I will consider myself a good bassist when I can play this song

[Kristopher]

Mine is "Fight Fire With Fire" by Metallica.

Yours?

[neurotictim]

I don't know how long you've been playing, but that list is going to change every time you learn the current song...

My first was "Gotta Get Away" by the Offspring in 96, then "Master of Puppets," "Tom Sawyer," and so on and so forth. Currently I'm working on a couple of Marcus Miller songs and working on my timing with Cynic and Meshuggah.

Eventually you'll get to a point where you can play anything you want (with a little practice) and your standard will change.

[Valerus]

Oh man..Cynic...

[bassbully]

I hate to say this and IMO you are a good bassist when you can perform music live or in studio as required and needed to ad to the piece you and the band or artist are performimg. To practice a recorded piece of music until its mastered and then proclaim you are a good bassist isnt saying much, its just saying your a good bassist at playing that song.

I also feel others,bandmates, public, recording producers etc will tell you if and when you are a good bassist...no one song or songs will ever get you there or make you one.

[rappa29]

I will consider myself a decent bassist when I can competently play\learn every song in a 30ish song list of the genre of the band that I'm playing in at that time, covers or originals.

Unfortunately I'm not playing in a band right now, but last gig was a rock cover band and I am confident in my bass playing that I can find another gig playing in another rock band, be it covers or originals.


In addition to what Bassbully said!

[pstyle]

Originally Posted by rappa29

I will consider myself a decent bassist when I can competently play\learn every song in a 30ish song list of the genre of the band that I'm playing in at that time, covers or originals.

Actually, 30 songs ain't too bad.. I had to learn about 50 songs in 3 weeks when I joined the band I'm in now, and it was a lot easier than I had anticipated.

[Eminor3rd]

I will consider myself a good bassist when I have people calling me for sessions and gigs.

But I get where you're going with this. Currently I'm working on "U Can't Hold No Groove" by Wooten.

[Aharon]

When I have other bass players learning my material and listening to my music

[Vandelay]

Yep, you'll find that "good" is a constantly moving target. A while back, I thought Stevie Wonder's "I Wish" was a good challenge because it's non-stop 8th notes. I got that pretty well handled, then a few months later my band said "let's do 'What Is Hip?' by Tower of Power", which is non-stop 16th notes! I eventually got that worked out too.

Now, my goals are to be able to sight-read and to be able improvise a reasonable bass line from just a chord chart. Then I'll be "good".

[rappa29]

Originally Posted by pstyle

Actually, 30 songs ain't too bad.. I had to learn about 50 songs in 3 weeks when I joined the band I'm in now, and it was a lot easier than I had anticipated.

Dang! Good on ya'!

My bass playing experience (2 years) doesn't have me at that level yet. Not to mention not having the time (single parent, day job, yada yada...).

But I definitely feel that I'm a "good enough" bass player and have enough general music knowledge (20 years on keys) to be worthy of answering the standard "bass player wanted" ads.

Shoot, if I had to set the bar via a particular song (e.g. The Chicken), I might as well just have a bass fire sale today and call it a day!

[Muusers]

when i nail Overjoyed, wooten's version

[kesslari]

Goals keep changing as we achieve them.
If your goals don't change, then you're dead, or stagnant, whichever is worse...

So (most of us) wil always have a higher goal for what is "good".
I just read that Victor Wooten was intimidated when he got the Chick Corea gig because he'd be filling Patitucci's shoes...

That said, the fact that you have a goal, and are working toward it, is a Really Good Thing, and will make you better and stronger. Each and every time...

[Boogie B]

Allthough being able to play certain songs wel can make u good technically, being a good bassist is about a lot more than technique.
I you get a complex song or even just a progression and you can plant a bass line on that that you though of yourself, that is technically challenging, melodically correct, innovating and just a good bassline, you'll be a good bassist

[FuturePrimitive]

I'll answer in the spirit of the post, the song I want to nail is YYZ. I can play the main riff and some of the fills and to most people (read: non bass players) it sounds spot on but when I play along with the recording I can tell I don't have the rhythm quite right. (among many other problems)

But yea, I'll consider myself a good bass player when someone can shout out a chord progression and I can play something other than just roots.

[ysand]

Mm, i will consider myself a BETTER bassist when i'll be able to play metropolis pt 1 from dream theater.

Apart from that i think that a good bassist is the one that can play the songs of his band live fluently, adding his personal "touch" to em

[RONQUITO]

For me...Eat that question - The Grand Wazoo - Frank Zappa

I mean really play it...by heart, note by note.

I brought up this song because it would imply having advanced harmonic skills and medium to advanced chops in order to execute it properly because

it is a highly improvisational (IMHO) piece and those skills would be an absolute must to figure out what the HECK is going on with all those notes and

the way they were placed in their specific moments.

(Of course, having Aynsley Dunbar as a rythm section partner would be the icing on the cake)

My 0,02 cts.

[j.a.e.r.i.p]

what's going on-the jamerson line.

if i could play that half as good as jamerson i would be pretty satisfied.

[santucci218]

when i can play the Blotted Science CD i will be good.

Sadly, i will sooner die.

[Gawd]

I don't think there's a single song I would pick, as that will always change as I progress.
Probably when I can hear something in my head and execute it with ease.

[Brad Maestas]

I'm still working on the Strawberry Shortcake theme song. I'll get it one of these days.