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Have you ever...

#21
I do not. I do not think I ever have. If the part is right and the execution of the line is right, I feel good about it.

For the most part, when I listen to myself play, I am listening for an area that can be improved. I occasionally see bass players that really have it together. I always feel like I am not quite there.

My band members might have a different, more positive sounding opinion on my playing than I do.

I'll leave any opinions of how good I am to them.
 
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#22
I don't like to rely on my own self-assessment because :


perceived_knowledge01.gif




Lots of people fall on either side of the spectrum though :

ability.png
 
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#24
Yeah, I sometimes tell myself "I'm pretty darned good ... compared to where I was a few years ago". But you all know the story about walking around the corner and always finding someone better than you. For that reason it makes no sense to compare how good I am to someone else - my only goal is to maximize whatever talents I have.
 
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#25
no
I knew it would be a grind going at this so relatively late in life.
My perception has grown more subtle with age, so it's unlikely I'd ever come to the conclusion that I'm pretty darn good.

with all the Grateful Dead hoo hah all weekend I happened to listen to the fabled 2/28/69 concert last Thursday evening.
Mr Lesh takes no prisoners that evening.
For a few days I had to ponder why I was even trying to play bass, but I got over that.
I am able to say I'm pretty darn persistent.
 
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#30
I feel a little bit of "pride" when I impress myself. Like when I do something I used to think was too hard or if you did them, it meant you were pretty good. If I get comfortable doing those things I feel able, if that makes sense. But then I fall back into meh insecurities :ninja:
 
#33
Not anymore.

I've gotten to a point where my playing really isn't growing, and that can be frustrating, but I try to remind myself that musicians don't keep getting better forever.

I'm not a virtuoso, but I'm good enough to play 95% of the music that I'd ever want to play.

Still, I catch my ego vying for attention sometimes, and THAT is when I'll play the crap that embarrasses me when I listen to it afterward.
 
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#36
Umm... Have I ever stepped back and thought, "Hey, I'm good!" Yes.

And then a few minutes later I'll be on Youtube and see a vid of some 12-year old kid in a basement in Armenia with nothing more than a stool, a Soviet-era ham radio converted into an amp and a Sears bass guitar with two strings double Yngwie solos with one hand while using the other hand to do sign language explaining the musical parts for any deaf viewers and I think, "I should sell shoes. Tennis shoes, kids shoes, ladies shoes. Yeah, shoes."
 
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#37
Nah, don't think I'll allow myself that level of back-patting, that's just how my awesome brain works.

However, when I have a really ON band practice or come up with a cool riff/song idea I remember back to being a 16 year old kid and realize how far I've come.
 
#40
mat666 said:
Showing off your humility make the exact opposite effect...respectfully just so you know.

(Unles you were joking of course)
Click to expand...

Yeah, it was meant as a joke.

There's nothing wrong with knowing your true worth. In fact, I think that is admirable. It's not the same as being an egomaniac.

Back in the 80s and 90s I played with multiple bands, multiple gigs, was always practicing with others or, if not, on my own. I got to feeling I was pretty good.

I think it was Smeet who said it's all about context. In some areas, I may be above average. Up against real heavy hitters I would just look ridiculous.

I just always hope to be good enough for what I want and need to do.
 
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