Russ Rodgers Bass Guitar Instruction
Testimonials
“The knowledge of the bass and music that Russ Possesses could not be contained in a dozen books and or videos. It was my pleasure to have been a part of this clinic with Russ. His willingness to teach anyone who wants to know the many facets of the bass is truly a G- dsend. Teachers can’t always play live or even improvise, then there are live players that can’t always teach. Russ is the whole package.” — David Buice on 9/15/2012
Jon Packard – For anyone on the fence let me tell you that Russ is the REAL DEAL when it comes to both playing and teaching! I took lessons from Russ back inn the late 90s and what he taught me still impacts my playing daily. 3/6/2012
Alan Warrick-3/10/2012 He is the very best bass teacher I have ever taken a lesson from. It’s get down to it hard work, fun but direct bass study. It really gets the job done. I have taken lessons from a lot of other players but they don’t get the teaching done like that. I think he is also an awesome player.
Mike Stevens – “This is completely unsolicited, but Russ Rodgers has got to be one of the greatest bass guitar teachers around. Many of the great bass players from ATL studied under Russ. Incredibly knowledgeable and one of the most professional people I’ve ever met. If you need to go “there”, he will take you!”
Anthony Wellington – Russell is a an amazing bass instructor! I’d recommend him to anybody. Incredible person too!!!
David Rosen – I’d like to take a minute and just endorse Russell Rodgers as THE BEST bass guitar teacher out there! He literally took me through his diverse, fun, and comprehensive curriculum and provided me with both the building blocks and technical abilities to play just about any kind of music.
Mike Stevens – For my bass playing friends on Facebook, please check out Russell Rodgers. Russ has been an educator, published author, performer, and studio musician for many years. Russ started the bass program at the Atlanta Institute of Music that is still being used today. His list of former students include many very well known professional bassists. Whether you are a beginner, intermediate, advanced, or pro player, Russ will improve your playing. Please check out a few of the demo videos on Russ’s website, and you will understand exactly why he is one of the most respected and highly sought after bass educators today.
“Awesome Russell !!!! Not only great education and format, but superb audio on all levels. You, your bass, and your student. For any type of conferencing, audio quality is critical. I’m listening on monitors and just sounds wonderful. Keep up the great work.” – Stu Needel
Hey there Russell, someone sent me one of your YouTube tutorials..just wanted to tell you that your an excellent instructor. it’s really great thing that you do in educating players young and old. All the best! – Tom Barney
Russ I just wanted to take a few moments to thank you. I just joined this FB group today and its crazy that you made this post and a member. Your videos were some of the first tutorials that I found as I searched Youtube for lessons when I started out. In particular your video on left hand technique and “set check and play” really helped me out a year ago when I first started.
Many many many thanks! Cheers – Brooker Terry Robinson
Matt wrote: “I want to especially thank Russell Rodgers for helping me with my bass technique; I took several lessons from Russ; his expertise and direction is illustrated twice in this photo: (1) my left hand is ‘flat’ across the fingerboard, with my thumb in its place; (2) my right thumb is properly dampening, as I THUMP! Thank you Russell Rodgers ;)”
Jay Rosenfeld (6/15) – “I have been taking lessons from Russ for about a year and a half now. My playing still has a long way to go (have only been playing for about 5 years) but I know I will get to where I want to get with Russ. He has an excellent system that is suitable for beginner to advanced and great for any style from R and B, Blues, Rock to complex Jazz (what I am doing now). He is well organized and you always feel like you are moving in a logical progression. I have had a number of teachers since I started but I will be sticking with Russ. I recommend him highly!”
Billy Buchanan – How much time should a person put into perfecting their craft? My answer: As much time as it takes! When I was 19, I attended The Atlanta Institute of Music (eons ago..haha!), worked full time, and was playing in a band. I would work in the daytime, jump on the Marta train and go to school in the late afternoon, and then go to band practice at night. Many days I would show up to school without my assignments done. I vividly remember a conversation I had with my bass instructor, Russ Rodgers, about this. He asked me why I wasn’t getting my school work done. I told him that I didn’t have enough time because I was so busy. He said “Well you need to make time”. I went on to explain in detail my exhausting schedule, thinking he would be sympathetic to my cause. I told him the only way that I could get it done is to get up really early before work, but then I would be losing sleep. His answer; “Then lose sleep!” Ha, that’s not what I wanted to hear, but I understood the point he was making. We make time for the things that are REALLY important to us. From that day on, I started getting up at 6am everyday to get my studies done and to rehearse. It’s a routine I still do to this day. – BB
“Russ Rodgers is a true master of his instrument and a remarkably gifted teacher.” –Anthony East, Dec 13, 2011
My name is Randy Hoexter, and I am a musician, composer, and educator. I currently serve as Director of Education at the Atlanta Institute of Music and Media. I am writing this letter in support of Russ Rodgers. I had the pleasure of working with Russ at AIM for more than 25 years; his work as an educator was nothing short of spectacular. He brought knowledge, organization and passion to his teaching. Many of his students have had successful careers as musicians. I have also worked with Russ in the studio and on stage for a similar length of time. He was always prepared, positive, and easy to work with. He was always at the top of my list of musicians to recommend when work came available. His talent and work ethic are both as good as it gets. Russ is a fine and honorable person, and I would highly recommend him for any employment. – Randy Hoexter
Scott Witkowski – Store Manager, Ken Stanton Music. – It is with deep regret that we wish our friend Russ Rodgers farewell. For many years, Russ has been one of the most exceptional Music Educators we have ever known. His genuine concern for the musical growth of his students is unrivaled. We considered him an excellent asset to our Lesson Program. Through his efforts, he leaves our Company a better place than when he found it. He will be dearly missed.
Adam Maurasse – I just wanted to thank you again for all that you’ve taught me over this past year and a half. Your lessons and methods have reconditioned my playing for the better. You’re classes have given me so much that I know I’ll have a lot to practice for years. Thanks again man!
I must tell you, that your all over the neck approach to that book is… genius! For me, I’m not sure I ever would have gotten out of “the box” without it. – Heidi
Russ is so good that he went with me to choose and purchase my first bass guitar.
I will highly recommend him to anyone that has never played the bass guitar before and even for bass professionals.
Russ is a professional !!!!!!
Alex Mayes – I have been taking lessons for months now. I played bass for a few months now but Russ is really helping me to increase my musicality. He only wants the best for his students and he himself is a amazing musician. The knowledge I am learning from him his priceless.
After years spent on the bass but never really progressing, I have found Russ Rodgers to be the ideal bass guitar instructor.
–Russ is a real bass player, with decades of high-level professional bass experience in a wide array of musical styles. He is expert with the bass from slap-and-pop to rock to jazz, not a kid who plays Metallica on a guitar and thinks he can teach bass because the guitar and bass both have strings tuned to E-A-D-G.
–In addition to decades of professional bass experience, Russ offers decades of experience in professional bass instruction. He is a great teacher, listening to his student and patiently learning about their knowledge and musical goals. He starts with fundamentals, patiently answers questions, and is committed to taking the student as far as he or she wants to go with the bass. His knowledge of musical styles, bass guitar technique, and music theory are encyclopedic, but he explains them at a level that is appropriate and accessible for the student he’s working with.
–Russ makes expert use of teaching aids, from thorough instruction sheets provided in electronic formats that are accessible to the student, to online videos he has created, to play-along-with programs, but always based on face-to-face or Zoom-based personal instruction. Russ is electronically proficient, and he makes effective use of that proficiency to provide a wealth of excellent instructional materials to his students, such that I would not hesitate to take instruction from Russ remotely. You’ll learn much, much more from Russ than from an armload of bass instruction books from Guitar Center or Amazon.
–If I was a professional bass player like Russ, maybe I wouldn’t be as friendly, modest, and nice a guy as he is. He never “talks down” to me, but is always patient and supportive. He is generous with his time, and encourages me to contact him between lessons with questions to maximize the rate at which I progress. He is always enthusiastic, and loves to teach.
–I wanted to buy a new bass, and Russ engaged immediately to assist me. He offered guidance regarding how to pick the right bass for me, we discussed different bass options and how they related to my musical preferences and goals, and he then unilaterally offered to meet me at the guitar store of my choice (Chuck Levin’s Washington Music Center). He played the bass I was interested in, found it to be lacking and explained why, and pointed out a much better option that was still affordable. I bought the bass, and it plays much better and easier than I’ve ever experienced. His often-repeated motto is, “I support my students,” and he is totally committed to his students’ musical growth.
Russ Rodgers is a great guy, a great bass player, and a great bass guitar instructor. You’ll progress farther and faster than you might imagine, and you’ll enjoy getting there. Don’t hesitate, contact Russ today.
David Banks
Rockville, MD
Jesus Ortiz – While living in Beijing, China, I had the opportunity to start my bass guitar path with Russ, not a Chinese speaker, I needed someone who was able to teach me in English and Russ was definitively my best bet, the classes thru Skype were very practical and you are able to record your lessons so you can refer back to them when needed.
Russ is an exceptional teacher, honest, knowledgeable, patient and also a master bass player!
I recommend him without a hesitation.
Brian Banks – I’ve been taking bass lessons with Russ for nearly 15 years. For the first 5 years or so we did in-person lessons. During that time Russ was already doing live online Zoom bass lessons with students in various parts of the world, and at some point he encouraged me to consider trying the Skype lessons. Initially I didn’t understand how a Zoom bass lesson could be equally or more beneficial than an in-person lesson, but Russ told me that many of his local students had switched over to the Zoom live online bass lessons and they loved it… and that I should at least give it a try. So I did. And guess what? I discovered there are so many advantages that it didn’t make sense to continue with the in-person lessons! So I’ve been doing the Zoom bass lessons for nearly 10 years now… and I’m glad I switched when I did because both Russ and I have relocated to different states since then and continuing lessons has been seamless. Russ is an accomplished bassist with an impressive teaching résumé and performance credits, and over the years he’s developed a teaching system that works really well. Starting with the philosophy that music is a language, he breaks it down into 4 primary sections – Styles, Scales, Technique, and Reading – and within each there are subsections that are covered based on the student’s individual needs and goals. Not only has Russ developed a great teaching system, he’s also a great teacher. He has the gift of being able to impart knowledge in a concise and clear manner that can turn something seemingly complex or confusing into something that’s easily understood. Also, I appreciate the fact that he puts a lot of emphasis on developing proper right and left hand technique, as well as developing “muscle memory” – this has greatly improved my playing ability. Whether you’re a beginner who wants to learn how to play some songs, you’re an intermediate bassist who plays at church or in a cover band and wants to improve skills and technique, or you’re an advanced bassist who wants to become a serious Jazz musician – Russ can help you. He will make you a much better player as long as you’re willing to put in the effort. I highly recommend that you give Russ and his online Zoom lessons a try. Just do it!
Dean D’Angelo – I have now been taking lessons with Russ for several months. He is a very gifted, thoughtful teacher. He has laid a course where I started from scratch and can now play along with songs and “think through” bass lines and even improvise a bit. Highly, highly recommended.
