# From self-taught bassist to opening for Bon Jovi > Violet Lea never took a lesson, and it still landed her on a stadium stage with Bon Jovi. - Title: From self-taught bassist to opening for Bon Jovi | Shortify - Summary: Violet Lea never took a lesson, and it still landed her on a stadium stage with Bon Jovi. Curiosity plus your own methods beats regimented practice you never… - Keywords: bass, madam radar, self-taught, gear, songwriting, bassist, opening, Bon, Jovi, Guitar World - Source: Guitar World — https://guitarworld.com/artists/bassists/how-violet-lee-went-from-self-taught-bassist-to-opening-for-bon-jovi - Published: 2026-09-11T10:00:00+00:00 - Read time: 2 min - Topics: bass, madam radar, self-taught, gear, songwriting ## No lessons, no problem Violet Lea taught herself bass. No formal training, no years of drilling scales, just curiosity and a willingness to work out the instrument on her own terms. > I've found my own methods of learning new things that work for me. ## Lazy about practice, honest about it She admits she skips the grind and refuses to chase virtuoso status. What she does instead is show up prepared. > I might be lazy about practicing. But I try not to stress about becoming a mind-blowing badass. ## The ad nobody mentioned Madam Radar guitarist Kelly spotted an online ad looking for a local band to open for Bon Jovi in Austin, and applied without telling the rest of the band. > She didn't even tell us she'd applied! ## An unfinished arena When the call came back, the band assumed it was fake. It wasn't. They played Austin's Moody Center while it was still being built. > Just watching Bon Jovi soundcheck was an experience. The whole team was so kind. ## Singer first, bassist second Lea started out as a singer-songwriter on acoustic rhythm guitar. She always admired bass players, then found out the hard way what the job actually takes. > It's such an important and underrated instrument. And now I've assumed the position, I know how hard it is! ## Singing and playing at once As one of three vocalists, she juggles melody against her own basslines and locks in with the drummer. Her parts get built by trial and error. > Not to mention the never-ending dance with the drummer. ## Slow it to a crawl Her one real practice trick: drop the song to a near-stop until voice and hands agree, then creep the tempo back up to speed. > My biggest secret weapon is just slowing the song down to a crawl. ## Vocals usually win Nine times out of ten the vocal decides the song. Friend of a Friend is the exception, where the groove wrote it. > There have been a few songs where the groove wrote the song. ## Tommy Shannon and Macca A full set of Stevie Ray Vaughan covers made Tommy Shannon her blues and rock foundation. Paul McCartney keeps surprising her, hidden behind his Beatles fame. > I always underestimate as a bass player because I put his legendary Beatles status first but damn... ## One bass, named Gus She hates gear shopping. Her Godin Passion RG-4 has been her main since Godin sent it, and a friend's gift budget landed her a '72 P Bass she named after Augustus McCrae. > I knew I was going to have to figure out which organ I could live without to get it! ## Advice to her younger self Three lines, no softening. Sun protection, an ego check, and the part she still owes herself. > Wear sunscreen. You're not as good as you think you are. Keep practicing! ## Key takeaway Curiosity plus your own methods beats regimented practice you never actually do.