bass skill level

[slapnpop]

to all those awesome bass players out there, i'd just like to get an idea of about when you started to feel like you were really good. a point where you could like improvise really well and slap really well. ive been pllaying for less than a year and all ive accomplished is the higher ground song. i'd just like to know when you could just start improvising really awesome like.

[Figjam]

I have been playing for about 5 years. I am comfortable improvising as well as slapping improvisation. Everyday, however, i get more and more comfortable. Its an ongoing process. Its hard to say when I began to feel comfortable because I am constantly making progress, improving everytime I play or listen to some new music. It definitely took a few years though.

[BassChuck]

When you feel comfortable is probably about the same time you stop growing as a musician. Music is a life-long process.

[Ramstien]

I cannot improvise at all. Last time, my bass teacher asked me to make something up. It failed horribly.

[Jazz Ad]

The more I improve the more I think my playing lacks.
I think most people feel this way.

[DWBass]

Been playing over 30 years! I still don't think I'm all that good. I do feel i can play in any type of band situation though. Having said that, I didn't have a gauge on how good I was back then until I started being recruited by every band in my neighborhood! Many, that already had bass players. I guess they thought I was better.

Do I feel comfortable? Yeah, as long as I'm in my element.

[anomalybass]

motivation to get better is like a drug for a bass player. but its only worth it if you are having fun doing it. learning scales and theory can be boring sometimes, but using that knowledge to have fun is where it pays off. if you are having fun who cares how good you are? practice makes perfect.

[Slax]

I've been playing for 6 years now, I'd say I'm always getting better at playing... I usually can see my weakness and when so, work on them. I wouldn't say by any means that I am "real good" or such.

I never really think about how bad or good I am, I usually am just enjoying playing and learning new stuff all the time. I feel that once you decide that you're "real good", is when you stop expanding. (I believe someone else had mentioned this prior... definite +1 there)

[AtlJazzer]

Congratulations on 'Higher Ground', that song is rad! If you're serious about wanting to improvise, you've got to know your notes. There is an EXCELLENT book written by Mark Levine called, "The Jazz Theory Book." That book will tell you everything you need to know and then some more. I know it seems tedious, but I can't stress enough how important the basic fundamentals of playing are. Listen to your TONE!
As far as slap goes, there's another awesome book called, "Slap It!" This book was written by a fellow named Tony Oppenheim in the early '80's...I think. It's chock-full-o' short, really cool sounding slap grooves. Remember, you're playing MUSIC, not just playing notes using a certain technique.
It's really helpful to record yourself practicing and then go back and listen to it, also.
Best of luck and keep on playing, dude.

[Jeff Martinez]

I am the greatest, and I'm getting better!!!

Just kidding.


Seriously, as far as feeling good about my playing. That happened the first time that was able to jam with other people and feel like the groove was overtaking my hands and I no longer had to think about it. I still wouldn't neccessarily say I'm "good", but I play well enough to feel good.

[RiddimKing]

I suck; but I'm incredibly consistent.

[Alan Vorse]

I'm coming up on 19 years. I like to think of it as climbing a mountain: You work and work and work and eventually you get to the next level, but guess what? There's another level above that. So you work and work and work and get to the next level and there's another one after that. I'd like to think someone like Sonny Rollins is still working at getting better, but he is a truly gifted musician so maybe he dosen't practice any more.

If you're serious about getting better, you need two things: 1st is a teacher. Its true a person can learn a lot on their own but having someone who's already gone up the mountain is going to show you how to do it more efficiently. Second is just doing it consistently every day. I'd say at least an hour if not more. As Dave Liebman says: "An hour every day is better than 3 hours one day, not playing for two days, then an hour the next day and then not playing for 3 days."

[Dave R]

I wouldn't call myself an awesome bass player, there's lots of things I can't do. Like slap.

But I can improvise within the genres I know. Here's how I think about it.

Think about spoken language. There are only about 35 phonics in English. Words are just groups of phonics strung together. Can't be strung randomly--that's just noise. Have to be strung together in meaningful ways.

The music I play (mostly diatonic stuff) has fewer than 35 phonics. There are scales (7 note pattern, repeated) and arpeggios (3 note patters, repeated) and those get played in a few keys and variations on keys (minor vs. major, for example.)

Once you know those scales & arpeggios and keys, you can string the patterns together in meaningful ways.

I guess that means you have to know a little about the language of music. Scales and such. I learned those from a Mel Bay guitar chord book, and from playing by ear. By my 2nd year playing, I was improvising pretty well, as long as it was rock, country or "common" jazz.

Later, I got a minor in music in college, but that was really learning terminology and notation for musical phrases I already knew. Took 3 composition courses, and that helped, but it wasn't like a revelation or anything. Just an expansion on the basics I had learned already.

Music is what it is. Scales, arpeggios and keys. Themes and variations. BTW--a "theme" is a 'groove". The language changes, the music doesn't.

[Stradavus]

I've been playing bass for almost 6 years, with 12 years of cello on top of that. I still don't think I'm that good, regardless of what other people say. Playing bass is just like every thing else in life - the more you learn, the less you know.

But, in an attempt to address your concern, I will say that I tend to improve in bursts. I'll feel that I'm stagnant for a long time, than one day I'll realize that I've made massive improvement almost overnight.

You'll probably never be satisfied with your skill level, but that's part of the joy of music, believe it or not.

[thumblypeg]

I picked up bass at 14. I progressed fairly rapidly and was considered a kick ass bass player(according to my 14 year old friends. :P). So I guess you could say that I got "comfortable" with my playing by the time I was 18. So I stopped practicing and never really got any better. By 21 or so I had pretty much given it up.

I would have to say that getting comfortable with your skills is the last thing you want to do.

[BassXgirl]

It's really helpful to record yourself practicing and then go back and listen to it

I agree with this completely. If you start recording yourself at regular intervals, say every month, then go back an listen you'll be amazed at the progress you've made.

You can play higher ground right now. Record yourself playing it, and in a month or two record yourself playing it again and see if you hear a difference. You might hear a different in the cleaness of your playing, your timing, your tone, your attack etc. They are small subtle improvements that are hard to notice until you listen to yourself recorded. You might listen to it and say DAYEM!!! I sound pretty good! hah

I've been playing for 22 years (minus a little frustrated downtime here and there) and I still don't feel that confident with improvising. Music is a not really something you strive for, you learn, and then your done. It's a lifelong experience. I think that's part of the beauty of it. It's something that will always challenge you and the rewards you get for taking the challenge are amazing.

Keep at it

[Dave R]

One fun exercise I do from time to time...

Turn on the radio or TV, and play along. To everything. Commercials, theme songs, etc. Try to get something that sounds good by the end of the song, or end of the 3rd verse, etc.

It'll develop your ear and your "vocabulary."

[WeeMann]

I've been playing about 20 years now. I go through phases of being very happy with my playing - knowing I could be far better, but comfortable that I can hold my own - then I'll see someone who blows me away and inspires me to play more.

Since I moved into a new area about 6 years ago I have gained a reputation for being one of the best bassists in the area, but when I go out I see people whose talents I cannot touch, most of whom I am honoured to call friends. I cannot slap, I am fairly limited in the styles I play - I look at funky slap players and I'm in awe.

I think the trouble is that other people only see the best bits of your playing, yet you know your own limitations and what you want to do with your instrument, so you see yourself as being less talented than you probably are.

Then I come on sites like this and click on a few links to videos on YouTube and realise that I know absolutely bugger all about the instrument and will be learning and struggling till the day they prise my bass from my cold dead fingers.

[bakeronbass]

Originally Posted by Dave R

One fun exercise I do from time to time...

Turn on the radio or TV, and play along. To everything. Commercials, theme songs, etc. Try to get something that sounds good by the end of the song, or end of the 3rd verse, etc.

It'll develop your ear and your "vocabulary."

Bump

[ClassicRock55]

I'm working on higher ground now, i just can't slap those octave triplets without getting tired. Anyway, the way you feel about your playing is relative. You can play a show and rock out and feel great only to see someone absolutely amazing play the next day. I've only played for about two years and like someone else said it is a growing experience and you grow through pains and shortcomings