Practice

[Raynier]

Talkbass I no longer know what to practice in order to improve my playing. Everyone I play with all complement me on my playing and tell me to keep on doing what I'm doing. It's almost like Ive hit a plateu and I don't know how to get over it. I'm well versed in about every style. I've memorized my modes and key signatures and I know dozens of techniques. I play from my heart every time, but I feel like I'm missing something. Help me find what I need to surpass myself talkbass please.

[waleross]

Maybe a guru/instructor who is playing locally where you live and will take you on . I recently found a local top notch guitar teacher that is in the local music scene and plays a wicked bass.....................I have had my share of stiff/stale academic music teachers (via music school) but if you hear of a person that has a local following ("buzz") you might consider getting advice from , lessons etc. This is just an outside suggestion, throw it out if you like....best of luck in any case....................

[Raynier]

Yeah the only problem is I was the guys best student till he moved off and I can't find a good teacher it's all a bunch of guitards who are impressed by double thumb

[MalcolmAmos]

IMO your asking for technique and technique come from being knee to knee with an instructor that plays like you want to.

May have to use an on line instructor. Or travel 100 miles or so .......

[Anonymatt]

Find some music you really love that is challenging for you and learn how to play it. Listen to a lot of things and listen to other instrumentalists. Play with people that are better than you. There must be somebody.

[Pacman]

If you don't know what to work on, chances are you're not nearly as good as you think. The more you know, the more you know you don't know. Get a teacher.

[Joe Nerve]

Off the top of my head....

1. post some videos and let us decide what you still need.

2. play in different bands.

3. take up another instrument if you think you've mastered this one.

4. buy a new bass with an added string.

5. start writing songs if you don't already.

6. invent your own techniques.

7. work on the performance aspect of your playing.

8. get an upright, a fretless, a ubass, or any kind of bass ya might not already have.

9. start using loopers or get crazy into the effects thing.

10. open your mind up to any and all possibilities.

[jallenbass]

Originally Posted by Joe Nerve

1. post some videos and let us decide what you still need.

A jury of your peers. That'll give you some focus.

[repoman]

.... maybe a psychiatrist ?

[lowfreq33]

Sounds like you already know how to play "more". Do you know how to play "less"? Can you keep time with a metronome clicking once every 1,2, or 4 bars? Do you sing at all? Can you sing and play at the same time?

[Lesfunk]

Carol Kaye is offering lessons on Skype. I'll bet she could help you out.

[Groove Doctor]

Have you read Victor Wooten "The Music Lesson"?
It seems subtle, at first, but put into practice it'll give you a new perspective.

Victor Wooten
contains preview chapter, audio, etc

http://www.amazon.com/Music-Lesson-S.../dp/0425220931
for reviews



Whenever I 'plateau' I find I need to change my thinking, not my playing IME IMO, etc.

[Pacman]

I was looking for this....from my friend Roy Vogt:

1. Sightread anything put in front of you? Work with a conductor?
2. Play convincingly in any style? Do you enjoy any style?
3. Get along with virtually anyone?
4. Double on electric, upright, fretless, whatever?
5. Can you do a Jazz gig without a Real Book and a Top 40/Variety Band gig with absolutely no rehearsal because you know hundreds of songs from the 1930s to Lady Ga Ga?
6. Come up with a studio bass part "in 6 minutes that sounds like you've played it for 6 months"? (to quote my good friend Bob Babbitt)
These are the sort of job skills that will result in a 20+ or 30+ year career as a player.

[cire113]

Like sacman said I feel alot of stuff just occurs naturally over time playing a long time .. Some things can be taught but some are just time and experience

[_chrispy]

Originally Posted by cire113

Like sacman said I feel alot of stuff just occurs naturally over time playing a long time .. Some things can be taught but some are just time and experience

Unfortunate typo?!?

[Groove Doctor]

What do you mean by " I feel like I'm missing something"???

[Intenzity]

Move out of Fort Smith AR. to a city with more than 3 people who play bass.



As has been pointed out...

Quick - transpose the changes to Autumn Leaves into Db and then play the melody, walk for a chorus and then take two choruses of a solo. And make it groove/swing/sound pretty.

If you can't do that, there is a LOT of stuff left to practice.

[whitefuneral]

Learn left handed

[Tupac]

Originally Posted by cire113

Like sacman said I feel alot of stuff just occurs naturally over time playing a long time .. Some things can be taught but some are just time and experience

Considering s and p are on opposite sides of the keyboard, I wonder if that typo was intentional or not...


And TC, do you consider yourself well rounded? I think it's it's time to experiment in different playstyles and maybe even different basses. How about playing an unlined fretless, or with a pick? Or maybe you could try to learn a challenging song.

[jabsys]

Originally Posted by leemarc123

I found a great online bass resource that can help bass players with this - very humble bass player but certainly knows his stuff check it out

Then he should know better than to waste his time spamming this forum with his useless facebook page.