Rookie Advice to Other Rookies

EriktheRed · #1 07-17-2010, 12:27 PM

After playing bass for about 2 1/2 years now (after over 20 yrs. of guitar on and off -shoulda made the switch a long time ago), I find myself running into a certain problem which puts a stick in my spokes, so to speak.

Obviously you have to push yourself if you want to get better and that usually involves a bit of self-criticism and not being satisfied with your performance. As someone who does a lot of learning songs off tab (that's not all I do, mind you) and is not playing with anyone else at the moment, I've found myself getting frustrated and giving up playing certain songs just because I can't execute a couple of riffs down as tabbed.

Obviously you have to push yourself if you want to get better and that usually involves a bit of self-criticism and not being satisfied with your performance. OTOH, if you're overly critical of yourself over what you can't do do at the moment, it can take away from the enjoyment over what you can do and as a result make you practice less. At least that's been my experience. Right now I'm learning the AC/DC song "Shoot to Thrill", which isn't terribly tough with the basic rhythm, but has quite few riffs here and there I still haven't been able to get a handle on. I started learning it again this week after giving up on it months ago because I couldn't get it all down. I'm taking a whole new approach which involves just enjoying playing the parts I can play and getting those down.

Common sense, I know, but I figured if I find myself forgetting it, probably other beginners are, too. When feeling frustrated with your performance because you're not getting everything down as a well as a seasoned pro whose bassline you're trying to learn, just remember this old saying:

The perfect is the enemy of the good.

Now go back and enjoy your playing.

thekish · #2 07-17-2010, 12:35 PM

My advice is always start out HORRENDOUSLY slow on a riff you're having trouble with. I'm auditioning for a metal band soon, and some of their riffs are next to impossible to play on bass at full speed. So I always take it down by about 100 bpm and SLOWLY work up to getting good at the riff at the correct tempo.

Accuracy first, speed later.

tobie · #3 07-17-2010, 10:37 PM

The problem is that some riffs are only possible by means of certain techniques (hammer-on's, pull-off's etc) and if one does not know that, you might waste a lot of time trying to perform them without these techniques. A video of the relevant song might be of help (on the condition that the camera is on the bassist whilst playing the riff(s)). Otherwise try to communicate with the bassist in some manner, e.g. email, a forum / blog and find how he/she does it.

Xray66 · #4 07-18-2010, 03:10 AM

Putting pressure on yourself is a good thing, but it can also be very self defeating, and dangerous in general. Because if you put too much pressure on yourself, frustration sets in, and that is not good.

I honestly have never learned somebody else's song, perfectly from beginning to end. I don't use tabs. Back when I started, nobody was even doing tabs, and you didn't have youtube videos and all that like now. So all we had was the recording. Especially for bass, that presents a problem, because lots of times you can't even hear the bass. So I got use to the fact that most songs were not going to be perfect. That bugged me at first, but it actually makes sense. Somebody else played that song... played it THEIR way. You're not them. You most likely will never play it just like them. Trying to play something exactly the way somebody else did is is fine, because it forces you to learn new things... But bottom line... If you were going to officially cover somebody's song, would you play it just like them? No, you'd put in your own style. If I was auditioning players for my band, I wouldn't pick somebody that came in and played something EXACTLY the same way the first guy did... I'd pick somebody that could add their own feel. Because that's worth a lot more than just being able to copy somebody.

So when you can't do something exactly the way somebody else did... Then just find your own way... A BETTER way. There's no reason why you can't... The original guy who did it isn't perfect. There's always another way to do something.

tobie · #5 07-18-2010, 10:32 PM

Well said Xray. 'Original' does not imply 'perfect'. It might be 'perfect' for part of the audience, but for another part of the audience your version is 'more' perfect.

But sometimes it's nice to know how the heck the first guy managed to accomplish a difficult riff...

EriktheRed · #6 07-21-2010, 04:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Xray66

Putting pressure on yourself is a good thing, but it can also be very self defeating, and dangerous in general. Because if you put too much pressure on yourself, frustration sets in, and that is not good.

I honestly have never learned somebody else's song, perfectly from beginning to end. I don't use tabs. Back when I started, nobody was even doing tabs, and you didn't have youtube videos and all that like now. So all we had was the recording. Especially for bass, that presents a problem, because lots of times you can't even hear the bass. So I got use to the fact that most songs were not going to be perfect. That bugged me at first, but it actually makes sense. Somebody else played that song... played it THEIR way. You're not them. You most likely will never play it just like them. Trying to play something exactly the way somebody else did is is fine, because it forces you to learn new things... But bottom line... If you were going to officially cover somebody's song, would you play it just like them? No, you'd put in your own style. If I was auditioning players for my band, I wouldn't pick somebody that came in and played something EXACTLY the same way the first guy did... I'd pick somebody that could add their own feel. Because that's worth a lot more than just being able to copy somebody.

So when you can't do something exactly the way somebody else did... Then just find your own way... A BETTER way. There's no reason why you can't... The original guy who did it isn't perfect. There's always another way to do something.

You summed up my own message far better than I did, sir.