maybe bass isn't right for me?

[thatACEduel]

So i've been playing bass for

2 years?

almost 3

i've always thought i was at least decent

if not exceptional at best

i play bass in this band Lynus

we have no percussion

[[yet]]

so it's hard for me to keep time

so i guess i add extra fills and such to make up for missing

drums

so my partner in crime

a.k.a. guitar/lead vox

posts our songs on this weezer nation forum

http://www.weezernation.com/bboard/v...c.php?t=177020

and well

i've pretty much lost all

motivation to continue

with my instrument

...

i'd like to hear your guys' input

i'd like to say the song "why" is my best bass playing

but i don't even know anymore...

[shanmag]

dont give up just because a few people don't like what you do

if anything, try to work on what they said. buy a metronome and use it with everything you do or get a teacher.

[Jezz8me]

yea when i as playing with my friend guitarist i just got bloked and couldnt because there were no drums and that i couldnt work with his style of music but i kept makin my own tunes at home which kept me interested

[Manol]

Why did you take Dreams down, I wanted to hear what was apparently so bad about it.

Would you be able to PM a link to me?

[vindy500]

you need a drummer

[peterbright]

Get an in the ear metronome & use it.

[Zappstorius]

It's ok. You said it yourself, its a little tough for you to keep time with no drums. I know it's hard for me to keep time with no drums. You're fine at bass, keep it up. Next time you record, maybe play with a metronome in your ear, or something like that.

[morf]

I'm listening to Just Like Clockwork... You have nothing to worry about?

I dont know about that Dreams song, but sometimes there are songs that are just not working for me, and I either need to work real hard on them or give them up, even if the bassline is simple, i just dont have a feel for it.

Anyway, in Just Like Clockwork the bassline is tasteful, a bit repetitive maybe, but perfectly in time as far as I can hear, but it sounds good man. Why worry about 15yr old kiddy comments?

Do your thing, enjoy it, stop thinking about what others say. Your tone and playing sound just fine to me for the kind of music you're doing.

If anyone should be worried, IMHO, its your singer...

[Embryodead]

Singing: Bad, he's really nasely and tone deaf but then again i guess that's why you posted on Weezer nation.

Guitars: Boring and repetitive, crappy tone.

Bass: Decent tone, a lot of off time spots.

Overall: for that kind of music you need a decent drummer to make everything tight

[eric atkinson]

Also you might look into getting into another band... Or better yet try and find a drummer that you can jam with when not with the others.

I try and pair my students off with my drummers students all the time.. Really works miracles to have them work out the timing issues together.

All musicians/artist go through periods of self doubt. That's what makes you better is always wanting to be better. And that should never go away! I have been playing for over 20 years and i still get the playing blues.

[thatACEduel]

Thanx for the input guys

it was at leat more constructive than

the guys on weezer nation

"your bassist sucks get a new one"

we're working on a drummer right now

till then i guess i'll get

a metronome?

and yea i'm in a couple other bands

but in those i mostly sing

or play guitar

o and later I'll show you guys dreams

but i have to go to school real soon

so i'll do it this afternoon.

[SBassman]

I have no idea what Weezernation is, but something tells me a band asking for feedback there is asking for trouble.

We all have work to get better. All of us.
Your playing is off to a good start. If you enjoy it, or especially if you love it, keep at it, do more drum machine work, and tell the Weezerpeople to shove it.

One suggestion - you're actually playing some tasty stuff, but you need to practice those runs much, much slower, to a drum machine or metronome.

Keep going. You're better than you think, and you can improve quickly with some focused time work.

[SBassman]

One other thing. If you guys are going to sometimes record without a drummer, with that kind of material, you're much better off laying down a drum machine track first. Even if you don't program a whole drum arrangement - still, a single appropriate pattern from a drum machine would have helped you guys.

BTW, I liked your tone on Mrs. Green.

[Joe Nerve]

the way i see it ya got a few choices.

you can take other people's comments to heart, think you suck, feel like crap, and pack it in.

you can use other people's comments to fuel your passion and say, "oh yeah! i'll show you!" - and do everything in your power to prove them wrong.

you can ignore other people's comments altogether.

i always use the second approach. whenever i feel i get knocked down by someone's comments, or a player that makes me just want to throw my bass out the window - i jump in twice as hard. i'd suggest buying a metronome, putting more time into your playing, working with as many people as you can, learning new styles, buying some books, videos, whatever - basically, match their negativity with positive stuff. let it fuel you.

2 last things. if we ever saw, face to face, half the people who comment on the internet - we'd crack up at the idea that we took to heart anything they said. especially people throwing crap out. in "real" life we wouldn't give their comment a seconds thought.

i actually thought your playing was pretty damn good for the amount of time you've been playing, and the fact that you're playing only acoustically.

trust us - here. we know what we're talking about.

[Embryodead]

One thing I have to agree with the people from weezenation is.

typing like

this gets

extremely friggin

annoying

so please

stop it.

[Baird6869]

I have been playing bass for 22 years and still hear players that make me think I should pick up the triangle or recorder!

I am a very technical, experienced and versitile player (IMO) but there are always better players out there.

Who the hell cares what a little 15 y.o. $hit thinks? I think Adam Clayton of U2 is a less skilled player than I am but I'm sure he would play circles around me if we went head to head.

Take style into account as well. I bet Chris Squire couldn't play Victor Wooten's stuff and I bet Geddy Lee can't play Flea's music well. Does that make Squire and Lee suck?

My point? No friggin' clue, but don't give up.

[thatACEduel]

ok sorry lol, i'll stop typing like that. I'm just really used to it thanx to myspace. o here's dreams by the way

http://www.myspace.com/fotographicmemories

the beginning is a little rocky cuz i messed up, and the bridge tambien. o well, yea there it is. Thanks guys for your input. I have a feeling those guys on that other forum saw one guy say "yea that bass sux" and just agreed with him to seem cool.

[vindy500]

for the type of music, you need to calm down

[thatACEduel]

Originally Posted by vindy500

for the type of music, you need to calm down

yea i've started to more.

[hawaiianbass]

I like Dreams. The vocals I'm not a big fan of but I like what you were doing.

CK