Longtime lurker here…started B2B at the beginning of 2024 and went through it twice. Great course, great content and brilliantly organised and laid out. After that I started Chord Tones and Groove Trainer over at Talkingbass (amazing again, two great dudes). My question is, for my next course I’m going big and committing to something to keep me busy for a year and it’s either -
Ariane Cap’s Music Theory for the Bass Player Course
Talkingbass - Simple Steps to Sight Reading
Honestly, I’m gonna end up doing both. I’ve read the thoughts and opinions on both on here and read reviews but wanted to lean on your collective expertise to ask…which would you do first? Theory or reading? Has anyone done both? How do they compare?
I’m about half way through Sight Reading at Talking bass (also doing chord tones, groove trainer, technique builder, and theory). It’s an amazing course and offers an amazing value for what you get. I started sight reading in July 2024 and likely won’t complete the course for another 9 months. The volume of content is incredible, and I’d estimate it’s at least a years worth for even the most agressive schedules. For context, I practice at least 1-2 hrs per day and longer on the weekend. I highly recommend it. I guess to answer your specific question, I’m doing both theory and SR in parallel and think they go well together. I set up my practice schedule to focus on 1 area per session, or 2 if I have 3-4 hrs. I’m doing the talkingbass theory course and can’t comment on how that compares to the one you’re considering.
I try to squeeze in about an hour a day in terms of practice. I like to keep it focused and the Ari Cap course is set up with a study plan that will take 40 weeks. That focused approach appeals to me.
I’ve read there’s a huge amount of stuff in the SR course with heaps of exercises. I don’t mind self-guided study, done it a lot over the years and the Chord Tones encourages that anyway. I like Mark and I like his style of teaching.
I’m guessing I can’t go wrong really. I do have the Scales course from Talkingbass already but I haven’t started it. Maybe the smart move is do that alongside SR and then just focus on learning some songs for fun as well.
In the SR, what are the exercises like? Are they dry, repetitive, fun?
Playing plenty, don’t worry about that lol! I’m always learning some covers at the same time or putting on a drum loop and finding a groove. Got a jam lined up with my friend this weekend. Loving learning the bass, it’s coincided with me taking stock of a lot of things in life and making changes. Now my hour or so a day (and a little bit extra at the weekend) is my happy place.
SR is more guided than Chord Tones and there are many more exercises than Chord Tones. I liked the exercises personally. Some of the early stuff is a bit dry but it’s necessary to build the muscle memory. As you progress, they get a lot more interesting. Additionally I’ve picked up a book on Amazon “300 progressive sight reading exercises for bass guitar” which, once you learn to sight read is great additional content.
If you are not already in a band that would be the next important step to take. The dynamic of playing with others and the type of conversation you’d have musically with your band mates is immensely important to your personal growth as a bassist as we are not al Jaco and/or Joe Dart or lead in a band. That said.
I’d focus on theories if that’s your jam. In general I like the other path of imitations and adaptations to a song rather than creating originals from scratch as very, very few students can do it successfully.
This is very much like cooking, you’d learn aspects and components as well as ingredients then try to replicate the dish you like and maybe even infuse some of your personality into the dish, but to create a successful tasty dish takes lots of time to refine it.
If I’m back in my teens knowing what I know now, I’d take the academic route but as it sits right now in my early 50s is much better time spent on putting together bits and piece of what I pickup from the experience of playing songs and applying them to the songs I’m learning and playing.
It’s not something I often use playing 4 gigs a month on average and even less doing original recordings in the studio.
I have Ariane’s theory course. I also have Mark’s Ultimate Music Theory For Bass — Volimes I & II.
Of the two, Mark’s is clearly superior, in my estimation. It assumes a student knows absolutely nothing about music theory for bass, then, as is his trademark, Mark builds on each fundamental concept to impart a complete understanding of how theory applies specifically to bass.
I also have his Sightreading course. It is excellent on several fronts and benefits.
Keep in mind that Mark’s sightreading course delivers much more than just learning to read music notation. Among many other things, it also teaches how to play the entire fretboard without having to stare at your fretting hand.
Simple Steps to Sight Reading is on sale currently, went ahead and picked it up. Thanks everyone for your input. Much appreciated. Have a wonderful weekend
