The moment when you knew... (You're a true bassist)

[christw]

What was your moment when you realized, I'm not someone noodling on a big piece of wood-I'm a true bassist?

I of course had one of the recent epiphanies so I was hoping others would share.


I've had a couple moments leading up to this. A local band looking for a bassist were blown away by my playing and my take on their songs. Chords, chorus, fills, and my style seemed to blow their minds. And they were good. I'm probably better off not being in it but I would've liked to be in that band... (They couldn't believe I didn't use a pick though.... )

In my current band, the drummer was really impressed when we met and he is wicked. The guitarist, after playing with me once, just goes "You've got chops." His girlfriend came to our practice today and was talking about how she enjoyed the music so much and how it shows that we all really love what we're doing.

Then it hit me... I don't feel like my instruments are beyond my ability, like I'm a kid who spent too much money on basses. I feel like they fit me now. My new 5'er brought me a whole new technique and the Ric... doesn't seem like it's too much too soon anymore. I feel like a bassist now.

[mongo2]

Still waiting.

[QuelOround]

When I joined the band I'm currently in.... they made me feel like a true bassist. ... yeah.

[skyneed]

'noodling on a big piece of wood'

hahaha, I love this expression! :P

[Blind Rat]

When I went for the audition for the band I'm in now.

[GorillaSalsa]

Originally Posted by mongo2

Still waiting.

this

[jmattbassplaya]

The moment that really got me was in jazz band my senior year of high school. We just finished doing a small run-through that consisted of "In the Mood", "What is Hip", and this Latin groove song I can`t recall the name of. After the session he was just looking down at his podium, still nodding along to the last song and he said "James, what college are you planning on going to next year?" I told him and after a minute of thinking he looked up and said, "That was some of the finest bass playing I`ve ever heard. Ever. If you want, I will be more than happy to write you a letter of recommendation into their music program."

It was about then that I realized I must of been something right

[Doublefunk]

When i realized that i joined a forum dedicated to bass discussion.

[jdieh1]

Originally Posted by mongo2

Still waiting.

Me too

[bluespenny]

When a very rough guy at a gig walked up with a $20 bill in his hand, and said "anyone playing the bass with that much heart deserves a drink." The rest of the band got nothing.

[Ian Perge]

I moment I got my second bass, my first "Good Bass" after a pretty lousy beginner's model, started playing on it, and didn't feel that I was being overwhelmed and that I had the bass under my control. That's still a nice feeling I've gotten a few times when "moving up" and getting some truly nice basses, only to feel that they're manageable under my playing.

[skeptikal]

When posed the question "So how long have you been playing?"... I've only been 'playing' since January of last year (in which case it was just noodling until summer of '08).

Their response "Dang that's it?". Lol I'm not the type of person to bask in compliments and maintain a huge ego. I'm the guy in the corner who is always going to think I suck (because I can't play like 'insert bass god here').

I know I don't suck, I know I'm not incredible either, but it drives me to work harder. I always am complimented on my time and rhythm.

[lomo]

Not there yet but enjoying the journey and believing I'll get there someday.

[Mo' Bass 00]

Originally Posted by mongo2

Still waiting.

Originally Posted by jdieh1

Me too

Me three....or fourth, I lost track!

[JulienJeff]

Don't know if I'm a true bassist.
But when I listen to music, I listen it as a bassist, listening to basslines, to the groove, before listening the lyrics and the guitare melody.
When I see a band on stage, the bassist is the one in the band I look the most.
When I play, I feel like a bassist and people say I do good riffs, filling well the songs.
I'm not a great bassist. Technically, I suck. I don't slap, etc.
But I think I'm a true bassist anyway...

[Vakmere]

When I was able to play this.........

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2kotK9FNEYU

many yeas ago....

[Mazatleco17]

Originally Posted by lomo

Not there yet but enjoying the journey and believing I'll get there someday.

+1.

[rb1]

I've got to go with Victor Wooten on this... I'm not a bassist; I am a musician. The bass is a tool I use to express music. It's a great tool, however, and I love it!

[mjolnir]

My high school jazz director sealed the deal for me on two separate occasions:

I was playing bass in his jazz band but I played guitar most everywhere else, and one day I was in the band hall rockin' an acoustic and he walked by and mumbled, "He even plays guitar like a bass player..." which really got me thinking hard about the type of player I was and wanted to be over the next couple months.

A few years after I graduated I got a call from that same director, told me he was playing bass for a little fusion group and wanted to switch to keys, offered me his bass spot. So I went in and auditioned and the band leader said to my old teacher, "You know, I don't know what it is, he's playing the same stuff you were, but something's different..." and my old teacher replied, "Well, that's the difference between a bassist and a keys player who knows how to play bass, this guy (he pointed at me) knows how to say more with less."

Both times it took me a while to figure out what the hell he was talking about, but once I caught on I felt much better about my identity as a bassist.

[D Rokk]

Originally Posted by Doublefunk

When i realized that i joined a forum dedicated to bass discussion.

and bacon