• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

Am I a good bassist?

#3
You played a cover good. But in order to determine if your a good bassist would require me to judge you on quite a bit more attributes than a single cover of a Rise Against song.

Lets see:

How many techniques can you execute?
How well do you improv in multiple genre?
Can you write songs/bass lines in every key?
Can you sing?
et cetera
 
#4
loinmute said:
You played a cover good. But in order to determine if your a good bassist would require me to judge you on quite a bit more attributes than a single cover of a Rise Against song.

Lets see:

How many techniques can you execute?
How well do you improv in multiple genre?
Can you write songs/bass lines in every key?
Can you sing?
et cetera
Click to expand...

What does singing have to do with being a good bass player? Did James Jamerson sing? John Paul Jones? Jaco?

The most important question: Can you groove? All the rest is useless if you can't groove.
 
#5
i used played tons of punk/hardcore music. And I really got quite good at it. Playing along with mike dirnt, or matt freeman (both still fabulous in my opinion) But the key is to be proficient in more styles, jazz, blues, funk especially. punk/heavier stuff Often overlooks locking it in with the drummer (Not all, but most) and staying in the pocket. But it all depends on what type of music you want to play. The groove is what makes the band tighter. And singing goes towards being a better musician, not a bass player IMO
 
#10
Being a good BASSIST is not about how fast,how flashy,how many notes you can play,or how well you can cover a song. It's about being able to know what NOT to play, WHEN to play it, and how to execute it properly. It's about having solid timing and knowing when to hold back and let everybody else shine, and when to step forward and have your few seconds. It's about supporting the BAND, and the SONG, not about making yourself look good. We cannot tell you if you're a good bassist by watching a video of you covering a song. We may be able to tell you that you can play the bass well, but not if you're a good bassist, they're two different things.
 
#12
5string5fingers said:
Being a good BASSIST is not about how fast,how flashy,how many notes you can play,or how well you can cover a song. It's about being able to know what NOT to play, WHEN to play it, and how to execute it properly. It's about having solid timing and knowing when to hold back and let everybody else shine, and when to step forward and have your few seconds. It's about supporting the BAND, and the SONG, not about making yourself look good. We cannot tell you if you're a good bassist by watching a video of you covering a song. We may be able to tell you that you can play the bass well, but not if you're a good bassist, they're two different things.
Click to expand...

+ A LOT

Playing the bass well and being a good bassist are different things, though they overlap to a degree. I agree with everything above, most importantly playing bass is a supportive instrument for 95% of players, so it's all about how you interact with other musicians, which will be affected by your stylistic knowledge, musical knowledge, technical skills, feel&groove, ect...
 
#13
5string5fingers said:
Being a good BASSIST is not about how fast,how flashy,how many notes you can play,or how well you can cover a song. It's about being able to know what NOT to play, WHEN to play it, and how to execute it properly. It's about having solid timing and knowing when to hold back and let everybody else shine, and when to step forward and have your few seconds. It's about supporting the BAND, and the SONG, not about making yourself look good.
Click to expand...

Biiiiiig +1

And I would say this holds true for any member of the band. That's what separates the pros from the dweebie wannabes.
 
#14
Sounds like a question you should be asking yourself! I've been playing for 25 years, and I don't think I'll ever live up to my personal expectations, sipmly because there are always more. You are your toughest critic. The answers lie within.
 
#16
You've got some timing issues. Work on that, make sure you can REALLY get in the pocket with the drummer.

That said, playing well to a recording in your bed room is one thing. Playing well with good tone and in the pocket on a loud stage with bad monitors is a whole other thing. Or in a studio where perfect precision is necessary. That's where you really start to be able to measure how "good" someone is, not with a homemade youtube video.

People are getting kinda heady (somewhat unnecessarily) on you in this thread. It was clear to me that you were looking for input on how you play punk rock music, not for insight into your soul as a musician. For the genre, you're pretty good at it. Not really good, but pretty good. I like your tone and your attack. Time and fluidity need work.

I think this is the wrong thread to turn into the old "you need to learn all styles and techniques and know lots of harmony to be good" type of thread. No, you need that to be good in styles that require that knowledge, and to be a versatile and knowledgeable player. You can be a very good punk or rock player without that stuff. Of course, you can always be better with it.
 
#17
Snarf said:
You've got some timing issues. Work on that, make sure you can REALLY get in the pocket with the drummer.

That said, playing well to a recording in your bed room is one thing. Playing well with good tone and in the pocket on a loud stage with bad monitors is a whole other thing. Or in a studio where perfect precision is necessary. That's where you really start to be able to measure how "good" someone is, not with a homemade youtube video.

People are getting kinda heady (somewhat unnecessarily) on you in this thread. It was clear to me that you were looking for input on how you play punk rock music, not for insight into your soul as a musician. For the genre, you're pretty good at it. Not really good, but pretty good. I like your tone and your attack. Time and fluidity need work.

I think this is the wrong thread to turn into the old "you need to learn all styles and techniques and know lots of harmony to be good" type of thread. No, you need that to be good in styles that require that knowledge, and to be a versatile and knowledgeable player. You can be a very good punk or rock player without that stuff. Of course, you can always be better with it.
Click to expand...

Thank you man, by far the most helpful comment in this thread. I'm gonna try and work on timing cos that's always been a bit of an issue for me.
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back