Am I a horrible bass player?

[Ric5]

I've never posted before, so hello. I switched to bass last year so I could join a surf rock band. I found myself really loving bass. I have 4 of them, and an Ashdown Engineering 115 watt amp. I love all of my basses.

I met with some girls and we were going to start a Green Day cover band. We picked out three songs and just played together today. I'm not going to lie, I didn't do that well. I had trouble keeping up and the charts I had were in standard tuning, except for one. They were playing EVERY song in drop D. The guitarist was mad at me for not tuning in drop D. I did after a couple of songs, but I was trying to just play down a fret on my bass. I had a hard time keeping up because they were playing at tempo and never slowed down or stopped to work on a few measures here and there. Still, I tried to use my ears and catch on as best I could. I felt like I got better as time went on. I had trouble finding the time to practice this week.

I even mentioned my concerns that I was the weak link, but they brushed it off and said that as long as we got along personally, we would be fine. They kept saying we were in good shape. I drove home thinking about practicing my butt off and working with my bass teacher to try and connect more with the guitar. I was really excited to play in a band finally.

Of course, after I got all my stuff put back in at home, I got a text where they said I wasn't working out. This was only our first practice and we had no gigs coming up or anything. I suspect that the husband of one of the girls wanted to play the bass instead. I know I didn't do well, but I was hoping to improve.

I feel so depressed now. It really did feel personal because they didn't say anything to me while I was there. I thought about just getting together with the guitar player for a practice together so we could work stuff out. We had even talked about next week. They didn't really give a reason other than I wasn't "working out".

I called my bass teacher and he said it was kind of poopy of them to dump me after only one practice, since we were just forming and didn't have a gig set up or anything.

I'm worried I'm the world's worst bass player and that I should just quit. That I'm a stupid musician and that my ears are no good. I really wanted to play with others and I wanted to put the work in, too. I tried to follow the tabs and charts I had. When I got lost, I would try to find the roots and just play those to see if I could line up with the guitarist. For them to lie to my face really hurt. I didn't have a lot of confidence before, and now it's shattered. I played in a band as a guitar player for a while and it wasn't like this. They didn't want me singing, but even though I was a newbie they kept me around.

I thought I was okay at bass. I thought my bass teacher had taught me well and I graduated from music school. I feel so stupid and ashamed now. I'm wondering if I should just sell my gear to pay off my debt.

This is more me venting than anything else. i'm just so shocked and upset. I could understand if we had practiced together a few times, but after 1 practice just seems so sudden. That they couldn't tell me to my face really hurts, too. I believed I could get better, and that I just needed to play more with the guitarist so we could lock in. I hate how they lied to me and said getting along mattered more. I feel like it's all my fault. I'm sorry if I sound like an idiot.

let's just say that band was not a good fit and move on and join another band ...

Also they right off the bat copped an attitude about drop D ... I would show up tuned DGCF ... I think that may be what the Green Day bass player tunes to ... at least sometimes or show up with a 5 tuned BEADG ...


Then ... do you really want to be in a Green day cover band ... I like Green day a lot but I want to play more than just songs from one band ...

To play Green Day well turn up the treble and high mids and crank out 8th notes furiously and play with a pick.

 

[mpdd]

just play in a misfits cover band, their songs are easier to play and you'll have a lot more fun dressing up like a horror rocker

 

[RickyT]

You said they were playing in Drop D and you say "I was trying to just play down a fret on my bass."

This means you would have been playing out of tune. You should have been playing 2 frets down. Possibly why they were getting the sh!ts with you, if you were out of tune the whole time.

Use this as a learning experience and improve from it.

As for them not being upfront about it, we've all been in that situation. It's hard to tell someone face to face "sorry it's not working". It's easier to say, it's fine, then call or text later. Avoiding confrontation is what most people do. Don't let it bother you.

 

[Quasiphonic]

Eh, sweat it not. It's kind of like how you're not a real drunk until you've been thrown out of a few bars...

In all seriousness, though, those types of things just happen. They had a vibe and a style they were looking for, and you weren't the fit they were feeling. Maybe they could have gone about it in a more professional way, but maybe they like you personally and were reluctant to be "mean" to you in person. We always think others are less nervous about things like that than we are, but it's never the case. Just play. It's fun. Bands happen, and bands break up, too. It's all part of the game.

(ps: I do have to say something, though: as bass players, we are susceptible to a certain kind of self-doubt, inadequacy complex, and some people respond by developing absurd, unusable technique in an attempt to keep those feelings at bay. Don't do that.)

 

[2112]

There ain't no need to tune drop-D just because everyone else is doing it. As long as you're holding down your fort.

It's pretty crummy for them to let you go like that, unfortunately moves like this are becoming more & more common as the newer generations struggle with non-virtual social constructs.

Putting together bands is very often an exercise in fickle futility. Projects will come & go. Don't let it get you down and keep you from doing what you love... remember: "No one gets to their heaven without a fight..."

 

[gidbass]

I've never posted before, so hello. I switched to bass last year so I could join a surf rock band. I found myself really loving bass. I have 4 of them, and an Ashdown Engineering 115 watt amp. I love all of my basses.

I met with some girls and we were going to start a Green Day cover band. We picked out three songs and just played together today. I'm not going to lie, I didn't do that well. I had trouble keeping up and the charts I had were in standard tuning, except for one. They were playing EVERY song in drop D. The guitarist was mad at me for not tuning in drop D. I did after a couple of songs, but I was trying to just play down a fret on my bass. I had a hard time keeping up because they were playing at tempo and never slowed down or stopped to work on a few measures here and there. Still, I tried to use my ears and catch on as best I could. I felt like I got better as time went on. I had trouble finding the time to practice this week.

I even mentioned my concerns that I was the weak link, but they brushed it off and said that as long as we got along personally, we would be fine. They kept saying we were in good shape. I drove home thinking about practicing my butt off and working with my bass teacher to try and connect more with the guitar. I was really excited to play in a band finally.

Of course, after I got all my stuff put back in at home, I got a text where they said I wasn't working out. This was only our first practice and we had no gigs coming up or anything. I suspect that the husband of one of the girls wanted to play the bass instead. I know I didn't do well, but I was hoping to improve.

I feel so depressed now. It really did feel personal because they didn't say anything to me while I was there. I thought about just getting together with the guitar player for a practice together so we could work stuff out. We had even talked about next week. They didn't really give a reason other than I wasn't "working out".

I called my bass teacher and he said it was kind of poopy of them to dump me after only one practice, since we were just forming and didn't have a gig set up or anything.

I'm worried I'm the world's worst bass player and that I should just quit. That I'm a stupid musician and that my ears are no good. I really wanted to play with others and I wanted to put the work in, too. I tried to follow the tabs and charts I had. When I got lost, I would try to find the roots and just play those to see if I could line up with the guitarist. For them to lie to my face really hurt. I didn't have a lot of confidence before, and now it's shattered. I played in a band as a guitar player for a while and it wasn't like this. They didn't want me singing, but even though I was a newbie they kept me around.

I thought I was okay at bass. I thought my bass teacher had taught me well and I graduated from music school. I feel so stupid and ashamed now. I'm wondering if I should just sell my gear to pay off my debt.

This is more me venting than anything else. i'm just so shocked and upset. I could understand if we had practiced together a few times, but after 1 practice just seems so sudden. That they couldn't tell me to my face really hurts, too. I believed I could get better, and that I just needed to play more with the guitarist so we could lock in. I hate how they lied to me and said getting along mattered more. I feel like it's all my fault. I'm sorry if I sound like an idiot.

Shrug it off and hold your chin high. In the sales world, you are one "no" closer to your next "yes"...

Good Luck!

 

[alaskaleftybass]

Welcome and welcome to your first post.
You sound sincere about playing and that's great. You're young and very inexperienced.
It was quite a jump trying out for a Green Day cover band. First off, that severely limits your learning when you're only playing one style.
No matter what anyone says, playing in a bar cover band is an excellent way to build your chops. Over the years we broke in a number of green players by taking them on the road six months at a time. Small practice amps in the hotel rooms during the day, and afternoon rehearsals in the club on weekends. Made for good publicity. Some of our former proteges are still working successfully in the Northwest.
Don't limit yourself to one style of music, as a matter of fact try and figure out what style of music you really love. Practice that music. Also practice other contemporary hits that you like or know are popular. Make a long list and learn the songs by heart.
No offense to my brother and sister bass players, but don't accept that you're a mediocre bass player. Strive for excellence. It will guarantee you employment your entire life. When we lived on the road we worked on songs for hours and hours learning every little nuance of the song. Strive for perfection.
Make failure your ally in that you learn why you failed and use it as a learning lesson. Then don't do it again. And learn which bands you don't want to play in. Remember, an audition goes two ways. You are also auditioning THEM.
Good luck!

 

[Unemploid]

rocksmith can teach you greenday and surf songs

 

[bass183]

Musicians aren't always that honest when it comes down to telling you that you need to practice more; that you aren't that great, or that, dare I say, you "suck." They say, "you sound great" when they really don't want or know how to tell you the truth. In all honesty, they don't want to hurt someone's feelings. In this case, yours. The fact is, you might not sound that great NOW. You've only been playing 1 year? Give yourself a break. It takes A LOT of practice hours to sound really good and to be able to keep up with a band. People think that playing the bass is a walk in the park. It's not. At least, not if you want to sound like a pro. Don't let one blown "audition" or "practice" discourage you. Get in the woodshed and shed the hell out of your bass. Everyday. If you have the time, spend 6 hours a day shedding your scales, working on your tone, feel and rhythm. Transcribe bass lines, melody lines and learn them from memory. Sight read everyday (cause every musician really should learn the skill IMO). Try to set short term goals for yourself (shed 2 hours a day if that's all you have); learn a new song a week; work on the 12 major scales all over the bass--in all positions and set the metronome slowly and work on it daily, building up your tempo as long as you keep this in mind: your tone is good, your notes are even. As one of my teachers has told me many times: be curious about music and copy as much as you can so that you can learn as much as you can. Tell yourself that you are a master and go out and master the bass. It might take you 5 years, maybe 10, maybe less. Most importantly, have fun in the journey and never stop learning. The worst thing you can do is let one bad experience ruin your chance at being great. No great musician ever had it easy. Why should you?

 

[bass183]

I would've been FURIOUS, to the point of physical violence if someone tried this with me. I don't care how bad I'm messing up, you do NOT cross this line. If you didn't push the BL off the stage at a minimum you've got far more restraint than I do.

You ever heard of the story about Charlie Parker's first jam session? He got on stage (this is way back in the 1930s, Kansas City) and started blowing the wrong notes on the wrong tune. Legend has it that the drummer threw a cymbal at him. That might not have really happened (although it is very likely), but he was laughed off the stage. He went back home and practiced 12-16 hours a day for the next 3 years and basically became not just the greatest bebop saxophonist, but the pioneer of bebop. Serious musicians take their music very seriously. If you don't have the chops and don't know the tunes, talented musicians will see that a mile away and try to "cut" you on stage (not literally, of course). IMO, there's no need to lash out musicians who are better than you at a jam session if you don't have your chops/repertoire together. Just take the harsh criticism and go home and shed as many hours as you possibly can everyday. Learn as much as you can. Find some like-minded players to jam with on a weekly basis so you can apply all that you've been practicing into a real situation.

 

[JRA]

wow, tough stuff.

decide how important it is to you and then put in the work if you choose to play. part of that work is practice, practice, practice. another part is 'toughening up' some: if you're the best player in the room: you teach. if you're not the best player in the room: you learn. you're learning! it never ends!

sounds to me like they were beginner-ish as well, but maybe a step or two ahead of your present capabilities. no biggie, IMO. learn what you can from this and move on...which probably means practice, practice, practice!

there's no easy way. good luck on your journey!

 

[Honch]

Try double blindfold test. Or not blindfold. "Deaffold". Gather up some totally deaf people (born deaf) and if they refuse to even LOOK at your fingers while playing, then you have a sure tell tale. Unless that happens, keep on.

 

[Nunovsky]

We are all crap compared to our future selves who didn't quit.

Basically, this sums it all...

 

[NeverDropTheBass]

Get angry! Use this Anger and Power to get motivated, practice and become the best player your town has ever seen! All my Bass Power to you

 

[J_Bass]

Quit playing bass because of a couple of guys that aren't even brave enough to talk to you face to face?

Quit playing bass because the rest of the band after ONE rehearsal didn't want you?

Quit playing bass because some guys on the first time you play didn't even want to stop or slow down so that all of you could get in sync?

That was a crappy move, don't worry about it. People that can't deal with others face to face are not worth it man, trust me, I know. They are cowards, if you confront them (not physically of course) they just can't look you in the eyes, because that type of person is weak.

You are the strong one, man. You were the one that admitted in mid practice that you weren't doing so well. They were the ******** that said it was all ok and then sent you a stupid message.


You could have rehearsed the songs, although. But it serves as experience, always be prepared. That doesn't justify the "message behaviour", obviously. Stay strong, keep practicing, why should a couple of strangers mess something you love to do?

 

[dbase]

Everything you said about your playing sounds completely normal for a new-ish bassist playing in a band for the first time. Everything you said about the other band members sounds like they are sort of sh*tty people and have unrealistic expectations, and it sounds like you're better off without them. At least now you know what you need to focus on: playing at those tempos, being able to navigate the fretboard, and being able to find your way around the chord progression if you get lost.

The first time I went to an open jam session, I learned like 10+ standard blues/classic rock songs in preparation. I got there, eventually got on stage, and the band leader asked the guitarist what song he wanted to play first. It was Stevie Ray Vaughan's "Pride and Joy," which I had practiced. I asked, "what key?" "It is in Eb," the other guitarist answered." We kick off, and the first guitarist starts playing it in E. ***, way to communicate, dude! We got through the song just fine though. Next song was Cocaine, which I did not know at all (I was never a huge Clapton fan). The BL tells m the chords really quick and then we jump into it. I got completely lost, stopped playing, and just backed up towards the amps so everyone else could play without me mucking it up. The BL comes up to me during a guitar solo and takes my bass from me! It had taken a lot for me to be able to stop playing songs by myself and get up on stage, and that set me back quite a bit.

I have since found chill people to jam with in private settings, and it has made it a lot easier to learn how to work with other live musicians. Sometimes you just get paired up with sh*tty people, but life goes on, we learn, and we get better.

Also, I found my brethren (and sistren?) in the The Mediocre Bassist Club, which has helped me set better expectations on my playing.

Oh, I forgot to tell you .. what you will get the most out of this experience is how to "fake it". Never, never ever just stop playing... it leaves a big hole and everyone will notice .. just noodle around on the strings lightly until you feel your getting to the correct note then hit it hard to be heard. It will seem like your doing some sort of riff or something.. works every time.
Just a little advice from your old uncle Dbase. Plus, Never let anyone take your bass away from you. There's a reason they make them so heavy.. so you can use it on BL'rs as a baseball bat.

 

[Outbush]

I was once a trumpeter doing the rock thing amongst others. I was getting better and getting bigger and better gigs but at the same time I was starting to be surrounded by all these Conservatorium trained players who could read music, play higher and faster & all that. A few things happened & I started to doubt myself, lost confidence & did different things for a long while & the only music I did was fiddle with my acoustic bass at home. But then, after some water had passed under the bridge I started to realise, it isn't how fast, how high etc you can play: it's the tunes you play that people like, the melodys and harmonys. I wasted a lot of time and sure, did some fun stuff but playing music is a bit of an anchor so I did lots of dumb stuff too. Do tunes that you think suit the song and sound good & you'll eventually find other people who like the too. That said learn as many other bass players forms and styles too & chuck them in when it suits too!

 

[murphy]

What an amazing support you just got here.......This is why talk bass is so fantastic

 

[4dog]

Started playing bass back in the 80s ,i always loved the disco bass of the 70s..anyway some friends played guitar and drums and were very good ....so they said "you LOOK like a musician ,do you play bass?" I of course said YES ,,they found out i couldnt play at all and fired me.
It hurt but it pushed me to practice,and for 3 months straight i woodshedded and learned so much ..after that 3 mo. I joined another band and that band become very popular where i lived..and im still playing after all these years .
I have played in other countries..i have toured the US ,and have been in a few very good bands made an ep.
If you want it bad enough a little hurt and anger is a great catalyst for improvement ...use your hurt and anger for your good and dont let it break you down.
Practice like your auditioning for your favorite band...practice practice practice.
Good luck ...if you want it !

 

[lbbc]

Yes, that was a crappy move on their part, but welcome to the world of music. We've all played in numerous band and to find one that actually clicks takes years of practice and playing with everyone possible.

I've been playing for 44 years AND, 18 years ago, I finally found a band that clicked....we are still playing together today (like-minded, vocal driven, and all with day jobs). Practice and patience pays off!!