I recently completely finished the b2b course and had a lot of fun and learnt a lot! But I’d love to learn more music theory (Rare sentence I’m sure haha) Where’s a good place to go for this and like what do I learn first?
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What next?
This question is the reason I started the Charles Berthoud lessons platform thread.
I am considering taking another course and looking for feedback from those who are doing it or any course.
One large factor I like about Charles’s course is its pay once, lifetime owner of that course.
There are other threads that chat about courses people here have done, you may find some info there that helps.
Structure is seemingly very important, wondering may get a person there but a map will always be faster.
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Mark Smith’s course at Talking Bass, “Ultimate Music Theory For Bass Complete,” is a an excellent, comprehensive presentation of theory specifically for bass players.
The Talking Bass Spring sale ends today.
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Do you know if its a subscription course or a one payment program where you own it always?
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Mark Smith’s courses work just like B2B. Pay once and the course is yours forever.
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@faydout is correct.
Mark doesn’t do subscriptions. All Talking Bass courses are buy-once-for-life, including any additions in the future.
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I’m not quite there yet, but I have questions for continuing beyond B2B as well. While I’m sure I could stand to learn more theory, is that the recommended next step, or should I be looking for a course to continue to improve technique, aural training, etc? One of my goals would be to have the ability to transcribe the songs I want to play. Or at least play them by ear.
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Learning songs is the free, logical next step. You work on technique, timing, stamina and your ear. Oh and it’s fun.
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Learning songs is always a good thing to do. But knowing how and why songs are composed gives you a deep understanding of music.
A good course of action is to apply what you’ve learned in B2B by working all the way through easy songs, like the first several in the 100 Songs Challenge. But in addition to that, studying theory, reading, and chord tones will yield a broader understanding of music that will serve you in learning any songs you choose.
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I am also not sure of which of the many directions and courses to take, but it seems that a guided structure from someone who has been where I now am and has succeeded will be a better map to a higher level than the unstructured approach which one can fall into after finishing B2B.
I’m only going for a course that’s a one time payment for a life long access to that course.
So far it’s Mark or Charles that are on the top of the list.
If Josh had a program to follow up B2B I like many forum members I’d be in right away.
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I admire Charles as a virtuoso. He is an outstanding musician.
That said, Mark is also an accomplished professional musician, but the difference between him and Charles is that he also excels in pedagogy, as does Josh. In short, he knows how to teach and he’s had decades of experience doing so.
Mark has taught in university music schools, and it shows. While he’s a very personable dude, his approach to teaching is comprehensive, deep and serious. He imparts every bit of his vast knowledge of bass playing to his students, but there’s no hand holding or goofing around in his courses. He thoroughly explains, demonstrates and reiterates the material, but he leaves the actual practicing for the student to work through; there are no play-alongs.
I own almost all Talking Bass courses, and I can recommend them highly.
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@MikeC , I’ve looked at his courses and I believe that will likely be the direction I go. I’ve been watching your posts. There is no denying your experience. Since there are multiple courses, what order would you recommend? Or… Does he have a recommended order?
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Mark recommends Chord Tones Essentials as the first course. He also recommends Simple Steps to Sightreading next.
However, his ultimate theory for bass course is a new course that includes quizzes, unlike his legacy courses. He based it on over 11 years of online teaching, and he’s very proud of it. It’s worth checking out.
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Thanks @MikeC . I have a few weeks to go, but now I have a path.
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You know, this might be an unpopular opinion but my recommendation would be to absolutely not jump right back in to structured lessons right away.
After B2B you have a solid grounding in bass fundamentals. Use it! Have fun! Play some songs, ones you always wanted to learn. Noodle around aimlessly. Give yourself time to enjoy and explore your new skills.
This is not a race. It’s not a contest or job. Just spend some time having fun with the new skills you have.
Then, when it is time for more learning, I would echo @MikeC ‘s recommendation for Mark Smith’s Chord Tones course.
But that can wait. Have some fun first.
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There is no time table or agenda implied here. Instead, merely options.
The choice of what to do post-B2B is up to each and every player.
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I didn’t mean to imply anyone had agenda for sure! Sorry if it came across like that.
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I think I took this advice to heart for too long. I’m excited to get back to some structured learning. I finished B2B for the first time almost a year ago now and have been having fun since then. Time to put some work in. I’d like to seriously look for a band and be gigging before I hit 50.
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Fun is not my immediate main objective once I’ve committed to learning a subject or a skill.
My fun is in the learning and exercising the skill with the real fun coming through when competent.
In a sense I compete with myself to obtain my objectives.
This method of personal competition has served me well for many accomplishments and degrees.
Aimlessly happens sometimes but the word alone means without structure.
I have been an educator for 3 decades with several thousand classes taught and in my opinion noodling is not the fast path to success.
I practice bass in accordance to my theories on learning, my theories were built upon decades of teaching with highly successful results from hundreds of students.
It takes many years of teaching to become a good teacher or instructor and through my experience lolly popping never leads to the levels a person can achieve through doing the work, and if it hurts sometimes or its hard that’s how it goes, if a person really wants something they will race towards it and do what it takes to get it.
It comes down to degrees of want, how bad does one want it and what are they willing to do to get it.
This so far is the top recommendation for continuing forward with a structured format.