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How do you know you don't suck?

#61
Just for the record:

I wasn't asking in the original question how I could find out whether I suck or not. I was just wondering what you all thought about yourselves. Some people got that - others I think may have misunderstood. As I said before, I know I don't suck cuz of my 8 basses, one being a Warwick. Other reasons I know I'm a pretty capable bass player are -

1. I've never been presented with any material from a band that I couldn't handle.

2. I've never heard anyone say anything even remotely sounding like "I don't really think he's good enough".

3. Of the 25 or so bands I've auditioned for in the past 5 years, I've been asked to play in about 20 of them.

4. I've been hired by bands on the spot even when they had others lined up to audition.

5. I've been complemented many times by musicians and non musicians.

6. I know I suck on the keyboards and at singing - and I'm totally confident behind a bass guitar.

7. Nino Brown has heard me and says I'm good.

8. Usul listened to some Nerve clips and thinks I'm good. (even though The Nerve isn't the best representation of my playing skills)

There's other reasons too, but I think that's enough. The things that keep me humble are:

1. The fact that I still CAN'T rip off about 3/4 of anything Jaco plays.

2. I can't read music to save my life.

3. There are some latin rythems that can still throw me.

4. Jazz loses me.

All in all I feel pretty good about my playing. I know it's what I do best in my life, yet I know I've got tons of room to grow - which makes me happy cuz it gives me lots of motivation. :)
 
#62
Originally posted by Joe Nerve
I was just wondering what you all thought about yourselves. ........

6. I know I suck on the keyboards and at singing - and I'm totally confident behind a bass guitar.


There's other reasons too, but I think that's enough. The things that keep me humble are:

1. The fact that I still CAN'T rip off about 3/4 of anything Jaco plays.

2. I can't read music to save my life.

3. There are some latin rythems that can still throw me.

4. Jazz loses me.

All in all I feel pretty good about my playing. I know it's what I do best in my life, yet I know I've got tons of room to grow - which makes me happy cuz it gives me lots of motivation. :)
Click to expand...

I feel amost exactly the same as the last paragraph. About 4 years ago I started to address all of the 1-4 copied just above that last paragraph and how far I get on each of these 4 thing is how I assess my progress (or why I don't suck!). That is -
1. How much of Jaco's stuff can I play now?
2. How good is my sight reading?
3. Are there any Latin rhythms I can't get yet?
4. Do any Jazz tunes "lose" me now?

I must say that I feel I 'm doing pretty well on each of these, but as Joe says, I also realise how far there is to go on each of these and how much more to study - which is what keeps me going.

Like on #4 when I started playing Jazz, I got lost (lost the form) loads of times; but now I virtually never do and am seen as the most realiable person in any band or group to tell the other musicians "where we are". BUT - I am never satisfied by my walking lines and the distance between me and someone like Paul Chambers is so vast, I'm not sure I'll ever get near - but you've got to have something to aim for...

I copied Joe's #6 from the other list as I also know that I suck on Keyboards! But I have been asked by bands to play keyboards for them and have done so on a few occasions and this made me even more certian that I wanted to be a bass player. But IMO this shows that if people ask you to play for them, it doesn't mean you don't suck! ;)
 
#63
Originally posted by Joe Nerve

2. I can't read music to save my life.
3. There are some latin rythems that can still throw me.
4. Jazz loses me.
All in all I feel pretty good about my playing. I know it's what I do best in my life, yet I know I've got tons of room to grow - which makes me happy cuz it gives me lots of motivation. :)
Click to expand...

...are you practicing what you don't know? ;)
Whatever, your attitude seems healthy!
 
#64
I think I am at best, mediocre. Other musicians think I'm not. I've been with the same drummer 16 years. I can't slap, tap or pop. I have a long way to go. I think even mediocre bassists can have some success, and with a self effacing attitude, you always try to improve, thereby theoretically getting better.
 
#65
Originally posted by Joe Nerve
7. Nino Brown has heard me and says I'm good.

There's other reasons too, but I think that's enough. The things that keep me humble are:

1. The fact that I still CAN'T rip off about 3/4 of anything Jaco plays.

2. I can't read music to save my life.

3. There are some latin rythems that can still throw me.

4. Jazz loses me.

All in all I feel pretty good about my playing. I know it's what I do best in my life, yet I know I've got tons of room to grow - which makes me happy cuz it gives me lots of motivation. :)
Click to expand...
:). I couldn't of said it better myself. I feel aside form not knowing 1-4 I am still a good bassist. The 2 situations that I am in right now (Theorem-originals & jamming w/some guys on covers) I am an extremely excellent bassist. But I watched a Jaco instructional video a while back & this was the 1st time I really listened to his playing & I was AMAZED @ how PHENOMONAL he was!!!!!! I know I have much more to improve, but I have come a LONG way since I started in '91.
 
#66
Originally posted by Joe Nerve
Just for the record:

I wasn't asking in the original question how I could find out whether I suck or not. I was just wondering what you all thought about yourselves. Some people got that - others I think may have misunderstood. As I said before, I know I don't suck cuz of my 8 basses, one being a Warwick. Other reasons I know I'm a pretty capable bass player are -

1. I've never been presented with any material from a band that I couldn't handle.

2. I've never heard anyone say anything even remotely sounding like "I don't really think he's good enough".

3. Of the 25 or so bands I've auditioned for in the past 5 years, I've been asked to play in about 20 of them.

4. I've been hired by bands on the spot even when they had others lined up to audition.

5. I've been complemented many times by musicians and non musicians.

6. I know I suck on the keyboards and at singing - and I'm totally confident behind a bass guitar.

7. Nino Brown has heard me and says I'm good.

8. Usul listened to some Nerve clips and thinks I'm good. (even though The Nerve isn't the best representation of my playing skills)

There's other reasons too, but I think that's enough. The things that keep me humble are:

1. The fact that I still CAN'T rip off about 3/4 of anything Jaco plays.

2. I can't read music to save my life.

3. There are some latin rythems that can still throw me.

4. Jazz loses me.

All in all I feel pretty good about my playing. I know it's what I do best in my life, yet I know I've got tons of room to grow - which makes me happy cuz it gives me lots of motivation. :)
Click to expand...

Cool beans bro. Sorry for teasing ya earlier... It (your earlier post) just sounded funny. Your reasoning sounds good to me. :) Anyone who knows that they have room to grow and is trying to get better, anyone who plays as hard as he/she can instead of just "getting by", in my opinion, doesn't suck.
 
#67
Originally posted by Joe Nerve
I coulda said "how do you know you're a good player?", but I figgered I'd get more attention this way...- how do you know?...
Click to expand...

I dunno, I guess because this is the first real opportunity I've had since Friday morning to see this thread. In the meantime, I didn't get kicked out of rehearsals and people paid to hear music I participated in. So, it must be at least acceptable.

But then I listen to Oteil Burbridge, Scott Ambush, John Entwistle, Mark King, and that caliber, and I have to keep thinking, "Doin't compare yourself, don't compare yourself. don't..........." :rolleyes:
 
#68
To me, playing is a on going learning expirence. Ya gotta have a good foundation in the basics. All that really matters is to play the best you can within your limitations at the present time and keep the hunger to learn alive. If you can play songs correctly, play in time, and look good doing it, then the battle of suckiness is overcome. :)
 
#71
Originally posted by David-Adler

But anyways, I usually get huged by girls I don´t know after a gig... is that a good sign ?

David
Click to expand...

Well it might be... BUT I have to ask a couple of questions first.

Is she a relative? (Mom, Sister, Aunt...)

Is she a relationship? (Girlfriend, Wife...)

If you answered no to the first two questions, you are two thirds there!!!

Final and most important question...

Is female your preference?

If you answered yes, then YES INDEED, It is a good sign... Otherwise... keep practicing!!

:D
 
#73
Originally posted by David-Adler
...(Usually I´m getting hugged by about five girls, one is my girlfriend, one is a friend, and the three others usually just come up to me and I´m like: "Who the f*** are you ??")
Yes, female is what I want....David
Click to expand...

David - Here's a scary thought. I was cleaning up and packing up last night at a club and this woman comes up to me and asks, "Would you mind if I prayed for you right here?" :confused: (BTW, we are most definitely not a Christian band, not even spiritual like Creed).

I didn't know what to think, (other than I hoped it wasn't because of my playing). So I told her go ahead if it makes her feel good. I'm rolling up cable and she's saying a prayer aloud for me.

On the way home, I checked the rear view mirror to make sure she wasn't following me.
 
#74
I kinda look at it this way... As long as other musicians who I respect and have played with in previous bands,be they drummers, guitarisits, keyboardists, whatever, continue to call me for a gig or long term thing, I can continue to have confindence in my abilities. I'm assuming they must appreciate whatever it is I did at one time and will do for them now. If someone you consider to be a good player wants you around, he must think you're decent too. If nobody calls you, you might wanna figure out why.:)
 
#75
Originally posted by rickbass1


David - Here's a scary thought. I was cleaning up and packing up last night at a club and this woman comes up to me and asks, "Would you mind if I prayed for you right here?" :confused: (BTW, we are most definitely not a Christian band, not even spiritual like Creed).

I didn't know what to think, (other than I hoped it wasn't because of my playing). So I told her go ahead if it makes her feel good. I'm rolling up cable and she's saying a prayer aloud for me.

On the way home, I checked the rear view mirror to make sure she wasn't following me.
Click to expand...
That must have been REALLY creepy!!
 
#76
Originally posted by rickbass1


David - Here's a scary thought. I was cleaning up and packing up last night at a club and this woman comes up to me and asks, "Would you mind if I prayed for you right here?" :confused: (BTW, we are most definitely not a Christian band, not even spiritual like Creed).

I didn't know what to think, (other than I hoped it wasn't because of my playing). So I told her go ahead if it makes her feel good. I'm rolling up cable and she's saying a prayer aloud for me.

On the way home, I checked the rear view mirror to make sure she wasn't following me.
Click to expand...

Sorry for making you uncomfortable... I didn't mean any harm. That was me in drag...and yes, I did follow you. :D
 

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