Part II---Skills

Today on @yamahamusicusa #silentbass and @laklandbasses Friday, we discuss part II of our discussion on "Techniques and Skills". Today, "Skills". IMO, skills are more far reaching than techniques and have more "moving parts". Some skills require one or more techniques to be addressed as well as other subjects. Examples would be, reading charts or notation, learning tunes for a performance, improvisation, creating basslines (e.g.walking), composition, swinging, etc. All of these areas have smaller parts (some techniques, some theory, some fundamentals) that should be part of ur regular shed (I have covered these areas many times..check my series on "What to Practice" on my FB page or website blog). The question becomes what skill(s) do you want to focus on? It is ultimately ur choice. It can be difficult to attack them all at once, so prioritize them first. Some can be focused on alone while others are more complimentary and can be studied in parallel. Once you make ur list, determine what you need to work on to learn the skill. Notice I didn't say "master". NO ONE masters a skill...not even the "bassgodz". Skills are an asymptotic endeavor.  You work on then until the end...u dig? If u feel comfortable with or bored working on a skill. Move on to another, understanding you will revisit it again for more progress. And so it will continue...at least that is how I look at it in my shed and how I present them to my students. Keeping track of your skillset...adding to it as u like or as situations arise and constantly striving for improvement will go a long way to your ability and enjoyment of the art. As always, I invite your insights. #yamahamusicusa #makewaves #pirastro #glasserny #laklandbasses #sitstrings #tsunamicables #philjonesbass #uptonbassstringinstrumentcompany #basslessons #remotelessons