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Does anyone else here get discouraged when listening to an amazing player?

M

MacaroniShrek

Mar 18, 2022
115
176
#1
I know this is an unhealthy thought process, but I feel a mixture of inspiration, awe, and discouragement when I hear a fantastic bass player.

The intensity of each of these feelings will vary from time to time and sometimes discouragement will be the largest of the three feelings. This is very apparent in situations when I see a 10 year old who is way better than me, or a multi instrumentalist who casually picks up a bass and shreds.

I know this isn't a healthy mindset, and what I am seeing is the finished product. I don't see the countless times where they mess up, or all of the takes before that one.

Can anyone relate?
 
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#3
You have to make a distinction (and BTW, you NEVER let someone else's playing de-horse you, never!) between seriously accomplished players that with some (or a lot) of work, you could play their parts in those tunes.

Past that, you have God-given Genius-level artists (the Jacos, the Stanley Clarkes, etc.) that create on simply a different plane than us mere mortals. You can learn their parts, but you'll never think or see things as they do.

That's the difference. As a young man, I was bowled over (and frankly, intimidated) by prog rock. How on Earth could I learn Squire, Geddy Lee, Greg Lake, etc. I was pleasantly surprised that with a LOT of work, I could play 'Roundabout' or 'Starship Trooper', etc.

Remember, in most cases, whatever another man did, me or you can do it too, although probably with a lot more elbow grease. In some cases, a LOT more.
 
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#5
Not really. I don't play slap / pop style, beat on my strings with my thumbs and rarely play fingerstyle (some songs require it) So, I really don't care what those guys are doing. I just play hard and fast and don't care who is 'the best', who people consider is the best or what kind of basses people play. I can respect other styles, but as long as I have a good tone and my biorhythms are on, everything else is intellectual gymnastics, that I am not interested in. I was never a mean competitor.

It's like watching the long jump, in the olympics and letting it drive you nuts, that you cannot do it as well. It is what it is! Some dudes are just built for different styles. Choose a style, excel at it (the best you can) and focus.
 
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#6
I can relate. When I see a 10-year-old with amazing skills, I'm in awe and happy for them, but a small part of me (making me a small person in that moment) feels discouraged. I have to remind myself that I've never dedicated myself to practicing any musical instrument with the intensity it deserves and that most people, even the young ones, have practiced, and practiced, and practiced to get that good. I think my discouragement is more disappointment in myself. But, at 55, I'm not trying to join a band or do anything beyond playing in my bedroom for my own fun.

TLDR: I feel you and empathize, but think the discouragement is more about us than the player we're watching. :-)
 
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#7
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#14
If the super talented player is playing music I really dig, I'll work on it. Start with some of their easier work to get a feel for their playing, their habits, etc.. and tackle it. If it's music I don't care for or some dude, kid, whatever sitting their slapping/shredding away with no context, I probably won't ever listen to them again.
 
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#15
Nope.
Every 12 year old skateboard rider can land tricks Tony Hawk invented.
Every 12 year old shredder can play licks EVH invented.
No reason a bass player in 2024 can’t stand on the shoulders of Jaco or someone else.

That’s how talent and skill work. It’s an evolutionary process.

If some kid puts the effort into playing once they’ve learned the basics theor jumping in point is higher than it was a couple decades ago.

Lots of kids write better graphic programs than Sega did when you were a kid.
 
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#17
I don't, although that might possibly stem in part from the fact that all I've ever cared about is being able to write music that I like, so all I really "need" is enough technical skill and musical knowledge to come up with songs or bass parts that would work for a band situation that suits me and then be able to play them live or in a recording session. Anything else on top of that is just a bonus and helps expand the boundaries of things I can write and keeps things fresh.
 
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#18
When I was a young teenager, yes I was intimidated by tremendous bass players.

I sold my Sears bass after listening to the song Friday from Joe Jackson when I was 16 !

Now ? Don’t care anymore. I play what I’m able to play and what brings me the most enjoyment.

Don’t get me wrong, the Clark, Wooten, King and so on are awesome but they don’t have my "get the hell out of that p bass" attitude I have on stage !
 
#19
The first time I heard Billy Sheehan I remember the thought "I might as well give up now." crossing my mind ever so fleetingly. Then I sat down and figured out how to do a tiny bit of it and felt better. The first time I heard Five G was pretty awe inspiring. I also remember hearing this amazing bass on the radio once in the 80's and thinking "Not another one!". Fortunately, it turned out to be Geddy on a new Rush song I hadn't heard, so technically it wasn't another one. :smug:
 
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