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How bad is my playing?

#62
Watch a few Andy Irvine videos.

Does he look like a rock star? Would you hire him?

Is he fun and engaging?

Ok, he’s got a hip look. Not a hair farmer, but solidly hip. Rock star looks?

And he’s got groove for miles, he’s funny, and friendly. Looks like the kind of guy who would help a band light up a room.

Without knowing what the auditioning band is doing, it’s hard to know just how far off the mark the OP video went.

I saved my six string until I knew folks. First impressions, you want a Fender shaped object, 5 strings max, (4 is safer), and a solid grip on the material they play. And make it a fun time, connect and smile. The solemn noodling invites the Spinal Tap remarks.

I think the response was totally tongue in cheek.
 
#63
Muttleybass said:
Nice technique... Some fancy melodic freeform jazz playing. However, you may be playing a bass, but it's not really bass playing. I don't feel any solidity or groove at all. Bass should support and drive the band, even in jazz. In the video you are playing bass as a lead instrument. I doubt there are many bands that require that.
Click to expand...

It's actually neither freeform or jazz: it's a solo from one of the more prominent prog metal bands around today ;)
 
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#64
Blakarian said:
this is actually very helpful, I'll need to work on some of your points, except the one about the fact that I don't look like a rockstar, I don't wanna look like a rockstar :)
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"Rockstar" is subjective: even Dan Briggs has a cool look, though it's definitely not stereotypical "rockstar".
 
#65
Blakarian said:
Hello fellow bassists! Recently I've responded to a band looking for a bassist, they asked me to make a video of me playing something and send it to them, I did and they told me I'm not good enough to play in their band, I've uploaded the video I sent them on youtube because I'd like some more experienced bassist to see what I'm doing wrong and tell me how to better myself! Could anyone tell me what I'm doing wrong? this is the link to the video:
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Your video has NOTHING to do with playing bass in a band. It is kind of a boring solo bass piece which doesn't show off ANY groove at all.

Assuming you want to play in a cover band, and you can actually groove, you should make a video of yourself playing along with some songs similar to what they play (or if it is original a video playing some songs by similar sounding bands)
 
#66
lfmn16 said:
+1

He knows some scales and some arpeggios. That's NOT theory. It sounded more like random noodling than any kind of coherent piece constructed by someone that knows theory.
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It's actually a cover of a solo piece from someone who very much knows his theory ;)

See the YouTube clip above
 
#67
Blakarian said:
Hello fellow bassists! Recently I've responded to a band looking for a bassist, they asked me to make a video of me playing something and send it to them, I did and they told me I'm not good enough to play in their band, I've uploaded the video I sent them on youtube because I'd like some more experienced bassist to see what I'm doing wrong and tell me how to better myself! Could anyone tell me what I'm doing wrong? this is the link to the video:
Click to expand...


Nice playing. I take it that they re a band looking for someone to hold down the bottom. Maybe play some songs in the genre of what the band is doing.
 
#68
obimark said:
Your video has NOTHING to do with playing bass in a band. It is kind of a boring solo bass piece which doesn't show off ANY groove at all.

Assuming you want to play in a cover band, and you can actually groove, you should make a video of yourself playing along with some songs similar to what they play (or if it is original a video playing some songs by similar sounding bands)
Click to expand...
I’d be willing to bet, the OP isn’t looking for a cover band and judging by all his subsequent posts, I’d be surprised if this had anything to do with looking for a band at all.
 
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#73
Matt’s post was helpful. Without any context, we don’t know what’s going on.

I’ve never heard of Viridian, but now I’ll go check em out.

Op should check out some of MDBass’s videos over on the Dingwall owners thread. I’d say that’s more like what an audition video should look like.

Seems OP has disappeared. We should remember that even constructive, well meaning criticism and suggestions are best served in very small doses.

This was like turning on a fire hydrant for a sip of water.
 
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#74
"....not good enough..." is an improper response. You just may not be the bassist they want or need, which also could mean that the band is not a good fit for you! It's a two-way street. Be grateful some doors get closed! I can't detect anything you're doing "wrong" from the clip you provided. You sound pretty good to me! Keep practicing and don't be discouraged!
 
#78
singlemalt said:
Matt’s post was helpful. Without any context, we don’t know what’s going on.

I’ve never heard of Viridian, but now I’ll go check em out.

Op should check out some of MDBass’s videos over on the Dingwall owners thread. I’d say that’s more like what an audition video should look like.

Seems OP has disappeared. We should remember that even constructive, well meaning criticism and suggestions are best served in very small doses.

This was like turning on a fire hydrant for a sip of water.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the kind words my friend :)

The band is actually called Between the Buried and Me: the song is Viridian.

Most of what they do is MUCH more aggressive than "Viridian" ;)





 

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