Feeling pretty insecure right now....

[ToadWarrior]

Okay well, I really enjoy playing both my bass and my guitar, and when I play my licks, riffs, basslines, etc, sound fantastic to me at the time, like when I jam along with songs.

The problem is whenever I record myself on my webcam/mic my playing always sounds really disjointed and just all-around really bad to my ears..... Is this a common thing for people, perceiving that you are better than you actually are?

Recently I have been feeling really insecure about my playing, almost to the point where I dont really want to play anymore.

Thanks for any input.

[Hutzbordello]

i think most people do this when they listen to themselves play

change what you dont like, give it time, and you should be sounding better.

trust me the day you dont find something that you could play better is when you should listen closer.

idk man it helps me a lot when i do that to my own recordings

NEVER stop doing something you love

[Evil Undead]

It's kinda like listening to a recording of your own voice in a way - sounds fine to everyone else but just awful to you.

Definitely don't give it up if you love it. You don't have to be the next Jaco or anything like that, just enjoy it.

I have no intention of ever quitting, and I ain't ever gonna be any good but still love it

[champbassist]

Originally Posted by ToadWarrior

Okay well, I really enjoy playing both my bass and my guitar, and when I play my licks, riffs, basslines, etc, sound fantastic to me at the time, like when I jam along with songs.

The problem is whenever I record myself on my webcam/mic my playing always sounds really disjointed and just all-around really bad to my ears..... Is this a common thing for people, perceiving that you are better than you actually are?

Recently I have been feeling really insecure about my playing, almost to the point where I dont really want to play anymore.

Thanks for any input.

Similar situation with me. I've played a fair few gigs, been in a bunch of bands and have done a respectable job so far in these situations. Goes without saying that when I play alone, it sounds fine. Yet, when I record myself and play the recordings back, they often horrify me.

A part of it must be the crapping recording apparatus, I'm absolutely sure of that. And this:

Originally Posted by Evil Undead

It's kinda like listening to a recording of your own voice in a way - sounds fine to everyone else but just awful to you.

[BassJunkie]

Coming from a bass teacher standpoint: Just the fact that you record your practicing and playing to better yourself is proof that you have the capacity and will to improve. You're in better shape than most of the population of bass owners. Just be patient and seek out a teacher if you don't have one. Play your recordings for him.

[BrandonBass]

I totally feel you. I couldnt believe what I was hearing when I heard my first recording. My dynamics and timing was all over the place. Because when we're noodling around we usually are less conscious of our dynamics and timing, always set a standard for yourself even if ur just 'having fun' and ull hear improvement soon enough

[Fuff24]

I've been in this rut for a bit.. I think a good teacher would solve this problem

[corinpills]

Honestly, doing what you've started doing is the first step in a long road of getting better. Recording and analyzing one's playing can be a harsh reality for players on any level, but it's one of the absolute best ways to identify the areas you nee to work on. Keep doing it and listen to yourself get better over time.

[greggster59]

Originally Posted by BassJunkie

Coming from a bass teacher standpoint: Just the fact that you record your practicing and playing to better yourself is proof that you have the capacity and will to improve. You're in better shape than most of the population of bass owners. Just be patient and seek out a teacher if you don't have one. Play your recordings for him.

+1

You have discovered a tool that let's you honestly address the areas you need to work on. A lot of it is about developing a steady sense of rhythm which can take a long time to master.

[flypejose]

Originally Posted by BassJunkie

Coming from a bass teacher standpoint: Just the fact that you record your practicing and playing to better yourself is proof that you have the capacity and will to improve. You're in better shape than most of the population of bass owners. Just be patient and seek out a teacher if you don't have one. Play your recordings for him.

Originally Posted by BrandonBass

I totally feel you. I couldnt believe what I was hearing when I heard my first recording. My dynamics and timing was all over the place. Because when we're noodling around we usually are less conscious of our dynamics and timing, always set a standard for yourself even if ur just 'having fun' and ull hear improvement soon enough

Originally Posted by corinpills

Honestly, doing what you've started doing is the first step in a long road of getting better. Recording and analyzing one's playing can be a harsh reality for players on any level, but it's one of the absolute best ways to identify the areas you nee to work on. Keep doing it and listen to yourself get better over time.

+1000 to all of the above!

The first time I recorded myself, I couldn’t believe that was me playing! But as it turned out, recording myself has been the single most important tool to improve my articulation, my control of notes duration and my touch.

As for the “insecurity” part, it’s all in the head. But there’s a difference between feeling uneasy in front of a serious audience when you don’t know your material and being scared to death of casual jamming. In the first case, there is no remedy other than working hard.

This guy probably had no inhibitions jamming with better musicians. Now he has no inhibitions being recorded live cuz he's worked hard!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MiRxLgyN_Lo

[Johnny Crab]

Get a teacher, a metronome( http://www.metronomeonline.com/ ), and a used Zoom H2 or H4(makes quality recordings) PLUS keep at it and HAVE FUN!

I was a bit unsure after coming off of not being in bands for 16 years(played 24 years before that) due to family. BEST things I did:
practice constantly and
get a Zoom H4 to record gigs(originally to check my playing, the drummer-bass locks, and how my bass/EQ actually sounded in the context of a full band).
The H4 still goes to every gig for many reasons.

YOU will always be your worst critic BUT, as mentioned by others, recording yourself and using it to improve your ability works.

[touji]

What you're hearing is the problems in your playing that are being masked when you just jam along. That's how my bass playing is right now. When I jam, it sounds great, but when I record, it sounds awful. It's how my guitar playing used to be, but I spent a great deal of time recording to the point where the recordings aren't so sloppy / disjointed. If you keep recording, you'll start to fix those problems one by one until they pretty much disappear in your recordings. Keep at it.

[Mike M.]

I've always believed in "the tape don't lie!" As others have said, you're on the right track. I record myself at home a lot and can't tell you how many times I've listened back and have gone..."good....that fits....WHAT THE HELL WAS THAT???"

Recording and listening back to yourself has always been (in my humble opinion) one of the best teachers ever as long as you're honest with yourself.

[817]

Couldn't agree more with the general consensus. The only way to improve is through practice and analysis. One thing I always recommend is a metronome. This tool above all others, needs to be in every bassists armory. I usually play with a click track in my ear when I'm jamming to music at home. Even though I have the complete rhythm section on the recording, I have never found a replacement to pumping the correct time into my ear so I can lock into the song. Once I have practiced for a while with the click, I can then turn it off and be confident that my timing is correct.

The other thing I recommend stems from Jazz band days, if you can read sheet music it really helps to sing your parts through before you play them. Articulating verbally what you will be playing with your fingers somehow helps my brain remember patterns that might stump me if I was just site reading them from scratch. Even if you can't read music, singing your part can help learn songs you want to figure out.

I would bet you sound a lot better than you are giving yourself credit for

[Atomik Rooster]

While I can see the merits of recording yourself to discover flaws or bad habits you might not notice when you're actually playing, I've found that critiquing a recording of myself, especially a live gig, can be more of a hindrance than a help. By all means, practice, practice, practice, but understand that a snapshot in time isn't necessarily an accurate reflection of your overall ability. I stopped recording myself a long time ago and don't listen to recordings of me or my band made by others. Honestly, I've been much happier and more confident without it. If my band mates and the audience are satisfied with my playing, then so am I.

[HeadyVan Halen]

I'm the other way around..I sound like sh!t when I'm sheddin' and then on record sometimes I'll say "who the hell is playin bass!..oh, that's me.."

Seriously though, its the same reason why we can all sing with the song at 1,000 decibels but when the CD skips and it's just us it's like"oh, sh!t I sound llike that??"

Just practice. That's all dude.

[M0ses]

Originally Posted by flypejose

This guy probably had no inhibitions jamming with better musicians. Now he has no inhibitions being recorded live cuz he's worked hard!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MiRxLgyN_Lo

That sounds awesome, especially considering his age, but I guarantee that a few years from now he'll look back on this video and be embarrassed by it because it's so far behind what he'll be doing a few years from now. His playing was technically amazing at all times, but there were some moments where it was like "Hey, can you even HEAR the rest of the band?"

Either that or he's one of those prodigies that will never get any better than that and burns out really early.

[jgroh]

Heck, Ive been playing for 25 years now and I still get self conscious when recording. My band did some recording in a great studio several months ago, and I had been so used to playing live and in a mix. When I listened and it was just me soloed on the tracks, there were a lot of things I didnt like but you couldnt hear when it was layered. So I adjusted a bit and everything went fine, but recording is a good tool. Just make sure not to get too hung up on it. Use it to clean up your technique but dont stress too much.

[tdub0199]

You are NOT alone.... I feel the same way when listening to a recording of myself, but instead of wanting to quit, it just makes me wanna practice more and more....

[elskeetro]

I bought a Zoom H2 to specifically review my playing. It's an indispensable tool.

Although, I find the opposite of the OP. When i go back and listen to a live recording, i often find it's wayyy better than i thought, but not without faults, obviously.

And studio recording is a whole 'nother thing. Nothing sucks the love out of playing faster than a studio session. at least in my experience.

skeet.