I'd like to say I'm good but I don't think I am...

Dregin · #1 05-04-2008, 04:46 PM

Hey guys, I've been playing bass since december and i'm getting help from my general music teacher(i'm a senior in highschool) and i'm currently learning stuff out of "mel bay's electric bass method 1" book and i'm almost finished with it and i can play along with the guy on the dvd just fine but for some reason i keep doubting my progress.

I'm still learning the sharps and flats well i'm just getting comfortable with it really and i like it but when i try to play songs that i like like "another one bites the dust" by queen i just can't get it i can't use tabs i think they suck i can't really play by ear and i can't get my hands on sheet music i really think i've made a lot of progress since december but i feel like i'm stuck or that i'm hitting a wall.

I practice everyday at home and at school my music teacher doesn't really know how to play bass but he's teaching me about reading music and the theory and all that and he knows enough where i can work out my own technique and it sounds just like it should but for some reason i still doubt myself.

No one really tells me "Hey steve your doing pretty good" I don't have any support but my own which is fine but it'd be nice if someone told me i was turning into a good bassist...have you guys ever experience anything like this? any advice on how to gauge my own progress? what goals should i set myself? any help at all from any experienced bassists will really be of help to me i appreciate it.

rfclef · #2 05-04-2008, 04:59 PM

Sounds like you are on the right track. I have been playing for a year and a half. I am a music/band teacher and a tuba player. I could read the music, and make up my own technique, but I knew little about bass. The best thing I coulda done was get some lessons from a real bass player (So that's what I did... I go back once in a while for a "brush up" now n then). That'd be my suggestion... get a couple lessons from a real bassist. that'll help you I think from the point you are now...

landry.bass · #3 05-04-2008, 05:09 PM

I understand where you're coming from. When I started playing bass roughly six years ago, I didn't know anyone who played bass, and the only person I knew who even cared about my progress was my older brother who layed guitar, but I saw him very infrequently. I also had no formal instruction of any kind. My brother showed me a couple of riffs and I just sort of took off from there on my own. The best advice I can give you is NO MATTER WHAT, if you feel like you're hitting a wall or not getting any better, keep playing all the time, and always try to challenge yourself. As for learning music by ear or tab, that takes practice and you should keep trying. I remember listening to the intro to "My Friend of Misery" for twenty minutes at a time multiple times for weeks before I could reproduce it confidently. Just keep doing it, and before you know it, you'll be kicking the crap out of your instrument (in a good way). Also, there are always people here to help and give advice.

Dregin · #4 05-04-2008, 08:23 PM

thx guys i practiced quite a bit after i made this thread and i realize that i can have a really good practice and a really bad practice like i'll practice and feel like i've hit a wall and when i come back to it i get past it without any problems, i definitely won't quit playing though but i think i might have to try that with "another one bites the dust" just listen to it over and over again and get it down pact.

JimmyM · #5 05-04-2008, 09:25 PM

You've been playing for 5 months and you're upset that you don't know it all yet?

It's OK, don't put so much pressure on yourself. There's a lot to absorb.

Andrew.Glose · #6 05-04-2008, 09:45 PM

I can relate. I've become a dramatically different musician/bassist over the past semester, yet after a good end-of-the-semester performance, no one tells me anything. Not a 'good job,' 'sounding good,'...nothing. BUT, we must press on.

You must play for yourself and no one else. As long as you know you're making progress, forget what others do (or don't do).

Andrew

crazyfingers_jr · #7 05-04-2008, 09:51 PM

hey man when i first started i couldn't play at all my dad's a bvassist and he tried teaching me but he tried teaching me the way he learned but that didnt work for me so a couple years later (i was 7 btw) my mom got me some lessons and my teacher was really into slap and all that stuff and when i first tried it i couldnt do it and i gave up but a couple months later made my self learn it and now its like nothing i do it all the time and i consider my self a good bassist im even better than my dad in lots of area (exept exprience but im only a freshman in highschool and that stuff takes time) so all u need is lotsa practice, push ur self and dont give up thats how i did it u just gotta develope your own technique caz thats always the one that works best for u i think thats about it there might be more but im SO tired so ya just do wut u gotta do

Dregin · #8 05-05-2008, 05:34 AM

yeah i'm definitely going to keep playing and now i know that i really have to just play for myself, hopefully when i start college i can meet some more musicians that i can relate to but yeah i guess i shouldn't expect much after a couple of months i guess i am on the right track after all.

VisualShock · #9 05-05-2008, 05:44 AM

i've been playing since december too! i my best friend is an insane guitarist, so i ask him once a week to gimme something to learn (which is usually out of my depth) and by the end of the week with enough practice i've got it. something which i wouldn't have normally tried! just keep finding ways to push yourself.

Loempiaketzer · #10 05-05-2008, 06:33 AM

Haha, nice!
Im getting the wall syndrome too! :P playing for 2 years now. I dont know anyone who is playing bass. Just started a band fora bout 2 months or so. And that really helps! Maybe you dont feel like doing it already, but as soon as you start thinking about it. do it! trust me. Im shy by nature and hate being the center of attention. But band practices and stuff like that are very valluable!
For practicing on your own. MAKE A LIST! A list of songs you can play and cant play/want to learn.
In time, you will notice once you pick u pan “old cant do song” it is far more easyer than you thought! That how i kept my progres visable to myself when i was all alone.
Since i joined a band, i can sing and play at the same time (most of the songs, unless they are tricky)

So i would really recommend a list of songs. It also keeps you “up to date” what you can play. Sometimes im like… what kan i play!?!? And i forget the songs… so the list comes in Handy

My wall syndrome atm is… playing faster *pluckinghand” and “tone sort,… like… what kind of accent i want in a tone”
Practicing it atm by fooling around and trying stuff out. Eventually ill master it…somewhere in 2015 or so :P

Anyways, make progres visable for yourself!

chroma601 · #11 05-05-2008, 06:38 AM

Hey man I'm 61, playing for forty years and I'm still discovering new things every time I play. The more you learn, the more you realize there is to learn. Music is just about infinite. Keep playing!

Cryhavok · #12 05-05-2008, 01:21 PM

I've been playing almost 2 years and I feel like I suck ass. I think the best advice I could give is to find some friends who play instruments and find/make a band. Try to get into a band with patient and forgiving people who will help you learn and write new bass material rather than just leave you to figure it all out yourself. When I first started playing, it was because my best friend's new band had no bassist. I had no real interest in it, but once I started playing it was a blast. Most of the time they would tell me what to play where, but eventually once I got the hang of playing and hearing what they're playing, I started to play along with it and they were telling me what to do less and less. They still tell me the major parts of the songs, but there's quite a bit I add in myself now.

Definitely keep up the practice and hard work, and it will all pay off eventually. Don't give up yet

fitbass3p · #13 05-05-2008, 01:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chroma601

Hey man I'm 61, playing for forty years and I'm still discovering new things every time I play. The more you learn, the more you realize there is to learn. Music is just about infinite. Keep playing!

This man is a prophet, listen to him. I've been playing for over 10 years, and I still don't think I'm good. Even though I know beyond a shadow of a doubt I'm significantly better than I was 2, 3, or 5 years ago. We all hit walls at some point, the hard part is working through them. But, when you get through it, you'll be a better player (and maybe even a better person) for it.

/philosophy rant

Dogbertday · #14 05-05-2008, 01:52 PM

when practicing the best thing you can do is tell yourself you suck... when you are satisfied with your playing, quit. Teachers are like this. They may acknoledge your progress but then they tell you to work on something. It's never ending. I've never thought "I'm good" except right before a performance when you need to kick the crap out of the music.

low-endz · #15 05-05-2008, 01:54 PM

Dont worry If they are not complaining with validatity in regards to your bass playing then you are a "good" bassist.

Oh, & If you show that you doubt yourself on or off stage it will only allow for people to think you are not as good as you are and potentaily can become.

They quickest way to get your bandmates opinion is a give a "mock" I'm OUT threat and you'll get that long overdue priase or find out that you really are underapreciated or need to practise more.

Xanthyr · #16 05-05-2008, 02:51 PM

You want to know how much you've improved from the absolute beginning? Switch hands. You feel like you're soffocating in absolute despair and frustration.

Switch back, you're godly.

deeman12 · #17 05-05-2008, 07:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dregin

Hey guys, I've been playing bass since december and i'm getting help from my general music teacher(i'm a senior in highschool) and i'm currently learning stuff out of "mel bay's electric bass method 1" book and i'm almost finished with it and i can play along with the guy on the dvd just fine but for some reason i keep doubting my progress.

I'm still learning the sharps and flats well i'm just getting comfortable with it really and i like it but when i try to play songs that i like like "another one bites the dust" by queen i just can't get it i can't use tabs i think they suck i can't really play by ear and i can't get my hands on sheet music i really think i've made a lot of progress since december but i feel like i'm stuck or that i'm hitting a wall.

I practice everyday at home and at school my music teacher doesn't really know how to play bass but he's teaching me about reading music and the theory and all that and he knows enough where i can work out my own technique and it sounds just like it should but for some reason i still doubt myself.

No one really tells me "Hey steve your doing pretty good" I don't have any support but my own which is fine but it'd be nice if someone told me i was turning into a good bassist...have you guys ever experience anything like this? any advice on how to gauge my own progress? what goals should i set myself? any help at all from any experienced bassists will really be of help to me i appreciate it.

http://www.studybass.com/

This is the website im learning from. Maginificent website, helped me out so much. I would start from scratch to finetune any flaws in your playing mate.

Dregin · #18 05-06-2008, 05:31 AM

ah yes i've used studybass.com it's helped me out many a times before especially with the tuning since i can't afford one at the moment but i practice a lot so hopefully i can get over this wall i try to go on to the next section to practice but i dont move on too quick until i feel like i can play the last thing in the book as close to flawless as i can.

JEDI BASS · #19 05-06-2008, 05:59 AM

I've been playing for 20 years, self-taught, practically no theory except what I've read and tried to apply. From day one I played in a band, that was my teacher. Of course, I was VERY blessed to have a TRUE musical genius in the band, a self-taught musician w/ limitless ability and gift. He tried to find teachers, they turned him away since he was better than them, only months after picking up his first guitar, no exageration! Trying to keep up with him, and learning from him, made me a technically great player within about a year. I was using the 3 finger picking technique, tapping, you name it! Now, after many years of down time between bands, my right-hand technique is weak but I'm 10 times the musician I was years ago! I pluck w/ only 1 finger most of the time, 2 only when I have too... 1 sounds better to me. I listen better, and play what sounds best. My basslines are never hard for me to play, but bassists and others compliment me when they hear our bands songs. That's what's important....make tasty music. Get in a band, take lessons if you want, and listen to music all the time (all the music, not just the bass).... that's my advice.

Oh, and BTW... I think I suck too because I can't slap well and I can't play super fast anymore. So, I don't slap much and I don't try to play fast in my band....works out good.

jgroh · #20 05-06-2008, 06:42 AM

I too have been playing for over 20 years now. Best advice is where Jedi said to get into a band. I took lessons for the first 3 years of playing and it was a great foundation, however, it wasnt until I quit the lessons and started playing in bands where my playing took off. It was like being in school and learning the book smarts then going out in the world and having to learn street smarts (if that makes sense).

Good luck.