How good am I/how good should I be

[Timmay045]

It's a question im sure pops into every beginner's head; am i making progress, or do I straight up suck.

I've been playing for about 6 months now on a Stagg Bc300 (joy of all joys), and I'm wondering, given my taste in music (rage against the machine & the chili peppers) how well should I be playing right now.

to put things in perspective, one of the more challenging songs I can play is Cochise (not a hard song, but it's fast as far as finger movement goes). I can play almost all of Rage against the machine's songs, I can play Audioslave (at least the ones that don't suck hard), and some of the chilis (under the bridge, I should have lied, nothing that hard). I'm entirely self taught, learning songs from either tabs or picking them up be ear. I usually practice about an hour a night (really, i'm just fooling around with the instrument, but it's better than letting it collect dust).

All that said, am I right where I should be, am I way below and should just give up the instrument, or what?

 

[4bpauly]

obviously, your definition of playing songs well, may differ from mine, but other than that the path you are taking is fine...

learn some songs, build up some facility on the instrument, and i maybe down the road you will want to write your own parts, join a band or learn some more academic musical concepts.

as long as you are having fun, keep it up.

i would, however recommend taking a couple lessons, just to get a few pointers on technique

i know many people have learned on their own, but with bass i believe it is easier to be pointed in the right direction, especially concerning any undue stress you are causing to your wrists and/or fingers.

 

[funkybass4ever]

I used to wonder if i was progressing also with all the hours spent woodshedding. I would learn all of Steve Harris's bass lines from Iron Maiden - but couldn't play them up to speed. like one step forward two steps back.
But I have made recordings of myself every few months for years and can go back in time and now have proof I have progressed- sometimes it is slow but it is something

 

[Atoz]

...
I can play Audioslave (at least the ones that don't suck hard)
...

I see that you don't play any Audioslave.

 

[stflbn]

As far as I'm concerned being 'good' means playing what appropriate and doing it accurately and tastefully.

It has little to do with speed or number of notes played.

 

[baalroo]

As far as I'm concerned being 'good' means playing what appropriate and doing it accurately and tastefully.

It has little to do with speed or number of notes played.

I would refine this to a less subjective state and say being "good" is being able to play what you want to play, how you want to play it, with minimal effort. One man's "tasteful" is another man's bland, boring, ridiculous, over-the-top, etc.

 

[StyleOverShow]

I too have thought on the 'how good' question. I work actively on spanning different genres including straight ahead jazz, pop jazz (converting rock classics into jazz formats but NOT cool jazz), classic rock cover bands and a R&B.

The jazz stuff is perhaps the most challenging in terms of reading, walking and, of course, soloing, but it also has affected my classic rock and R&B chops in terms of phrasing and chording. I feel that I'm much too busy and continue to work on reducing.

The way I measure it is when I am playing and am not aware that I am anywhere else but performing the piece 'in the moment, or zone'. That's when I am "good".

 

[Stumbo]

I suggest adding a metronome and an audio recorder to your practice tools.

See if you can play the tunes you know solo(from memory) at speed and using a metronome.
Record yourself and give a listen. Are you where you should be?

There are many TB links on bass playing and practicing. Here's a few to check out.
Maybe pick a couple and apply them to your practicing. Good luck.

General
http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showthread.php?t=429034 If I only knew then
http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showthread.php?t=434246 Best musical advice
http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showthread.php?t=481465 Things every bassist should know

Learning stuff
http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showthread.php?t=79878 How to practice bass
http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showthread.php?t=50170 How to practice

http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showthread.php?t=479401 Learn to read music
http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showthread.php?t=479642 Learn to read music
http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showthread.php?p=6521582 Improve site reading
http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showthread.php?t=419687 Read bass clef

http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showthread.php?t=125519 Intro to scale and chord theory
http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showthread.php?t=88294 Theory
http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showthread.php?t=473968 Theory
http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showthread.php?t=482544 Theory (from the DB side of TB)
http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showthread.php?t=99676 Jazz Scales


http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showthread.php?t=56761 Theory Book Links
http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showthread.php?t=486412 GI links list

http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showthread.php?t=485421 Blues Turn arounds
http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showthread.php?p=80043 Using modes

http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showthread.php?t=125536 Creating bass lines
http://www.talkbass.com/wiki/index.php/Bass_Line_Construction:_Target_Approach Creating bass lines
http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showthread.php?t=484065 Creating bass lines

http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showthread.php?t=481548 Guitar players switching to bass

Online study of music theory/ear training.
http://www.teoria.com/ Check out the tutorials, exercises and reference(dictionary).
http://www.good-ear.com/
http://www.studybass.com/
http://www.activebass.com/

Books and instructional materials
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Free Jam tracks
http://www.freejamtracks.com/index.html

Free online lessons
http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showthread.php?t=429034

This is a very helpful program for learning the notes on the bass clef. (as recommended by AlphaMale)
http://www.download.com/NoteCard/300...cdlPid=1509909

http://www.playthebass.com print flashcards for learning bass clef, print staff paper

 

[Jumping_Bomb_Angel]

If I may also humbly suggest playing genres you are not usually attracted to - makes you versatile and you can incorporate different styles. The key, of course, is practice.