I'm not used to forums, but i guess i'd check it out and try one...

But because i'm sure many of you that read this will be very talented and experienced i'm sure, would you mind evaluating a newbie for me please?

Right, i'm 15, i've been playing for nearly a year, i've self-taught myself, i play a 4 string Yamaha RBX170, i've never had a single bass lesson in my life. I play using a plectrum, I tend to play punk rock and metal genres really, i look up tabs on the internet and i learn them, then play along to the songs. usually odd songs i like or sound like they have a pretty cool bass line, i can play basically every song from my favourite band (blink-182) and odd songs from other bands i like (bring me the horizon, machine head, slipknot etc.) but i've been getting really annoyed recently because i don't know where my talent level should be at this point, because i don't have bass lessons, and i'm wandering if any of you could comment this answering where you would expect me to be with the criteria from above, and what kind of things i should be focusing on? I'd appreciate any feedback very much, cheers.

I'd look for a good instructor. Or get some introductory books on bass theory, etc. ie Hal Leaonard,. Ed Friedland ,"Basses Loaded by Rod Goelz is good also. Don't worry about how for along you think you should be at this poin.t Start from scratch with good instructor or teach yourself with the books I mentioned, it took me longer than most to even get past a biginner level as I never put in the practice,.Practice as much as you can, don't get discouraged. Put the pick away and learn finger style first then you can move the pick playing in later. The type of bass playing Blink 182 etc uses is alot of fast picking root note stuff that can trick you into thinking your advancing and getting better because the difficulty level isnt there. Its a limited style of playing for the most part. Its good to know how to play that stuff and it does boost confidence but you need to expand. Practice with the fundementals firstget the books or a good instructor and Practice as much as you can dont worry where you should be. It doesnt matter, people learn and progress differently .

I'd expect you to be able to pull off a couple of Wooten riffs, some Tower of Power "what is hip", and at least be able to play the Claypool catalog in its entirety. If not, I'd give up and try drums or something.

:D

Some poeple come by it naturaly, and if that's you, continue to challange yourself with more difficult stuff. If you find yourself running out of ability, then search out an instructor.

I use to argue with a bass playing frined (I happend to play guitar in that band) about theory, and lessons etc. He was a big proponant of it, and I honesly couldn't care less. (side note: I'm doing reasonably with my musical endovors, while he's doing nothing these days with all his college theorey) The important part to me is being able to make music, not the mechanics behind it. Yeah, I'm sure I'll catch some slings and arrows for that, but honestly, if you have the natural ability, and are developing nicely, then keep at it until you find where you max out.
If you find you've maxed out before you can do everything you want, then search out an instructor.

YEah, there's the bad habbits thing, and I'm sure I have a few, but I've never felt limited, and I AM self taught on bass. Hasn't seemed to have hurt me any.

So I guess it's up to you.

Some of my favorite players were self taught, and there's no shame in that (required IMO)

Ah right, i'll give it a go (y) can you get these books off the internet? But thanks very much for the advice (:

Not as much thank to "NKUSigEp" ;)

Hmmm yeah i know it's mostly about the actual music, but the style of music i like to play, i'm just not satisfied by it because i know talent hasn't gone in to it, i've just read tabs off the internet :/

Let me tell you a story. I started playing when I was 14 and I had a bad teacher. He knew his stuff but didn't know how to teach. I didn't realizae this at the time and thought my frustrations were due to my lack of ability. I got so frustrated that I put down the bass and didn't pick it up for a veeeeery long time. Then one day the itch came to play again and I realized I was the victim of bad teaching. So I went to the book store and got "bass playing for dummies". I know it sounds stupid, but it helped me get a start. It is a good book to start with, in my worthless opinion. Here is a link if you want to check out the book.

http://www.amazon.com/Bass-Guitar-Dummies-Patrick-Pfeiffer/dp/0764524879/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1232060593&sr=8-1


If you get a teacher make sure he will teach you music and not just show you how to play songs, but actual music theory. Hope I helped in some way

You will get a more appropriate response to this in the
Technique section of the forum. I'll ask a bass mod to move
it.

Welcome to Talkbass.

Sounds like you are doing fine. You have come to the point
where you are trying to assess your own development as a
bassist and musician. There are a lot of opinions about plucking techniques, fingering, scales, modes and ad infinitum,
and here is where you will find it all discussed endlessly.

Mr.Mig, I have a similiar experience. I just didn't quit playing, I just quit taking classes. After a little while of playing and reading stuff from here and elsewhere I went back to that teacher and learned stuff more easily.

I thought I was hot sh!t or at least pretty good until I started playing with a band. That... taught me a lesson. What I want to say here is: Play with a band. Don't fret about Wootens or Claypools, learn how to hold down the fort and groove. The best lesson I've learned is that there is nothing wrong with playing simple stuff and rock. Each song can't have a killer bassline.

Huh... I hope I make sense and possibly help you.

I'd look for a good instructor. Or get some introductory books on bass theory, etc. ie Hal Leaonard,. Ed Friedland ,"Basses Loaded by Rod Goelz is good also. Don't worry about how for along you think you should be at this poin.t Start from scratch with good instructor or teach yourself with the books I mentioned, it took me longer than most to even get past a biginner level as I never put in the practice,.Practice as much as you can, don't get discouraged. Put the pick away and learn finger style first then you can move the pick playing in later. The type of bass playing Blink 182 etc uses is alot of fast picking root note stuff that can trick you into thinking your advancing and getting better because the difficulty level isnt there. Its a limited style of playing for the most part. Its good to know how to play that stuff and it does boost confidence but you need to expand. Practice with the fundementals firstget the books or a good instructor and Practice as much as you can dont worry where you should be. It doesnt matter, people learn and progress differently .

Seriously do not listen to him, Pick style is VERY important to. Learn to play finger pick slap tap is the best thing to do IMO.

I'd expect you to be able to pull off a couple of Wooten riffs, some Tower of Power "what is hip", and at least be able to play the Claypool catalog in its entirety. If not, I'd give up and try drums or something.

:D

This man is correct. You must suck.;)

My friend, I started at age 15 on a guitar with fat strings. Being a good musician takes years - and by years I don't mean two, I mean YEARS. Get a good instructor - and were *I* your instructor, I'd say lose the pick and develop your right-hand. Pick is fine for some stuff, but plucking is more difficult (IMO) and you should learn that first. Besides, many bassists thing playing with a pick is a sign of guitar envy... You're not a failed guitar player, are ya?

Get a teacher...
Get some buds to play with...
Stick with it, even when you have the inevitable plateau...

One thing I tell my students is to keep practising, no matter what. Even develops differently and in different ways. Each person's musical journey is unique to them. As long as you're continually doing what you can to improve, that can be enough. But, if you want more than that, getting lessons and into more than a couple genres of music (like getting into blues, funk and eventually jazz if you want to get really into it) will all broaden your playing and understanding of music.

There's no final destination with music, only continued learning. And about that plateau, when it comes you'll have to put a bit of extra effort to get beyond it.

One thing I tell my students is to keep practising, no matter what. Even develops differently and in different ways. Each person's musical journey is unique to them. As long as you're continually doing what you can to improve, that can be enough. But, if you want more than that, getting lessons and into more than a couple genres of music (like getting into blues, funk and eventually jazz if you want to get really into it) will all broaden your playing and understanding of music.

There's no final destination with music, only continued learning. And about that plateau, when it comes you'll have to put a bit of extra effort to get beyond it.

Nicely said!! :hyper:

Sounds to me like you're doing quite well for only a year of playing.

I'd encourage you to take some lessons, and if your high school has a jazz band where you can play bass, do that. You will learn a lot, develop your ear, and learn how to read which will open up more opportunities to learn more stuff and work more down the road. Good luck!

Cheers very much for all your advice, it's helped me a lot on what i'm going to do (y)

Seriously do not listen to him, Pick style is VERY important to. Learn to play finger pick slap tap is the best thing to do IMO.

No kidding its important to learn. IMO its also important to not beone dimensional . You must not have read the rest of the post duh????been playing long? oh wait... I seeyou havent

I'm 15 too, been playing for about a year and a half, and I can play Dirk Lance and Stu Zender stuff etc. Nothing terribly technical but its fun and challenging. But, I've found that thing that has helped me most has probably been playing with other people. It gives you a sense of timing and groove that playing with the recording doesnt. Oh, and another thing, don't ever take any breaks! I force myself to play atleast 30 minutes to an hour every day.