Am I a horrible bass player?

[AcridSaint]

Mostly positive replies here, and mostly replies that I agree with.

But, I don't understand the drop D situation. Did you come to the rehearsal having learned the songs in their original tuning or did you find charts/tabs that were not in the correct tuning? If you showed up and they were changing the key of the original, then they should have made that clear up front. If you showed up playing the songs out of key, then you can only blame yourself.

I'm no pro, but if I'm told we are playing a cover, I learn it in the original key unless explicitly told otherwise. But, I also show up to rehearsal able to play the songs I agreed to unless I have specifically said I can only learn X by our next meeting.

Having gigs lined up or not doesn't really play into it, imo and I don't know why that was stressed in your post. I get that there was no "pressure" for your first rehearsal because of it, but it doesn't change the dynamics of people playing together. If they didn't jive with you, then they didn't jive with you.

All that said, it's depressing and sucks when bands fall apart. It's depressing and sucks when you get rejected. If you're not good at taking criticism, then it's depressing and sucks when people point out your problems. None of that, however, means that you suck or that you should stop playing bass. It means that you should take what you can out of the experience, get better, and find better people to play with the next time.

 

[pie_man_25]

First off : it's okay, you're better than people saying you're okay to your face and then breaking things off with you in text. Some people just suck, and in this instance it's not you and being a crappy person has nothing to do with your performance on bass.

Secondly: sure, okay, maybe you're not all that good on bass - but you sound like you're just starting out and just need some more practice. Keep at it, and remember: the forest would be quiet if the only birds that sang were the ones that sang the best. So you're not "there" yet - that's okay because everybody started where you are now. Just keep plugging away, and eventually people will wish they had a talent like you. It's okay to feel embarrassed or discouraged because we're all human and it happens, you just need to grow past that and keep going. I'm not going to guarantee fame or wealth, I've gotten neither by playing bass, but it's a skill that can round you out as a person and can hone other skills that can be useful like perception, mathematics, creativity, and social dynamics (from playing in groups with people).

I hope that helps and I'm sorry that some people decided not to be the most honest, just don't stop playing.

 

[Gaolee]

First of all, welcome to the proper end of the sonic spectrum. All else is fluff. Second, if you have four bass guitars, you would fit in just fine with us in the crappy bass players with expensive gear club. I guarantee that you will find people who have spent way more money and time and haven't made it to your current level. Or at least won't admit it. To be good, you must first suck anyway.

Now on to what happened. It is lousy now, but it's going to be a good story for when you are a spectacular player and they are still trying to find a bass player who only wants to play the same few songs over and over again. Don't let it get to you at all. Music is full of odd and often insensitive people. It's also full of people who will become long-term and very close friends. Starting is hard no matter what you are starting. Once you get going, you will be in demand. Decent bass players are tough to find. Good ones seem to be really rare.

The main thing, as has been pointed out, is that you enjoy playing. Very few make a living playing, and even fewer make a really good living playing. The rest of us do it for fun. If those people you played with once turned on you by text, they weren't people you were going to have fun with over the long haul. Better to cut your losses now and find others who will be less drama and uncertainty.

 

[Flabass]

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.

Nobody takes my bass away from me. I would just walk off. I was kicked off the stage at a jam because I couldn't sing and was completely humilitated by the guitarist over the PA. I finally got over it though.

 

[Gaolee]

One other thing - chances are just about all of us who have been playing for a while have been fired or had a band fall apart. It goes with the territory.

 

[Clef_de_fa]

Don't worry. We all felt like that. Especially in the early years.

I remember my first band. At that point I was playing bass for a year at most and we had our first gig ... which was also my first gig ever on bass. We had like 10 or 15 songs ready but one I couldn't play all the way and they knew it ... Brown Eye Bitch. Well ... they decided to play it... everything went well until the bass/drum break where I was so nervous that I lost focus a fraction of second and so even the drummer couldn't keep the beat. Then the stupid ass guitar player said to the mic "that was supposed to be a bass solo" and then we continued the stupid song.

Weird enough after I packed my thing after our 10 songs spot and got back with the crowd. A few people told me that the guitar player was an *******, if he didn't say poopie no one would've known the trainwreck was happening.

Not so long after the guitar player quit the band and then it was me who quit. Then I found a jazz band that was super cool and learned a lot. I've never saw the guitar player ever again. Not so long after all that I was in college earning a music degree.

So yeah.

 

[dbsfgyd1]

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.

Nah, not your fault at all. You just need time in the saddle, and this one opportunity passed you by. It happens. I’m sure there will be others if you keep wood shedding learning how to play in alternative tunings for instance and networking with other musicians, you will be gigging in no time.

As for playing in drop D if you were playing with just your E string dropped to D, let me give you some advice, and this is from a guy that did it exclusively for 7 years, get a 5 string. It is a major head problem when you have to go back to conventional tuning once mastered. Trust me. Go get ‘em tiger!

 

[Dieboy]

Please, please, don't give up!

I can totally understand your disappointment at the moment, but you need to keep at it. Metaphorically, having fallen off the bike, you need to get back up and back on. Learning music is hard, band politics/relationships are tricky, you have to learn to accept occasional set-backs, frustration, disappointments etc. and keep at it.

Keep practising
Keep learning
Keep your ears open for potential jam sessions and new band opportunities.

If you keep trying, one day you'll find yourself playing in a band where it does work out.

Incidentally, they probable told you by text because it was easier for them to do so. Indeed, if they did like you on a personal level, that might have made it harder for them to say it face-to-face - people can be funny like that sometimes.

 

[blastoff99]

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

May I sig this?

 

[Nev375]

May I sig this?

If you must.

 

[CB3UK]

Don't sweat it OP. You sound like you're probably a teenager. I'm 34....wasnt that long ago I was where you are. I started out playing drums, and maybe a year into it I auditioned for a band. I did alright. But I didn't make the cut.

Anyway, at a local show a few months later I see the guys I had auditioned with playing one night at the all ages place downtown. One of the guys that had been at the audition was DJing when we played....and yet here he was on stage completely TEARING IT UP on drums. So after the show, I talk to em and was obviously wondering why they had been looking for a drummer when they had him. He wanted to try doing turntables (hey it was the late 90s...rock/rap/metal...what can you do.) I felt completely embarrassed about my performance...I knew then I didn't have any business having even attempted to sit with these guys.

The point of that long winded tale is that partially due to that experience and a few other things, I bought to bass and haven't looked back. That was like 1998 or 99. So you never know what will come of it, but don't sit around and mope. But I also realized I jumped in way over my head and I treaded water just fine even if I wasn't Michael Phelps that day. So what did it hurt? Nothing.

Practice, practice and practice!! If you suck, then find some guys or gals who suck just as much but want to make some noise. You'll get better. But don't waste your time on self doubt or pouting. They only way to get where you want to go is to move forward brother! Keep your head up.

 

[redhotblues]

its always been my experience that the decision is mad within the first two songs of that first audition/practice.

your mistake, in this instance, was not tuning to drop D immediately as soon as you found out they did.

Their mistake [and thereby also setting you up for failure] was not telling you specifically they were in drop D AND whether they were going to keep the same recorded key [meaning you'd have to play TWO frets higher] or if they were also lowering the key two semi-tones.

In the future;
now you know to ask "Are you playing these songs as recorded?"

Conclusion - I don't think you are a terrible bass player by what you describe. I think they set you up for failure, and likewise, you didn't do yourself any favors by following the prevailing wind.

 

[Captain Comet]

A life lesson, that has repeated itself with me, that I now keep drumming into my 12 year old (going on 18) grandson ...

The point where you get totally frustrated in trying to learn something is usually the threshold where you are in a position to make your next great leap with it and gain more skill than you ever imagined. You just need to jump that chasm.

This has happened several times in my 57 years. The one time I didn't jump that chasm was golf. Bent clubs, balls thrown into the water hazard. It was ugly ...

BTW ... the grandson just started taking guitar lessons.

 

[Drgonzonm]

A life lesson, that has repeated itself with me, that I now keep drumming into my 12 year old (going on 18) grandson ...

The point where you get totally frustrated in trying to learn something is usually the threshold where you are in a position to make your next great leap with it and gain more skill than you ever imagined. You just need to jump that chasm.

This has happened several times in my 57 years. The one time I didn't jump that chasm was golf. Bent clubs, balls thrown into the water hazard. It was ugly ...

BTW ... the grandson just started taking guitar lessons.

Image bending basses like we bend golf clubs. I had to quit golf because the balls reported to the SFPCGB, the equiv to PETA. It was explained to me, Golf balls are not meant to smile, swim to play at the beach.

 

[Bad azz tone]

Aye Captain, jumping from the top of one level to the bottom of the next can be a barrier to many players. At the top of the lower level your comfortable,more sure of yourself, but the bottom of the next level up can often cause a learning stall. Frustration,depression,confusion are all part of this change when you don't understand what's going on. Early on I had trouble with this till a horn player sat me down and explained this to me. He has no idea how this helped me move on,and I owe him much. Since then I have helped a handful of players move on beyond this barrier. Its rare that I meet someone who is aware of this hurtle, which may cause a player to remain stuck at that point. When I switched to 5 string I found myself in just that position. If I had not been aware of it ,I most likely would of sold it and just kept playing 4 strings. So captain I salute you!

 

[Drgonzonm]

I think the general consensus is you are not a horrible bass player. If you want to be horrible, buy a Hagar t-shirt and gig in it.

 

[Bad azz tone]

Another way to be horrible---- put together a disco cover band..

 

[Spidey2112]

A life lesson, that has repeated itself with me, that I now keep drumming into my 12 year old (going on 18) grandson ...

The point where you get totally frustrated in trying to learn something is usually the threshold where you are in a position to make your next great leap with it and gain more skill than you ever imagined. You just need to jump that chasm.

This has happened several times in my 57 years. The one time I didn't jump that chasm was golf. Bent clubs, balls thrown into the water hazard. It was ugly ...

BTW ... the grandson just started taking guitar lessons.

I love when the light turns on... kudos to him! I think I stopped throwing clubs, when I purchased some decent ones...

... probably should have kept the cheapies... pretty sure I golfed better with the old, than the new... maybe, I should've started abusing the new?

 

[Loring]

If you want to be horrible, buy a Hagar t-shirt and gig in it.

 

[beatnut]

You're only a horrible bass player if you're mean to cats.

There's macho situations and supportive situations. It is important, in my opinion, to learn to deal with the macho situations, whether by bringing your playing up to the standard, or standing up and refusing to be intimidated, or simply learning not to care about it. Once you've learned that, however, move on and look for supportive situations which you can contribute to with your newfound toughness of mind.

With regards to the actual music, you play what you play. Just do what you can do the best you can. It gets better over time, and you will now and then get surprised by how much you've learned over time.