guitarrist WAAAAAAAAY better

My advice would be to stay with it as long as you can. You will learn so much from people that seem 'out of your league." Ask questions, ask advice on techniques, and don't get frustrated if you can't get something. Hopefully he is willing to help you out when you need it.

 

Take tips from him!!!

 

Stick with it and work hard to get better. You won't improve much by playing with bad players.

 

If he is willing to play with you despite him being way better consider it a good thing.
There is lots to learn, and playing with better musicians is a good way to go about it.

 

You, my friend, have stumbled upon the dream scenario. Learn all that you can, and play till your fingers fall off. Leech off of his wisdom, and don't drive him away if you can help it. I was in the same position but I was the gui**** and the bass player was the insanely good one. Fundamentally shaped me as a musician, and I still play with the cat to this day.

 

You will never learn more than playing in a band with musicians that are better than you.

 

Don't be overly impressed with the fact that he shreds. My last guitar player was a damn good soloist, but his rhythm was terrible. We swapped instruments once just as a goof, and I was a much better guitar player than he was a bassist. I don't know exactly what point I am trying to make here other than, if you can hold down a solid groove while he solos on top of it, then you are fine.

I bought my first bass a month before I started jamming with guys that have been doing it for over 30 years. I learned a ton from those guys, and it didn't take long to become a pretty solid bassist. If it wouldn't have been for that experience, I wouldn't be nearly the player I am now. There are things you can only learn by playing in a band situation.

 

What type of songs are you playing? Is it more of a jam/improv, or structured songs.

If your playing covers or originals that are finished and/or have a solid structure, and I would recommend practicing those songs at home so you can get up to speed.

If you're doing more jam/improv stuff, that can be harder for newer musicians to get, as it takes a while to develop your ear and your feel for different rhythms. Maybe write down/record some of your jam ideas, and again practice at home so you can get better at them.

Either way, stick with it, because as the others have said, playing with better musicians is a great way to build your skills.

 

Good point here. There are those guitarists that can shred all day, but can't really play a song, or play with others, since their timing is "unique".

 

+1 ^^^ This.

And record so you can take it home and work on it.

 

Michale Anthony kind of just hung back and let Eddie V H rip away. look at it that way. Imagine if Geddy Lee was in the same band as Eddie VH - that might not have worked.

 

Or if Les ended up joining Metallica after Cliff died.

 

I can think of a lot of guitar players that are serious shredders, and the bass part on their songs is often very simple. Holding down a solid groove while they wail can be a very popular combination. This doesn't mean that you cannot ramp up your part as you get better, but I wouldn't feel like you're not holding your part if you're not playing 197th notes at 276 BPM.

 

Keep doing what you do the only way to get better is to play with better players also lots of time guys who shred are good at only a few choice tricks and after hang in with them for awhile yould pick up their tendencies and not be as intimidated.

So yeah man hang in there and play your best

 

Ask the guitar player how you're doing?

 

Guitarists often prefer a bass player under their level so they don't have to deal with Jaco wannabes.If he doesn't complain, you're good.

The opposite situation is a lot more difficult to manage especially in a rock contest because it really shows when the bassist takes over musically.

 

I'd say all the other guys in my band are better than I am, not at playing the bass, but comparatively on their own instruments, and also in terms of music theory and such. I'm happy they tolerate me, I can at least put down a solid enough fundation and not mess up noticeably. We get compliments, people stomp their feet and dance at shows, so I can say I jell well enough with the drummer and fill a function without standing out with any fireworks or solos. If you get a chance to play with more skilled people, jump at the chance. I learn stuff every time we rehearse and play and I'm pushed to improve so I'm not lowering the overall quality of what we do.

 

I think no-one should be following someone else, you should both know where you are going and play it together.

If anything I'd however say it's really the bass player who is often leading the music; just a few notes or a short run can build up to the next solo, go from verse to chorus, etc. People very seldom realize it though, but it's a powerful thing to be able to lead the band and the audience or change the color of the chords with just a few notes. At least that's the theory, I'm not fully there yet.

 

It's like tennis and golf - there is ALWAYS someone better and worse than you.

Treat it like "paying it forward" ..... there will come a day when you're playing with someone who's not as good as you. When that day comes, think of the guitarist you're playing with now, and it will all fall into place

Mike