Worship bass - Complete mess up

badboy1984 · #1 10-15-2008, 03:40 PM

Was in a church music practice section today. I'm the bass in the band. I really cannot concentrate today and messup up several occasion. I'm usually the one that don't make mistake in the band so band memeber was really surpraise i'm making mistakes.

My head really stuck on playing several songs, just can't get into the music. I'm ok on fast songs but not those really slow one that the bass almost have to do nothing.

Because the song list, we have to play several really slow one first then 2 fast rock one at the end. I'm really put off by the first couple of songs at the start, and that mood carry over to the ones that i enjoy playing.

I know this is wrong because i'm here to worship god and not to entertain myself. But i'm just really stuck .....

Dan Kahanamoku · #2 10-15-2008, 03:42 PM

Speak your mind to the congregation bro!

scottbass · #3 10-15-2008, 03:46 PM

Don't worry - it's church. Everyone will forgive you! (Or at least they should, unless you belong to one of THOSE churches...)

mikeboth · #4 10-15-2008, 03:53 PM

Practice more, practice the songs, and practice the transition between songs (especially the slow and fast ones) at home. Then realise no matter how much your work on being a bass player, sometimes you just have a bad day. Then do more practice - it's insurance against more bad days.

Obviously I can't speak with any authority ...

... but I doubt God would want you NOT to enjoy your bass playing...

BarkerBass · #5 10-15-2008, 04:01 PM

don't worry bout it, I've been playing bass in church since I begun playing and have had many days when I've wanted to smash my bass out of frustration with the songs or the band or myself, mostly myself, all I can say is you've just gotta soldier through it and often in those times I pray that god would allow me to worship in his strength and ability not my own and he helps me, sometimes he doesn't and you've gotta muscle down and play what fits even if it's not your best or even enjoyable. hope things improve man, keep playing and keep praying

**ExaltBass** · #6 10-15-2008, 04:06 PM

I have found that it is easier to pound eighths than it is to execute whole notes and half notes... but, I need to be able to deliver on those more. Weird, but true, expressing the slower stuff will make you a better bass player. Delivering a satisfying hole/half note now is a gasss.

badboy1984 · #7 10-15-2008, 04:25 PM

thx guys for the info. i gonna pray to god now to give me more strength. Is just the more i think about it now the more i getting stuck on writing the bass part etc.

I just leave it till tomorrow and see how it goes. Agree with the above post saying is easy to dash out 8th note and is lot harder to play whole note or quater .....

JTE · #8 10-15-2008, 04:54 PM

Playing slow and simple stuff is the hardest. We hear all this space and want to do SOMETHING! But, you're there to serve the music, right? And your service is to be humble, like Christ. If the song needs one whole note every four beats, then who am I to stick something else in? OK, that's my problem too! I think "I gotta do something here" even if the best thing is to lay back.

Listen to Tim Drummond on Neil Young's "Harvest" album. It's a great lesson in space and simplicity.

And, note my tag line...

jte

Stumbo · #9 10-15-2008, 04:57 PM

The music in church is not about bass players or any other players.
If you don't enjoy it, leave. Let someone else take over that does.
Just like any other band or group of people.

DocBop · #10 10-15-2008, 06:38 PM

hope you don't plan on making music your career because you will be playing a lot of stuff you probably aren't into, but have to make sound good. Especially church your there to play for the members not yourself.

Will On Bass · #11 10-15-2008, 09:20 PM

Bro everybody has a bad day(s). LOL And it's not just s church thing. I'm sure almost every, if not every, musician has had to play songs that they didn't like and kinda messed them up in the process.
It might be a test of your will. You know, to see if you're gonna be a part of the band or if you're just out for what you want. LOL.
Just remember, tomorrow is another day. Keep

bottomzone · #12 10-16-2008, 06:57 PM

It's not about you or the song-it's about giving your best for HIM. HE gave his best for us-JESUS CHRIST-and HE should receive our best from us!!!!!!

A Groove is a Terrible Thing to Waste!

mikeboth · #13 10-16-2008, 07:09 PM

Practicing more is the only thing guaranteed to give results, and if you can't practice effectively, get a teacher.

This is 'General Instruction', right?

lindseyp · #14 10-16-2008, 11:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bottomzone

It's not about you or the song-it's about giving your best for HIM.

A Groove is a Terrible Thing to Waste!

Dude, that's money!

I get into slow grooves by playing along to smooth jazz cuts which tend to have strong bass tracks, especially the slower jams. Helps with my timing and feel. I'm learning to paint with the spaces between notes.

badboy1984 · #15 10-17-2008, 12:57 AM

I perform much better and feel the song better today. Is just one of those really bad day before that i just can't play. But i slept though it and gave thought about the songs and i done well today.

Thanks for all the support