I think it's great to always strive for improvement and to recognize your limitations while trying to overcome them. However, it's really nice when you reach a place where you can be happy with what you've achieved. In the majority of cases, there's no real need for a bass player to be a Wooten, Hamm, or Jaco. You CAN be a "good bassist" without being a virtuoso....like others have said, "good" is a subjective thing. My personal definition of "good" is being able to support and drive a band...being able to make a group sound better than before you joined in. Keeping people moving on the dance floor and in their seats. Having the smarts to listen to everyone else and interact accordingly in a variety of situations. Know when to lay out, know when to lay into it. All these things are valuable and not readily attainable by all players. If you don't believe that, hand your guitarist your bass sometime and kick off a tune.
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Can anyone play????!!!!!
- Thread starter duff_hodges
- Start date
Personally, I couldn't say whether I'm "good" or not - I think it's for others to judge. Like some people have said in this thread, being good is subjective - there's no definite good, or bad.
If I had to give my honest opinion of my abilities, then I would say that, all things considered, I'm competent, considering the amount of time I've been playing. I think I can hold my own compared to most of the bass players that I've played with, but I think that's more to do with the sort of people I play with than any talent I have - compared to about 90% of the people on this board, I'm hopeless.
If I had to give my honest opinion of my abilities, then I would say that, all things considered, I'm competent, considering the amount of time I've been playing. I think I can hold my own compared to most of the bass players that I've played with, but I think that's more to do with the sort of people I play with than any talent I have - compared to about 90% of the people on this board, I'm hopeless.
Well, I don't admit to being good on bass anymore. I did 15 years ago! Heck...I WAS the best bass player in the world, back then!
But, my world was so much smaller than I could have imagined.
I mean, the more I hear and the more I try to learn, the worse I seem to get! Why is that? I've been playing for some 18 years, and there's not much that I really struggle with (in the rock genre). But, still, I think the grooves of some of these guys, or the creativity is far beyond what I could ever do on my own!
I know that if I plug in and play for someone who's not very knowledgeable about the bass, I can make them believe that I'm a fantastic player! But, I will always know differently, and that's what keeps me humble! Otherwise, I might just get showed up in a most humiliating way...
But, my world was so much smaller than I could have imagined.
I mean, the more I hear and the more I try to learn, the worse I seem to get! Why is that? I've been playing for some 18 years, and there's not much that I really struggle with (in the rock genre). But, still, I think the grooves of some of these guys, or the creativity is far beyond what I could ever do on my own!I know that if I plug in and play for someone who's not very knowledgeable about the bass, I can make them believe that I'm a fantastic player! But, I will always know differently, and that's what keeps me humble! Otherwise, I might just get showed up in a most humiliating way...
What is the criteria for playing 'pretty well'?
The way I look at it, I'm never as good as I'll be next week if I practice hard this week. The question I usually ask myself is, 'Can I play better?'
X
Originally posted by rickbass1
Mock - Was that your Hohner acoustic? At first, I thought it was a friggin' g*****r, until you hit the lower strings. It has a sort of "Baroque" vibe, IMO. Not as ethereal as some of your other stuff I've heard in the past. Nice work!
thanks.
g*****r, eh?
no, it wasn't the Hohner acoustic bass- it was the Warmoth P I built (Hipshot D tuner used at the end), with chorus added in Soundforge.
the Hohner (defretted, strung with flatwounds) can be heard looped on "Lack of Knowledge".
BTW, I thought I was a tapping fool till I heard that!
ah well, at least now people won't think I'm just a root-note pedaller who uses only the E and A strings, which is what you'd suspect from hearing "Real" by The Now
Mock - Was that your Hohner acoustic? At first, I thought it was a friggin' g*****r, until you hit the lower strings. It has a sort of "Baroque" vibe, IMO. Not as ethereal as some of your other stuff I've heard in the past. Nice work!
thanks.
g*****r, eh?
no, it wasn't the Hohner acoustic bass- it was the Warmoth P I built (Hipshot D tuner used at the end), with chorus added in Soundforge.
the Hohner (defretted, strung with flatwounds) can be heard looped on "Lack of Knowledge".
BTW, I thought I was a tapping fool till I heard that!
ah well, at least now people won't think I'm just a root-note pedaller who uses only the E and A strings, which is what you'd suspect from hearing "Real" by The Now
Well if u read some of the tbs that are posted on the net, u can tell that a lot of people have no idea what thier doing. sometime i wonder if they even listened to the song before they attempted to tab it. Its horrible the stuff people think they hear when they tab a song.
OK, my input on this one...
I've been playing 11 years - with a gap of 5 or 6 years when I hardly touched it. A year ago I started playing full time again - I've joined a band and in 7 months we have our 1st gig (on Monday 7th, wish me luck!).
So I can hold a groove, I can play around with a few scales and I can jam with people.... but, I can't walk into a gig pick and play, I can't play any style easily.... I'm not a session musician, or anywhere near it.
When people asked if I'm good, I say 'yeah, not bad'... because I genuinely think I'm 'not bad.'
I love what I write and play on bass, I get great fulfillment out of playing with the band and I feel I really add to the bands songs with my bass. (Plz don't listen to the link below, they were recorded after only 2practices with the first drummer we had - bad example!!).
I think I'm a pretty good bass player. I hear/listen to alot of people play, in bands, shops, my friends, even in some signed bands on TV and I sometimes think "that is a lame bass part, it's so weak"... and I know I could write & play something that I would find more pleasing.
While looking for a band I jammed with a lot of different people and I have to say it opened my eyes. Some of these guys were diabolical players and it made me realise that I was actually pretty good.
Opposingly, I could easily have jammed with some amazing musos who would have played me in circles and made me never leave the bedroom again!
That said, I know for a fact there are many, many, many bassists out there who are infinitely better musicians than me.
I have soooooooooooooooo much to learn - in fact I'll never be as good I could be.
I also think that while people on this board are being modest, they also know how good they are.
Secretly guys c'mon you must think you're pretty good, why bother if you just can't do it? I can't play football, I've tried and failed, so I don't try anymore.
I think it's OK to like your playing and be proud of it... I also think being proud of your playing will make it infinitely better, it will help you put energy in your playing.
In the grand scheme of things I am a good bassist. There are millions better and millions worse, but I like playing and I like what I play, so I cant be bad, can I?
I've been playing 11 years - with a gap of 5 or 6 years when I hardly touched it. A year ago I started playing full time again - I've joined a band and in 7 months we have our 1st gig (on Monday 7th, wish me luck!).
So I can hold a groove, I can play around with a few scales and I can jam with people.... but, I can't walk into a gig pick and play, I can't play any style easily.... I'm not a session musician, or anywhere near it.
When people asked if I'm good, I say 'yeah, not bad'... because I genuinely think I'm 'not bad.'
I love what I write and play on bass, I get great fulfillment out of playing with the band and I feel I really add to the bands songs with my bass. (Plz don't listen to the link below, they were recorded after only 2practices with the first drummer we had - bad example!!).
I think I'm a pretty good bass player. I hear/listen to alot of people play, in bands, shops, my friends, even in some signed bands on TV and I sometimes think "that is a lame bass part, it's so weak"... and I know I could write & play something that I would find more pleasing.
While looking for a band I jammed with a lot of different people and I have to say it opened my eyes. Some of these guys were diabolical players and it made me realise that I was actually pretty good.
Opposingly, I could easily have jammed with some amazing musos who would have played me in circles and made me never leave the bedroom again!
That said, I know for a fact there are many, many, many bassists out there who are infinitely better musicians than me.
I have soooooooooooooooo much to learn - in fact I'll never be as good I could be.
I also think that while people on this board are being modest, they also know how good they are.
Secretly guys c'mon you must think you're pretty good, why bother if you just can't do it? I can't play football, I've tried and failed, so I don't try anymore.
I think it's OK to like your playing and be proud of it... I also think being proud of your playing will make it infinitely better, it will help you put energy in your playing.
In the grand scheme of things I am a good bassist. There are millions better and millions worse, but I like playing and I like what I play, so I cant be bad, can I?
It's amazing how many other musicians think you're great when you play simple boring stuff. It all goes to your role. You find yourself making others play better, or at least sound better, and making good eye-contact and feel, you pull everyone else along. The folks you are playing with will think you are awesome even if you don't get to freak-out. Then they really blow their minds when you do throw in a bit of flourish.
It's like golf though. You have to work on the simple things that will make you a success. If you can blow through Donna Lee but can't hold down two note tunes - you suck.
It's like golf though. You have to work on the simple things that will make you a success. If you can blow through Donna Lee but can't hold down two note tunes - you suck.
Who is this Donna Lee and can she blow me through?
No you're right, spot on.
But I have to say:
One cant play fast & technical stuff well unless one can do the basics. A person might be abel to play fast, but if he/she doesn't have the groundnig it will be played badly and sound shabby.
No you're right, spot on.
But I have to say:
One cant play fast & technical stuff well unless one can do the basics. A person might be abel to play fast, but if he/she doesn't have the groundnig it will be played badly and sound shabby.
I don't know...I seem to get hired from people who don't mind me showing up on their gigs or on their records. I'm a guitarist too, and I keep wishing I could hire myself as a bassist.
At the same time, everything new I learn leads to ten other things I have yet to master.
I figure you're only "done" as a musician when you can take a week off and record ten award-winning albums that revolutionize the idioms of: jazz, samba, chorinho, gamelan, country, western, country & western, rock, funk, French-Canadian traditional, polish waltz, Northumberland bagpipe music, etc.
And if you're that good at bass, you should start learning piano.
At the same time, everything new I learn leads to ten other things I have yet to master.
I figure you're only "done" as a musician when you can take a week off and record ten award-winning albums that revolutionize the idioms of: jazz, samba, chorinho, gamelan, country, western, country & western, rock, funk, French-Canadian traditional, polish waltz, Northumberland bagpipe music, etc.
And if you're that good at bass, you should start learning piano.
My point entirely, you know you're good right?
You're a session player, so you're evidently a thousand times better player than me... and I think I'm OK, so you must be good!!!!
You're a session player, so you're evidently a thousand times better player than me... and I think I'm OK, so you must be good!!!!
I'm not exactly a "session player," in that I don't make my living doing commercials and soundtracks. I have done a few records and a film soundtrack or two--nothing big budget I can assure you. Any commercial success I have had has had to do with my attitude as much as my supposed musical proficiency.
I think you can really turn around the whole "Are You Good?" discussion. I read an article with a punk rock guitarist who was commenting, "Everybody at the guitar store can play faster than I can, but I'm the one with a three record contract. It's more about the music than the musician." I agree. If people feel your vibe, that's better than all the altered scales in the world.
Everybody on TalkBass can probably play bass better than Gene Simmons could during the first Kiss record, or certainly better than Sid Vicious of the Sex Pistols. But who have you heard of? It's how you hit people with your music that counts.
I'm going to get my Jeff Berlin groove going: that doesn't mean you should content yourself with a punk musician's level of musical knowledge. Reading music, understanding theory, and perfecting technique all have their place when you want to develop a way to express yourself musically. I guess this is why people view John Patitucci as "better" than Sid Vicious; he has more tools and uses them in a more sophisticated way.
But am I good? I wouldn't get up and play in front of people if I didn't think so.
I think you can really turn around the whole "Are You Good?" discussion. I read an article with a punk rock guitarist who was commenting, "Everybody at the guitar store can play faster than I can, but I'm the one with a three record contract. It's more about the music than the musician." I agree. If people feel your vibe, that's better than all the altered scales in the world.
Everybody on TalkBass can probably play bass better than Gene Simmons could during the first Kiss record, or certainly better than Sid Vicious of the Sex Pistols. But who have you heard of? It's how you hit people with your music that counts.
I'm going to get my Jeff Berlin groove going: that doesn't mean you should content yourself with a punk musician's level of musical knowledge. Reading music, understanding theory, and perfecting technique all have their place when you want to develop a way to express yourself musically. I guess this is why people view John Patitucci as "better" than Sid Vicious; he has more tools and uses them in a more sophisticated way.
But am I good? I wouldn't get up and play in front of people if I didn't think so.
"It's all subjective, man"
- Hey... dude... that's like... true... maaan!
"It's more about the music than the musician." I agree. If people feel your vibe, that's better than all the altered scales in the world."
>>>>This I agree with also.
When I was auditioning for bands, these guys gave me this aweful demo tape, recorded in a living room on a 4 track with a crap mic and a Dr Rhythm drum machine (hand claps & rim shots, mmm!), vocals sung for the 1st time etc...
But the singer had amazing enthusiasm and great ideas which he really believes in. When I met the guys for a beer we just hit it off, totally realxed, so I joined.
We have our 1st gig on Monday (it's my 1st gig in about 8 years) and I am actually really confident we'll go down well. Fingers crossed & I'll post on Tuesday!
"Everybody on TalkBass can probably play bass better than Gene Simmons could during the first Kiss record, or certainly better than Sid Vicious of the Sex Pistols. But who have you heard of? It's how you hit people with your music that counts."
>>>I'd say that much of this comes from confidence, love and belief in what you're doing. If you love what you're playing then an audience will be more inclined to do the same... whether live or on record.
"But am I good? I wouldn't get up and play in front of people if I didn't think so."
>>>Precisely.
There's a night at a pub in 'town' where all these students get up and play their acoustic guitars with 10 year old strings. It's truly aweful and I think it should be banned. If you can't play, don't inflict it on others!!!
- Hey... dude... that's like... true... maaan!
"It's more about the music than the musician." I agree. If people feel your vibe, that's better than all the altered scales in the world."
>>>>This I agree with also.
When I was auditioning for bands, these guys gave me this aweful demo tape, recorded in a living room on a 4 track with a crap mic and a Dr Rhythm drum machine (hand claps & rim shots, mmm!), vocals sung for the 1st time etc...
But the singer had amazing enthusiasm and great ideas which he really believes in. When I met the guys for a beer we just hit it off, totally realxed, so I joined.
We have our 1st gig on Monday (it's my 1st gig in about 8 years) and I am actually really confident we'll go down well. Fingers crossed & I'll post on Tuesday!
"Everybody on TalkBass can probably play bass better than Gene Simmons could during the first Kiss record, or certainly better than Sid Vicious of the Sex Pistols. But who have you heard of? It's how you hit people with your music that counts."
>>>I'd say that much of this comes from confidence, love and belief in what you're doing. If you love what you're playing then an audience will be more inclined to do the same... whether live or on record.
"But am I good? I wouldn't get up and play in front of people if I didn't think so."
>>>Precisely.
There's a night at a pub in 'town' where all these students get up and play their acoustic guitars with 10 year old strings. It's truly aweful and I think it should be banned. If you can't play, don't inflict it on others!!!
eric atkinson
"Is our children learning "Is our teachers teachin
Iam happy with my ability as a bass player! Ive played Rock funk bass for about 16 years now and i can hold my own! I can really enjoy my cds we have put out! But at the same time i have alot of stuff i need to work on! I dont strive to be the best solo bass player i just try to wright good bass lines!
For the most part...I am good enough to feel what I am playing and be in my own world. Literally, it is better than getting off for me. To a large extent, I care about how other perceive my playing. What's most important to me is that I am able to express myself and can look at a new tune as a challenge that I can meet.
It would suck if I couldn't play whatever I wanted to. With difficult piece I start to work on it and, though it may start out rough, I know I will be able to master it.
It would suck if I couldn't play whatever I wanted to. With difficult piece I start to work on it and, though it may start out rough, I know I will be able to master it.
john turner
You don't want to do that. Trust me.
ooh, another natural.
we can hear you play now - care to post some mp3's of your work?as for being able to play everything you've ever heard with ease, i think it's time you might consider expanding your horizons. have you ever heard of jaco pastorius? stanley clarke? victor wooten? kai eckhardt? jeff berlin?
to tell you the truth i think that only someone else can judge wether or not you are a good bassist. personally i have been told that i am one hell of a bassist not to mention guitarist and drummer,especially for the time period that i have been playing consistantly and trying to improve,which is only about a year and a half. I play as well and as fast as les claypool but i dont really compare myself to him or anyone else. I guess i put most of if not all of the other bassists in my high school to shame, so i've been told. i still cant really write a decent bassline,at least not to my standards. so for all of you who are looking for a 16 year old bassist who likes to play bass solos ,that make people listening think im playing a guitar, contact me.
"If you were dead, would you know it?"
"If you were dead, would you know it?"
john turner
You don't want to do that. Trust me.
hey mudvayne4ever, that's cool, when i was your age i hadn't heard of most of them either . here's some cds that will definitely broaden your horizons ...
with jaco : (jazz oriented)
jaco pastorius - jaco pastorius,
weather report - heavy weather
pat metheny - bright sized life
joni mitchell - mingus, heijira
with stanley clarke : (jazz oriented)
stanley clarke - school days, i wanna play for you.
return to forever (with chick corea) - romantic warrior
with victor wooten : (jazz oriented)
bela fleck - ufo tofu, bela fleck and the flectones - rockin out with banjos.
victor wooten - show of hands, what did he say?
with stu hamm : solo bass and rockish ensembles
stu hamm - radio free albemuth (sp?), kings of sleep
with kai eckhardt :
various early vital information discs, with steve smith.
as for jeff berlin, he's a mod here, has his own forum, so you can ask him what to listen to of his to blow your socks off.
most of these guys play what could be considered "jazz" and so it might not be your cup of tea, musically, but the skills and talents of the bass players should not be overlooked - there's much you could learn from each of these guys.
as for rock players, check out some of the following..
geddy lee - any rush album really, but particularly moving pictures, permanent waves, hold your fire.
billy sheehan - david lee roth's first solo album, eat em and smile.
steve harris - any iron maiden album is going to feature him kick a$$, but especially piece of mind (to tame a land was always an a$$ kicker when we used to play it in my old cover band back in the day) and powerslave.
les claypool - primus - grab any primus, there's happening playing on them all.
oh, and you asked about my playing, the link in my sig is to a 12 minute instrumental that features the bass. not that i rank up with these guys or anything, but i'm really proud of it.
good luck, and i envy you - i remember how much fun it was to discover the "giants" when i first did, you're in for a lot of fun
. here's some cds that will definitely broaden your horizons ...with jaco : (jazz oriented)
jaco pastorius - jaco pastorius,
weather report - heavy weather
pat metheny - bright sized life
joni mitchell - mingus, heijira
with stanley clarke : (jazz oriented)
stanley clarke - school days, i wanna play for you.
return to forever (with chick corea) - romantic warrior
with victor wooten : (jazz oriented)
bela fleck - ufo tofu, bela fleck and the flectones - rockin out with banjos.
victor wooten - show of hands, what did he say?
with stu hamm : solo bass and rockish ensembles
stu hamm - radio free albemuth (sp?), kings of sleep
with kai eckhardt :
various early vital information discs, with steve smith.
as for jeff berlin, he's a mod here, has his own forum, so you can ask him what to listen to of his to blow your socks off.
most of these guys play what could be considered "jazz" and so it might not be your cup of tea, musically, but the skills and talents of the bass players should not be overlooked - there's much you could learn from each of these guys.
as for rock players, check out some of the following..
geddy lee - any rush album really, but particularly moving pictures, permanent waves, hold your fire.
billy sheehan - david lee roth's first solo album, eat em and smile.
steve harris - any iron maiden album is going to feature him kick a$$, but especially piece of mind (to tame a land was always an a$$ kicker when we used to play it in my old cover band back in the day) and powerslave.
les claypool - primus - grab any primus, there's happening playing on them all.
oh, and you asked about my playing, the link in my sig is to a 12 minute instrumental that features the bass
. not that i rank up with these guys or anything, but i'm really proud of it.good luck, and i envy you - i remember how much fun it was to discover the "giants" when i first did, you're in for a lot of fun
