I’ve just re-started the Beginner to Badass course. I’m a little cross with myself for never getting past Module 8 on my previous attempt and also I have what I believe to be a shed load of annoying habits.
Anyway, the course and videos have been revised.
The first module is completely different to the last time I tried and there’s a lot of basics covered that I don’t recall from before (please note - I don’t recall them, doesn’t mean they weren’t there). The one that really stands out for me is the thumb positioning insofar as it needs to be in its ‘natural’ position and not behind the middle finger. I’ve just completed Lesson 4 and my fretting arm is so much more comfortable and I have feeling that a few niggly pains I’ve developed will soon disappear.
Ok, I’m only four lessons into the first module but it looks like a huge amount of thought has gone into developing this revised version of the course and I’m loving it.
It’s absolutely worth a look. Don’t get me wrong here, the first incarnation of the course was good. However, this revised version makes the first one look amateur.
I do not, in any way, mean that to be disrespectful towards the first course. It’s my way of saying just how good the revision is. It’s another level.
im going round the 2nd time with a pick, currently module 4. i assume everything i click from hereon will be the new version yes? no settings that send me to the old version?
I completed Lessons 5 and 6 yesterday. I can’t believe how much correction I needed to incorporate into my playing. In the workout, I was muting during Van Halen’s Running with the Devil using my plucking hand, not my fretting hand. It took me quite a while to wrap my head, well, my fingers, around such a small change.
I hope the revisions to the subsequent modules are as good.
Well, I’ve just completed Lessons 3, 4 and 5 of Module 2 and this revised BtB really is the business.
I’m slowly but surely kicking my terrible habit of alternating picking by starting with my middle finger first. It’s a wrench but I’m getting there.
Again, muting with the fretting hand is taking a bit of getting used to, but it’s so much easier this week than it was last.
I’m getting the hang of muting with my fretting hand instead of relying on my plucking hand.
As much as I dislike it, I’m finding it easier to anchor my thumb on different strings. Previously, I’ve point blank refused; I like to keep my thumb on the pick up. I really do dislike anchoring my thumb anywhere but the pick up, but I’m sticking with and it’s becoming easier.
My favourite tip is Josh banging on about thumb position. I’ve perviously been taught that, ideally, the thumb should be more or less behind the index/middle fingers. Trying to do that has caused me a fair bit of pain and discomfort but Josh gives a simple tip - put the fretting hand in front of you with the palm facing, relax, and then look where the thumb sits naturally. That’s where it needs to be. For me, that’s life changing. Ok, I’m being dramatic, but it’s certainly extremely positively life adjusting.
Another great tip, probably my second favourite, is angling the bass slightly upwards and away from the body. So much more comfortable and one less distraction.
I, too, usually pluck with my middle first. I don’t think it’s really an issue as long you actually get the alternating thing going on. That’s probably my biggest hangup in that I don’t consistently alternate. So that’s a big focus area of mine. Second is the muting with both hands. I have a tendency to do one or the other and need to be better about mixing in both as the material demands.
Changing my P bass’s pickups to EMGs kinda forced my thumb to rest on the string more as the bumpout for the mounting screw sits higher than the stock one making it a very uncomfortable thumb rest. Also getting a 5-string further embraced that with using the B string as a rest. It definitely helps with low string muting and plucking at different points of the string for different tonality (like closer to neck or bridge). Along with that, especially on the 5, I’m trying to do more floating thumb for muting. Can’t seem to get that sneaky finger muting down, though.
The more I progress through the revised course, the more refreshing it is not to have that intro. It’s maybe ok on the first lesson of the first module but not every single lesson.
I’m about two lesson off finishing the course for the first time and I’ve slowed down massively. I finish modules 1 to 9 in about 2 months and then I didn’t want it to end so I’ve slowed down how often I do them. This was completely unconsciously as I still play every day.
Given what everyone has said I’m going to finish the course this weekend and start over. Hopefully this time I can tackle Billie Jean without wanting to throw my amp out of the window
I’ve been on module 15 for like 2 months now, heh. I’ve gone over some lessons multiple times and just having trouble getting through the final jams. They’re just not clicking for me. It’s like I have no creativity of my own once the music starts.
Probably. I don’t seem to have a problem if I have something or an idea to go off of. That might be something to try. The biggest hurdle is the 4 chord changes and improv’ing what to do in each bar. I can map the 3, 5, octave, etc, in my head but as soon as the music starts it’s like it disappears and I can only do the example Josh gives. It’s quite frustrating.
