Bass lessons in Swindon
Learn electric bass with a local Swindon teacher — in person or online.
Teachers near Swindon
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My name is Paul “Smiley” Madden, a British citizen with strong Jamaican roots. As a young child, I was taught piano and then started playing the drums at the age of 10. I then transitioned to bass guitar in 2005 and now playing bass professionally across the globe. My early music inspirations came from my Aunt who had a grand piano in her home, and I would visit ever so often to play and learn from her. My love for bass grew after being literally pushed into learning it after the first band I was in lost our bass player. I used my knowledge of piano to advance very quickly, and here I am today. In between all this, I taught young and middle-aged students who were interested in either piano or bass guitar and found great pleasure in helping other musicians and persons interested in music to grow and learn. I have experience in multiple students and one-on-one styles of teaching. Although I have no formal teaching papers, I have always managed to bring students closer to their goals in playing by ear and guided them in playing for their Churches, functions, and some even now tour the world with artists. I have used trusted teaching methods and am also able to tweak them where necessary to fit the particular student’s level and aptitude. Music Qualifications & Achievements: I have been blessed to tour and record with numerous both established and up-coming artists in my 16-year professional life as a musician. These include Jimmy Cliff, Toots, Big Youth, Junior Byles, Tifa & Luciano. I am proud of the fact that great and legendary artists and musicians alike find that they can trust me to execute my job as a bass player well. Getting the nod from my peers and colleagues stand out as a true testament to all my hard work, and I am very proud of this. Watching my past students and mentees perform on world stages provides a great inspiration to continue mentoring and teaching those who show an interest in learning and perfecting their craft. That should be what we all aim and strive to do. I consider myself a selfless person and love to contribute to others, and so I saw teaching as a perfect way to give back.
Qualifications: Grade 8 electric guitar (distinction)
About bass lessons in Swindon
Find bass teachers in Swindon offering personalised lessons and ensemble coaching.
Swindon teachers may teach at local venues or online.
Find professional teachers with clearer trust signals — and inquire in minutes.
Bass lessons: what to expect
Search for bass tutors who teach in-person or online; in-person sessions are useful for instrument setup and ensemble playing.
Players seeking strong rhythmic foundation, studio or ensemble work, and instrumental confidence.
Groove, tone, time, reading, improvisation and stylistic approaches relevant to your goals.
Online lessons are great for technique and listening tasks; in-person helps with instrument setup and ensemble dynamics.
A simple learning path for bass
A good teacher will tailor lessons to your goals — but here’s what progress often looks like.
Learn fretting/plucking, essential grooves, scales and locking with a metronome.
Develop fingerstyle, slap/pop, and learn a variety of styles and playing contexts.
Refine tone, improvisation, reading and studio-friendly approaches for session work.
Getting started: what you need
Keep it simple at first — your teacher can help you choose the right setup.
- A well-set-up electric bass with appropriate amplification for practice.
- A metronome and simple backing tracks to practice locking with drums.
- Regular short practice focusing on timing, tone and accuracy.
Styles & goals your teacher can support
Choose a direction — lessons can be tailored around what you actually want to play.
Solid foundational grooves and song-support techniques.
Walking bass, soloing and harmonic awareness on double or electric bass.
Percussive techniques, syncopation and pocket playing.
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Trust & safety
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FAQs about bass lessons in Swindon
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A small practice amp is useful; teachers can advise on suitable models and settings for practice.
Yes — technique and repertoire can be taught online, though in-person tuition helps with physical setup and progress.