do we accept that a lawyer would get applied knowledge in order to earn his fee, but not have the same standard for a young or perhaps not so young bassist wanting to learn his craft to satisfy the requirements of the music? Learning to read, studying functional harmony, chordal theory are the benchmarks of our craft and prepares the bassist for the demands of the professional and semi-professional world. In my years of teaching , I've never seen a student that is serious about the instrument not improve by learning to read. It is not hard to learn if done correctly and have taught hundreds this basic skill in my private and online teaching. I've been teaching for many years on Skype and Worldwide. my skype address is: stevenontheone

Practicing musical information is not supposed to be emotional! You are regarding facts that you need to know, play and hear in order to express your ideas and the ideas of others in a method of communication that has been in use for many, many years regardless of the style being played.

The web has brought a wealth of information, both correct and incorrect, to our homes. As I am fond of telling my students in regards to practicing: ” The only bad mistake is the one you didn’t realize that you made”….studying music gives us how and why of practice and how to correct mistakes.

I’ve had the great pleasure of ” pouring in” to students who earn that title and some of gone on to be wonderful and successful bass musicians in their own right. All of them learn craft and music content and can fit the requirement of the gig…and they all play their own way of expressing their art. However, they function well in whatever musical environment they are in. contact me at: stevebryant71bass@gmail.com My Skype address is: stevenontheone

Craft is HOW we do something, Art is WHY we do something. Expression is the very art of music and there are no rules. When we learn the craft and facts of music, We grow not only as bass artists, but also the knowledge to play in any style we prefer. This is what music fact based practicing does.

Bass Lessons Online - Testimonial from a Student!

One of the greatest rewards for me as a serious music content ONLY educator is the wonderful messages I receive from current and former students of how they are doing in the REAL WORLD of gigging, recording work, live shows, etc..

This simply stands as to the truth of better musicianship through the work of the student as well as the proof of the progress they have made in lessons with me.

In my years ( since 1979) teaching many hundreds of bass students all over the country and worldwide, a great truth emerged.. ALL improved by studying music facts and the principals of solid musicianship.. This makes the player competent, confident and marketable in his or her abilities.

My former student Jake Barr is busy both in Nashville and on the road. He has learned well and is out there making a living as a touring and session bassist. I'm very proud of the effort he has put in to improve. He earned this !

I want to share here in his own words what studying with me AND his hard work in practicing what I have assigned has contributed to his career.. I also instilled in him the

aspects of the music business, dealing with clients/fellow musicians and the attitude of professionalism. This '' Holistic '' approach I call Bass Mentoring:-) Many of my students have gone on to better gigs, sessions and full or part time pros. and others to satisfy their own critique..

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"The first year I lived here in Nashville, I pursued Steve Bryant and seized every opportunity to learn from and be mentored by him. I'm eternally grateful that I did, as he equipped me with the tools and knowledge I needed to succeed as a professional musician, here in what I believe to be the biggest music producing city in the world. I can't begin to count the number of times I drew upon the wisdom and knowledge he imparted, in order for me to succeed in this line of work. If I weren't so busy these days, thanks to him, I'd still be bugging him every week for another lesson! Haha! I still intend to...

Whether it be technical, mental, or relational skills, I felt like Mr. Bryant always ensured that I was well-equipped with what I needed to address any issue in the music industry. In my opinion, his teaching and mentoring abilities are unparalleled. Steve Bryant is not only an excellent teacher and mentor, but he also employs a vast wealth of knowledge and experience that any student (at any level) can benefit from! I'm so grateful to have found such a great example of excellence, discipline, kindness and professionalism.

Steve Bryant is my hero..."

Jake Barr, Nashville Bassist for Tiffany, Jeremy McComb and Bone Feather

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I've taught bassists worldwide via Skype how to improve their playing and musicianship

Learning well is practicing the '' right stuff''! a good 20 to 30 minutes a day to start is effective ( short bursts of practicing every day makes a difference)

I have openings for new or returning students.. Let's begin!

All the best in your musical adventures,

Steve Bryant

Nashville Tenn.

Bass Lessons online from a Nashville Session Pro: I've never been hired to play a scale!

Greetings from Nashville! We are deep in new challenges that brings fresh opportunities as well in improving as our bass playing and overall musicianship.

My mission is to present practical information as a studio bassist working professionally since 1975. Of course, music and the demands of competency in playing bass constantly evolves.

In my 30 plus years as a private teacher to those who have gone on to better gigs, play pro or semi pro, or just to better their musicianship, the one thing they have in common regardless of the style of music they play... is the music fact- based practicing they study with me. It's been said that a steady diet of scale practice exclusive to key centers and functional harmony is not beneficial because it does not define tonality, and can impede music growth.

Over the years, I've had heated but friendly discussions with young musicians about this very issue.. On occasion, I've taken them to sessions with me. In that environment, you demonstrate with ability or you have no career. This is a simple fact. I so much enjoyed sharing with these student my work days and '' flow '' of recording sessions. They had a great time meeting the other musicians on the date as well as the engineer and producer. Afterwards, we had short discussion of the nuts and bolts of the music. They were stunned to realize there never was a mention of a scale in producing this music.

During the session, communication concerned keys, chords, bar length and in a defined harmonic structure. Note that this '' language'' can be learned thru learning to read and/or utilizing written music to learn musicianship and play better.

Every aspect of music can be learned and absorbed in a relevant manner by reading music.. I like to think of it as being a Bass Musician!!

I am passionate about teaching and ALL my students learn how to play better, and become competent musicians who can compete in the real world of music.. contact me by using the contact form on my website... I teach worldwide thru Skype and live in Nashville

'' I'd personally go with Steve Bryant in Nashville, where I sent all my former students to, since I'm not teaching anymore....he's a long-time successful studio musician and long-time fine educator, the only one I'd send everyone to online. He'll get you going correctly in all styles of music inc. Jazz if you want.''

- Carol Kaye, World renowned Studio Legend and Educator of 1000's of bassists.. author of over 30 books and courses for electric bass and guitar.

" Working with Steve showed me the path of least resistance towards understanding chordal theory and breaking down any type of harmony to its core components. Now my ears can easily recognize pretty much any combination of notes that I want to either learn or compose. Not to mention plenty of real world info from his many years spent as a pro bassist. Time well spent! "

-Tyrone Coughlin .. Nashville Bassist

'' Steve Bryant is as rare as hens' teeth. He has it all.., chops, fluency as well as maturity and restraint. He is also one of the most personable, friendly, humble and sincere folks you could ever meet or work with. And, he shares all of these wonderful attributes to all who study under his tutelage. He teaches as well as he plays and focuses on real musical knowledge and skills, not fretboard gymnastics and gimmicks If you want the very best, contact Steve and see for yourself.

Phillip Holbrook- Valdosta Ga. Bassist

If you want to learn Real Deal Real World Bass Musicianship, Contact me at : stevebryant71bass@gmail.com or, Fill out the contact form here on my website.

Learn a skill that will last a lifetime..

Thanks for visiting my site!

Steve