Features of my bass lessons

On this page you’ll find a lot of information about me as a bass teacher and the features of my bass lessons. In the right-hand column you can click directly to the relevant topic.

Free trial lesson

In your first lesson – which is of course free of charge and without obligation – I’ll be happy to answer any questions you may have about learning the bass. We will discuss your personal goals, your musical preferences and, if applicable, your previous knowledge. I’ll also be happy to answer any questions you may have about buying a bass or an amplifier.

Very broad stylistic range

In the last 25 years I have played over 1000 gigs with bands from all over the world on national and international stages and have in the process gained a lot of experience with styles as diverse as Pop, Rock, Funk, Jazz, Soul, Reggae, HipHop, Metal or RnB, Motown, Electronic Music, Latin, African. See my credits or my personal website. But of course you can decide for yourself which styles you would like to play. I will be happy to discuss your personal preference and can show you – through many specific examples (songs and grooves) – what the special musical characteristics and relevant techniques are. Together we can explore the styles that interest you most and improve your groove skills.

No need to bring your own instrument

All my students are of course welcome to play one of my basses during the lesson. This is especially convenient if you come directly from work and don’t want to carry your own instrument. It also allows you to get to know other types of bass guitars and get a feel for what kind of sound and instrument suits you.

Flexible lesson times

It’s up to you if you would like to take fixed weekly or fortnightly lessons, or if you prefer to schedule each appointment individually. The prices for the different packages can be found here.

Efficient playing technique

Right from the start we will work on how to play the electric bass with an efficient and healthy playing technique. This applies to both the left and right hand position as well as a relaxed posture. This is essential for a long-lasting and pain-free playing experience. If you have taught yourself how to play the bass, I will be happy to help you identify potential problems and optimize your technique. Techniques I offer include fingerstyle, slapping, picking, right-hand muting and left-hand muting. A video of the different playing techniques I offer can be found here.

Pleasant and relaxed atmosphere

I provide a relaxed and friendly lesson environment and I value appreciation and respectful interaction without pressure. This is essential for a great learning experience!

Customized lessons

I adapt my bass lessons according to your individual needs and current playing level. Through my many years of teaching experience, I know how to approach working efficiently and effectively with you. I place special emphasis on your musical preferences (such as songs, grooves, techniques) and address them in my lessons. Let me know what your favorite songs and grooves are. In case I don’t know the song yet, I’ll look it up on YouTube and I can quickly play and teach you the bass line.

Advice on buying an instrument

If you haven’t bought your own bass guitar yet, I can offer you my advice and help you find the most suitable instrument for you. I can provide you with useful tips and show you which instrument fits your needs. I have a wide selection of different basses that you can try out so you’ll get an idea of the differences and characteristics of each instrument. Of course, I also have a wide selection of amplifiers and speakers.

Setting up your bass and equipment

I have played, bought, sold, owned, tested and fine-tuned dozens of basses of all kinds in my bass-playing life. This has given me a lot of experience regarding playability, sound and the ideal setup of my instruments. I can give you a lot of pointers on the following topics:
How do I put on new strings, how do I adjust the neck of my bass, how do I get a better string action, what influence do the different controls have on my bass sound, what are the differences between Jazz, Precision or Musicman pickups, what is the difference between a J-Bass and a P-Bass neck, how do I adjust the intonation on my bass, how do bass electronics work, what are the differences between roundwound and flatwound strings, which strings are suitable for which style, what influence do tone wood, bass tuners and pickup position have on my sound and much more. If necessary, I can also do minor repairs on your bass during our lessons.
The same goes for amplifiers, speakers and effects pedals. I have gained extensive experience and can give you expert information, for example:
how do I set up my bass amp, what are the differences between analog and digital power amps, what are the sound differences between tube, solid-state and digital amps, which cabinet matches which amp, how many ohms should my cabinet have, how do neodymium speakers compare to ceramic speakers, how do 10″-, 12″ or 15″ speakers sounds, which effect pedals make sense for bass and how do I use them, how do I build a pedalboard, which effect pedal order makes sense, what are serial and parallel effect chains, how do I set up an equalizer for bass, why do I need a bass octaver or bass compressor and much more. You can also try out my instruments and equipment to get a feeling for the many possibilities, see post below.

Large selection of instruments and equipment

Over the years I have collected a large variety of instruments and amps, cabinets and effect pedals. From four-string, five-string, Jazz-, Precision and Musicman basses to short scale, semi-hollow and hollow body basses. I also have various amps and pre-amps, as well as effects pedals (octaver, overdrive, fuzz, phaser, filter, compressor, delay, reverb, etc.). Of course you’re welcome to try out some of my instruments and gear to get a feel for the functionality and sounds.

Performance tips

It is particularly important for me to prepare my students for the experience of playing in a band. I will be happy to support you with useful advice and practical ideas for rehearsals and live performance, even if you are already playing in a band. I am also always happy to answer questions about studio/recording processes and instrument selection.

Rhythm and Groove

Rhythm is probably the most underrated subject in music education and is often neglected, especially in traditional music schools. However, I strongly believe that this should be the number one topic, especially for bass players. A solid sense of rhythm and good timing and feel is by far the most important skill for bass playing. I’ve worked out many concepts and exercises that will help you get to grips with difficult rhythms in a variety of styles and time signatures and play with confidence, with or without reading music; regarding this topic I provide a few helpful tabs and worksheets here with eighth and sixteenth note grids that you can download as a PDF.

Hands-on ear training and music theory

I will show you how to transcribe your favorite songs and bass lines with practical exercises and online tools (e.g. Transcribe). I have developed effective exercises to help you achieve this goal.  The same applies to music theory. Your will learn to put these concepts into action, that means into songs and grooves.

Background information on the music business

Being a professional musician for over 25 years, I have experienced many great and not so great gigs, bizarre and funny backstage stories, interesting encounters and crazy situations. I’m happy to share my experiences with you and answer all your questions about the music business, studying, rehearsing and being a musician in general. I’m also happy to provide you with practical advice if you’re already playing concerts or recording with bands.

Improvisation and Solo

If you are interested in improvising bass lines and solos I can introduce you to great concepts on this subject, work through the process with you and show you many practical examples. Having studied at the prestigious Berklee College of Music in Boston for two years I have learned a lot about improvisation and I’m happy to share this knowledge with you, be it improvising over chords in a jazz standard or a modern pop or soul song.

The "Art of Practicing"

You don’t have to practice bass for hours every day to advance your playing. I’ll show you the best and most efficient way to practice – even when you have a lot going on in your everyday life. I have developed concepts that will help you getting the most out of your time with your instrument – without pressure or stress.

Recording

Working as a session bassist I have made a lot of recordings for numerous artists, both in the studio and at home. I work with Logic Pro X and various preamps and DIs and can provide you with valuable tips on the recording process. If desired, I can offer you the opportunity to record on location. This is the perfect way to check your progress and improve your bass playing. Afterwards, we can evaluate the recordings together and discuss how you can optimize your skills.

Preparation for entrance exams

If you are planning to take an entrance exam at one of the institutions in Vienna (for example MUK, JamLab, VMI) I will be happy to prepare you for the audition. I know the entrance requirements and will help you with ear training, harmony and repertoire selection and preparation. Due to my many years of experience, I am familiar with the key points of the audition process and, if you wish, I can simulate the exam situation with you.

Gift Vouchers

Of course I also offer gift vouchers for my lessons – the perfect gift for musicians, music lovers and everyone who is interested in low frequencies and cool grooves. Choose from a range of different offers and have the voucher conveniently sent to you by email or mail. You will find more information about the vouchers here.

Languages

I not only teach in my native language German but also have extensive knowledge of English due to more than 10 years of experience as a musician and music teacher in England. If necessary, I can also draw on my knowledge of French and Italian.