I've been playing bass for roughly 8 years and guitar for over 20. I've found that the bass has given me a desire to perfect not only my technique but also my ear, music theory knowledge, and overall understanding of the instrument.

Recently, I've talked to some bassists that have more experience than me and by the way they talk to me, it seems that they're not really after advancing but just in getting gigs that pay well. I'm not sure if their age have anything to do with it but all of them were older than me and I'm 36. I still have a pressing desire to get better and reach new plateaus in my playing. I'm not just about getting good playing gigs. More importantly, IMO at least, I'm about playing my instrument to the best of my present ability and making the overall sound of the band better and tighter, all while impressing my own self each and every time I pick up the bass. I'm not nearly where I want to be but I do have a desire to get there and past that.

I feel you. I consider myself a late bloomer on bass. So, now I'm trying to catch up to be the best at this instrument. First instrument I've taken this serious. i think some of the well establish cats desire has past. It's a job now, not entertainment.

i'm completely feel ya.
if anything i'm practicing more nowadays then i use to.
and i'm way more into theory, improvisation, teaching students
everything.

I voted "both" but the first option is more important to me. However, I think that playing gigs is a vital part of the learning process.

Yeah, I am with you also. I have a decent paying day job, so any gigging I do, the $ either goes to charity or supports my gear habit. I teach part time also, and as I get older (be 48 next month), my plan is to ramp up my playing and teaching some to suppliment whatever will be in my 401k by then.

I want to be the best musician I can be within the time constraints I have to practice and perform.

I would imagine that there comes a time where you haven't perfected your playing but do reach a point where becoming better is a mater of diminishing returns.

A place where you could still improve because there's always room for improvement, but have reached the height of how good you will be.

For each person I would say that's a different place. Myself I'll likely never reach the point of being a serious studio bassist, let alone someone who goes on world tours like say Flee. I just don't believe I'll ever get that good, and I'm fine with it.

So at some point I'll get as good as I'm gonna get, and at that point there isn't likely much point in putting a lot of effort into getting a tiny bit better.

I'm 33 and in a simlar situaition, I think I can hold my own, and for what I do - prog/pop rock I think I shine, recently though a guy next who plays at the chruch next to where we have a rehersal space rented, came over, pulled out an "R" bass 6 and proceeded to put me to shame...sounded like Mr. Wooten... sadly this white boy will NEVER have that kind of groove...but...I still keep trying to better my playing...but at some point you have to look at what it is your do...as much as I'd love to be able to sound like Mr. Wooten or the other guy...it really woudn't fit for my songwritting or my band...but it was REALLY humbling, and some people are blessed with more tallent in their pinky than I have in my whole body....now back to practicing!

Playing bass by yourself is not a lot of fun, you need to play with other people. That's why I picked both.

The pay was never that important until I lost my day job :(

I've been playing guitar 15+ yrs and bass 2 1/2 yrs with 8 months studying jazz bass and contemporary music. I switched over exclusively to bass 8 months ago and decided to study hard.

same here...got some musician friends who just want to jam or play gigs on the weekends. they are not seriouse about taking it any further and are just happy where they are. As most of us know we can make more money at doing other jobs. ;)

you left off "make good music" as an option....


Naturally we all want to improve and get paid, but lately my learning is less to do with technique and more to do with exploring musical ideas I like, esp with others...

My goal is to master the bass.

I always try to get better at what I am doing weather it be as a musician, engineer, father or person in general. I have no desire or time to become a technical master of the bass. I am better now than I was a year ago and in a year I hope to be better than I am now.

you left off "make good music" as an option....


Naturally we all want to improve and get paid, but lately my learning is less to do with technique and more to do with exploring musical ideas I like, esp with others...

That would fall under the first option.

Playing bass by yourself is not a lot of fun, you need to play with other people. That's why I picked both.

The pay was never that important until I lost my day job :(

I actually have a ton of fun learning and creating by myself. Maybe it's not for everybody buy I've learned more and become much better woodshedding and writing songs alone. Started a family and all that years ago and haven't played a gig for many moons. I have progressed in a major way and find fun things to explore.

I do agree with others that have said playing with others is good but it's really about focusing on what you want out of yourself in the end.

depends on why you play bass. are you playing for the joy of playing or are you playing to put food on the table.

just like any office...you'll find people there who want to be challenged and people who just want a pay check.

either way, challenging yourself and becoming a better player overall will open doors for more gigs (as long as you don't mind taking a gig that poses no new challenges).

for me, i play for the joy of playing (i have a day job and have no interest in turning my music into a career) so to me, why spoil what i love by allowing finances taint my art and expression?

I have no intention of playing gigs (at least, not yet) so it's all about the learning and getting better for me. This is the first instrument I've taken seriously, and it's been a relatively costly investment so I plan to make the most out of it.

It's an interesting question... In my situation, I've only been playing bass for 6 months, but I'm nearing 40 and I know I'll never be a superstar. My day job brings me more $ than I could hope to earn from gigging, so I don't feel that pressure to perform. Therefore, I'm still playing on my own, working on technique, though I may change gears in the fall...

That said, in reading many posts in this and many other threads here on TB, and in talking to a couple other bass players that I know, those who don't NEED to gig are the ones who take the time to work on their theory and innovative techniques. Those who just want to gig or need to gig to make ends meet (it is their day job) will spend much time practicing and learning new songs, but not always on raw theory/technique. Mind you, cover bands get a satisfying amount of business without being excessively innovative. Of course, this is a generalization on the particular threads I have read and those individuals I have spoken to, so YMMV.

I'm extremely technique and theory-orientated when it comes to any activity I do, and bass is no different. I want to play out as much as I can, but I need technique to get the sound I like so I focus on that more than anything.

Choices number 1 and 2 are not mutually exclusive, in fact they are highly complementary.

I can honestly say that in 35 years gigging I have always played to the utmost of my abilities - even when doing 'easy' stuff like pedalling eighth notes I make sure that I'm doing it in the groove, paying the maximum attention to technique, timing, tone and intonation (if playing fretless). I even did this in my stint in wedding bands on the basis that if somebody was paying me to provide them with music on possibly the biggest day of their lives, then I was going to damn well play my heart out for them.

My ability at gigs, of course, was helped by setting myself stretch targets when practising and playing more challenging stuff on the side, but the gigs themselves make you a better player as well - as long as you don't take a cynical, blase attitude to them.

It's a virtuous circle...although I'm not yet a virtuoso

Yeah, I am with you also. I have a decent paying day job, so any gigging I do, the $ either goes to charity or supports my gear habit. I teach part time also, and as I get older (be 48 next month), my plan is to ramp up my playing and teaching some to suppliment whatever will be in my 401k by then.

I want to be the best musician I can be within the time constraints I have to practice and perform.

Wow. Seriously, some priceless wisdom here. I tend to be very hard on myself as far as progressing. With all you great players on this forum, it puts extra pressure on me to improve (a good thing sometimes). Sometimes I put unrealistic pressures on myself. The last line of the quote above makes tons of sense and puts life into a better perspective.

i chose both, because playing gigs/getting paid is a lot of fun, but i truly enjoy self-improvement in many areas of life, and bass is one where i focus a lot more than anything else. i've been hitting that berklee chord studies for electric bass book pretty hard lately. what frustrates me the most is the plateaus. i hold myself to a high standard of playing, so I am always reaching for the top.

as far as i am concerned, the only thing keeping me from being super-ultra-pro is a few more years of serious, focused, dedicated practice. :bassist: of course, this will probably be my self-estimation a few years from now too. :D