I thought I could play bass

[James_B]

It is kind of a huge shock for me. I thought I could before but it turns out I couldn't. So everything I did before doesn't really matter. Only now am I realizing what it means to be a bass player. Four and half years down the drain or four and half years needed to learn how to play? Time wasted or time needed? Growing up is sometimes a difficult thing and sometimes its a sudden thing, but its all something. That you have to do.

Now if you will excuse me I have to go practice.

[twincy]

lol.
maybe u suck... who knows, but surely everything u did before does matter.

rock on.

and... (so, i checked out the 'von tango'-page)
are u the james "angrily fighting the swedish mode"?
hehe. what does it mean?

looks like the drummer has a bigger problem with the bassdrum
than the bassguy with the bass, huh?... err...

[Bluez Dawg]

Just learn at your own pace and get a teacher that's all you have to do. it's not about trying to be a pro and play with the likes of bands like AC/DC, metallica and so on. it takes a lot of dedication and time but you got plenty of time. Just keep plugging away and practicing.

[twincy]

the dude is right, but for sure listen to old stuff from metallica with cliff burton, and some red hot chilli peppers. it helps.
peace out.

[James_B]

Yeah thats me in Von Tango
The Swedish thing is an old joke from grade 9 and even from grade school. We had a play where I played a stereotypical German/Swedish Blond haired robot like character. With over pronouncing "Yahss", love of chocolate and stuff. I even got to play an stereotypical Canadian to Eh?

anyway

It's just I feel like I don't have the fundamentals down. I know I don't have them down as well as I should. I started with a new bass teacher and he is really helping me get those down packed. While he teaches me the fundamantals. I think "I should know this stuff already" and I don't so I get all frustrated.

[Hollow Man]

It's not wasted time, it's time spent learning. Even if you totally change your playing style, you'll still take some of what you've learned with you, and that's the important part.

[James_B]

Another thing I play the root note. That makes me feel like I'm a crappy bass player. So I stop playing the root note and go off not holding the song down. In the end up messing up the song. Things I must learn......

[twincy]

Originally Posted by James_B

With over pronouncing "Yahss", love of chocolate and stuff.

hehe. yeah. that's 'what we do'... err..

Originally Posted by James_B

I think "I should know this stuff already" and I don't so I get all frustrated.

know the feeling.
but dang it. just go for it.
if there's something u can point at, knowing your weak parts, then there's probably something u can change about it, right?

[twincy]

jamie! play some jazz! it helps!

[Chunk-O-Funk]

We all go through this. I have been playing for about twenty five years and there are still things I could learn to do better.

I remember going through the same thing after about five years of playing. I thought five years was a lot and was confident about my playing. Then someone or something would come around and put me in my place. Kind of like a slap to the face, a wake up call letting you know that you need to work on a weak spot in your playing. At least you realize it and now all you have to do is set a goal.

Get a teacher, look up lessons, listen to the style of the music that will help you improve what you are trying to learn. You'll eventually get over that hump and be a better player for it.

[James_B]

See Talkbass is just the best place for bass players. People been there done that guide each other along the way.

I listend to "Kill em All' last Night. Really cleared my head.

The Jazz station I used to listen to as a kid. I think has turned into an R&B/Rap station, and not the good R&B and Rap. I was Searching for it last night and it was no where to be found.

[vindy500]

jahhh i like chocolate...

[jady]

Dude, I have been playing for over 20 years, made a living at it for 10, toured, played with some major league players and there are days i still think i suck butt!!!

GET OVER IT!!!!!!!

If we all didnt think we sucked at times we all would!!!!!!

Now if you'll excuse me, I have a gig...............

[IanStephenson]

Originally Posted by James_B

Fundamentals...I know I don't have them down as well as I should..

So you learned something! Perviously you didn't know you weren't good enough, now you do...

Figuring out you suck is the first step to getting better.
Figuring out WHY you suck is the second.
You're already onto stage 3 - fixing it...

Thats pretty good progress!

Ian

[Rattman]

Originally Posted by James_B

Another thing I play the root note. That makes me feel like I'm a crappy bass player. So I stop playing the root note and go off not holding the song down. In the end up messing up the song. Things I must learn......

Here's whats gonna happen: One day like a light switch, the "bass lobe" in your brain will just kick in and you'll find yourself saying and feeling "I get it!".

If that doesn't happen then watch "A Christmas Carol" VERY carefully this coming December.. there is a hidden lesson in there just for you! And then get plenty of REM sleep each night so you'll have a full, rich dream time.. that will also help you reach your goal.. the subconscious is an absolutely amazing and powerful learning tool.. thats the time your brain "shuffles the deck" and things start to become clearer without even putting any effort into them

[James_B]

This is what I'm working on: Reading sheet music, Arpeggios patterns, Ear Training, Free stroke plucking(Classical guitar like) and finaly sight reading.

I know I suck Know why I suck now I can fix it

I do need to get over myself. How did you gig go,Jady?

Rattman I just plain don't get what you are trying to say. I'll reread it later to try to get points I missed. I'm not making any promising about me getting what yur saying;D

[unbasslichkeit]

Where is your drummer, James_B? :-)

If you don't have one, get one. Marry one if you have to.

If the drummer sucks, so much the better. You can't live with them, but you can't blame anyone else but yourself without them.

[tZer]

Originally Posted by James_B

It is kind of a huge shock for me. I thought I could before but it turns out I couldn't. So everything I did before doesn't really matter. Only now am I realizing what it means to be a bass player. Four and half years down the drain or four and half years needed to learn how to play? Time wasted or time needed? Growing up is sometimes a difficult thing and sometimes its a sudden thing, but its all something. That you have to do.

Now if you will excuse me I have to go practice.

Imagine making that realization after 20+ years of playing!

Funny thing is, I really could play all those years, but recently my appreciation has changed and I realized that I don't have certain skills that I now want.

Know what? I am gonna get 'em! Get more 'Jamerson-like' - get more 'studio-savvy like Will Lee and Chuck Rainey'. I am hot on the process of getting those skills.

Know what? I fully expect after another 10 years or so that I will have yet another realization very similar and will have to 'start over again, again'.

Know what? That's what makes life great! Always learning that there is always more to learn!

[James_B]

Learning? The only thing I can say about learning is everything I've learn't I've learnt from hard work or a bad experience. So learning isn't to fun for me. When it comes to music I actualy enjoy learning about it. Takes me a few trys to get anything right. What the hell, I end up getting it right in the end.

[twincy]

praaaaaiiiise the bass!
our son james has come back to us!