On this "holy crap, another Friday the 13th" installment of @yamahamusicusa #silentbass and @laklandbasses Friday, we discuss "fear and confidence". I'm not just talking stage fright here, although that can be a big issue. I'm talking more fundamental fear. Fear of trying something new, fear of going beyond ur comfort zone. Fear of failure. I see it all the time in lessons. Students will play something for me then all of a sudden, go from confident and powerful to quiet, meek

On this installment of @yamahamusicusa #silentbass and @laklandbasses Friday, we discuss the concept of how the woodshed can be like "money in the bank". I get really discouraged when I introduce a concept to a student..maybe a "stretch" activity...and I get the "I'll never use this..." Really? How do u know? I have spoken many times about the shed consisting of fundamentals and challenges. Some of those challenges should, IMO, include the "u never know" variety.  U have no i

On this "abridged because im sick" installment of @yamahamusicusa #silentbass and @laklandbasses Friday, we discuss "labels".  Labels can be helpful. They define things to better help us make choices. However, IMO, lables in art can be problematic. They can be limiting. They can so give an air of superiority or inferiority.  Basically, we are all artists in the community. Anything past that is immaterial unless they are needed for a playing situation or other collaborative en

On this installment of @yamahamusicusa #silentbass and @laklandbasses Friday, we discuss a topic that has come up quite a bit recently....choosing a teacher. Now, we all learn differently and want different things out of our art. Private instruction is one of many avenues open to us. Choose the avenue that works for you. I am a proponent of private instruction. I have had it since the beginning and, for the most part, have benefitted. I actually took a lesson last month!  If

On this "Friday the 13th" installment of @yamahamusicusa #silentbass and @laklandbasses Friday, we discuss probably my least favorite topic (no, not gear, lol). The modes (ugh). Now, I have nothing against these scales per se, it is the mystique surrounding them. Over the years, I have had discussions with students and players that feel learning the modes is a "milestone". Uh..no. If u learn the modes, u will not be inducted into a secret society. No hooded figures will lead

On this installment of @yamahamusicusa #silentbass and @laklandbasses Friday, we discuss the following quote, “we do not rise to the level of our expectations, we fall to the level of our training”. This is credited to Greek poet Archilochus, but I heard it from a fitness professional. It sounds kind of defeatist, but really it is the opposite. The key is to understand that the goal is to narrow the gap between the two. How do we do that? PLANNING! REALISTIC GOALS! WORK! PATI

On this installment of @yamahamusicusa #silentbass and @laklandbasses Friday, I'm going to discuss a quote from a fitness professional that applies to the woodshed..."...little things allow for the big things.." Meaning, in order to be able to address any skills u are working on, u need to address all the parts that make up that skill first and then bring them together. I learned this early on when I studied slap with @tonyoppenheim. He broke everything down to all its parts

On this slightly abridged #NAMM2026 installment of @yamahamusicusa #silentbass and @laklandbasses Friday, we talk "community". Yeah, not gear...not celebrities..not ensorsements...not the Cali weather...COMMUNITY! We, as artists, need to support each other..PERIOD. Unless there is $$$ or a playing situation involved, there is no competition.  We are all valid...we are all creatives in the community. All tastes, styles, all ages, all levels. U dig? It shouldn't matter how much

On this installment of @yamahamusicusa #silentbass and @laklandbasses Friday, we talk " Open Jams". Sometimes call "Jam Sessions" or "Open Mic Nights", these can be fun, rewarding, terrifying, humiliating and/or discouraging experiences. Navigating them is a skill. Now, IMO..especially for beginners, private jams can be before fruitful, at least to start. Find one more players of about ur level and play together. Make it as friendly and low pressure as possible. Play tunes, j

On this "Happy New Year" installment of @yamahamusicusa #silentbass and @laklandbasses Friday, we talk "goals". This is something we should ALL think about in all aspects of our lives, and not just this time of year. Of course, I talking about shed goals here. Ok, but why? Well, goals give you a direction, a way to pinpoint areas of work and a way to measure progress. I can't tell you how many times I hear from students that they are in a rut and play the same 5 things. Well,

On this "ya better watch out, ya better not cry" installment of @yamahamusicusa #silentbass and @laklandbasses Friday, we cover the ubiquitous "Made Easy" concept. We see it in countless commercials and infomercials...fitness, learning a language, making money, getting a degree..everywhere. Let's be honest, we all know if it sounds simple and easy, it ain't. ANYTHING worthwhile takes time, effort, sweat, patience and WORK! Shortcuts may seem useful, but my experience shows th

On this installment of @yamahamusicusa #silentbass and @laklandbasses Friday, I am going to cover one of the first topics (if not THE first) ever in this series. Based on discussions this week, I fell it needs to be revisited. Today, "It ain't all about the bass" (sorry Ms. Trainor). It's about the music. We, as artists, have to understand that most listeners listen to the music "as a whole ". Not a sum of individual parts (at least not consciously). Virtuoso bassist, conduct

On this installment of @yamahamusicusa #silentbass and @laklandbasses Friday, we round out the last set of discussions on what to practice by talking about "how" to practice. This issue seems to permeate through every level, style and background of player I have met and/or taught. The key here is honesty, consistency and planning. The more you focus on these three areas IMO, the more succesful you will be. In order to achieve real progress, you have to be able to monitor your

On this installment of @yamahamusicusa #silentbass and @laklandbasses Friday, we conclude our talk on fundamentals with a discussion on "Challenges ". What is a challenge? It's a skill or skills that go "farther" than fundamentals.They may require more in depth work, more individual creativity...more time and effort to understand.  Challenges are where, IMO, we truly see improvement. These skills are "next level". Examples are sightreading, bassline construction, walking line

On this installment of @yamahamusicusa #silentbass and @laklandbasses Friday, we continue the series on Fundamentals. Today, "Extended Techniques". That is, those playing methods beyond what ur doing now. Pick if u play fingers, fingers if u play pick, multiple fingers, slap, tap, "finger pick", double thumb, arco and/or pizz. for upright., etc. Remember, none are superior to any other. U do u! Choose the one(s) u want to or feel u need to work on and have at it! As I've said

On this installment of @yamahamusicusa #silentbass and @laklandbasses Friday, we continue the series on "Fundamentals. Today, "Music Theory". First, I want to talk about sources that pigeonhole this subject by instrument, genre or level of involvement. There is not one aspect of music theory that one player needs more than another. It is ONE subject for everyone. How u apply it is where differences occur. A med student doesn't just study Orthopedics. They study General Medici

On this "Trick or Treat" installment of @yamahamusicusa #silentbass and @laklandbasses Friday, we continue the series on "Fundamentals. Today, "reading". Now, I'm not going to get into the debate of "Tabs vs. Notes", mainly because I don't believe this is an "either/or" issue. Understand though, there are certain playing situations where reading notation is either helpful or required. Learn one...learn both. The bottom line is u do u. Feel free to insert "tabs" wherever I wri

On this installment of @yamahamusicusa #silentbass and @laklandbasses Friday, we continue the series on "Fundamentals. Today, "Ear Training". There are many articles, lessons and products that cover this, but I want to talk about it in a more fundamental way. Ear training goes WAY beyond recognizing intervals, or picking out basslines (though these are both powerful and necessary skills). The goal is to translate ur musical ideas from the brain to the listener...whether those

On this installment of @yamahamusicusa #silentbass and @laklandbasses Friday, we continue the series on "Fundamentals. Today, "Voice Leading". First, understand I am not talking about the Medieval voice leading some of us learned in school (ugh). I'm talking about something much more useful in the 21st century. This is a skill whereby you are conscious to the fact that what ur playing now is affected by what u played before and affects what u play next. This way, your lines h

On this installment of @yamahamusicusa #silentbass and @laklandbasses Friday, we continue the series on "Fundamentals. Today, "time"....