Feeling lost in my playing.

[vexin]

Hello everyone, This is my first time here on these forums! but from what I've seen it's what I was looking for!

Basically I'm feeling really lost with my playing, Like when I play I feel so unsatisfied and disappointed in my playing! like the other people I play with say I'm doing a good job and what not, But I just feel like I'm stuck and I'm not going forward with my bass playing skills!

I was wondering if anyone else had really experienced this? and what they did to keep on moving forward?, I'm thinking maybe I should learn some new songs or something but I just don't know.

I'm also stuck with if I should use a pick or if I should use my fingers and if it's worth getting lessons and then if it's worth getting bass lessons or getting guitar lessons so I have a better understanding of other instruments!

If anyone could shed some light on this situation and maybe give me some help it would be very very appreciated


- Cheers.

[Elsie8687]

+1 on the lessons idea. Sitting knee-to-knee with a good instructor can open doors, expand horizons, and boost confidence.

[faulknersj]

Dude...you've gotta take lessons man. Learning songs does not teach you how to understand what is going on musically in a song. You will continue to hang out on the plateau your on until you buckle down and study hard. Even practice is practically worthless if you just keep re-hashing the same ols stuff. the more you learn, the better you will get dude!

[Jools4001]

I support the idea of getting a good teacher, the problem is that since you currently don't know what you need to know, how will you assess whether the teacher is any good? Assess your goals, check out what you really want to learn and choose your teacher accordingly. If all you want to do is learn a few new metal riffs then checking out some of the "Monkey see, monkey do" type of instructors who are all over the web. If you want to play Bach you will need to seek out somebody qualified to teach you.

Also, if you want to learn another instrument that will give you a greater understanding of music I would go and take piano lessons and make sure that the lessons include music theory.

If you want something that will just bust you out of a rut, try playing a different genre of music for a while. I've just joined a classic rock covers band, and I am ashamed to say that I previously looked down my nose at many of these basslines as simplistic, predictable and boring - I'm now finding that they present their own challenges that I'm learning from (OK perhaps not the same level of challenge as playing Teen Town, but challenging none the less)

BTW: A caveat is that I'm not a teacher, nor even somebody that has taken lessons - I just know what I should have done years ago

[vexin]

Thank all of you for your feedback it has been quite enlightening!

I was talking with my Father about getting lessons (he has been playing guitar for many years) and he said maybe it would be a good idea to get guitar lessons instead of bass lessons so then I can see how the two work together and have a better understanding of both instruments so when in like a band situation if the guitarist makes up something and I need to play something to what he's made up it would be more easy for me to do. so.

What are your opinions on this fellas?

[bassybeenz]

a good bass teacher would have an understanding of fitting in with a guitarist, most bass teachers ive met could more than hold there own on more than just guitar and bass. the same concepts of theory apply to all instruments, a good teacher can show you this. that is not to say that guitar lessons are not a great idea, but IMHO if your a bass player and wish to excel at playing bass, take bass lessons.

Best of luck to ya!

[vexin]

Alrighty then :3, Thank you all for your help!

I shall organise bass lessons this week!

Thanks again!

[viper4000]

+1 to all

Go find a bass instructor that fits your needs

AND

have your father show you some stuff on guitar. Learning the basics of guitar chords can really help you as a bass player.



The main thing is never quit trying to learn more.

[Arthur Strand]

If you are set on playing bass and wish to attain some status, maybe get in a higher league group or band, then basics are essential. Scales are not for fingering technique alone but for identifying the notes on the bass clef and how to string them together on the fretboard to suit. You could go to a bass tutor but ultimately everything depends on you. Music theory, chordology and harmony will put you up a notch but learn to become comfortable with both a plectrum and fingerstyle. Find bass lines to listent to and study :
60s stuff is really the business. Blues, soul, r'n'b to start with. Move on to standards and evergreens. Check out some Folk and Country music - mostly less interesting or challenging for bassists but expands your horizons. Work to chord symbol charts too.
Jamming is a bit of relaxation unless you are involved in Jazz improvisation. Everything is all down to you. If you have a blank canvas, sit down and write out some titles of songs with bass lines that you interest you. Tackle them one at a time until you know you have conquered them all. Check each one off as you go. You can then add to your repertoire but the best experience is live work. Club and cabaret work is consistent and pays more regularly than pop and rock. Seek bands needing a bass man. Keep trucking and good luck. Any more advice: email me on the contact address:
www.escutcheonmedia.com

[MalcolmAmos]

Originally Posted by vexin

Thank all of you for your feedback it has been quite enlightening!

I was talking with my Father about getting lessons (he has been playing guitar for many years) and he said maybe it would be a good idea to get guitar lessons instead of bass lessons so then I can see how the two work together and have a better understanding of both instruments so when in like a band situation if the guitarist makes up something and I need to play something to what he's made up it would be more easy for me to do. so.

What are your opinions on this fellas?

In your original post you mentioned perhaps you should learn some more songs. That raised a flag, playing by rote from tabs IMO is limiting. OK to take a peek and see how something is done but relying on tab to play each song is limiting.

Then your last post asking if; "...have a better understanding of both instruments so when in like a band situation if the guitarist makes up something and I need to play something to what he's made up it would be more easy for me to do."

You need some help with how music works and thinks so you can see the big picture and be flexible enough to grab whatever is needed to make the song effective, i.e. a little theory needs to enter your life.

Now should you take guitar lessons? If you and your Dad could work together on this - that would be time well spent. I came to bass from rhythm guitar and it does help. However, I think you should take advantage of you and your Dad being involved in something together. That's more important than whether you stay with the bass or take up guitar.

Good luck on where ever this leads you.

[anonymous122511]

The right teacher is a very good idea.

If you're gonna pursue music you have to understand that inspiration comes and goes and when it's not there all you can do is maintain your practicing and wait for it to return. Trying to force it or lamenting it has never been useful to me and I've done a lot of both.

Exposing myself to non-music art form like literature and painting can snap me into a more creative mode. Hearing a physicist the other day talk about how music and light are the same energy at different points in the spectrum made me want to pick up my bass. Get a copy of a book by pianist Kenny Werner called Effortless Mastery. You may not agree with or understand everything he says but it will help put playing music in perspective.

[vexin]

wow, I've been pretty blind haha, I'd just like to thank all of you guys for helping me out!!

What I'm going to do is get bass lessons from a bass teacher and then get my dad to teach me guitar!

that should of been a very obvious choice in the first place! haha I feel so stupid sometimes!

But yeah cheers alot guys, You might not know it, But from reading what you've all said has really given me such an uplift! I'm quite excited to start learning guitar from my dad and then also bass lessons !

Thanks heaps guys <3