are some of us bound to suck forever?

[60's Bluesman]

ive started asking myself that question lately, i am begining to wonder if i will ever get better. I can practice for hours day after day but no matter how much i play i still suck. I can't play 98% of the material that i actually want to play or attempt to and the 2% i can play sounds aweful even though i am hitting the right notes at the right time. Ive been playing for nearly a year and a half now and i still can only play basic repeating basslines so it limits what i can play so much that no one invites me to play with them and those who do invite me to jam with them laugh at me cause of how terrible i am. I am so embarassed of my abilities ive stopped playing with people all together execpt one of my very best friends. I envey all of you guys and girls who can pick up a bass (or any instrument) and make great music. Im not sure if its too soon to give up or not but i am about ready to sell my basses and call it quits, become nothing more than a music fan once again.

[Winnb]

A year and a half? That's nothing. Seriously. Nothing.

It's much too soon to give up. Wait another.... 40 years. Then call it quits.

[Shakin-Slim]

"To me, a true musician is a guy who never gives up, even though he feels like it sometimes" - Thelonious Monk

Man, I'm in the same boat as you. I've been playing for about 5 years and have hardly progressed. It may take longer for some of us, some of us may not be doing good practice. Anyone can do it eventually, though. I hope so anyway!

Once you've learnt:
“Once you achieve technical facility, you’re either a musician or you’re not. You’re either a creative person or a stenographer.” - Charles Mingus

[ster]

First off people shouldn't laugh at you- that's ridiculous.
Get yourself a teacher if you haven't tried this. Find out who is reputable in your area and start taking lessons. Don't be ashamed some things come easier than others and the ones who work harder usually become much better in the end.
If you love the bass don't quit.

[pica]

Do you have an instructor? I see your in Michigan. Where in Mich. do you live? If you live anywhere near Waterford I can recommend a good instructor for you.

[BigMacDaddy]

I have two suggestions for you:

1) Try and find a teacher. It could just be that you are lacking a focus and direction for what you are working on.

2) Barring a teacher, pick up "Building Walking Bass Lines" by Ed Friedland. It will help you figure out how to add a little flavor to your repeating basslines. If you listen to most music, the bassline is actually very repetitive with some color added by leading tones above and below the main notes. This book will help you with that.

3) Don't quit. If you like it enough, work at it.

Okay, that was three suggestions, but I am too lazy to go back and edit myself.

A wise fish once said, "Just keep swimming. Just keep swimming. Just keep swimming, swimming swimming."
-Dory

[paganjack]

My advice(s):
-Get a private teacher.
-Change your practice routine.
-Learn some easier covers to start ( I don't know what songs you are shooting for currently but they may be out of your range for the moment. Don't sweat it, it'll come to you eventually).
-Take a break for a few days then come back fresh.

-The number ONE thing is to not give up. We all hit plateaus from time to time. It's normal. The only way that you are guaranteed to suck forever is if you give up.

[Rockmusician]

Be patient. A year and half is not that long. Some of us are self taught, some need lessons. Get a teacher and see if your playing improves.

[80'sRocker]

It took me a few years before I was even tolerable, then it all took off with gigs that gave me more confidence and so on..don't give up! Been playing 30 years and still can't play like many can

[mrwink]

are you playing by yourself? hooking up with other people can help your feel and can help you pick up on things that other players are doing... start off with simple stuff then press on to more challenging stuff.

if you can't get out to play with others then use youtube... you can find "how to play" videos and also play along with bands... as well as hearing how the musicians interact with each other.

as far as being bound to suck forever - well... if you don't change the way you're doing things - maybe! I'd make another choice and like has been mentioned, give it a good long time...

[Winnb]

You spend half your life learning how to play. The other half learning how not to.

Trust me. Eventually you'll be so good it'll take all of your restraint to NOT play.

[BoomingBass]

Practice does not make perfect.

Perfect practice makes perfect.

[cableguy]

Don't sweat it. Get a good instructer and build your foundation. I've been playing over twenty years and feel the same way sometimes. I always jumped into bands learning songs but never theory or had music lessons. I've tried a year ago but with a job, kids, etc there is no time to practice my lessons so they're on hold for a few years until kids get older. One thing about playing bass is if you can hold a solid groove and are a cool on-time kind of guy there will be bands that want you. Do I wish I had some guys chops? Absolutely, but I still have years of playing left and the time will come. So just work on your foundation and you will get better if that is what you truely want.
Good Luck!

[One Bad Monkey]

+1 to the "don't sweat it, a year and a half is nothing" that everyone else has been saying. Really, I've been playing for 20+ years and still feel like I've got a long ways to go. If you're enjoying it, that's half the battle.

And yes, find a teacher that you like that will inspire you to play and help focus your practicing to maximize your time. What part of MI are you in?

[xed]

I'll toss in my 2 cents (feel free to ignore)...

In all kinds of learning there are plateaus. This may be your first with regard to playing bass but it won't be your last. Don't be discouraged; it's just the way human beings work.

Pick any great bass player that you can think of and know that they were nothing compared to what you are able to do right now at some previous point in their development. (i.e. know that if you could jump in a time machine and go back and meet "player x" they'd think you where awesome and want you to give them tips.)

No matter how great you think you are there will always be some badass 13 year old that started playing 6 months ago that will smoke you and make you feel like selling all your gear and taking up needlepoint. (i.e. stay away from youtube)

[Yofclef]

I know it has been said to you but, I'll say it again!! Get a Bass Teacher! Learn what to work on and How to Practice so, that you will get better. Use Him as a Mentor. Someone who you can trust and will give good advise and tell you if you are really making some Improvements!!
Now, a lot of this is your Job!!

[Sartori]

A year and a half? Have some patience with yourself. A year and a half is hardly anything.

[UncleFluffy]

There are very few areas of human endeavour where progress is smooth. Most times, it's varying degrees of "lumpy". Nothing happens for a while, then something clicks and you move up a notch.

[anonymous122511]

Read Effortless Mastery by Kenny Werner....seriously.

[BuffaloBass]

You need drill, drill drill. That means practice, practice, practice. And NOT the same old basslines. That's why coaches are good, experience and discipline. And UncleFLuffly has it right, you'll gut it out , seemingly to no avail, and then one day SHAZZAM ! .... but that means to have to take your setbacks as a positive sign to move forward with even greater dilligence.

Have you memorized every note on the fingerboard yet?