how do you tell if youre improving

[bassbully]

Heres a few things that i have noticed myself. Since i have only been back to bands,Bass and music etc for going on 7 years its all still pretty new to me.
Ear training-great improvement here by just playing and using a bass trainer to pick out basslines on CD's. Alot of practice. I now can play songs on the fly for the most part when in the past i would go....what?
Timing- I can play in the pocket slightly ahead of the beat or slightly behind. This come from being in a few bands and learning to be tight with a drummer.
Feel- Playing different styles of music and learning band and song dynamics is wonderful.
Stage- I move and feel free ..never constricted or tight. I practice my music and go out like i am playing a sport to be my best for the band...a team.
Attitude-Keeping it positive thru hard work and hearing positive feedback from my hard work from fans, friends, family and bandmates.

In all i know i have improved because i challenged myself to improve year after year month after month. I take my playing very serious and love it! I enjoy practice and love gigs. I love learning new material or old standards. If you motivate yourself to learn and dedicate yourself to the work ahead you will improve.

[bggeezer]

[QUOTE Obviously the electric bass is young enough that there is not a definitive method to go about playing, but there are still specific things that all the great players do that most people, without guidance, would never figure out.[/quote]



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[Ric5]

Originally Posted by ameshokostreet

as the title says. need to know someways to find out if my practise is paying off. Just trying to keep myself motivated in my practising.

You know you are getting better when you get unsolicited compliments.

[cmewhinney]

Originally Posted by bggeezer

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A complete understanding of the vocabulary of the style they play. You won't be able to effectively communicate in a given style until you learn the language, and you will only learn the language thoroughly if you work towards it in a methodical, structured way.

Impeccable time. All the great players play good time. You won't develop that unless you consistently pay attention to it and practice with a metronome or other reference (drum machine/play along).

Solid technique. All the great players have consistent and solid technique that allows them to perform at a high level whenever they pick up their instrument. I'm not saying that all the great players have technique like Victor or Michael Manring, but they are all solid and consistent in what they do.

[J-chot]

you make fewer or no mistakes.

[bggeezer]

Originally Posted by cmewhinney

A complete understanding of the vocabulary of the style they play. You won't be able to effectively communicate in a given style until you learn the language, and you will only learn the language thoroughly if you work towards it in a methodical, structured way.

Impeccable time. All the great players play good time. You won't develop that unless you consistently pay attention to it and practice with a metronome or other reference (drum machine/play along).

Solid technique. All the great players have consistent and solid technique that allows them to perform at a high level whenever they pick up their instrument. I'm not saying that all the great players have technique like Victor or Michael Manring, but they are all solid and consistent in what they do.

By guidance I guess you mean lessons?

I think you can achieve all the points you make without lessons.

especially timing, technique and solidity.

Practice is the key...and a lot of it. You can't teach someone how to lay down a groove, or play in the pocket, or how to feel it. (IMHO)

[jsingles]

Originally Posted by cmewhinney

You absolutely CAN get worse if you practice with poor technique or the wrong material.

Do you have a teacher? He/she should be able to give you a good indication of your progress.

+1...

[Stumbo]

How does a runner measure improvement? Speed? Distance? Form? All things that can be documented. Measure is the key word. +1 on the previous posts about tracking/measuring progress.

[cmewhinney]

Originally Posted by bggeezer

By guidance I guess you mean lessons?

I think you can achieve all the points you make without lessons.

especially timing, technique and solidity.

Practice is the key...and a lot of it. You can't teach someone how to lay down a groove, or play in the pocket, or how to feel it. (IMHO)

I mean lessons with a qualified and dedicated instructor. Someone MIGHT be able to learn those things without a teacher, but if you have a good teacher, then you WILL be able to become a competent player as long as you put in the work. I agree that practice is key, but it is not nearly as beneficial if you don't know what to practice.

And I agree about not being able to teach someone how to "feel it", but there are concrete ways to make your playing more solid, such as practicing with a tempo reference of some sort all the time. My point is that if someone has no guidance, the steps necessary to become a good bassist might not be immediately (or ever) apparent.

Thanks jsingles- I see you're in Mass. You should check out Jim Stinnett. Todd Johnson says he's the best teacher he's ever met, and I tend to agree.

[Scot]

Get a good teacher, study and practice. Find some good musicians to play with. That's it!

Don't worry about how you're progressing. You will progress if you keep doing the above. Period. Some of the things you study and practice today may not surface in your playing for some time, maybe even years. Just stay the course and don't worry about it.

Unless you're physically hurting yourself or developing habits that will lead to injuries, you can't get any worse by practicing. This is an area where it is particularly important to have some instruction from a qualified teacher.

[cassanova]

Originally Posted by ameshokostreet

as the title says. need to know someways to find out if my practise is paying off. Just trying to keep myself motivated in my practising.

Short and simple answer. Are you making as many mistakes now as you once were? If not you're improving.

[Number27]

Originally Posted by Ric5

You know you are getting better when you get unsolicited compliments.

+1

they're the best kind. i know i wondered the same thing as the op until my roommates would randomly comment on how they enjoyed my playing.