LearnGospelMusic.com Community
Gospel Instruments => Bass Guitar => Topic started by: jkbeckwith4 on November 13, 2009, 09:18:54 AM
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Just got my copy today!
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Just got my copy today!
:o So what do you think so far,can you give us some details,I'm thinking about ordering a set. ;)
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I'm going to watch all the DVDs straight thru, no stopping straight thru. There's seven of them so I'll be busy.
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I got mine too!
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I'm still on disc 2, she's loaded with licks (60). Dat cat playing with him (Ty)is nice.
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I've had chance to look at most of the DVDs and really like what I see. I happen to know Ty Blanchard and he is a solid bass player, Though I don't know Alex personally, I have purchased several of his training stuff and have greatly benefited from his teachings. So is "The Contemporary Gospel Bass PLayer" any good? Abxolutely! I don't know that you could get the things that are packed into this 5 DVD set for $70 anywhere else. However, I must warn you: if you expect more than an idea starter upon which you can build and improvise, you may not get much out of it.
Here is what I like:
Lots of examples with video of left/right hand and tablature
Great examples of how the modes work over chord progressions
Great chops builders, call and response and other exercises
What you learn here works with other styles of music
Here is what I don't like:
Infomercials that can't be skipped
Alex talks too much
Video quality could be better
Other than that, its a great investment that I will be working on for quite sometime.
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I've had chance to look at most of the DVDs and really like what I see. I happen to know Ty Blanchard and he is a solid bass player, Though I don't know Alex personally, I have purchased several of his training stuff and have greatly benefited from his teachings. So is "The Contemporary Gospel Bass PLayer" any good? Abxolutely! I don't know that you could get the things that are packed into this 5 DVD set for $70 anywhere else. However, I must warn you: if you expect more than an idea starter upon which you can build and improvise, you may not get much out of it.
Here is what I like:
Lots of examples with video of left/right hand and tablature
Great examples of how the modes work over chord progressions
Great chops builders, call and response and other exercises
What you learn here works with other styles of music
Here is what I don't like:
Infomercials that can't be skipped
Alex talks too much
Video quality could be better
Other than that, its a great investment that I will be working on for quite sometime.
Thanks for your input,you have so many people selling "how to"videos you don't know if you wasted your money or not until you purchased their product,and then it's to late.
There's an old saying "a fool and his money will soon be parted" and I don't want to part from my $70.00 for a basic "how to video" >:(,this sound like it could be a good investment and I'm going to go for it! if I'm wrong I'm changing my name from "Arthur59,to $70fool" :-\
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I agree "kevmove02 " the infomercials were a little much, you can't forward past them. :)
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>>I received my copy and watched 4 DVDs out of 7 and so far I'm not happy.<<
Hopefully you can return the product for a full refund, according to Alex's guarantee. I believe you get to keep the freebies.
Otherwise you're gonna have to change your name, man! :)
I bought one product from Alex, and while good, I agree with some comments here that Alex takes too long to say what could be said in one sentence (this is an illustration). Infomercials in a product that you are paying for should not be tolerated AT ALL! Those should be in another section of the DVD that you can watch if you choose to.
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To be fair to Alex, lots of DVDs do not allow you to skip the commercials (which I find equally annoying). As far as the complaint about learning gospel music, hear are my thoughts:
If you were expecting to learn recorded Gospel music, copyrights prevent this. Remember when you could find tab for just about any song? Once the RIAA started going after the web sites that hosted these files, all the websites shut down. If Alex were to perform copyrighted songs without permission, he would get sued into oblivion.
If he had used hymns, most people would have complained that they already know those songs, especially if you are a premium member of this website.
So he did the next best thing: he played riffs that represent the best of CONTEMPORARY GOSPEL MUSIC. I have seen Ty Blanchard perform many times with a house band that plays all over the PA/MD/DE area. The riffs you hear on the DVDs are the same ones he plays live. The trick is to adapt what you hear to the style of music you play. For example, on Fred Hammond's new CD, "Love Unstoppable" the track, "Thoughts of Love" has a latin bossa nova feel to it. So if you know any basslines from this genre of music, you would have no problem with picking up this song. In fact, if you learned any of the songs performed by Sade, you already know the changes on Fred's track, because they follow a similar music form.
This leads to the benefit for me: learn certain forms, then adapting them to other music styles. I may have been able to arrive at this point a different way, but being able to hear the patterns and see the fingering not only makes a better musician, but also has the advantage of planting seeds for future ideas. That is not bad for only $67, which if I understand it correctly, may barely cover the cost of a lesson.
Now if you watched the DVD's and already can play all the riffs demonstrated both flawlessly and while improvising, then you probably wasted your money. As for me, I have a ways to go to make that claim.
Ty said one thing on the video that really hit home: If you want to master your craft, find your favorite CD and learn to play all of the songs from beginning to end, then play them straight through, as though you were playing a set. We bass players scoff at this practice, but that's exactly what keyboardist (pianist specifically) must do to prove proficiency.
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My man, i agree with you totally, i have a few of Alex's courses and very happy with them. Some of those 60 licks are challenging. For 67 bucks, you get alot.
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I have three more DVDs to watch,what I'm saying is so far what he is talking about on this "gospel bass player course" was already covered in his "bass player secret course and the fret board formula couse, which I do have both,and they are very good instructional DVDs,however when you use the name"gospel bass" that's what I'm paying for,to learn more about "how to play GOSPEL BASS",the songs that he is playing don't have the "gospel feel"to it,notning about it seize gospel to ME but the title.
Right here on LGM, the bass players talk and teach each other more about "gospel bass" then I've learned from wathing 4 DVDs from Alex "GOSPEL BASS PLAYER" and it's free!!! (each one teach one).
Once I watch the other three DVDs I will give the family my personal"opinion"on the entire course, are maybe I'll keep the rest of my opinion to myself,I'm not trying to stop the man from making his money.(go Alex, you make that "money") :-\
thank you
$70fool :-\
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Here on this site you learn so much more and the people that are giving their opinion are more sincere - with no alterior motives; making money off of you. You learn more for free!
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"Author59", do think there will ever be a such DVD course for the "gospel bassist" that will just focus on just gospel music, riffs, runs, and progressions (movements). It would be nice if one our gospel hero bassists like "Terenace Palmer" came out with some instructional materials. Maybe 8)
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"Author59", do think there will ever be a such DVD course for the "gospel bassist" that will just focus on just gospel music, riffs, runs, and progressions (movements). It would be nice if one our gospel hero bassists like "Terenace Palmer" came out with some instructional materials. Maybe 8)
Yes I do,You have a lot of great "gospel" bass player out there,howerever not all of them are good teachers.
We have some good players and teacher right here on LGM and if they were to put out a DVD on how to play "Gospel bass" I'm sure it would be good,because they're doing it in bits and pieces right now!! I've learned evrey thing about chord progression,turn arounds,modes and more from the LGM BASS FAMILY.
I do believe a professional "GOSPEL BASS PLAYER" will come out with a good instructional DVD for about $35.00 ::)
Thank you!
$70fool :-\
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Yes I do,You have a lot of great "gospel" bass player out there,howerever not all of them are good teachers.
We have some good players and teacher right here on LGM and if they were to put out a DVD on how to play "Gospel bass" I'm sure it would be good,because they're doing it in bits and pieces right now!! I've learned evrey thing about chord progression,turn arounds,modes and more from the LGM BASS FAMILY.
I do believe a professional "GOSPEL BASS PLAYER" will come out with a good instructional DVD for about $35.00 ::)
Thank you!
$70fool :-\
FYI, I purchased a DVD set by " Victor Wooten" called "groove workshop" for $39.00. two DVDs and he talked about how to groove,if you hit a wrong note he teaches you how to groove right through
it, and no one would no you hit a wrong note.Thats what I payed for and that what I got, nothing about chords,progressions,turnarounds, how to adjust your action on your bass,everything was about the "groove",
"HOW TO GROOVE"
Thank you!
$70fool :-\
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I have to rebut: the riffs on the DVDs can be adapted to any style of music. Why am I so certain? Because the featured Bassist, Ty Blanchard, uses the exact same riffs in Gospel music that he uses on the DVD. Besides, what makes a bassline "Gospel" anyway? Oh wait, Ty addresses that on the DVD also!
Bottom line: not everyone is going to get the same edification out of an instructional video. I happen to think that this series is worth the investment. If you are expecting to hear actual gospel songs, copyright law prevents that. If they did use copyrighted songs, the series would cost twice as much. So try this: play the riffs over "gospel chord progressions" and then say the product doesn't measure up. Until then, I'm going back to the woodshed.
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When I first started playing bass in church years ago I had no one to teach me so I went to the music store and brought a bass book called "star licks" it faetured bass player like,Larry Gram,James Jamerson JR, Earl Greco and my favorite Lous Johnson,I even brough a bass like Lous Johnson a "music man sting ray" for $1200.00,well all they taught was "licks" and I learned just about all of them and couldn't wait to get to church and try them out on my new bass ;D
Man!!!, I was thumping,slapping, poping, all over the place,doing hammer ons,pull offs you couldn't tell me I wasn't a "beast" all eyes were on me!! :o after all I have the same bass lous Johnson has and I knew all his licks,you should of heard me play "amazing grace",I poped and slapped through the whole song.After awhile they sat me down,told me to go home and learn the songs,learn the progressions,listen to the bass playres on gospel tapes,yes, I was hurt :'(( I didn't under stand ,after all I did learn all the licks from Lous Johnson and his friends and I had a "NEW BASS"!!!
That was the problem, all I knew was "licks", no scales, no 251 progression didn't know about the circle of 4th and 5th, just licks,ones I learned a little about gospel music than applied the licks,"IT WORKED" these wasn't "gospe"l licks but once I learned the rudiments of music and some basic stuff about gospel bass playing,then added the licks, IT WORKED!! I had to learn the basic first,I had to learn gospel basic, 101. then everything else made sense.
Thank you!
$70fool :-\
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I've spent "some cash" on bass guitars, as well. I haven't gotten to an expensive rig, yet :). i just admire the bassist when I here gospel (old and new), those riffs and runs thru the song and that massive tone. We are the foundation! It just sounds good. I have shelf full of instructional materials, some I haven't gotten to yet. I feel if you want to master something, you gotta soke that thing up like a sponge.
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I,ve spent thousand of dollars over the years on bass guitars,bass rigs,how to play bass VHS taps, bass books,DVDs,bass peddles and more trying to become a better "gospel bass player".
If you go to the music store and look @ the bass instructional section you won't find anything on gospel bass,you can find stuff on,jazz,blues,rock and roll,funck and more.
If I chose to play "blues" I would be a great bass player right now,however I chose to play gospel and I feel like there's a missing link in my playing that stoping me from being a great "gospel bass player" and I'll keep searching for it until I find it.
So when I hear about someone putting out a "how to play gospel bass" DVD I'm on it,hoping to find the "missing link" that stoping me from being a better gospel bass player.
Everything I'm talking about is from experiece, on my profile I have "I've benn playing bass on and off for 5 years, the thrth is I've ben playing on and off for about "21 years!!" I felt to embarrassed to tell any one because my playing doesn't reflect that,so I tell people I've ben playing for 5 yrs.
I tryed everything I could think of to become a better "gospel bass player" I would get discourage then give up,I've ben going through this cycle for 21 yrs,I love playing bass for the Lord and if it takes me 21 more years to find that mission link,so be it.
"TO GOD BE THR GLORY"
Thank you!
$70,well y'all know the rest. :-\
The thing with Gospel is that it incorporates so many different genres of music that, in order to be a great "Gospel" musician, you have to be well verse in all these other genres. You can listen to one album and hear Latin, Rock, Jazz, Blues, R&B...etc. I think the problem alot of people have with learning Gospel is that they don't account for feel and annointing. The technique of learning Gospel music isn't really that much different than any other kind of music, IMO. For many musicians (not saying it's the case with you) the missing link is the annointing. You can play all the right notes and have all the technique and still sound wrong.
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I agree with you mjl22,feel and the annointant is a very inportant part of "gospel" in general,it's the annointing that makes a difference in my playing.
I just get angry >:( when someone is selling a product and uses a "key word" to target a certain group of people.
If the DVDs was title "everything a bass player should know" or "how to play licks over scales" or "walking bass" or "the 411 on bass" etc,I would not of purchased the product.I purchased the product because of the title "gospel bass.
I found this site because of the title "learn gospel music", and thats whats going on here we're learing about gospel music and I love it !!! I'm hooked on it,got to have my LGM 3 times a day,
1,morning,befor work.
2.afternoon,luhch time
3.evening.befor bed.
"GOT TO HAVE IT"
Afthur59 ;)
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I have to rebut: the riffs on the DVDs can be adapted to any style of music. Why am I so certain? Because the featured Bassist, Ty Blanchard, uses the exact same riffs in Gospel music that he uses on the DVD. Besides, what makes a bassline "Gospel" anyway? Oh wait, Ty addresses that on the DVD also!
Bottom line: not everyone is going to get the same edification out of an instructional video. I happen to think that this series is worth the investment. If you are expecting to hear actual gospel songs, copyright law prevents that. If they did use copyrighted songs, the series would cost twice as much. So try this: play the riffs over "gospel chord progressions" and then say the product doesn't measure up. Until then, I'm going back to the woodshed.
So you know TY Blanchard ? do you have stock in this product ? just asking. ::)
Ivan Santigo came out with instructional video called "urban bass" and no I don't know him, and I'm not trying to push his video,he gives a demonstration of gospel quarte bass playing,and gospel shout bass playing and it sounds and feels like gospel bass playing, he doesn't mention the name of the song but you know it's "gospel"
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I,ve spent thousand of dollars over the years on bass guitars,bass rigs,how to play bass VHS taps, bass books,DVDs,bass peddles and more trying to become a better "gospel bass player".
If you go to the music store and look @ the bass instructional section you won't find anything on gospel bass,you can find stuff on,jazz,blues,rock and roll,funk and more.
If I chose to play "blues or rock" I would be a great bass player right now,however I chose to play gospel and I feel like there's a missing link in my playing that stoping me from being a great "gospel bass player" and I'll keep searching for it until I find it,I think gospel music is one of the hardest style of music to master,in my opinion.
So when I hear about someone putting out a "how to play gospel bass" DVD I'm on it,hoping to find the "missing link" that stoping me from being a better gospel bass player.
Everything I'm talking about is from experiece, on my profile I have "I've benn playing bass on and off for 5 years, the thrth is I've ben playing on and off for about "21 years!!" I felt to embarrassed to tell any one because my playing doesn't reflect that,so I tell people I've ben playing for 5 yrs.
I tryed everything I could think of to become a better "gospel bass player" I would get discourage then give up,I've ben going through this cycle for 21 yrs,I love playing bass for the Lord and if it takes me 21 more years to find that mission link,so be it.
"TO GOD BE THR GLORY"
Thank you!
$70,well y'all know :-\
Much respect to you,I'll be praying that you find that missing link.
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I two have a copy of alex sampson "gospel bass player.
THIS IS WHAT I LIKE ABOUT IT:
Alex is a good teacher.
ty is a good bass player.
the licks are very good.
the way he explain how modes work.
THIS IS WHAT I DIS LIKE:
two many licks.
ty is not a good teacher.
calling us " boy & girls.
takes to long to get to the point,then once he's there he over kills it.
the songs he selected to break down to us didn't have the gospel feel to it, sounds like song he wrote and he put a gospel title to it.
He could have made his point with two dvds,instead of "7"
Bottom line if your looking to improve your bass blaying,the videos will help.
If your looking to improve your knowledge of gospel bass playing this is not the video you want, IMO
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I like Ivan's DVD, my favorite part is also quartet section. I like his bass.
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I like Ivan's DVD, my favorite part is also quartet section. I like his bass.
since you started this post tell us which one you like better
Alex Simpsons "gospel bass player" or
Ivan Santigo "urban bass" and tell us us why. ?/?
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I agree with you mjl22,feel and the annointant is a very inportant part of "gospel" in general,it's the annointing that makes a difference in my playing.
I just get angry >:( when someone is selling a product and uses a "key word" to target a certain group of people.
If the DVDs was title "everything a bass player should know" or "how to play licks over scales" or "walking bass" or "the 411 on bass" ect,I would not of purchased the product.I purchased the product because of the title "gospel bass.
I found this site because of the title "learn gospel music", and thats whats going on here we're learing about gospel music and I love it !!! I'm hooked on it,got to have my LGM 3 times a day,
1,morning,befor work.
2.afternoon,luhch time
3.evening.befor bed.
If I don't get my 3 dally doese of LGM, ALL HELL IS GOING TO BRAKE LOOSE!! >:( >:(
1.MORNING,SOMEONE PLUMBING IS GOING TO GET JACKED UP!!(i'm a plumber)
2.AFTERNOON,LUNCH,"LUNCH, WHAT LUNCH I DONT WANT TO EAT!!
3.EVENING,MAKE LOVE TO MY WIFE. MAKE LOVE,NOT TONIGHT,SHE'S ON HER OWN!!!
LOL!!! ;D ;D ;D ;D, gota go I'm late for work.
thank you!
$7
Afthur59 ;)
YOU FUNNY!!! :D :D
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i like Ivan's DVD better. He and Jamal play off of each other real well. I seems to me they get down to point with they want to show. i also like virtual bass notation at the bottom of the screen. i also like when they introduce the tritone. To sum it up Shame218, Ivan and the gang get to it, also, no infomercials.
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So you know TY Blanchard ? do you have stock in this product ? just asking. ::)
Ivan Santigo came out with instructional video called "urban bass" and no I don't know him, and I'm not trying to push his video,he gives a demonstration of gospel quarte bass playing,and gospel shout bass playing and it sounds and feels like gospel bass playing, he doesn't mention the name of the song but you know it's "gospel"
yes, I'm sending it back,not worth my investment.
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For the record, I work in a Christian bookstore that host "gospel music performances". After getting into bass, I approached the bass player to ask him about his bass. Everytime he came through, I would ask him more questions, which he was always eager to answer. Then one day, to my great surprise, I see him on the "commercial" for "The Contemporary Gospel Bass Player". When I listened to music on the DVD's, I recognised the licks he played, because he used the same one in live performances. The only stock I own in Alex's company is in the form of the 3 courses I bought from him.
I ask you all to do a little experiment with me. Get yourself a copy of Andre Crouch's "I'm Gonna Keep On Singing" and listen to the bass line. Now listen to the arrangement. Now pick any Motown song that features James Jamerson as bass player. What is the difference?
Now go get the original version of "You Brought the Sunshine" by the Clark Sisters. The bassline of this song is a common reggae progression.
Next, listen to the bassline from Fred Hammonds, "Let the Praise Begin". This bassline, as performed by both Fred and Terrance Palmer is considered one of the best basslines ever. At least thats the opinion of Bass Player magazine.
Last one: listen to the basslines from each song on Fred Hammonds "Love Unstoppable". What you find is songs that cover the entire spectrum of musical genres (or pretty close). They all have 2 things in common: you don't have to know "gospel music" to be able to pick up the styles or chord progressions, and you can only understand the lyrics by knowing and believing the Gospel.
That is the true heart of the matter. ANY musician with decent chops will be able to listen our music and play along. What gives our music its power is the empowerment of the Holy Spirit, coupled with the presentation of the Gospel.
I appreciate what I can learn from any musician, especially the ones who take the time to post videos, write articles and create tablature, so that all can benefit from their experience. For me, the musical journey to mastery involves learning the craft, then submitting it to the Lordship of Jesus Christ. I think Gospel Bass Player does a decent job of helping me along the path. It's okay to disagree. I just don't want anyone to get the impression that the DVD course is about learning recorded songs. If that is what you are looking for Hal Leonard has a fantastic series of bass recorded versions of popular music. I pray all stay the course and continue to honor the Lord in all you do.
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For the record, I work in a Christian bookstore that host "gospel music performances". After getting into bass, I approached the bass player to ask him about his bass. Everytime he came through, I would ask him more questions, which he was always eager to answer. Then one day, to my great surprise, I see him on the "commercial" for "The Contemporary Gospel Bass Player". When I listened to music on the DVD's, I recognised the licks he played, because he used the same one in live performances. The only stock I own in Alex's company is in the form of the 3 courses I bought from him.
I ask you all to do a little experiment with me. Get yourself a copy of Andre Crouch's "I'm Gonna Keep On Singing" and listen to the bass line. Now listen to the arrangement. Now pick any Motown song that features James Jamerson as bass player. What is the difference?
Now go get the original version of "You Brought the Sunshine" by the Clark Sisters. The bassline of this song is a common reggae progression.
Next, listen to the bassline from Fred Hammonds, "Let the Praise Begin". This bassline, as performed by both Fred and Terrance Palmer is considered one of the best basslines ever. At least thats the opinion of Bass Player magazine.
Last one: listen to the basslines from each song on Fred Hammonds "Love Unstoppable". What you find is songs that cover the entire spectrum of musical genres (or pretty close). They all have 2 things in common: you don't have to know "gospel music" to be able to pick up the styles or chord progressions, and you can only understand the lyrics by knowing and believing the Gospel.
That is the true heart of the matter. ANY musician with decent chops will be able to listen our music and play along. What gives our music its power is the empowerment of the Holy Spirit, coupled with the presentation of the Gospel.
I appreciate what I can learn from any musician, especially the ones who take the time to post videos, write articles and create tablature, so that all can benefit from their experience. For me, the musical journey to mastery involves learning the craft, then submitting it to the Lordship of Jesus Christ. I think Gospel Bass Player does a decent job of helping me along the path. It's okay to disagree. I just don't want anyone to get the impression that the DVD course is about learning recorded songs. If that is what you are looking for Hal Leonard has a fantastic series of bass recorded versions of popular music. I pray all stay the course and continue to honor the Lord in all you do.
Well said kevmove02,the reason we're on this site is to help each other become better gospel musicans.it with discssion like this we grow a little more in our quest to be the best that God would have us to be.
GOD BLESS YOU!
Arthur59 :)
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i got my copy as well alex sampson is the man i just started playing bass for 7 months ow wish me luck guys im looking to do this until the day the takes me home lol.
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For the record, I work in a Christian bookstore that host "gospel music performances". After getting into bass, I approached the bass player to ask him about his bass. Everytime he came through, I would ask him more questions, which he was always eager to answer. Then one day, to my great surprise, I see him on the "commercial" for "The Contemporary Gospel Bass Player". When I listened to music on the DVD's, I recognised the licks he played, because he used the same one in live performances. The only stock I own in Alex's company is in the form of the 3 courses I bought from him.
I ask you all to do a little experiment with me. Get yourself a copy of Andre Crouch's "I'm Gonna Keep On Singing" and listen to the bass line. Now listen to the arrangement. Now pick any Motown song that features James Jamerson as bass player. What is the difference?
Now go get the original version of "You Brought the Sunshine" by the Clark Sisters. The bassline of this song is a common reggae progression.
Next, listen to the bassline from Fred Hammonds, "Let the Praise Begin". This bassline, as performed by both Fred and Terrance Palmer is considered one of the best basslines ever. At least thats the opinion of Bass Player magazine.
Last one: listen to the basslines from each song on Fred Hammonds "Love Unstoppable". What you find is songs that cover the entire spectrum of musical genres (or pretty close). They all have 2 things in common: you don't have to know "gospel music" to be able to pick up the styles or chord progressions, and you can only understand the lyrics by knowing and believing the Gospel.
That is the true heart of the matter. ANY musician with decent chops will be able to listen our music and play along. What gives our music its power is the empowerment of the Holy Spirit, coupled with the presentation of the Gospel.
I appreciate what I can learn from any musician, especially the ones who take the time to post videos, write articles and create tablature, so that all can benefit from their experience. For me, the musical journey to mastery involves learning the craft, then submitting it to the Lordship of Jesus Christ. I think Gospel Bass Player does a decent job of helping me along the path. It's okay to disagree. I just don't want anyone to get the impression that the DVD course is about learning recorded songs. If that is what you are looking for Hal Leonard has a fantastic series of bass recorded versions of popular music. I pray all stay the course and continue to honor the Lord in all you do.
I think what they mean to say is that they would like if he had covered how to play with a more traditional/congregational playing style. Anybody can play contemporary. Its easy. Fred Hammond, Clark Sisters all these people dont make difficult songs. They probably were looking for how to play hymns and stuff like that.
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Hi all,
well here is my 2 pence on the Gospel Bass Player DVD. By the way i live in England and i just got the DVD on friday the 27th of Nov.
Disk number 1: I would say that the disk is good but not really needed. It was good information but very general. I've been playing for awhile and i have NEVER messed with the truss rod, intonation, etc. I leave it to the pro's to do.
Disk number 2: Excellent
Disk number 3: Excellent
Disk number 4A and 4B: Excellent
Extra 2 disks: A plus....
I would give the over presentation of this disk a 95 out of 100.... I can't blame the man for doing advertisements on his dvd, but it was kinda over kill... but funny think, it made me spark an interest into finding out about the Fretboard Formula disks he has.. hmmmmm
I've taken some of berklee's online bass courses, there not cheap $1000+ for a 12 week program for 1 class and some, i would say the majority of what Alex and Tye talked about were in the bass course that i took, especially the one where he talks about practicing in 4ths on the same string playing majors, minors, doms, and augs. I compaired there dvd with the course i took and for them to get close to what the course i took teaches i must say is pretty good.
And no i'm not one of these guys PR team, i'm just a bass player that plays at church in the UK and gigs every now and then.
dw
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Hi all,
well here is my 2 pence on the Gospel Bass Player DVD. By the way i live in England and i just got the DVD on friday the 27th of Nov.
Disk number 1: I would say that the disk is good but not really needed. It was good information but very general. I've been playing for awhile and i have NEVER messed with the truss rod, intonation, etc. I leave it to the pro's to do.
Disk number 2: Excellent
Disk number 3: Excellent
Disk number 4A and 4B: Excellent
Extra 2 disks: A plus....
I would give the over presentation of this disk a 95 out of 100.... I can't blame the man for doing advertisements on his dvd, but it was kinda over kill... but funny think, it made me spark an interest into finding out about the Fretboard Formula disks he has.. hmmmmm
I've taken some of berklee's online bass courses, there not cheap $1000+ for a 12 week program for 1 class and some, i would say the majority of what Alex and Tye talked about were in the bass course that i took, especially the one where he talks about practicing in 4ths on the same string playing majors, minors, doms, and augs. I compaired there dvd with the course i took and for them to get close to what the course i took teaches i must say is pretty good.
And no i'm not one of these guys PR team, i'm just a bass player that plays at church in the UK and gigs every now and then.
dw
You said that the majority of what Alex talked about you learned from berklee's online bass course,was that a gospel bass course?
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You said that the majority of what Alex talked about you learned from berklee's online bass course,was that a gospel bass course?
It seems like you are getting caught in the fact that it is marketed as a "Gospel Bass" course (and I know that's why you bought it in the first place). But, I would like to ask if you think that the information on the DVDs can benefit your playing overall? Is there anything on there that you can incorporate into your playing that will enhance what you already do or make you better? Are there any new techniques, ways of thinking about bass, ways of approaching a song or progression...etc that you haven't thought about before?
I know you said that you weren't planning on sending it back so, my approach would be to figure how the info on there can benefit me.
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Arthur, your getting stuck on the word "GOSPEL"........ It was a "JAZZ" course taught by Jim Stinnett at Berklee. What i learned in that Jazz course i have transfered it in my Gospel playing.. Its all knowledge thats being shared from someone else.... I'll take knowledge from someone playing rock because that will help me when i play Hillsongs type songs in church (Loads of 16ths)... ya get it? Rock isn't gospel but you can pull from it what you need... Lets say Alexs stuff wasn't Gospel.... you sure can pull what you need from it in your playing...
dw
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Yes I guess I'm stuck on the word "gospel" if he took the word gospel out of it and if I didn't have any of his other courses, on a scale of 1 to 10 I would give it a "10", however I do have his other courses,I have:
1. the bass guitar secret couse.
2.the fret board formula course
3.tha bass chopz course
4 the gospel bass course
80% of what he talked about in the gospel course was covered in the other courses. If a person grew up in a holiness church and they were not allowed to listen to any other music but gospel/ christian music and they wanted to learn how to play the bass for their church, would Alex gospel bass course help them??
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If this site was called :
LRM...learn rock music or
LCM...learn country music or
LJM...learn jazz music instead of
LGM...learn gospel music
How many of us would of joined?
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Yes I guess I'm stuck on the word "gospel" if he took the word gospel out of it and if I didn't have any of his other courses, on a scale of 1 to 10 I would give it a "10", however I do have his other courses,I have:
1. the bass guitar secret couse.
2.the fret board formula course
3.tha bass chopz course
4 the gospel bass course
80% of what he talked about in the gospel course was covered in the other courses. If a person grew up in a holiness church and they were not allowed to listen to any other music but gospel/ christian music and they wanted to learn how to play the bass for their church, would Alex gospel bass course help them??
I don't have the Gospel Bass Course yet so, I can't comment from that perspective. But, from a different perspective: The first real "instructional bass" video that I got was Jaco's video. Of course, it had nothing to do with Gospel but, the way he approached his scales, modes and arpeggios, I use everytime I pick up the bass (same with Vic, Patitucci, Oteil...etc). I can understand being disappointed but, if there's nothing that you can get out of it, I would suggest sending it back and investing your money somewhere else.
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Arthur 59, if you would indulge me, are the videos found in the premium section of this website along the lines of what you wanted from Alex? While you ponder that, the course title is "The CONTEMPORARY Gospel Bass Player" not the traditional or old gospel bass player. I'm sorry you you didn't get what you expected. I hope a day comes when you find value in the course. I can't tell you how many times I purchased some instructional material, was disappointed, only to look at it a couple of months later and wonder why and how did I missed everything I was now.
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Hey Kevmove02!
Hope you had a happy Thanksgiving! Yes, I guess I was expecting some traditional bass playing. He could have devouted at least one DVD on showing us how to take the traditionl style and applying it to the more contemporary style of bass playing.
Let me say this again: I have most of Alex's bass courses, and they are all very good. In my opinion 80% of what he talked about in the Gospel course was covered in his other courses but he just elaborated more in the Gospel course.
For instance, in the Gospel course, he has a DVD that's mostly devouted with playing along with the drummer. In one of Alex's other courses, called "The Groove Suck" he talks about playing along with the drummer and mimicking what the drummer does on the bass. In his bass guitar secret course, he has a book with 49 fills/licks. In the gospel course, he has a DVD with 60 fills/licks. In the gospel course, in talks about playing in 4ths, In the Fret board formula course, he talks about playing 4ths and other intervals all over the fret board.
If I didn't have Alex's other courses, and the Gospel course was the only one I had, I would be happy with the course. My only disappointment would be is that it doesn't have the gospel feel to it.
Thank you very much & have a blessed evening. ;)
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Arthur 59,
I hope your Thanksgiving was a blessing as well. I feel you on the courses. I actually skipped the fretboard formula. The Gospel Bass Player was exactly what I needed, because I prefer to see someone do it. In all honesty, I only picked up Alex's latest course because I couldn't resist the low price. I'm still working my way through Bass Chopz Accelerator, which was on the money for me. I have watched all the DVD's, but probably won't hit them hard until January 2010. That's because I'm taking the exercises from Bass Chopz accelerator and playing them over different drum tracks.
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In my opinion, the fretboard formula is his best course. ;)
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FYI:
If you were to study the first DVD on alex's fretboard formula course for 40 min
a day in 7 days you would know all the notes on the freatbord with ease.
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A note to all of the bassists that own Bass Guitar Secrets (BGS) and The Contemporary Gospel Bassist: The backing tracks played on some of the exercises came from BGS Jambox and BGS Groove Station! So if you never bothered to check out the software that came with BGS, now is the perfect time to check it out.
To get you started listen to Jambox Song 98: Pop, Snap, Stop. This is the backing track for Bass Fill #1 on DVD #2: The Vocabulary.
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Well out of all the instructional videos I have (Joel Smith,Louis Johnson I & II, Verdine White, Nathan East and Randy Jackson 8)) this dvd is on the money! Granted the infomercials are a bit much. Maybe he could've done more. But there's 7 discs worth of material to learn, practice and maybe incorporate. A number of the disc I mentioned above are no where near as in-depth as "CGBP". Though the discs doesn't give an in-depth explanation of how to play certain songs(what instructional dvd does?) it does point you into the right direction the rest is on the player ::). Because of "CGBP" I am now curious about the "Bass chopz Accelorator" dvd. Any reviews?
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Bass Chopz Accelerator (BCA) is not a DVD product. It is a exercise book with 2 CDs containing the exercises played at 3 speeds: 70 bpm, 120 bpm, 180 bpm. The exercises were developed by looking at etudes for other string instruments.
I have been using BCA since it came out and it has helped me tremendously in 2 areas: dexterity and turnarounds. Each exercise forces you to do string skipping, huge jumps from one end of the fretboard to the other and fretting with your whole hand. To advance, you must master each exercise at each tempo. Just going from 70 bpm to 120 bpm made me realize that "clean speed" is critical: if you can't play an exercise cleanly for several minutes, you are not ready to increase the tempo. So just practicing the drills until you can perform them without error is very beneficial. I also like how each exercise brings you back to the top, so you get in the habit of working the turnaround which leads to creating variations that are pleasing to the ear.
As is Alex' custom, he lays on the hyperbole a bit thick. The first 30 pages could have been culled down to 10 pages, at most. Also, all the pages are printed on one side alone. IMO, if he offered Bass Chopz Accelerator as a downloaded ebook with practice songs included, it would be a perfect package. However, I'm glad I got it anyway, especially since I purchased "Contemporary Gospel Bass Player". I think my favorite activity is to play the basslines using different backing tracks. taking a song that was written for 3/4 time and adapting it to 4/4 or 6/8 or a shuffle is not only challenging, but it opens up my creativity which leads to new bass licks.
Hope that helped somewhat.
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For many musicians (not saying it's the case with you) the missing link is the annointing. You can play all the right notes and have all the technique and still sound wrong.
+ 50,000!!!!! its the annointing!! I have been told this many times when i've have voiced my self-criticism opinion about my not playing the bass well. When the annointing falls, it will sound like a 12 piece band when its really just bass, drums and the Hammond. God has a lot to do with how your music sounds. Most of us are probably better bass players than we give ourselves credit for. Especially when God is in control!
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i like Ivan's DVD better. He and Jamal play off of each other real well. I seems to me they get down to point with they want to show. i also like virtual bass notation at the bottom of the screen. i also like when they introduce the tritone. To sum it up Shame218, Ivan and the gang get to it, also, no infomercials.
Thanks jk!!! I was wondering if Ivan's DVD was any good.
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Ivan DVD gets right to the point!
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Dont wast your money on this!
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This DVD isn't all bad. It's got some good parts and some not so good. If nothing else the 60 licks they layout are good resources to have.
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An old thread resurrected... and I ask again to those who criticized the DVD:
Did you actually buy it?
Did you actually work through the exercises?
When you were not satisfied, did you take advantage of the 100% satisfaction guarantee and get your money back?
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An old thread resurrected... and I ask again to those who criticized the DVD:
Did you actually buy it?
Did you actually work through the exercises?
When you were not satisfied, did you take advantage of the 100% satisfaction guarantee and get your money back?
yes
yes
and YES
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Your skills obviously far exceed my own. I wish you well as you seek another level of performance.