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Most beginners should start on a 4-string bass — it's the standard, the most affordable entry point, and has the narrowest neck. A 5-string makes sense if you already know you're heading into jazz, gospel, metal, or modern worship. A 6-string is usually an upgrade path later, not a first instrument.
Bass lessons work for both kids and adults; what changes is lesson length, practice time, physical reach on a full-scale instrument, and where the motivation comes from. Here's what I adapt when I teach a 9-year-old vs. a 45-year-old, and how to set each student up for success.
Private bass lessons typically run $30–$100 per hour in the US, with most experienced one-on-one instructors in the $50–$75 range. Video subscription courses like BassBuzz or Scott's Bass Lessons are usually $15–$30 per month. My rate is $55 per hour, or $50 per hour with a 4-hour pack.
Online bass lessons via Zoom deliver the same one-on-one instruction as in-person with three real differences: audio setup requires a small mixer and headphones to avoid echo, camera angle becomes an asset because the teacher sees your hands up close, and you can study with the right instructor from anywhere in the world.
Self-teaching on bass is absolutely viable — YouTube, method books, and patient time have produced great players. Lessons tend to fix what self-learners miss: hand-technique blind spots, practice routines that actually stick, and ear training. The honest answer is that the two approaches complement each other.
404-386-0983russrodgers@gmail.comTestimonials See Example Lessons On My YouTube channel