After a years playing, what do you think?

[metdistortion]

Hi, I was messing about doing random bass improv, then I decided to start filming some of it, to see what you guys on TalkBass think of my playing.

Heres the vid:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Etyumv0XiX8

I'm only 16 and I've only been playing a year so don't expect it to be amazing. I just want to know what I should work on to become a better player.

Please tell me whatever you think about it, and any suggestions to improve my playing.

Thanks for watching

[tpmiller08]

Originally Posted by metdistortion

Hi, I was messing about doing random bass improv, then I decided to start filming some of it, to see what you guys on TalkBass think of my playing.

Heres the vid:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Etyumv0XiX8

I'm only 16 and I've only been playing a year so don't expect it to be amazing. I just want to know what I should work on to become a better player.

Please tell me whatever you think about it, and any suggestions to improve my playing.

Thanks for watching

Nice man, Fast fingers! I played way to hard for like the first 3 years, made every note wicked distorted and ****** sounding, like your tone though, for sure

Your on the right track sounds like man. I dunno what your normal practice routine is. However, this is what I do, and it works for me.

If you don't know this stuff, learn it, it helps, big time. Get a metronome ( i just started playing with one, and im playing major catch up after playing for 5 and 1/2 years). Set the metronome on about 80 - 90 BPM. Play the C major scale. Make sure everynote is clear, don't pluck too hard, don't press down on the frets too hard (PRESS dont PINCH )

After ya got the C Major down, with NO fretbuzz ( ya got a lot on the youtube, nothing against ya, takes a lil while to get ride of it. Make sure you hit your frets right next to the fret, not in the middle of two frets), play it in reverse. Then play G major, do the same, then go to D Major, and so on and so on until you learn the whole cycle, or circle, of fifths.

The key is playing it slow. It'll work on your technique, learn you some theory, and ya gotta use all your fingers so its a nice warm up before practice.

After that, learn all the modes for C major, then all the minor scales, and then.....conquer the world

When ya get some scales and modes under your belt, take songs you know, or learn new ones, and figure out how other bassists apply them to their basslines. All this helped me with ear training too.

Hope this helped a lil,

-Troy

[MEKer]

OK, I can see you are already dedicated to some practicing and starting to get your imagination going. Thats the way to do it, man. Besides the other poster's advice, its also handy to start learning some some of your favorite songs to see how others use their imagination to put together different patterns, etc---unless you are already doing that. In other words, get some profit from those that came before and let them expand yourself even faster than you could all by yourself. Take apart what they do and see the patterns and relationships---then improvise off that in as musical fashion as you can. There are tons of techniques you'll be advised on, and all with the same ending----expanding, learning, feeling comfortable on the fretboard, etc. Keep it going--the world always needs BASSISTS or it will not spin correctly.

[MEKer]

And play with other people!!!!!!!!

[tpmiller08]

Originally Posted by MEKer

And play with other people!!!!!!!!

Agreed! As many as you can! Guitarists are easier to find, and play with ( on a gear level that is), but drummers really make playing the bass a blast! I think at least

[PBass101]

I love the "awesome" tag.

You have some okay chops to build from, but +10 on slow down and learn some technique. You're just starting out, but all that fluttery fast stuff in this video sounds like you're getting a little over your head.

Don't be in a rush to become some kind of virtuoso - take your time and learn how to play right, your bass isn't going anywhere.

[metdistortion]

Originally Posted by PBass101

I love the "awesome" tag.

You have some okay chops to build from, but +10 on slow down and learn some technique. You're just starting out, but all that fluttery fast stuff in this video sounds like you're getting a little over your head.

Don't be in a rush to become some kind of virtuoso - take your time and learn how to play right, your bass isn't going anywhere.

Yeah, I felt the need to try and play really fast, cos I was on camera, so I kinda lost the groove.

[metdistortion]

Originally Posted by tpmiller08

Nice man, Fast fingers! I played way to hard for like the first 3 years, made every note wicked distorted and ****** sounding, like your tone though, for sure

Your on the right track sounds like man. I dunno what your normal practice routine is. However, this is what I do, and it works for me.

If you don't know this stuff, learn it, it helps, big time. Get a metronome ( i just started playing with one, and im playing major catch up after playing for 5 and 1/2 years). Set the metronome on about 80 - 90 BPM. Play the C major scale. Make sure everynote is clear, don't pluck too hard, don't press down on the frets too hard (PRESS dont PINCH )

After ya got the C Major down, with NO fretbuzz ( ya got a lot on the youtube, nothing against ya, takes a lil while to get ride of it. Make sure you hit your frets right next to the fret, not in the middle of two frets), play it in reverse. Then play G major, do the same, then go to D Major, and so on and so on until you learn the whole cycle, or circle, of fifths.

The key is playing it slow. It'll work on your technique, learn you some theory, and ya gotta use all your fingers so its a nice warm up before practice.

After that, learn all the modes for C major, then all the minor scales, and then.....conquer the world

When ya get some scales and modes under your belt, take songs you know, or learn new ones, and figure out how other bassists apply them to their basslines. All this helped me with ear training too.

Hope this helped a lil,

-Troy

Thanks man. I've been doing some of the stuff you've mentioned for a while. I've learnt all the natural major and minor scales off by heart, done a bit of work on the circle of fifth, studied how bassists apply them to basslines and learnt a few songs by ear.

Anything else I can work on ?

[tpmiller08]

Originally Posted by metdistortion

Thanks man. I've been doing some of the stuff you've mentioned for a while. I've learnt all the natural major and minor scales off by heart, done a bit of work on the circle of fifth, studied how bassists apply them to basslines and learnt a few songs by ear.

Anything else I can work on ?

If your doing all that, your on the right track

Just learn as much as you can. Understanding it is key! I learn everything I can, ask questions on here, or to other bassists I meet, and then review it all. The key is getting it all so beat into your brain that you don't need to think about it anymore.

Technique is key though. Make sure you can pluck, or pick whichever you decide to focus on, at the same attack. As in, make sure you CHOOSE when to play hard or soft. If you can pluck the same note 100 times, and make everytime sound dead on....your golden!

Most of all, just keep practicing. If you lose interest in theory, dont do it, if you lose interest in technique, dont work on it. Just make sure you have fun, and do whatever it takes for you to keep interest in the bass. If you notice you sound god awful all of a sudden, and your tone is stale....take a break. Be it a day, a week, a month, whatever it takes. When you get back to it, you'll be sloppy, but that tone you loved will be back.

It gets frustrating. Don't give up, never say "I can't do this" and when you do get in a band, don't show off. Make the music sound good, and don't just focus on yourself, listen to EVERY instrument.

Good luck man


-Troy

[metdistortion]

Originally Posted by tpmiller08

If your doing all that, your on the right track

Just learn as much as you can. Understanding it is key! I learn everything I can, ask questions on here, or to other bassists I meet, and then review it all. The key is getting it all so beat into your brain that you don't need to think about it anymore.

Technique is key though. Make sure you can pluck, or pick whichever you decide to focus on, at the same attack. As in, make sure you CHOOSE when to play hard or soft. If you can pluck the same note 100 times, and make everytime sound dead on....your golden!

Most of all, just keep practicing. If you lose interest in theory, dont do it, if you lose interest in technique, dont work on it. Just make sure you have fun, and do whatever it takes for you to keep interest in the bass. If you notice you sound god awful all of a sudden, and your tone is stale....take a break. Be it a day, a week, a month, whatever it takes. When you get back to it, you'll be sloppy, but that tone you loved will be back.

It gets frustrating. Don't give up, never say "I can't do this" and when you do get in a band, don't show off. Make the music sound good, and don't just focus on yourself, listen to EVERY instrument.

Good luck man


-Troy

Thanks man, your great advice is much appreciated.

I'm gonna try and take this all into consideration when I next play with a band tomorrow

[Stumbo]

Just remember you playing music, not just exercising your fingers.

Along with your bass lines, I suggest you learn melodies from all styles of music (classical, rock, pop, jazz standards, traditional (Star Spangled Banner, etc) as a test of your musical memory, phrasing, technique, timing (use a metronome), etc.)

[BillyRay]

Not bad. I've known several bassists who are still struggling to get where you are after a few years.

A few points:
a) Clean up your technique. This hindered me for the better part of last year since I have made a comback. The timing and precision will improve and the tone will follow suit.

b) SLOW DOWN. Some of it sounded jumbled and cramped up. Practice with a metronome, or better yet, a good drummer AND a click track.

c) Listen to "pocket" stuff* to get ideas (soul, country, funk, blues, R&B, old rock, etc.). What helped me immensely is finally realizing that it's okay to go chromatic, get out of the "you can play these notes" mentality. Some of your playing sounds like scales up and down. A tasty walk here in there with a simple groove will help wonders.

d) On this page, transcribe not only bass parts, but melodies and learn about chord changes. Pick an amazing song and analyze the chords used and how they relate to the key. Very fast, you'll notice patterns that sound good (I,IV,V and ii, V, I are two). Introduce these patterns to your improvisation.

e) Play with a band. This is probably the best thing you can do for your playing. Once you get togheter and decide to actually make music instead of playing solo, you'll see VERY FAST what works and what doesn't.

But you're on a good track. Posting here and asking for advice shows that you are clearly serious and dedicated to this "bass" thing.

[jmattbassplaya]

Not too bad for only a year. May I suggest you learn a few covers and post them as well. Try to learn them as close to the original song as possible: tone, attack, etc.. It`ll help people critique you even more, which in turn should help you know where you need to practice the most.

Like everyone else, get a metronome and slow it down some. It`ll help a ton in the long run.

[JPaulGeddy]

+1 to pretty much everything here.

The only thing I might add to what's been said already is part of the 'technique' section. You seem to lose some balance/attack when going to the higher strings (D & G). You seem comfortable there, and on the lowers, but transitioning seems a little rough. It'll come with regular practice.

Excellent progress though, keep up the good work. Definitely find a drummer, it really helps with technique, tone, and the pure fun of it all.