Dave J Ford - Bass Lessons by ear..., Newburgh, Abernethy & Lindores, Fife. Bass teacher. Bass tuition

Dave at the Eastgate Theatre, Peebles October 2005 playing a Yamaha 5 string bass

David J Ford: private lessons in Edinburgh

Bass Guitar:

A self-taught Bass player & multi-instrumentalist, Dave developed rather a strange way of playing his Bass. This is not a classic rock method & not necessarily suitable for run-of-the mill playing.

For those, however, who are interested in learning a new slant on this most satisfying instrument: a style more suitable for jazz playing, Dave will be delighted to pass it on.

Dave’s a natural bass player though, finding himself listening to the bass first in new music. It’s the place where everything else is built upon. Understand the bass, & you’re twice the musician you were before – whatever you play. As a second instrument, the bass is fantastic at teaching you to listen for chord progressions. Something invaluable for playing any instrument by ear.

Dave with FloozieSoo, Peebles Eastgate theatre

Click on Dave to hear an MP3 of Dave on Bass - recorded on the day this image was taken - at the excellent Eastgate Theatre, Peebles

Visit the MP3 page - most of the film clips contain Dave on bass

Bass close up: Bass Lessons Newburgh, Fife

Dave uses all the fingers (& thumb) of his right hand on the strings, using a different finger for each string. Often the strings aren't so much plucked as hit. It gives a subtly different sound to traditional playing & can be heard at it's best with FloozieSoo

Lessons:

It's best if you come with an idea of the sort of music you'd like to be able to play. Please bring along a CD or MP3...mini-disc or whatever of the music you want to play, play along with, or just enjoy most.

Our focus & inspiration for your goals will come directly from the music you bring with you.

Learning to listen

So much of Bass playing comes down to listening. Apart from technique, the focus of these lessons is very much on listening & reproducing. When you hear a set of chords, your aim should be to quickly find the root & use these roots, as the chords change, to build your lines on. Practice along with your favourite sounds!

Dave has a particular love affair with the Bass. It's one of the most satisfying instruments to play with bone shaking power, hypnotic patterns & a unique rhythmic aspect (locking with the drums) which Dave's still trying to perfect.

Dave started learning on a 4 string Ibanez fretless around 1992. It wasn't long before it had a 5th string added, courtesy of Dave, creating a Bass with rather narrow gaps between strings.

The Ibanez was also rather heavy, so armed with a chainsaw & electric drill, he set about the bodywork...

Dave's old fretless Ibanez after the 'Dave' treatment... Bass Lessons Newburgh, Fife

Dave was Bass player with Penicuik's 'Blue Ice' & Fife's Luxury Fitted Kittens for around a year each & now gets it out with Floozie Soo

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3 Clinton Street
Newburgh
Fife KY14 6DP

email: dave
mobile: 07970 744986
landline: 01337 841004