I'm about to give up on bass...

Cygnusx2112 · #1 10-11-2007, 05:50 PM

[vent]
It seems like I'm not getting any better, no matter how long I play for. I used to actually notice myself playing better, and I'd say "hey!! That was pretty cool!" As you all know, I want to be able to play just like Geddy, with the whole flamenco thing, and the whole switching between two strings fastly, but seamlessly as well, but I just cant pull it off, and its bugging me! I keep going through my head "well, how can I practice to make that actually work?" And I used to be able to do that (example: play faster = play lighter) I just cant pull off this other stuff (mostly the switching between two strings fast without missing a beat) and its bugging me!! I don't want to play anymore!

Ugh...sorry about all of this, needed to vent!
[/vent]

Trav

Mechanical Mind · #2 10-11-2007, 06:03 PM

How long have you been playing? Because things take lots of practice.

Cygnusx2112 · #3 10-11-2007, 06:09 PM

Two years. And I know that this stuff takes alot of practice, I just cant think of how to practice to make myself play better! I mean, yeah...Ged's been playing for at least 33 years now, but I still..I dunno..

alexei · #4 10-11-2007, 06:14 PM

lucky you didnt lived in ancient war times... you would be a beaten warrior before the war starts.

My advice: get a teacher.

shostkontrabass · #5 10-11-2007, 06:18 PM

Don't get discouraged when you don't sound like you are getting any better. More often than not it's just that your ear is developing faster than your technique, and you slowly are able to hear better what you are doing wrong. And when you know it's there, you can work to fix it. I think it's a wonderful to know that you can't do something perfectly and need to work on it. If we could do everything perfectly on our instrument in just a short time, then where would we go from there? What would there be left to do on the instrument if we had made all the improvements possible?

Just stick with it. I've been playing for 9 years, and I don't always notice improvements short term. But when I look back a year or two, I can see aspects of my playing that have become drastically better. Keep practicing, and just keep in mind that becoming an exceptional musician takes a lot of work.

Cygnusx2112 · #6 10-11-2007, 06:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shostkontrabass

Don't get discouraged

becoming an exceptional musician takes a lot of work.

Yeah, your right..its just that when I listen to early Rush (et al. working man) Ged's just jammin' the crap outta that thing man and its kinda "ohh..why cant I do that yet??" Mind you, he is a much better player now than he was back then so I guess you do have a point...

shostkontrabass · #7 10-11-2007, 06:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cygnusx2112

I keep going through my head "well, how can I practice to make that actually work?" And I used to be able to do that (example: play faster = play lighter) I just cant pull off this other stuff (mostly the switching between two strings fast without missing a beat) and its bugging me!! I don't want to play anymore!

More advice:

Practice slowly, not fast. Get the basic technique down before you speed it up, it will help you a LOT. Also, use a metronome. Start it on a slow tempo until you can play a passage/technique perfectly at that tempo, then move it up two clicks. If you can't get that perfect, split the difference and move it down one click until you can play it perfectly again. Then just continue up the metronome in the same pattern. Chances are after working up to a high tempo one day, you won't be able to do that same tempo first thing the next day, but you will be able to start at a little fast tempo than the original. Remember, it all takes time.

I second the fact that you should get a teacher.

Rickett Customs · #8 10-11-2007, 06:26 PM

Remember, the better you get......The less you will notice anything profoundly. If you are telling yourself, "What more can I learn?". That is a positive signal that you need to go outside of yourself (Teacher) for a different point of view, or You're just in a rut. I don't gamble , but I'd bet it's the latter.

AN0INTD · #9 10-11-2007, 06:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shostkontrabass

More advice:

Practice slowly, not fast. Get the basic technique down before you speed it up, it will help you a LOT. Also, use a metronome. Start it on a slow tempo until you can play a passage/technique perfectly at that tempo, then move it up two clicks. If you can't get that perfect, split the difference and move it down one click until you can play it perfectly again. Then just continue up the metronome in the same pattern. Chances are after working up to a high tempo one day, you won't be able to do that same tempo first thing the next day, but you will be able to start at a little fast tempo than the original. Remember, it all takes time.

I second the fact that you should get a teacher.

+1000!!!
Play slow man. I've been studying classical guitar for about 8 years (in a University), and I made the most improvement over this past summer. What I did was stop playing the repetoire that I knew and just played scales and a few simple pieces I knew, but the catch was that I played everything SLOW. I mean 30bpm slow. It was incredibly painful at first, but just after a few weeks I tried playing the stuff I had been working on a little faster...and then a bit more...and before I knew it I was actually able to play the stuff cleaner and faster than I had initially anticipated. Give yourself time, but most importantly is practice economically! Practice does NOT make perfect, PERFECT practice makes perfect. Slow it down, you'll get there

PatTheAnchor · #10 10-11-2007, 06:42 PM

You can't really compare yourself to Geddy Lee. He does that for a living, you're doing this as a hobby, and he obviously has a lot more experience, which is exactly why you can't compare yourself to him.

Keep chugging along, it will work sooner or later, and yeah, practice slow.

SteveC · #11 10-11-2007, 06:48 PM

Play slowly. Getting a teacher is a good idea. Don't expect to play like Geddy too soon.

That said, Geddy was my inspiration when I started in 8th grade. The first album (yeah, album - try learning licks when you have to lift the needle instead of just looping your CD) I learned was 2112. I was actually challenged by my friends to learn "Lessons" and that got me hooked. I bought them all and learned them all.

My first "real" bass was a 4001 Rickenbacker - just like Geddy. I should have never sold that thing...

fenderhutz · #12 10-11-2007, 06:49 PM

It's funny if you put down the bass for a week you come back with fresh ideas and licks you didn't know you had in you.

mutedeity · #13 10-11-2007, 06:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alembicplyr

Remember, the better you get......The less you will notice anything profoundly. If you are telling yourself, "What more can I learn?". That is a positive signal that you need to go outside of yourself (Teacher) for a different point of view, or You're just in a rut. I don't gamble , but I'd bet it's the latter.

I don't know about that, I have been playing for 20 years and there is always something new I can learn or teach myself. I would be worried if I ran out of things to learn personally. The OP probably needs a teacher like everyone else is saying.

The main reason for this kind of stagnation is a lack of applicable theoretical knowledge in my opinion. Once you understand theory and how to apply and adapt it you have a limitless source of new approaches to take to technical development and playing in general. You can find new ways to experiment with styles and song structure, chord progressions, arpeggios and so on. I would say that in this case questioning what more can be learned is a sign that it's time to get more serious about playing and find someone that can give things a new perspective. That or the other solution...

Hobobob74 · #14 10-11-2007, 06:59 PM

Dude, I've only been playing for about 2 years and the one thing i've learned is to be your self and not try to sound like somebody else. I used to want to play like Jack Bruce. I always tried to add little frills in the middle of the line. I thought that I was sounding great. But, I was watching a Victor Wooten Video of him doing a clinic at bass day and he said that as much as you want to sound like sombody, you will always sound like you. Some dude in the audience said that he has been trying and trying, but just can't sound like Jaco. Victor said that even if you copy the notes exacly, you will still sound like you. He said he would never walk into a club and say 'Oh, Jaco's Here'. Really for more than one reason, but it still got the point across.

Anywho, back to the Jack Bruce story, I thought that i was doing good. Then one day i decided to record myself. I couldn't belive how much it sucked. But, I learned alot from that recording and always record myself and then analies it.

I would record yourself, (I used an MP3 with a record option), listen to it, but don't be discouraged by it, learn from it.

I'm sorry to write a book, but if you stop now, you could be passing up on a career as big as Geddy's, or even bigger.

Peace out, and remember, Geddy probably was just as mad at one point or another.

Sorry about all my spelling mistakes, I ain't to good at that.

casualmadness · #15 10-11-2007, 07:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cygnusx2112

I mean, yeah...Ged's been playing for at least 33 years now

You said it...
If you're ready to give up because you don't feel you're as good as Geddy, then you should give it up. Because you have unrealistic expectations. You shouldn't strive to be equal to another player; especially when he has 31 years more experience than you.
You should strive to find your own voice. Find your own style. Stop trying so hard. Just play. Work on your sightreading. Work on ear training. Work on scales, modes, theory, get a good teacher...practice correctly. But also, take some time just to play the thing. Just pick it up and start playing. Don't worry about how fast you can pluck the strings or how smooth you can make transitions from string to string. Just play the thing. You have to have fun with it.
Stop trying to be Geddy. Be yourself. Geddy has his own voice. You have to find yours. And it takes practice to find that voice. But it also takes fun. You have to have fun with it. Otherwise it becomes work. Then it's no fun. And when it gets to that stage, you might as well sell your gear and take up golf or something.
Just relax. Take a deep breath. Forget about living up to a standard and just go have some fun with it. Explore it. Move your fingers around on the fretboard and feel the way the strings connect with your fingers. Slide your hands up and down the neck and feel the notes being formed. Spend some time experimenting with different chords. Don't think about what would make sense to play according to theory; just play. Put away your "What Would Geddy Do" bracelet and do whatever you would do. You will never be Geddy Lee. You might be better. YOu might not be. None of that matters. Just enjoy exploring the beauty of the instrument. Play around with harmonics. Make up a song-it doesn't matter if it's bad or good. Just do it. Try some tapping. And if all else fails; put it down for a few days; maybe a few weeks. Go do something else. Take your mind off of bass and concentrate on something else. Then when you come back you might find that a break has renewed your interest and your enthusiasm and you might find that it was just what you needed.
Bass guitar is something that you will never master. It isn't meant to be mastered. It is meant to be played. It is meant to be a tool to express something from inside. Being called to play the bass is a rare gift. You can't force it. Just play. It will come.

DocBop · #16 10-11-2007, 07:13 PM

To learn a lot of information fast you have to learn a little information slowly. It takes time and patience. You need to slow things down and learn things right before even thinking about playing fast. For the millionth time speed develops on its one, but if you don't practice playing correctly you will just be playing fast slop.

So you can decide to slow down, learn how to play right, and will probably see more progress over time.

waffle puzzle · #17 10-11-2007, 07:16 PM

I highly recommend NOT listening to Rush----for a whole month----seriously, listen to some jazz, or another form of rock that you never listen to, and start practicing to it.

On that note, get some Medeski Martin and Wood CD's and use them. Chris Wood doesn't do the fleet-fingered virtuosity like the modern jazzbos, but he is always groovin' and has some tasty interesting lines. Learn-em !! ALSO, if you haven't practiced to Led Zeppelin 2, do it immediately.

Then go back to the Rush...you will have a deeper appreciation and find yourself more well rounded.

FireArm · #18 10-11-2007, 07:16 PM

Ive been through a similar situation, when i was first playing I use to idolize steve harris from iron maiden (well probably still do) I loved those gallops. So when I started to learn maiden stuff I realised that it was very very hard to gallop like he does with 2 fingers at a great speed and never miss a beat - i could do it with 3 but I got it into my head that i was going to be a purist and do it with 2 fingers... Needless to say i just got myself into a mess and nearly threw my bass out the window... then i realised that wait a minute.. im not steve harris... I dont need to play like him.

I know how you feel its like having writers block or something, i hope you recover.

0--+LoveBass · #19 10-11-2007, 07:26 PM

I'd like to share a little story of wisdom. I have been involeved in Tae Kwon Do for an early age. As a lower rank people idolize black belts. The master would always say the black belt is a starting point not an ending point. And that you dont start learning until you are a black belt. You learn how much you dont know and how much you need to learn. Maybe you have reached the black belt status amongst bassists.

-LoveBass

elpelotero · #20 10-11-2007, 07:33 PM

practicing a few scales for a few minutes each day is one of the best ways to get better faster as well as coming up with new lines (assuming you play around with the scales after you learn them well).

When I started on guitar, I was frustrated that I couldn't play like Metallica. Eventually you get over it and just do your own thing. None of the music sounds remotely close to Metallica, but I still enjoy listening to them and playing some of their songs every now and then.

Also, aside from a teacher, try getting into a band. You learn a LOT that way. Or just jam with people.