OMG you sound like me...so hard on myself. Now that I am a seasoned pro (bwahahaha) I can realize that every minute I spent getting to this point was valuable. ENJOY THE RIDE!!!
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Beginner Bassist at 47...
- Thread starter Kimberly Munn
- Start date
Wow! We're like... long-lost cousins or something.
I also started 5 months ago. Close to age 47... 49. Also with no prior experience on any instrument.
And, yes, there are some challenges at this stage—you are definitely not alone!
One of mine is that sometimes I still have one hand doing something and the other hand... didn't get the memo in time. Usually results in a dissonant open string. Absolutely maddening, like ***, plucking hand, how did you not notice that the fretting hand is on the D string, not the A string? But I know the more I practice a song, the less it happens, so I just tell myself to power through.
Stretching... yep, not great for me, either. My hands aren't very big so I do a lot of micro-shifting to avoid the worst stretches, but sometimes they can't be avoided and yep, it sucks. Everyone, including my teacher, always seems to say the stretching will get easier, so I just have to trust them. And I can make stretches now that I could not make 2 months ago. I find it helps to remind myself of all the things I couldn't do before that I can do now, even if they're minor things.
Some of it is form, too—it really is easier to stretch my fretting hand when it's in proper position in the first place, so I'm working on being better about that. Gotta break my bad habits early.
Muting is also a challenge, for sure. I know I'm getting better at that, too, but there is still a long way to go. Usually when I'm working on a song I don't worry about muting right away, just about getting the right notes at the right time. Once that starts to get a little smoother, then I worry about muting. I find I don't have enough cognitive space to worry about both playing the notes and muting at the same time, but as I learn the song the playing part gets easier and then I have the mental cycles to think about muting, too. It definitely does kinda sound like crap until the muting can get worked in, but I've accepted that it's OK to sound like crap for a while.
But even with all that, I absolutely love it and I know that if I keep at it, I'll keep getting better. At our age getting better won't happen all that fast (depending on how much time you have each day to practice), but it will still happen. I'm not normally a particularly patient person (just ask any of my graduate students), so if I can get there, anyone can.
So, you keep at it, too, and maybe in a year or two you and I can be the veterans handing out encouragement like the other awesome TBers in this thread.
I also started 5 months ago. Close to age 47... 49. Also with no prior experience on any instrument.
And, yes, there are some challenges at this stage—you are definitely not alone!
One of mine is that sometimes I still have one hand doing something and the other hand... didn't get the memo in time. Usually results in a dissonant open string. Absolutely maddening, like ***, plucking hand, how did you not notice that the fretting hand is on the D string, not the A string? But I know the more I practice a song, the less it happens, so I just tell myself to power through.
Stretching... yep, not great for me, either. My hands aren't very big so I do a lot of micro-shifting to avoid the worst stretches, but sometimes they can't be avoided and yep, it sucks. Everyone, including my teacher, always seems to say the stretching will get easier, so I just have to trust them. And I can make stretches now that I could not make 2 months ago. I find it helps to remind myself of all the things I couldn't do before that I can do now, even if they're minor things.
Some of it is form, too—it really is easier to stretch my fretting hand when it's in proper position in the first place, so I'm working on being better about that. Gotta break my bad habits early.
Muting is also a challenge, for sure. I know I'm getting better at that, too, but there is still a long way to go. Usually when I'm working on a song I don't worry about muting right away, just about getting the right notes at the right time. Once that starts to get a little smoother, then I worry about muting. I find I don't have enough cognitive space to worry about both playing the notes and muting at the same time, but as I learn the song the playing part gets easier and then I have the mental cycles to think about muting, too. It definitely does kinda sound like crap until the muting can get worked in, but I've accepted that it's OK to sound like crap for a while.
But even with all that, I absolutely love it and I know that if I keep at it, I'll keep getting better. At our age getting better won't happen all that fast (depending on how much time you have each day to practice), but it will still happen. I'm not normally a particularly patient person (just ask any of my graduate students), so if I can get there, anyone can.
So, you keep at it, too, and maybe in a year or two you and I can be the veterans handing out encouragement like the other awesome TBers in this thread.
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My instructor has me practicing different scales, arpeggios, etc. I am getting more serious about them (as I should be). I have a few 12 bar blues segments that I do. I know parts of some songs that I really enjoy. I pick up my bass a lot during the day and recently a lot more (since life isn't as busy FINALLY). I am determined to learn it all but I know that I need to be patient. When I strap my bass on I'm in a zone of happy that I rarely have experienced. I've finally let go of the fact that I didn't start earlier and that I'm older. It is what it is and it is never too late to be what I could have been. I plan on touring in my 80's and rocking it hard!
Everyone keeps saying that and I know that you are all right but I seriously want to be good NOW! LOL
Nahhhh, that's nothing to worry about. In fact, you could qualify for one of the most popular - and highly populated - clubs around here!
The Mediocre Bassist Club
Maximum fun, minimum worry!
In any case, welcome to TB, and life on the low side!
That is soooo awesome! I'm glad that we can share this journey together! I feel you. Sometimes I'm like oh come on!!! You know where you are supposed to be fingers!!! Oddly the fretting is easier in some ways then the plucking!!! Sometimes I feel like "I've got this" and then I don't. LOL I tried doing the "correct" position of the thumb and that was like BAD hurting so I'm back to what feels better. There is the "that is uncomfortable because I'm not used to it" and then there is the "that is really a bad pain". My thumb has be be more to the left than between the 1 and 2 finger. I'm gonna chat with my instructor about it. This week I've been watching a TON of videos on fret finger placement. And where most were like that is where the thumb should be I did find a few people who said it's really unnatural and can lead to tendon problems, so who knows. Muting is a trip because it's like a new driver learning to drive a stick shift, while merging, drinking a cup of coffee and people are yelling at you. I hope that we can cheer each other on in future!
Love it! All I really want is to play with other people Because when I'm jamming with others (no matter how basic my jam is) I am in a blissful state.Nahhhh, that's nothing to worry about. In fact, you could qualify for one of the most popular - and highly populated - clubs around here!
The Mediocre Bassist Club
Maximum fun, minimum worry!
In any case, welcome to TB, and life on the low side!
I love this idea! I really hope to see some progression. Well, what I really hope is to be playing with a band!
Fun I am having but man there is frustration too. I feel like if I actually break down in tears that will mean progress is about to happen! LOL
I started playing bass at 47. I am 50 now and I have played out regularly in bands for the last two years. I just started playing guitar two months ago, and I am having a blast. My advice would be to start playing with others as soon as you can. Nothing will improve your playing faster than playing with other musicians. The other important thing is to always remember that the fun is in the journey not the destination. You will never not have something you can’t learn or improve on as long as you play an instrument. Remembering this always helps when I feel like I am not progressing quick enough.
This x1000.
Yeah, my problem is more that I'm just lazy. It's easier to hold my hand at an angle rather than perpendicular to the fretboard, and that angle just makes stretching so much harder. It's a work in progress, to be sure.
Have you started playing with a pick yet? It's a whole new world of muting nightmares, because you no longer get the "free" mute of playing through to the lower string.
I hope that we can cheer each other on in future!
Go Team!
Playing with others is my primary goal. Thanks to my instructor he has made that happen with some other students and even just jamming with him is awesome. For me to really search people out is gonna take some more practice on my part. The guy that I did just jam with did say that he noticed a huge improvement in my playing though. That felt great but then I'm thinking "but I'm still so bad!". But hey I will play with anyone. If there is a 4 year old who is good on the triangle and wants to jam I'm there!
Honestly I'm not sure that I will ever play with a pick. I really like the feel of the strings. The pick is just so separated for me. And truth be told I want to be like Robert Trujillo. Never mind that he's had decades of professional schooling and plays nonstop all the time.
47 is young.
What you are experiencing and how you are feeling about it = perfectly normal.
TB is officially giving you permission to ease up on yourself.
Stick with it, keep building on that love for a good groove, and have fun!
Welcome to TB
Thank you so much! You are all so nice and encouraging! I really appreciate it! I will keep on keeping on and open myself up to the possibilities that arise out of learning a new craft! I truly feel like I'm living the dream. I just can't think about how much I still have to learn and master!!!!47 is young.
What you are experiencing and how you are feeling about it = perfectly normal.
TB is officially giving you permission to ease up on yourself.
Stick with it, keep building on that love for a good groove, and have fun!
Welcome to TB
Ric5
Inactive
- Jan 29, 2008
- 29,772
- 30,452
- Disclosures
- I like 5, 8, 10, and 12 string basses
play every day … learn new songs every week …
join a band or find some people to jam with …
I also started late in life. Played my first gig on my 50th birthday. Like everyone has been saying "relax, it will come". It does take time for your fingers and ears to be in the same page all the time and your mind a couple of bars ahead.
My $0.02:
- Pick up the bass and make noise with it for at least 30 minutes a day. Keep it on a stand or hanging on the wall so it's easier to grab.
- Learn the Nashville Number System. It makes bass playing so much easier (a LOT songs are either 1,4,5 or 1,5,6,4).
- Play with other musicians as often as you can. It's ok to be the worst one in the room. One day you won't be.
- Learn to lock in with the drummer
- Learn to serve the song
And, most importantly:
- Enjoy the journey. It never ends...
My $0.02:
- Pick up the bass and make noise with it for at least 30 minutes a day. Keep it on a stand or hanging on the wall so it's easier to grab.
- Learn the Nashville Number System. It makes bass playing so much easier (a LOT songs are either 1,4,5 or 1,5,6,4).
- Play with other musicians as often as you can. It's ok to be the worst one in the room. One day you won't be.
- Learn to lock in with the drummer
- Learn to serve the song
And, most importantly:
- Enjoy the journey. It never ends...
