Hi all, I’ve been playing for about 6 months. I heard about Beginner to Badass from the very beginning since BassBuzz videos were some of my first lessons. Since then I’ve mostly self taught through just learning songs. I haven’t done much with regards to learning theory specifically for bass, but I just finished a music theory intro course at my uni, and I’ve taken piano and have a general understanding of stuff like scales, basic chords, rhythm, etc … I finally decided to check out Beginner to Badass because I really wanted to start improving more since I felt like I wasn’t really ever doing much besides playing songs and noodling.
I’ve been following the course for about 3 weeks, currently half way through module 4, but I feel like almost everything I stuff I already know. I struggle to pay attention during lessons and usually end up absently listening while I play whatever riff I’m learning. At the very least, I enjoy the structure that the course provides, but I often don’t look forward to it it because I can’t wait till i’m done the lesson so I can “actually” play. I think that so far the biggest thing I’ve gotten out of it is that I am thinking a little more about posture.
Should I stick it out? And for anyone who was in a situation like this and chose to go through if/when did you feel that you were actually improving. Thanks for any advice, I apologize if this comes off very long winded, I’ve just been ruminating on this since I began.
Stick it out. As a skill check, try the Billie Jean lesson at the end of Module 4 and see how you do. A lot of people stumble there and by the end of the course have no problem with it. If you can play it on fast with no issues you might want to skip ahead a bit, but there’s valuable material in all the modules.
If you already play an instrument and know sheet music notation the first modules are a little repetitive but there’s still loads of info on bass technique. I use the speed setting and watch it faster. It adds entertainment of fast josh voice, so you’re actually listening when new inputs come then skip straight to the full workout somwhere around module 6 it starts to get more difficult but you need what you’ve learned before.
Lots of great theory and practical advice in there in addition to skill building too yeah.
The first 3-4 modules are starting from targeting for people who have never played a bass before, so for some they will be pretty basic. They get a lot more challenging.
Having had some experience I found the first handful of modules also really rudimentary the first time going through the course but it’s understandable as they are aimed at newbies. Now some months later I’ve decided (like others) to go through the course again using a pick and the first four modules have been really a drag to put it mildly- should have just skipped them. Things definitely do progress and pick up as you go along in the course though. I say stick with it for sure.
Stick it out. My experience was not too far from yours. The early lessons were review on the music theory stuff, with some good fundamental practice in.
Gloss over or speed through early on. Skip Slow and Medium workouts. Pay attention to how he wants you to do things early on to lay a foundation for later.
I found the course really started getting serious for me around module 6, and then things started really clicking and being massively beneficial by Module 9. At that point, it gave me the tools to understand pentatonic and blues scales and be able to start improv jam playalongs. By the end of the course, I was struggling to keep up with medium workouts.
B2B is entirely worth the time and effort you put into it, including the “I already know this!” stuff.
I came to B2B from a background of having studied theory and playing several instruments for decades. Still, what Josh and team created in B2B is unique and special for anyone who wants to learn to play bass.
There’s much to learn, appreciate and enjoy in B2B if you put in the time and effort.
Yes. This. The early modules feel slow, but there is absolutely stuff for an experienced musician in there. Just not as much.
I had a lot of “aha” moments in the course where, the way music theory concepts were presented finally clicked for me.
Often to get them though, I found myself zoning out through much of the lesson and just playing a riff or a pattern. Then I’d realize Josh had been talking about something new to me, so I’d back up to the start of that thought and pay attention
(I’ve also since realized that I’m pretty sure I have ADHD, and I think that was a major factor in paying attention to a video course. Even the modules that were challenges, I’d regularly find I had hyper-focused on practicing the example riff, and missed several minutes of explanation, and have to rewind to listen again.)
The revised seems to work much better for my brain, which tends to wander. Josh had mentioned that there were tips in all of the workout speeds, but maybe they’re not as applicable with a pick.
then skip straight to the full workout 
somwhere around module 6 it starts to get more difficult but you need what you’ve learned before.