Am I a horrible bass player?

[mbasile]

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.

So you're saying there's a chance?

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.

Yeah, if I had known the chords I would've just been BS'ing a riff. I need to get better at (and am working on getting better at) hearing the different intervals of the key.

 

[MDBass]

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.

Green Day songs can actually be quite challenging to play at tempo.

No shame in not being able to hang yet, and nothing wrong with them wanting someone who could.

Try not to dwell, just keep practicing: we were all beginners once

 

[MojoPenguin]

Happened to me as well lol Now I'm in another band. I mean school VS the real world... It's like learning a new language, yes you do learn it in school, but you have to speak it with others in real life to really improve. Now you know what to work on and next time will be fine

 

[StatesideRambler]

A classmate was ridiculed out of at least two garage bands during high school. He was the one who ended up on stage backing Lou Reed and Sammy Haggar (among others) in the 70s and 80s.

 

[Jim Carr]

...
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.

Chin up. Work on the material with your teacher anyway. Since you have more than one bass, pick one that does drop D the best and work with it, too.
Stay in contact with that band. Tell them the truth. You are working on the material and would be willing to step in if they need you in the future. Be friendly and gracious, but not obsequious.

Keep in mind they are not likely to do that, but a group that has at least one bully/queen bee will not last long. Be sure all other players have your contact info. Finally, practice and move on. Be strong. Love yourself and your music making. It is a brutal world sometimes, but take it from an old bassist, it is a beautiful world, too.

 

[Count Bassie]

Not so much advice as an acceptance of the reality of the situation. What other options do we really have?

Advice to accept the situation inferred. Inference of good advice is inference of good advice, I always say.

 

[keto]

Everything you need to know was in this sentence right here, my opinion:

"I had trouble finding the time to practice this week."

If you come fully prepared, know the songs, you look much better to the others.

 

[Trayster2]

Women (and I am one) can be the worst, competitive bitches! Best thing I ever did was play with a bunch of older guys last summer. I was WAY out of my league & I knew it. But I learned SO much about reading charts, playing with others, etc. I knew my time with them might be short-lived, but I told myself I was in it mostly for the learning experience. They were very nice & helpful.

Always keep a good attitude, show up on time, be willing to help set up, and check any arrogance or negativity at the door. You'll find a new group to jam with. The right ones.

 

[The Deep End]

You were thrown a few curveballs for sure:

1.) Alternate tuning (you can make case they SHOULD have told you that ahead of time)

2.) Impatient band mates (rushing thru songs, not working out parts, discussing)

3.) Unreasonable band mates (annoyed that you weren’t already in Drop-D).

It is reasonable of them to talk amongst themselves before axing you. Personally, I believe you can only hold people you know well to being completely candid with you. Not easy to reject people. Allow them to do so the easier way.

 

[basspedaler]

Like most have said-chin up. learn. grow. move on.

If you love your basses, and THE bass, just keep at it! but most importantly enjoy it. if for no one else, but you and your own sanity and peace. music is personal to everyone who digs it. I can find happiness in just plugging in and making sounds, so love your tone and play often

 

[Sgtpepper89]

Dishonest people telling to your face it was ok and then dumping you in a sms is the behavior from someone you dont want in your life anyway.

 

[Old Blastard]

Damn, I don't think I've ever dropped tuned. Aren't they good enough to play it in E?

I've been in a couple band situations where I thought the band was not for me. Band agreed.

 

[Spidey2112]

Dude, relax.

Richard, I think it's, 'Dudette'...

 

[japhy4529]

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.

I'm not a violent person, however, no one takes my bass from me. Full stop.

 

[aprod]

How did you graduate from music school without the ability to play your instrument?

 

[Rip Van Dan]

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.

I've played a number of Green Day songs and never drop-tuned the half-step they use to play them. Like you I just played it a half-step down on the fretboard. If I was only going to be playing in that tuning all the time and not switch back for another song, I'd probably drop tune it for the sake of simplicity and to make sure that I had an Eb on my E string.

I played a few songs with one group that I needed to drop my E-string down to D and one time at a gig, I forgot to tune it back up for the next song. I was very alert through that song as I had to transpose only that one string on the fly - really screwed up the patterns I had in my head. After that, I bought a 5-string specifically to use on songs that went below low E so I could didn't have to go through the pain of dropping one string a full step and then tuning it back up. You'll find a lot of recordings and performances are done at 1/2-step down and if you don't already have a 5-string, sell one of your other basses and get one. It will allow you play below that low E without entirely re-tuning your bass.

 

[Loring]

I had trouble keeping up and the charts

I even mentioned my concerns that I was the weak link,


I feel like it's all my fault. I'm sorry if I sound like an idiot.

I only quoted what I'll reply to...

Good learning experience - know the music at least 90% of the way there before playing with other people. This is no time to learn a song - charts shouldn't really be involved at this point - unless you are a kick ass sight reader (I am not ).


Never never show concerns over being the weakest link - you are only sowing seeds of doubt. If they think you are - they'll let you know - you don't need to start them thinking that way. If you wanted to voice concerns - maybe something more along the lines "I don't usually play drop D - I will practise it this way so that next rehearsal will go smoother".

It kinda is your fault - you weren't prepared.

Live and learn. You don't sound like an idiot - I think most of us have been there. Learn and move on.

 

[madjazzbass]

Dude, I've been playing Bass for about 30 years and I still feel like I'm horrible ... but I'm not giving up

 

[Rip Van Dan]

How did you graduate from music school without the ability to play your instrument?

Bass obviously wasn't her instrument at the time. I was a voice major in college and outside of voice also took piano classes. Back in the late 60's/early 70's there were no electric bass classes or I would have taken them then. You can get a music degree in one instrument and still find an interest in another instrument.

 

[WardEarth]

Just keep at it. Being in a band is like life, you never know when something tragic is going to happen. It'll hurt but you will heal.
Try to find another project or start your own. Learn to sing and play, you'll be very valuable if you can pull that off.
I've been playing for almost 15 years and still feel like I suck sometimes.
Maybe consider selling some of those basses for some other gear. A few pedals can be fun and a really nice amp + cabinet is a whole new world.