do you ever feel like your getting any better?

helterschecter · #1 05-02-2011, 08:26 PM

i bought my first bass just about a year ago. i have been taking lessons for about eight month. i practice everyday some times for 15 minutes some times for 2 hours. but i just dont feel like iam any better than i was when i first started. i mean i can play a few songs pretty good but i just dont really feel like iv accomplished anything over the last year. i feel like iam just waiting for something to click in my brain that helps me to understand what im missing...sorry if that didnt make any sence..frustrated

Kael · #2 05-02-2011, 08:38 PM

Find other musicians to play with who are better at their instruments than you are at yours. Then start playing shows as much as possible. This is the fastest way IME to get better. It basically is removing the safety net and forcing yourself to get better.

fractiouslowend · #3 05-02-2011, 08:52 PM

^exactly.
it's like a child learning to read, they're not gonna get very far if they stick with the one book.
go find some other kids and swap books with them

coffin blurt · #4 05-02-2011, 08:55 PM

Not really, I feel as clueless as when I started.

With that said, when someone asks me to introduce them to playing guitar/bass I see how I've evolved.

Day to day - I don't think so.

Over the years - hell yeah.

Kael knows what he's talking about

p.s try and learn other instruments too

manbearpig97 · #5 05-02-2011, 08:58 PM

Ive noticed this with all the instruments ive played in my short 13 years of life. While you're playing, you never notice yourself getting better. But when you look back you think " I really found doing that hard?", or "I used to not be able to play that?"

dBPete · #6 05-02-2011, 08:58 PM

I do until I hear someone who actually has talent... then I curl up in the fetal position.

Billnc · #7 05-02-2011, 09:54 PM

Every day I do something i couldn't do the day before I am better. Multiply by years and you get there. The 15 minute days are the killer. To each his own, but if you want to get really good it's an hour a day, for a while, then multiple hours a day. If it takes 4,000 hours to get 'teacher' good, and 10,000 hours (practice the hard stuff not bashing around) to get world class good. Do the math, figure out what you want (yes 15 minutes a day is a valid goal though you said you do more) out of music and put in that time.

An hour a day over three years will get you pretty far.

NOAH_FX · #8 05-03-2011, 07:59 AM

Same is what I tell people who want to drive my Standard... Buy one. Imerse yourself in it, you'll never learn with one lesson. You learn by doing it, and you can't do it, unless your doing it.

**pacojas** · #9 05-03-2011, 08:07 AM

i feel you!
it's taking me half of a life time to get where i am, but you will get there quicker if you try. remember,.. plateau's come and go forever as long as you persevere. gl.

OnlyJerry · #10 05-03-2011, 02:14 PM

I feel with you, helterschecter. I started playing about two months ago, so I'm a fresh newb. Looking back at my first time holding the bass I find it hard to pin-point what exactly makes me a better player today.Though I know I've improved quite a lot.

Stop looking for the heroic and glamorous. Improve your playing on the ordinary basis - step by step, practicing every day.

mambo4 · #11 05-03-2011, 02:18 PM

If you can play something that you previously couldn't, then you have improved. I agree with OnlyJerry's point. Better to cultivate a joy and enthusiasm for the small steps than to kill your enthusiasm pining for far-off results.

One thing I did years ago was begin my practcie with my metronome and run my exercises -like scales or triads in all 12 keys...and note what tempo I could hold it accurately throughout.
I did it every day, same exercises. A month later, I could look up my progress and see that I was getting better.

elavate7 · #12 05-03-2011, 02:19 PM

when i look back at when i started to where i am now, i can tell that i have gotten alot better. i started playing in church though, so i get a lot of playing in as well as another band. try playing for a church! christian music is fun, but at the same time challenging. christian music is also influenced by alot of styles of music, so its very diverse.

KingRazor · #13 05-03-2011, 05:01 PM

I just play and then every once in a while I notice "Hey, this is easier than it was before."

I assume that means I've improved when that happens.

I really do wish I had some people to jam with and time to jam with them.

cire113 · #14 05-03-2011, 05:06 PM

the thing is when you get better it take alot of time and alot of the time you will not even notice it... Music is a thing where improvement is subtle you get a little bit better everyday if you practice. then suddenly after a long time you begin to really improve, the thing is there are no short cuts to getting good it all takes very hard work and dedication and practice practice practice...

be patient with yourself and most of all have fun!

Elrend · #15 05-03-2011, 05:12 PM

Start recording yourself, you'll quickly notice that you're progressing every day.

**DougD** · #16 05-03-2011, 05:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kael

Find other musicians to play with who are better at their instruments than you are at yours. Then start playing shows as much as possible. This is the fastest way IME to get better. It basically is removing the safety net and forcing yourself to get better.

^This
Plus, getting better is a slow process, until you reach a certain level where you can play just about anything you want to. After that, it becomes painfully slow

Rockmusician · #17 05-03-2011, 05:23 PM

I know that I am a lot better than I was when I first started playing, but I would expect to be after 33 years. However, during the last few years I have actually gotten to the point where I am bored because playing bass is no longer a challenge. Now I'm trying to figure what to do musically.

Stick with it and you will realize that you are getting better even if you do not see improvement on a daily basis.

helterschecter · #18 05-03-2011, 09:28 PM

Thanks for all your input..I guess I just need to keep my nose to the grind stone and hope I feel different at the end of next year

Waterpilot · #19 05-03-2011, 10:07 PM

For me it comes in bursts, so to speak. It feels like I'm on a flat line forever, and then all of a sudden I break through and make a noticeable jump up. Then plateau again just to make another jump. It something that just kind of happens. Don't sweat it and keep practicing. You'll notice eventually...

carlthegroover · #20 05-04-2011, 02:16 PM

I guess it depends on the player alone. I've played bass for less time than yourself (also taking lessons since I started), and I think I've had a good progress (my personal problem is to stay motivated and to do regular practices, but when I do get into that "zone", it's great).

With a software program I have, I have made a few simple backing tracks using mostly drums and some guitar chords, and I try to improvise bass lines or fills on the spot. It doesn't sound pretty many times, but I assure you I play this "improv" way better today than if I did the same thing when I started.

I don't know, maybe I sound like crap, while I feel I sound better. I guess it depends on what you do, what you want to accomplish. But most importantly: whether you are gaining confidence in your music knowledge and playing as you progress.

My two cents.