I cant seem to advance.

[x_Zero_x]

Iv been playing bass for about 2 years now.. and i cant seem to learn anything new. everything i want to play just seems out of reach and im just losing interest in the stuff that i can play, any ideas on how to get past this learning block?

[middy]

Broaden your musical horizons.

Reggae, blues, and funk often have very simple basslines, but require the proper groove to sound right. Work on those and record yourself with a drum machine. Listen back carefully and marvel at how bad it sounds, then work on getting better.

[DocBop]

Usually that is a sign of a lack of inspiration. Time to listen to some different music, go hear some great players. I would also say quit worrying about playing anything new and focus on playing what you already play better. Work on time, tone, phrasing, feel, perfecting what you already do. That could take you playing to another level making what you play more musical.

[liltommyg]

I've found if you try do get something thats just a little bit out of reach it's easier - i.e. baby steps.
When I was starting out Iron Maidens Phantom of the Opera was my stumbling block , i had a guitar friend work out the notes for me and started slowly with the fingering and now 19 years later I can play it almost correctly.

[KayCee]

Originally Posted by Joshua

1 word: get a teacher.

+1

...but not a teacher that just teaches you where to place your fingers in order to play the songs you want to learn. Also, if a teacher is willing to teach with tab, find a different teacher.

Learning music theory and applying it might seem overwhelming, but it's really not that difficult. What IS difficult is trying to fake your way through a music career (at either an amateur or pro level) without knowing the fundimentals of your craft.

[kydnav]

Originally Posted by KayCee

+1 Also, if a teacher is willing to teach with tab, find a different teacher.

+1
My teacher refuses to tab anything. At most he'll tell me the notes, but most of the time I have to figure out what he's playing by ear..

[AlphaMale]

Play with others learn more theory.

[slapagroov]

If you can find the right teacher, it can be inspiring. Sometimes they push you to do something you wouldn't do on your own. Some are just a waste of $.
If there are things out of your reach, then slow them way down and learn to play them perfectly at a slow tempo, then slowly speed it up. If you keep trying the same thing over and over with the same result, then you're basically practicing to mess up. Hope that makes sense. When you realize that you can play something you thought was impossible, it's very inspiring.

[x_Zero_x]

See i have no theory I just heard a song one day and was like.. I WILL learn this. And after a little bit of trying (and failing) I gave up on that song.. but i still like harder stuff.. First song i ever learned was schism - Tool and now i can play alot of system of a down and audioslave.. but the one song.. even to this day i cant play is Anesthesia (pulling Teeth) - Metallica.. Its impossible yet i still try.. But yes.. I do want to learn the theory and learn how to play by ear.. I just feel like i have come to a point and cant advance..

[x_Zero_x]

example.. I am trying to learn Hysteria - Muse... Is it the songs that sound good are just to advanced and i should stick to easier stuff? I mean.. its not impossible for me to learn it.. I know how what im seeing when i look at the tabs i just dont seem to have the speed or the timeing. any ideas on how to improve this?

[The BurgerMeister]

start slow. make sure you can play all the notes cleanly, and that the rhythm is right. use a metronome. start at a slower tempo than the song is at (ridiculously slow, if need be), make sure you're staying on the beat, and speed up very gradually.

also, +1 to what AlphaMale said: play with other people! experience is a great teacher.

[x_Zero_x]

i can play the main riff slow... but when i try to speed up i get confused and lost while listning to the song.

[The BurgerMeister]

the key is building up speed gradually. knowing the notes isn't enough. it takes patience and training.

[x_Zero_x]

any ideas on how to practice speed?

[The BurgerMeister]

Originally Posted by jetpackbassist

start slow. make sure you can play all the notes cleanly, and that the rhythm is right. use a metronome. start at a slower tempo than the song is at (ridiculously slow, if need be), make sure you're staying on the beat, and speed up very gradually.

+1.

[Fishbrain]

don't know if it'll work for you but i tried to learn things that were far too hard for me and couldn't, obviously, but then when i went back to the stuff i was originaly trying to learn it was much easier. for example, i was struggling with some rhcp stuff off bssm, then i found marcus miller, had a go at learning 'power' off M2 and had a good stab at it, couldnt do it then found the chilis stuff much easier.

[IanStephenson]

What do you NEED to be able to do? It's difficult to push yourself for the sake of it - you'll find it much easier to learn a new technique if you need it for a song.

eg: for years I always meant to get round to learning three finger right hand. Never did - until I got a call to dep for a gig where I needed it. A week later I had it good enough for that gig, and is still improving because there are a few songs I need it for.

Are you in a band? If not then do it.

Pick some songs you want to learn, and work them out from the CD. Even if they're not THAT hard, learning a whole bunch of songs will help you a lot. Songs too hard? learn the first 4 bars. Then next week do the next 4. Keep going until you've got the whole song down.

Ian

[mlowe]

I found that when I hit a spot like what your describing, I'd go back to basics, scales & modes, exercises at very slow speeds like 50bpm and concentrate on making it perfect. Maybe each day increase by 5bpm until pushing the speed up to failing point. Keeping the focus on playing it perfectly rather than speed. Only increasing the speed when playing it perfectly for say a couple of minutes at a time.

One thing that helped a lot was playing parts of scales accross and starting from both ends.

I get the feeling bass is like typing on a keyboard. Sure you can type with two fingers but you will hit a barrier with speed at an early stage and then the frustration sets in. If we all learned to touch type, 120 words a minute is no problem.

The theory and ear training seems the be that touch typing part.

There are many poeple on here that aren't fond of relying on tabs. I must admit that over the last few years the theory and practice of that thoery is paying off big time. The technique allows almost immediate identification of what is being played and how to apply bass to it.

All the posts on this thread just make good sense. The one that mensions broader music listening or playing is really important IMO. Learning to play stuff even if it's not your main scene still helps broaden your abilities.

Flea is a Jazz head, but plays punk and rock for example.

[x_Zero_x]

ok so.. the dreadful song that keeps crushing my hopes.. Hysteria.. lol.. i took the main riff in 4 sections... i know the first half of it.. not at the right speed.. I realize this will take time.. but i sat down and every time i missed something i started over.. i can play the whole riff while looking at the tabs.. but memorized i only have the first half.. and the first 25%.. geez thats easy now..

[x_Zero_x]

see.. im a fast learner.. its just where to start is where i have the problems.. and yes i realize i cant go too much further just reading tabs.. i need the theory aspect of it aswell.. but there isnt too many bass teachers out here everyone seems obsessed with guitar and drums..