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11-06-2006, 05:25 PM
| | | | Good Bass Player
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How can you tell if you're a good bass player or not? I've only played for a year, but I practise 3 hours a day and like to make my own songs. I can play all of BSSM not that that counts for much I guess, and basically anything Rage, Audioslave and Zeppelin play. I've done solos like the Stone Cold Bush one, Naked in the Rain and Around the world.I'd like to know if I've passed mediocre or almost or something. |
11-06-2006, 05:52 PM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Germany | | It's not what you play, but how you play it... (MANY musicians fail to realize this)
Without hearing you, no one can judge you, which is pointless anyways. The only thing that matters is that you are enjoying what you're capable of and knowing what you want to learn next.
You seem to have a good taste in music, so just rock on!  |
11-06-2006, 05:52 PM
|  | The older I get, the better I was. | | Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Pasadena, CA | | | Without hearing you play, it's not easy for someone else to tell you that you're good or not based on a list of songs that you know how to play. Playing well is not just that you can play the same notes as are on a recording, but whether can you do it with the same timing, touch, and tone.
IMO, being a good bass player means having control over all the little nuances that affect how the notes sound and give it the kind of groove that gets heads bobbing and booties shaking. I consider someone who can lay down a good groove with a couple of notes to be a better bass player than someone who can play all the right notes of a bunch of songs without any feeling - it's musicality vs. physicality.
One of the quickest ways to judge your abilities is to start playing with other people. You might find that you're doing really well. You might also find yourself humbled very quickly. |
11-06-2006, 06:15 PM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Melbourne, Australia | | | good bass players can create original ideas i.e. original basslines.
i am saying this with all respect towards you, its great that you can playm any songs, but that is just copying. ultimately you will want to be able to create your own basslines. |
11-06-2006, 07:45 PM
|  | Registered User | | Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Long Island, NY | | | After 1 year you can play basically anything Zeppelin plays?
If you can play it correctly and up to speed after only 1 year then, IMO you are an incredible bass player.
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"Bass lines are good because for people who don't understand what's going on in the rest of the song, there's always the bass line" - Frank Zappa
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11-06-2006, 07:52 PM
| | | Led Zep is the easiest crud to play. It's pretty stupid music to start out with and I can't imagine anyone lost any sleep writing most of it. After all, whatever repetetive pentatonic drone it has goes on behind the shreiks and whines of a talentless fraud like Robert Plant with brilliant lyrics like baby oh baby, oh, oh, oh and woman oh woman. What one plays IS part of whether one is "good or not". Better luck next year. Sorry.  |
11-06-2006, 08:34 PM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Mother North | | Quote: |
Originally Posted by RareBear Led Zep is the easiest crud to play. It's pretty stupid music to start out with and I can't imagine anyone lost any sleep writing most of it. After all, whatever repetetive pentatonic drone it has goes on behind the shreiks and whines of a talentless fraud like Robert Plant with brilliant lyrics like baby oh baby, oh, oh, oh and woman oh woman. What one plays IS part of whether one is "good or not". Better luck next year. Sorry. | Is it only me or...?
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11-06-2006, 08:36 PM
| | | Quote: |
Originally Posted by thebassace111 How can you tell if you're a good bass player or not? I've only played for a year, but I practise 3 hours a day and like to make my own songs. I can play all of BSSM not that that counts for much I guess, and basically anything Rage, Audioslave and Zeppelin play. I've done solos like the Stone Cold Bush one, Naked in the Rain and Around the world.I'd like to know if I've passed mediocre or almost or something. | Well, based on your description of yourself it sounds like you are much better than me, and I've been playing for nearly 6 years - so, I say: You rock! Quote: |
Originally Posted by RareBear Led Zep is the easiest crud to play. It's pretty stupid music to start out with and I can't imagine anyone lost any sleep writing most of it. After all, whatever repetetive pentatonic drone it has goes on behind the shreiks and whines of a talentless fraud like Robert Plant with brilliant lyrics like baby oh baby, oh, oh, oh and woman oh woman. What one plays IS part of whether one is "good or not". Better luck next year. Sorry. |
All that I can say to RareBear is that I disagree completely - and it must be hard for you, being so much better than the rest of the world and having taste that is so much better. I can see why you don't even bother trying to be humble. 
If Led Zep is wrong, then I don't wanna be right! |
11-06-2006, 08:43 PM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Central Minnesota | | ... a bass players ability/skill level would probably best be judged by his ability to meet the demands of his situation ... for instance, a bass player with a good knowledge of theory, incredible talent and hand dexterity, yet consumed with the attitude of a soloist, playing extravagent fills and riffs would not be considered a 'good' (old) country bass player in most cases ... where as a minimally theorized player that is able to R-5 with very appropriate/tasteful fills and leadins may be highly sought after ... in other words, if you meet the demands called for in your situation, are able to improvise as needed, and not only relate well with those you are playing with, but actually are able to enhance what THEY play ... you would not only be considered as excelling in what you do, you would be highly sought after ... and then you wouldnt need to ask  ... I can only dream of being there myself ... but then I enjoy what I am doing, and try to improve on a steady basis ... |
11-06-2006, 09:15 PM
| | The older I get, the better I was. | | Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Pasadena, CA | | Quote: |
Originally Posted by RareBear Led Zep is the easiest crud to play. It's pretty stupid music to start out with and I can't imagine anyone lost any sleep writing most of it. After all, whatever repetetive pentatonic drone it has goes on behind the shreiks and whines of a talentless fraud like Robert Plant with brilliant lyrics like baby oh baby, oh, oh, oh and woman oh woman. What one plays IS part of whether one is "good or not". Better luck next year. Sorry. | Eeew. It smells like troll in here. |
11-06-2006, 10:03 PM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Fern Park, Florida | | Quote: |
Originally Posted by EricF Eeew. It smells like troll in here. | +10
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11-06-2006, 11:11 PM
| | | | we need some clips to judge. i see many young bassist posting their clips on youtube thinkin they're the **** and theyve nailed the song. but turns out its the opposite |
11-07-2006, 01:34 AM
| | | Thanks for the replies everyone, I understand that you have to hear me play before judging.
To ras1983, I said in my post the main thing I enjoy is making songs and have made a lot of basslines with my fellow guitarist. Some are simple for me and some are complex(for me anyway) and some are slap and some are finger picked. I just got back from a jam with the guitarist which was so fun it lasted about 3 or so hours.  |
11-07-2006, 03:01 AM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Melbourne, Australia | | Quote: |
Originally Posted by thebassace111 Thanks for the replies everyone, I understand that you have to hear me play before judging.
To ras1983, I said in my post the main thing I enjoy is making songs and have made a lot of basslines with my fellow guitarist. Some are simple for me and some are complex(for me anyway) and some are slap and some are finger picked. I just got back from a jam with the guitarist which was so fun it lasted about 3 or so hours. | well you can chalk that one up to a lack of sleep and a lot of pre-exam studying...  |
11-07-2006, 04:24 AM
|  | Registered User | | Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Cincinnati | | | Having a good time playing good time.
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11-10-2006, 12:02 AM
|  | Registered User | | Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Minneapolis, MN. | | | In my opinion (and I'm actually speaking pretty negatively about myself here), you're a "good" player if you can play the songs. You're really a GOOD player if you can understand what you're playing, and transfer it (or the part of it that inspires/influences you) to your own basslines.
That... and passion.
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11-10-2006, 12:38 AM
|  | Registered User | | Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: New York | | | i think having a solid feel and understanding of the instrument and the music you are making with it is when you can begin to be labeled as "good". being able construct bass lines that fit music adequately, and maybe being able to toss some chops aroudn ehre and there, but they arent a necessity.
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11-10-2006, 02:00 AM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: May 2006 Location: Voorhees, NJ | | | I've only been playing for slightly over a year, but I have some confidence in my ability.
After 3 months, I could play Higher Ground and thought I was hot ****. Then I went into a situation with other musicians and got brought back down to Earth. Hell, I can play most RHCP and Primus songs. Sure I was psyched when I got to that level, but I was more psyched when I got to the point of being able to improvise during jams and make it sound good, or instinctively adding fills when playing along to songs. That's way more satisfying.
If you're playing and writing and it sounds good to you, then awesome. |
11-11-2006, 03:09 AM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Gold Coast Australia | | Quote: |
Originally Posted by RareBear Led Zep is the easiest crud to play. It's pretty stupid music to start out with and I can't imagine anyone lost any sleep writing most of it. After all, whatever repetetive pentatonic drone it has goes on behind the shreiks and whines of a talentless fraud like Robert Plant with brilliant lyrics like baby oh baby, oh, oh, oh and woman oh woman. What one plays IS part of whether one is "good or not". Better luck next year. Sorry. |
Excellent! Can you please post a recording of you playing the Lemon Song "note for note"? I'm sure that many of us crap players will be able to gain a ton of instruction from it. I realise that it's a simple 12 bar based song.
Much appreciated!
DJ
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