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How do you know you don't suck?

#41
I gotta agree with Cornbread here.. I've never told myself that I sucked. Not once. Now, I'm not going to put myself up on a pedestal for how well I can play, but there's no way I'm going to crash my self esteem like that man..
 
#42
Originally posted by john turner


well, i own more than 8 basses, but none of them are warwicks.

what does that mean? :D
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If the sum of the strings on ones 8 basses exceeds the sum of the strings on the average guitarists 7 guitars - then that bassist does not suck - even in event that none of the said basses are manufactured by Warwick.
 
#46
Well,I do suck.But I suck much much less than when I started bass 9 months ago.I generally know when I am in kek/playing the right notes.

Some freinds/family members praise me when I play for them,but we all know they are biased. :) Bottom line:I am getting better and am proud of what I have accomplished so far.I do know I could be fuerther along if I had a teacher but I can`t swing it at this particular time. :(



JT- I got to hear your song "Residue" I was blown away brother!Makes me want to learn the 7 heavan string some day! :)

Joe Nerve-So far I have only listened to the samples of your bands tunes but you guys are as good as anything I hear on the radio! :D
 
#49
Originally posted by john turner
thanks, oh bass of the pillar :D
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...I get that somewhat arcane reference, JT; good one! ;)


Personally, I don't care what others say; rule #1: "Thou shalt not bulls*** thyself".
Being hired by others to play their music is usually a good sign(there's that disclaimer, though). ;)
...of course, it may be 'cause you got a "cool bass" or the "right look" or even the "right body parts".

How 'bout this; true story, too. Somehow you're in a position of auditioning for a group(guitar, drums, & vocals)that wants to record their "original" tunes.
Said individuals talk up a good game; so, you show up with your stuff & jam to, oh...Bad Company, ZZ Top, Stone Temple Pilots, etc. The kinda s*** I may have known in a different lifetime, definitely NOT "original" music. Anyway, IMHO, they ain't happenin' at all...& whadda they say about me? Told everyone I sucked big time! :D
So, it's all relative. Ask yourself this, though-
Can you handle/improvise a simple 12-bar Blues played as a
1)Rock/straight 1/8th note feel
2)Swing
3)Shuffle
4)Latin
5)Funk(18th note or 1/16th note)
6)R&B
7)etc

Too, are you able to converse(convey something "musical"), in real time, with others? Are you listening to the others & adapting to what's goin' on around you? That's just a couple things I listen/look for in others when I play...that's me, though.

Lump-
...thanks(I think).
Glad you liked that displacement tune, too.
 
#50
Originally posted by JimK
Lump-...thanks(I think).
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You're the man; you've been giving me lessons and didn't even know it (uh, the check's in the mail :)). The main thing I don't like about that site is having to wade through the lessons to find the ones posted by someone who is actually qualified to give them. There are a jillion people posting "lessons" on there, but unfortunately only a handful know what they're doing. And near as I can tell, you and maybe one or two other guys are the only ones who know what the word "funk" really means.

Thanks!
 
#51
Originally posted by Joe Nerve
I don't suck cause I own 8 basses and one of them is a Warwick.
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That Might be a reason that you do suck LOL!!! Just Kidding. In that case I must be AWESOME!!!! I have 13 basses & 6 are Spectors!!!!!

Originally posted by cornbread
Really? The goal is to impress people? That's news to me. Also, just because someone doesn't trash their own playing and say that they suck doesn't mean they're egotistical. I think saying "I suck" is really harsh and negative. If you know you aren't that great, just work at it. Don't put yourself down.
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Joking aside, I've heard you play & I think your real good. You don't have to please others & people telling you that you're good could sometime be someone lying/being nice. I know I'm good cause I can play what I hear in my head. I might not be the most technichally, theoretical bassist, but I'm good!!!!! You know you're good from inside!!!!!

Originally posted by fretless5


I am an egotistical Son of a Bitch (so much so that I don't abbreviate it). I'm not great, I know my limitations, but I don't suck.

But I still have tons and tons to learn. The day I don't I will be worried.
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Very well said. I couldn't of said it better myself!!!!!

Originally posted by Marty Forrer
You know you dont suck when other people ask you to play with them.
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That is not really true!!!! If that band has been looking for a bassist for a long time, they might settle for second best.

Originally posted by john turner


well, i own more than 8 basses, but none of them are warwicks.

what does that mean? :D
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That means you gotta get the originator!!!!! Get a Spector NS-7, NS-8, NS-9, etc!!!!! Just kidding!!!!
 
#52
I always find it good to check up on myself and actually sit down to asses where I am.

I know that I don't suck, cause people taht don't suck tell me I don't suck, plus I am 17 so I have a lot of time to get un-suck, in the event that I do suck.

Another thing, a trumpet player once told me while giving advice on auditioning, "only show them what you can do, not any of what you can't do" so, roughtly translated, never show people your weaknesses, only play at gigs what you know you can play well, then you won't have to hear about people saying "did you hear him mess up that one lick..."
 
#53
It seems to me that if you play public gigs, you do want to impress your audience...well, maybe "impress" is too strong a word, but you certainly need to please them. And even if all you do is jam with buddies in your garage, you'd need to please them or your jam sessions will soon be ended or continue, but without you.

To say you playing only to please yourself, must mean you are playing alone at home. And that is OK. That is pretty much what I do now anyway. So I play at home and if I enjoy myself I am glad, but if I feel I am playing badly, then I feel disatisfied and there are days when my playing does seem to suck to me.

But I think if you plan to play for an audience, one of your objectives should be to play for their enjoyment. Otherwise, why play for an audience? Anyway, when I played for audiences, I and my bandmates wanted the audience to be impressed and like our music enough to want to see us play again and be willing to pay to see us play.

jo
 
#57
Originally posted by JasonOldsted
It seems to me that if you play public gigs, you do want to impress your audience...well, maybe "impress" is too strong a word, but you certainly need to please them. And even if all you do is jam with buddies in your garage, you'd need to please them or your jam sessions will soon be ended or continue, but without you.

To say you playing only to please yourself, must mean you are playing alone at home. And that is OK. That is pretty much what I do now anyway. So I play at home and if I enjoy myself I am glad, but if I feel I am playing badly, then I feel disatisfied and there are days when my playing does seem to suck to me.

But I think if you plan to play for an audience, one of your objectives should be to play for their enjoyment. Otherwise, why play for an audience? Anyway, when I played for audiences, I and my bandmates wanted the audience to be impressed and like our music enough to want to see us play again and be willing to pay to see us play.

jo
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I play my heart out @ gigs & put everything I have into every show. I do it for ME!!!! If the audience is entertained (they usually are) great. It make the show SOOO much better. But I don't care what they think. It's an oulet for me to play & it let's out all the happiness, anger, etc feelings, that have built up in my life since I last strapped on my bass. :)
 

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