How many times has this happened to you...

[McHack]

You go into a local music shop, not a GC or SamAsh or anything. An actual shop, w/ nice stuff, & people who have a clue, etc...

Well, you walk back & hear a guy who's playing, & you listen to him... Right off, he's good enough that you just wanna listen, so you listen a bit more... & then suddenly he breaks of some nasty slap riffs that you've never even heard before... Next thing you know, you start questioning yourself,,, going ***....

So, you start BS'ing the guy... Nice guy, turns out we know some of the same people, etc... But, still... you can't get those riffs outta your head, & start internalizing a competitive drive, it starts to drive you nuts!

If you've had something like this happen,,, tell me how you dealt...

[jawzzz]

I go home and practice and try to play some of the things I just heard while it is fresh in my mind. I figure that maybe someday, I can be that guy laying down the insane bassline that others will ohh and awe about.

[xyllion]

Music is not a competition. There is always someone that will do something that you haven't done before. The cure is pick up your bass and see if you can't learn some of what you heard.

[Nick man]

When I join a band who just got rid of the old guy for whatever reason I try my hardest to be better than him.

You know you're going to be compared to him by both the band and the crowd and you definetly dont want to be the worse guy.

[McHack]

Originally Posted by xyllion

Music is not a competition. There is always someone that will do something that you haven't done before. The cure is pick up your bass and see if you can't learn some of what you heard.

THAT's what I needed to hear. Don't get me wrong, I just love to play, all the time. It doesn't bug me anymore. I mean, I don't even listen to slap bass music. Flea's about as FUNK oriented as I am.

[Figjam]

Originally Posted by jawzzz

I go home and practice and try to play some of the things I just heard while it is fresh in my mind. I figure that maybe someday, I can be that guy laying down the insane bassline that others will ohh and awe about.

Mhmm, anytime i go to the shop and have a guy show me up, i go home and practice.

[Edwcdc]

Originally Posted by Nick man

When I join a band who just got rid of the old guy for whatever reason I try my hardest to be better than him.

You know you're going to be compared to him by both the band and the crowd and you definetly dont want to be the worse guy.

That's why I work on my singing. Maybe they won't notice my playing.

[Prahainspring]

Originally Posted by Nick man

When I join a band who just got rid of the old guy for whatever reason I try my hardest to be better than him.

You know you're going to be compared to him by both the band and the crowd and you definetly dont want to be the worse guy.

I used to get that too. I played for a band when their bass player ditched and when we would jam or just play a song I would get those, "Thats not how he would of done it!" looks. I think it was because the old bass player contributed lyrics and he was a heck of a slapper (i'm heavily influenced by Geddy and Chris Squire so slapping isn't totally my thing). I left as soon as the band found a full time bass player but he left since he kept getting those looks

[Aaron Saunders]

Originally Posted by Nick man

When I join a band who just got rid of the old guy for whatever reason I try my hardest to be better than him.

You know you're going to be compared to him by both the band and the crowd and you definetly dont want to be the worse guy.

I indeed know the feeling. I just joined a band 'cause their former bassist is working full time this summer and is in college for the next four years. Luckily, he had learned how to play when the band formed, and I'd been playing for more than two years prior to joining the band, so I had a bit of an edge.

[nonsqtr]

Originally Posted by Figjam

Mhmm, anytime i go to the shop and have a guy show me up, i go home and practice.

Yep. And if my mind is still engaged after hearing all that great slapping, I'd probably ask the guy for some lessons right on the spot. I might even drop him a Jackson to show me a thing or two right there in the store. Never pass up an opportunity like that. And, when you're driving around, always remember where the music stores are.

[Thor]

Originally Posted by Edwcdc

That's why I work on my singing. Maybe they won't notice my playing.

I cannot compete with wiser people than me on this board ...

Given that, listen and learn, assuming slap is your new style.

I think I need to be your stunt double while you fill in for me, my old friend!



Or forget it, and do what you do best ...

[Hollow Man]

Originally Posted by nonsqtr

I'd probably ask the guy for some lessons right on the spot.

I do that all the time. Learned some great lessons that way. When you share a common bond like bass playing, most people are surprisingly eager to share what they know.

...just look that this huge bass forum we've got here.

[Tym2cu_bass]

Ya, that has happened to be several times. But with the same person everytime pretty much... that pisses me off soo bad when the SAME person shoots you down like 7 times :S.

Anyways I've caught up to that person now, thanks to lots of practice and now... there are other people that I'm trying to catch up with.

[cosmodrome]

i think that what musicians play in a musicstore is often the best they can do and practised so hard on (another pun intended) because they might be testing some stuff they wanna buy and want to hear what their coolest stuff sounds like on it. intentionally or unintentionally pissing off the lesser gods. it happened to me when i heard 'me & my bass guitar' by vic wooten but i know that even if i play another 100 years i'll never be able to do that.