How good am I/how good should I be

[Timmay045]

It's a question im sure pops into every beginner's head; am i making progress, or do I straight up suck.

I've been playing for about 6 months now on a Stagg Bc300 (joy of all joys), and I'm wondering, given my taste in music (rage against the machine & the chili peppers) how well should I be playing right now.

to put things in perspective, one of the more challenging songs I can play is Cochise (not a hard song, but it's fast as far as finger movement goes). I can play almost all of Rage against the machine's songs, I can play Audioslave (at least the ones that don't suck hard), and some of the chilis (under the bridge, I should have lied, nothing that hard). I'm entirely self taught, learning songs from either tabs or picking them up be ear. I usually practice about an hour a night (really, i'm just fooling around with the instrument, but it's better than letting it collect dust).

All that said, am I right where I should be, am I way below and should just give up the instrument, or what?

[4bpauly]

obviously, your definition of playing songs well, may differ from mine, but other than that the path you are taking is fine...

learn some songs, build up some facility on the instrument, and i maybe down the road you will want to write your own parts, join a band or learn some more academic musical concepts.

as long as you are having fun, keep it up.

i would, however recommend taking a couple lessons, just to get a few pointers on technique

i know many people have learned on their own, but with bass i believe it is easier to be pointed in the right direction, especially concerning any undue stress you are causing to your wrists and/or fingers.

[funkybass4ever]

I used to wonder if i was progressing also with all the hours spent woodshedding. I would learn all of Steve Harris's bass lines from Iron Maiden - but couldn't play them up to speed. like one step forward two steps back.
But I have made recordings of myself every few months for years and can go back in time and now have proof I have progressed- sometimes it is slow but it is something

[Atoz]

Originally Posted by Timmay045

...
I can play Audioslave (at least the ones that don't suck hard)
...

I see that you don't play any Audioslave.

[stflbn]

As far as I'm concerned being 'good' means playing what appropriate and doing it accurately and tastefully.

It has little to do with speed or number of notes played.

[baalroo]

Originally Posted by stflbn

As far as I'm concerned being 'good' means playing what appropriate and doing it accurately and tastefully.

It has little to do with speed or number of notes played.

I would refine this to a less subjective state and say being "good" is being able to play what you want to play, how you want to play it, with minimal effort. One man's "tasteful" is another man's bland, boring, ridiculous, over-the-top, etc.

[StyleOverShow]

I too have thought on the 'how good' question. I work actively on spanning different genres including straight ahead jazz, pop jazz (converting rock classics into jazz formats but NOT cool jazz), classic rock cover bands and a R&B.

The jazz stuff is perhaps the most challenging in terms of reading, walking and, of course, soloing, but it also has affected my classic rock and R&B chops in terms of phrasing and chording. I feel that I'm much too busy and continue to work on reducing.

The way I measure it is when I am playing and am not aware that I am anywhere else but performing the piece 'in the moment, or zone'. That's when I am "good".

[Stumbo]

I suggest adding a metronome and an audio recorder to your practice tools.

See if you can play the tunes you know solo(from memory) at speed and using a metronome.
Record yourself and give a listen. Are you where you should be?

There are many TB links on bass playing and practicing. Here's a few to check out.
Maybe pick a couple and apply them to your practicing. Good luck.

General
If only I knew then what I know now... If I only knew then
Best musical advice you ever got Best musical advice
Things every bassist should know? Things every bassist should know

Learning stuff
Practice Practice Practice How to practice bass
Pacman's sure-fire scale practice method How to practice

Reading Music Learn to read music
I need to learn how to read music for bass, how do i do it? Learn to read music
http://www.talkbass.com/forum/f22/sight-reading-486398-post6521582/ Improve site reading
Need help reading bass clef Read bass clef

Introduction to Scale and Chord Theory Intro to scale and chord theory
Theory Forum FAQ and Links Theory
I need basic music theory help... Theory
Introduction to Scale and Chord Theory Theory (from the DB side of TB)
jazz scales? not played bass in over a year Jazz Scales


Book list for GI Theory Links Theory Book Links
Music Theory/General Instruction Links GI links list

Blues Turnarounds Blues Turn arounds
Modes...How to use them practically in music. Using modes

http://www.talkbass.com/forum/f30/creating-bass-lines-8154/#post80043 Creating bass lines
Bass Line Construction: Target Approach Creating bass lines
http://www.talkbass.com/wiki/index.p...arget_Approach Creating bass lines

Guitar players as bass players...... Guitar players switching to bass

Online study of music theory/ear training.
http://www.teoria.com/ Check out the tutorials, exercises and reference(dictionary).
http://www.good-ear.com/
http://www.studybass.com/
http://www.activebass.com/

Books and instructional materials
http://www.bassbooks.com/shopping/default.asp

Free Jam tracks
http://www.freejamtracks.com/index.html

Free online lessons
A LOT of Free Lessons, how to's and other stuff from me!

This is a very helpful program for learning the notes on the bass clef. (as recommended by AlphaMale)
http://www.download.com/NoteCard/300...cdlPid=1509909

http://www.playthebass.com print flashcards for learning bass clef, print staff paper

[Jumping_Bomb_Angel]

If I may also humbly suggest playing genres you are not usually attracted to - makes you versatile and you can incorporate different styles. The key, of course, is practice.