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

#101
I have wrestled with this on and off, mostly around the time I lost part of a finger 30 years ago. But in retrospect I think it had more to do with the thought of changing/rebirthing my technique than anything else. It was hard to wrap my head around how long it might take and that I would potentially never return to the same skill level.

I have come to grips with the fact that I was never meant to be on the same level as the prodigies. I like to think that I fill a unique role in the lives of the other musicians I interact with and hope that they feel the same way.
 
#102
MacaroniShrek said:
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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We can all relate. Here’s a maxim I live by: don’t compare your musical ability to anyone else's. Compare it to your musical ability yesterday. If you work hard and practice regularly, and in a smart way, you will see progress. I went back to school at age 47 and got a degree in jazz bass performance. I thought I was going to sail through that program. Guess what? I got my a$$ handed to me by players young enough to be my children who could read and play circles around me. It was humbling af. But I just dug in, and practiced efficiently and with intention and did well. I played a gig last night. I was happier than I was on the gig Tuesday night. I’m a better player today than I was a week ago. And a week ago I was better than I was a month ago. It doesn’t matter when you start, how good some 10 year old is compared to you. Just keep doing the work and take pleasure in the progress.
 
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#103
I get more excited when I see a player better than me which happens often :) I also do live sound and get to work with amazing bassists like Doug Wimbish who played at our venue lately. I remember listening to Victor Wooten for the 1st time in the '90s. I decided he is from a different universe and it only made me a little better bassist. I'm nowhere near good, but I'm not quiting anytime soon either :bassist:
 
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#104
It seems like a lot of us compare music to sports, when we possibly would do better comparing it to other art forms.
Try to imagine a great cartoonist being distraught because he couldn't paint like Vermeer or Rembrandt. Maybe, but I doubt it. There's room for individual expression.
It's not like being a pro basketball player who's worried about being cut from the team because other players are better shooters.
 
#107
MacaroniShrek said:
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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Nope
 
#108
Everyone’s mind works differently in this respect, but here’s how mine works. If I hear an excellent player and I can draw a line between where I am and where he or she is, the experience comes off inspirational.

Even if the line is long - if I can say “OK, I sort of see what he’s doing with that note choice” or “that was an interesting lick, I bet I could steal that” then the experience comes off as useful.

On the other hand, now and then I hear or see someone doing something so foreign to me that I’m not able to identify with it. Those experiences are more frustrating than inspirational.

When I was younger I may have had more interest in playing beyond my comprehension because I was a more aspirational, inexperienced player. Now at age 53, I’m pretty good but I am what I am in a general sense.
 
#110
Never get depressed. I love seeing great players live. I usually pick up something that helps me even at my later stage. Even after watching YouTubes of kids 1/3 my age doing bass gymnastics doesn’t faze me. There’s always someone out there who knows something you don’t. Just enjoy your journey.
 
#112
There's ALWAYS going to be someone better than you at something. It's just a fact of life. And I can see where someone might get discouraged seeing some 10 year old shred a piece a music that might've taken you years to be able to play, if you could even play it at all.

I think it really boils down to how much time and effort your putting in. Sure, you'll get those naturally born musical geniuses from time to time. But I'd bet a lot of players are as good as they are from hard work and because they love what they do.

I knew a few younger guys back in the day who were amazing guitarists. But they worked for it. One guy I remember telling me he played 8 hours a day, 5 days a week for 3 or 4 years just to be able to play Van Halen's Eruption.

Music to me is about enjoying yourself and having fun. And if I'm happy with what I play and the way I play it, then that's all that matters!
 
#115
I can only think of three or four auditions where I didn't get the gig and on the flip side , I know for a fact that I have been chosen over players that could blow me away in their sleep ......that's life , don't worry about it . I don't think Duck Dunn or Tommy Shannon ever worried about their skills versus some "hotshot" .
 
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#116
There is a difference between talent and skill. I'm not very talented but I've developed enough skills, over decades of playing, to have lots of fun playing live with other cats, and not be laughed off the stage. It just takes me a while to learn complicated songs.

On the other hand, I was in a band with a 19-year-old once who reeked of talent! He became accomplished on anything he picked up. Bass, guitar, keyboard, drums, and saxophone. I watched him become proficient on all those instruments during the course of our collaboration. Also taught himself to read.

Meanwhile I take 6 weeks to barely learn a Zappa song.
 
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#117
Discouraged? Not really, but there is a sense of "wish I could do that".

I actually went to a show last night to see a band that includes a bassist that I know and has subbed for me in the past. Never really heard him play before. I was blown away. Since we were travelling in the same circles, I just figured we were in the same class, but he was a step or two better than me. It was both humbling and inspiring.
 
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#119
jimmydean said:
I can only think of three or four auditions where I didn't get the gig and on the flip side , I know for a fact that I have been chosen over players that could blow me away in their sleep ......that's life , don't worry about it . I don't think Duck Dunn or Tommy Shannon ever worried about their skills versus some "hotshot" .
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I'm sure that says a lot about you as a person. Obviously you are a likeable and agreeable cat. I'd much rather play with a cool person than a megatalented jerk. I'm sure we've all met a few of those!
 
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