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Do you consider your self "good"?

Do you consider yourself "good"?

  • Yes

    Votes: 75 52.1%

  • No

    Votes: 69 47.9%
  • Total voters
    144
#41
I consider myself above average, especially for my age. I'm friends with 6 other bassists, 4 of which are my age, the rest are older by at least 3 years (and have at least that much more experience then I do). Only 1 of them is notably better then me. Everyone else is at or below my skill level.
 
#42
I've been playing for a very long time by most standards, I get paid on a regular basis and yes, by most standards I'd say I'm good. No point in pretending otherwise. OTOH knowing what I don't know is what keeps this instrument fascinating to me. I know the only hindrance to getting to the next level is me. I love playing bass and I think that's been key to my development over the years. By the same token, simple procrastination is why I'm where I am now instead of further ahead... no point in making excuses. I'm good... but I could be a lot better. IMO of course.
 
#43
cheezewiz said:
I'm a competent "band" player. I can't solo to save my life. After seeing some of the players at the Bowlus Bass Borg Blowout, it is entirely possible I may suck!
Click to expand...

Same here, without my band I am lost....I REALLY wish I could do what you're able to do with the quick fingerstyle! I know some wank chops, but you don't bring out the rump roast when filet mingnon is being served.

Listening to mikebass, vic, and countless others over at Toms, I have no idea where to even begin. Probably doesn't help that my playing plateaued about 19 years ago.
 
#45
Tim Cole said:
Same here, without my band I am lost....I REALLY wish I could do what you're able to do with the quick fingerstyle! I know some wank chops, but you don't bring out the rump roast when filet mingnon is being served.

Listening to mikebass, vic, and countless others over at Toms, I have no idea where to even begin. Probably doesn't help that my playing plateaued about 19 years ago.
Click to expand...

Don't let Tim fool ya..he's a damn good player! He can do stuff I don't dream of trying.
 
#49
I'd say I'm good. I've got a good handle on fingerstyle, slap & pop, picking, tapping, etc. And I can play in a variety of musical settings, use effects tastefully, etc.

But Victor Wooten I am not. ;)

I can't double thumb like him. And I can't shred like Sheehan. But I don't think that makes me (or anyone else like me) less good.

Graeme
 
#51
I suck.:crying:
... because I never took any lessons and now with 2 kids and a job I don't make time for lessons.
I overcome this in 2 ways.
First of all, I play in a band that I formed and for which I write almost all the lyrics (so they can't kick me from the band :) )
Second of all, I am the hardest working man in the band. That is: at first practice of a new song, I will only play rootnotes. Then I go home a find a bassline which I try out the next rehersal (it usually sucks :rolleyes: ) Then over the next weeks I will progressively work out a good bassline for the song. So, in the end, my basslines sound OK. But I will never be able to jam or solo. Thank god we have a great guitarist for that.
 
#53
I guess i'd like to call myself "good" but who knows.

i like to think i have good time and good groove even if i haven't been working on my chops much recently... but we all have soooo much to work on.... i'd like to think i have good enough aural, (studied classical piano, and still working on jazz theory, etc) that i could fill in on a variety of gigs or styles and fit in... i dunno if that makes me good, i'd like to think it makes me employable or something :p

but look at a guy like rocco prestia, he does one thing, but so amazingly well, he's defined a style...
 
#54
cheezewiz said:
I'm a competent "band" player. I can't solo to save my life. After seeing some of the players at the Bowlus Bass Borg Blowout, it is entirely possible I may suck!
Click to expand...

+1 I feel the same way, Pat!

But I'm comfortable with that (as I know you are, too). :smug:
 
#55
When I listen to my bass peers I always wish I could do what they do, play the way they play. OTOH, I regularly have other bass players come up to me and compliment me on the way I play.

I think that after so many years of playing my style is what it is .... I sound like me, regardless of the bass I'm playing or the group I'm playing with. I work a lot, so I guess I don't completely stink, but there is a lot of room for improvement ..... :cool:
 
#56
Well, I don't think I absolutely suck anymore. I can usually hold my own in most jam or band situations, but I don't consider myself good. Barely competent is probably closer to the truth. Though for some reason people tell me I'm good after I play with them or they hear me. I just don't think any of them know anything about music. lol... :D
 

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