Where do I go from here?

[superhand]

Here's the deal. I think I am an "OK" bass player, I could probably keep up with a lot of bands as long as the music isn't really complex or anything. I know some basic theory, scales, chords, modes, etc. But I feel like I'm stuck, like I'm not getting any better, and I am not sure how to progress. I really don't want to pay for lessons, because I don't have a lot of money, or time, to work with.

I have been playing bass on and off, mostly off, for about 16 years. I started on guitar, played a little keyboards, harmonica, etc. mostly guitar, but lately I've been getting into bass more. I took guitar lessons for a while and learned quite a bit, it got to the point where my teacher couldn't really teach me anything. I would bring in a song, and he would show me how to play it and that was pretty much it after a while. Then I figured out how to play stuff by ear on my own, so I didn't really need him anymore at all.

When it comes to bass I'm pretty much self taught, applying the theory I learned from guitar and keyboards. I do play with my fingers, by the way. I was playing with a band for a while, it was strictly death metal kind of stuff, which got really boring. Not much room for creativity on the bass with that kind of music, I was mostly just doubling the rhythm guitar, with a few fills here and there. I got so bored with them after a while I stopped coming around, and eventually they found another bass player.

So now its just me, I got a new Fender Jazz Bass MIM that I got about 3 or 4 months ago. Just the other day I picked up a used SWR workingman's 15, which sounds killer by the way. So that's my rig.

I'm not trying to be a virtuoso like Jaco or Les Claypool I just want to be a solid bass player. I would like to get some paying gigs to, that would be awesome, but I don't know how to improve my skills. Any advice?

[Fergie Fulton]

First you need to apply what you already know. By doing this, and be honest with your abilities, to find out what is relevent to your current playing. So pick out 20-30 songs you can play and play some of them. Now without pre-empting your choice i would say they all have a lot in common, which is what attracted you to them in the first place.
So do each of these songs challange you?
Have you just been learning the same sort of stuff, or just repeating the same old sort of stuff?
Do you work in different time sigs.?
Are you actualy learning anything new in the music you have learnt?

Most players hit a rut or a dead end because they do not know how to apply their skills in the right areas. Please don't confuse this with cannot apply their skills, that is different. Music is in the head, you are what you think you are, so change your thinking and you'll change your playing.
Like i said because you know the questions coming after the the pick 20-30 songs you have to be honest in your choice and evaluations.

Then if there is reason to move on set new goals for yourself that will broaden your mind, some of those may be the "cannot apply part" then do so. But you need learn and apply, and that's what this is about, the application of what you know.

[DeluxeRed]

I'd recommend a massive dose of Motown--always--and then playing with other musicians as much as possible. Are there Jam Nites in your town? Community bands? Blues crawls? It doesn't matter what type of music, rock, big band/swing, jazz, worship, blues, bluegrass, country or western, just play. Play as much different music as you can. Study other musicians. Listen to and watch what they are doing. Talk to them and learn from them. Learn some songs and make yourself available as a sub. Take a few auditions, even.

Play play play. Learning is not a linear path, it tends to come in clumps like spoilt milk. Listen (and play) music with really solid bass, not necessarily complicated, just solid.

I've also found "immersion" works for me. Get the Jamerson bio and read it. Watch the movie version. Get the Tom Dowd biography DVD and watch it. Read How the Fender Bass Changed the World. Browse music store and manufacturer websites to learn about different instruments. Look for bootleg YT vids of your favorite players. Go to music stores and try equipment. I've actually found that learning about it makes me a better player, even just the next time I pick up the instrument.

Have fun!

IME/YMMV

[superhand]

Sounds like some good advice. I'm sure that just simply playing more is what is going to help me improve, back in the day I used play for hours a day (guitar) and I was getting pretty good for a while, I thought so anyhow.

Bass is a trip tho, it seems so simple, but good bass playing really makes a song groove. Bass and drums that is the foundation, guitars and everything else, even vocals that's just added texture. I believe it all starts with the bass and drums. If you don't have a good drummer and a good bass player then your band is not going to sound right.

Until I feel like I am good enough to get out and play again, any thoughts on how I can build up my chops here at home by my self?

Fo now, I have to go to my boring job.

[sleeplessknight]

Ahh, welcome to the world of The Rut(tm). We all get there, and when we get out it's only a matter of time (months/years, if we're lucky) before we feel like we're right back in it. The trick is to recognize that you're in a rut, and remember how you got out of it last time.

Try to set a specific, realistic goal for yourself (like, "stalk N cover bands in my area for 3 gigs each, and copy down their setlists. Then I will go home and learn (i.e. be able to play cold, from memory, no charts) the complete sets for all of these bands") to occupy your time for a few months. When you come out of that particular bass-playing Gulag, go introduce yourself to the bandleaders you were stalking and let them know you're available AS A SUB (not as someone trying to steal the gig from their regular player, because that's just not cool) who knows their setlist cold. Now even if they never call you, you are marketable to just about any band in your area. Hell, since there's a finite amount of tunes in any given cover scene in any given area, you probably already know at least half of every other band's setlist at this point. Voila, instant rut-buster!

[Lichtaffen]

Someone told me once that Miles Davis said a rut is when you're getting ready to hit the next musical plateau (or something to that effect). If you believe that, then you should be thankful of where you are because you are questioning rather than just accepting your skills.

The way I got out of my last rut was exactly what DeluxeRed said above: learn James Jamerson. Learn everything about him and his playing. Doing so totally transformed my playing in every way. He was the first pioneer of the electric bass, so learning about him will definitely lay down an impressive foundation to your playing. It may be tough at first, but start slow with his music and build up. So many bass players have been influenced by his playing. Just buy the Standing in the Shadows of Motown book and immerse yourself until you feel you're "gettin' it". That's what my teacher told me to do and I'm glad I listened to him.

Now turn off the computer and go practice.

[mambo4]

Join a gigging cover band.

even if covers are not your thing, you will very quickly learn what is practical and useful, be exposed to music you would never find yourself, and probably have some fun and make some cash too.

[superhand]

I'm not crazy about cover bands, but I guess I can see how that would be good tho if you don't have anything else going on, to get some practice gigging and what not.

I had never heard of James Jamerson before reading this forum, but I keep seeing his name pop up, guess I should ccheck him out. I don't think I even know a Motown band or artist. Gonna have to google it. It's not my fault tho, my parents were hippies, so I grew up on the Beatles, Neil Young, Rolling Stones, etc.

Edit: OK I guess I know more Motown than I thought I did, just didn't realize it.

[Arpeggiator]

just play with a band covers or origanals. the amount of playing and different styles you will come across will give you new things and nurture what you know.

[DeluxeRed]

Originally Posted by superhand

I'm not crazy about cover bands, but I guess I can see how that would be good tho if you don't have anything else going on, to get some practice gigging and what not.

I had never heard of James Jamerson before reading this forum, but I keep seeing his name pop up, guess I should ccheck him out. I don't think I even know a Motown band or artist. Gonna have to google it. It's not my fault tho, my parents were hippies, so I grew up on the Beatles, Neil Young, Rolling Stones, etc.

Edit: OK I guess I know more Motown than I thought I did, just didn't realize it.

Three upsides of cover bands: you don't have to write decent music, you don't have to teach it to everyone in the band, and in most cities you have a lot more opportunities to play before real paying crowds. And it's a lot harder than it looks--doing it well, that is.

The fact that most people don't know who Jamerson is is one of the great crimes of our popular culture--they didn't call the bio "Standing In The Shadows of Motown" for nuttin'. Those bands your folks listened to? McCartney, Wyman, Young, Entwhistle, they were ALL influenced by Motown in general and Jamerson in particular--Sir Paul even does the introductory track to the CD's in Standing in the Shadows because of how important Jamerson was to his development as a bass player.

Your folks probably just saved the Motown until after the kids were in bed.

Enjoy the journey!

[cire113]

usually whenever i feel stuck I listen and play along to new records... or the radio..

but dam dude JAMERSON is king check him out..

Hes amazing

[GrindYourMind]

Just keep doing what you're doing man.

The fact that you don't want to be a jaco or a claypool just means you are going to be more satisfied with yourself.

Practice, jam and just learn learn learn.