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Playing jazz has really helped boost my skill level. I’ve been playing for close to 6 years now, with dedicated practice 2-3 hours per day.
I can’t really learn a ton of music in a short period of time like a lot of gigging musicians, but I can take my time and learn complex pieces.
I can play fast, and solo fairly well on multiple chord progressions or jazz standards, but I’ve noticed that my timing is a little off on some days.
I’ve had my playing described as “virtuoso-level” by the bassist of a band we played with who saw us play live, but I wouldn’t go so far as to say that. We did practice a ton to have a perfect performance. I’ve also had a woman who attended our show ask me how many years we’ve (the band) been playing together. I told her 1, and she was surprised that it wasn’t 8. Probably the best compliment I got.
Right now I’ve been learning a new original song we wrote, and it has long sections of 16th note guitar-bass unison lines at 140 bpm, on a fretless 6 string. It’s driving me absolutely mad I’ll be honest.
B+ I’d say.
I can’t really learn a ton of music in a short period of time like a lot of gigging musicians, but I can take my time and learn complex pieces.
I can play fast, and solo fairly well on multiple chord progressions or jazz standards, but I’ve noticed that my timing is a little off on some days.
I’ve had my playing described as “virtuoso-level” by the bassist of a band we played with who saw us play live, but I wouldn’t go so far as to say that. We did practice a ton to have a perfect performance. I’ve also had a woman who attended our show ask me how many years we’ve (the band) been playing together. I told her 1, and she was surprised that it wasn’t 8. Probably the best compliment I got.
Right now I’ve been learning a new original song we wrote, and it has long sections of 16th note guitar-bass unison lines at 140 bpm, on a fretless 6 string. It’s driving me absolutely mad I’ll be honest.
B+ I’d say.
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and nothing else
I’m a moderately functional bass player. I can play rock and roll songs. I can play some funk. I have a sense of rhythm. I don’t suck. But there’s no soul to my playing. No creativity. I can play songs that already exist. I can’t come up with anything on my own.
Being human with its limitations, the time restraints caused by the survival tactics of working for a living, and a dearth of similarly aimed musicians to associate with has severely hampered my progress. Despite that, I've managed to perform on stage often, been on TV a few times, been on the radio a few times, and have appeared on some CDs. Now, how much of that is talent or luck is debatable. I can't/won't slap, my reading skills are meager, the genres in which I excel are few, I tend to play a lot of notes (this is good or bad depending on the situation), and get bored with root five monotony. By trying to rate yourself as a player, there are no statistical numbers to use as they in sports, so you must rely on your opinion. Music is an art and should be judged as such. Where do each of us fall into that category? If you are competent enough to achieve your musical goals you are successful; if not, you're not. There is always room for improvement. Like my dad used to say with a big laugh: "When you're as great as I am, it's hard to be humble."
I'm not as good as I once was, but I'm as good once as I ever was.
...6 1/2, maybe 7. Extra point for vocals.
...6 1/2, maybe 7. Extra point for vocals.
People have stopped throwing things at my car as I drive away from gigs.
I totally get this. My current band shared a few gigs with a different band, and I am completely in awe of their bassist. When they're playing, I will watch her intently, stealing with my eyes. Funny thing is, she told me she thinks the same way about me.
My guitarist thinks I am the better player, though. And he used to be a bass player. So he should know better
Again, sounds familiar. In my case it's about 22 years now. About 10 years ago, I got into a band with WAY better players. They elevated me to new heights. 2 years later, it imploded and I went off and played rockabilly with friends for a few years.
It led to a dumbing down of my playing, from which I sometimes feel I never fully recovered. Every now and then I will say to myself: "Myself, it's time to raise the bar!" and start working on technique and theory. It never really goes anywhere, though. Sometimes I fear this is as good as it gets.
And then there is this. My covers band is slowly incorporating original material. We have no audience as is, may as well scare away those few brave souls who do show up. And I got nothing, when we start jamming. No ideas, no countermelodies. 20 years of playing and practicing and nothing to show for it.
I'm depressed now.
I'm a vocalist who plays bass:
- When alone
- When no other bass players show up
- (really 2a) and hope we don't do a song that requires me to sing and play
Many musicians are their own worst critics, which is fine, it makes music better. I'm in that batch; I find it difficult to really say, an ego to keep in check. I try to get really good at the things I do, up to excessive/obsessive, but not quite (unless you ask my wife.)
I didn't start until I was 50, 14 years ago, and I'm sure that has been a hindrance. Learning is harder, but it's also a lot more fun. I did have lessons on spinet and pipe organ as a kid, involving some theory. I liked playing the pedals best, but understood how to wing it somehow, so I never learned bass cleff, and nobody ever noticed. Just seeing the pattern on the staff was enough. So there was a natural bass player inside there somewhere already?
My band mates and the people I jam with and sub for always seem pretty happy, at least for the last 5 years. I'm known for picking up on songs very quickly, ear training and the aforementioned internal bass player, but I think I just get adequate on them, and could get quite a bit better. And on songs I've practiced, rehearsed or played out a thousand times, I feel I'm pretty good. I have done quite a few 4-set gigs and didn't recall making a single mistake.
Other than a band mate offering constructive (usually) criticism early on, nobody else, musician, music fan or audience member has ever said a critical word to me about how I play. But only a few dozen complements.
Our guitar player likes me to add a little extra for our 3-piece band to fill things out. I truly know that I belong in a 3-piece band. But my old funk band drummer/friend says I overplay sometimes. But then again, an revered local legend drummer friend told the two of us after seeing us for the first time that we were the tightest drum/bass pair he'd ever heard. People shouldn't tell me that.
Hey, I'm glad this question got asked, it has been a while since I've pondered on this. A good time for reflection and big picture plans. Thanks, OP. Edit: Sorry about the babbling for everyone else!
I didn't start until I was 50, 14 years ago, and I'm sure that has been a hindrance. Learning is harder, but it's also a lot more fun. I did have lessons on spinet and pipe organ as a kid, involving some theory. I liked playing the pedals best, but understood how to wing it somehow, so I never learned bass cleff, and nobody ever noticed. Just seeing the pattern on the staff was enough. So there was a natural bass player inside there somewhere already?
My band mates and the people I jam with and sub for always seem pretty happy, at least for the last 5 years. I'm known for picking up on songs very quickly, ear training and the aforementioned internal bass player, but I think I just get adequate on them, and could get quite a bit better. And on songs I've practiced, rehearsed or played out a thousand times, I feel I'm pretty good. I have done quite a few 4-set gigs and didn't recall making a single mistake.
Other than a band mate offering constructive (usually) criticism early on, nobody else, musician, music fan or audience member has ever said a critical word to me about how I play. But only a few dozen complements.
Our guitar player likes me to add a little extra for our 3-piece band to fill things out. I truly know that I belong in a 3-piece band. But my old funk band drummer/friend says I overplay sometimes. But then again, an revered local legend drummer friend told the two of us after seeing us for the first time that we were the tightest drum/bass pair he'd ever heard. People shouldn't tell me that.
Hey, I'm glad this question got asked, it has been a while since I've pondered on this. A good time for reflection and big picture plans. Thanks, OP. Edit: Sorry about the babbling for everyone else!
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I am not very flashy, but neither am I a boring player. I don't have the most technical proficiency (by far) but I like to think I make up for it with creativity when appropriate, and serving the song.
I have been fortunate to have the adventures and experiences I had along the way playing music I was proud to be a part of (usually). There are always better players and those that have greater talent that I regard but I have also contributed and entertained in my own humble way. I am a better player at almost 62 than I was at 30 when I was touring but I was fearless then and it was a much different time now.
The better I get, the more I realize I’m not as good as I thought I was.
That may sound like a joke, but it’s true (and also sounds a little like a Toby Keith song, doesn’t it?). When I first started playing decades ago, all I knew about was playing the right notes that were on the record, and that was all there was to being in a band - easy! Years later, now when I listen to the artist or studio musician who recorded one of those tracks, I am typically blown away by the touch, timing, tone and knowledge of what to play when that those truly great players possess.
That may sound like a joke, but it’s true (and also sounds a little like a Toby Keith song, doesn’t it?). When I first started playing decades ago, all I knew about was playing the right notes that were on the record, and that was all there was to being in a band - easy! Years later, now when I listen to the artist or studio musician who recorded one of those tracks, I am typically blown away by the touch, timing, tone and knowledge of what to play when that those truly great players possess.
D
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Phone is still ringing... so I guess I don't suck.
I’m not sure that I agree with the definition of good in the original post. When I started playing, I tended to define ability by being able to play certain songs (actually parts of songs) quickly, cleanly and accurately. I was more of a rock/metal player then, so playing quickly was at a premium.
Today, there are hundreds of people who play really fast in their bedrooms for the internet, so I guess that they’re “good.” However, once I got into playing other types of music, I discovered that playing technically well is part of it, but I became more interested in creating bass parts that fit a song vs. showing how fast I could play. This made playing bass much more challenging, but it also kept things more interesting too.
I think you have to keep finding new things in music that you’re not good at to keep challenging yourself to improve. For example, you may have amazing technical abilities, but can you look at a piece of music you’ve never seen before, with just the chords on it, and create a bass part to play with others on the spot? Can you lay down a bass part for an unfamiliar song that others can solo over?
To answer the original question, I went as far as I was able in terms of physical technique, then I opened up my ears and mind to discover that there was so much more to do that was also more rewarding.
Today, there are hundreds of people who play really fast in their bedrooms for the internet, so I guess that they’re “good.” However, once I got into playing other types of music, I discovered that playing technically well is part of it, but I became more interested in creating bass parts that fit a song vs. showing how fast I could play. This made playing bass much more challenging, but it also kept things more interesting too.
I think you have to keep finding new things in music that you’re not good at to keep challenging yourself to improve. For example, you may have amazing technical abilities, but can you look at a piece of music you’ve never seen before, with just the chords on it, and create a bass part to play with others on the spot? Can you lay down a bass part for an unfamiliar song that others can solo over?
To answer the original question, I went as far as I was able in terms of physical technique, then I opened up my ears and mind to discover that there was so much more to do that was also more rewarding.
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Folks that aren't very good think I'm pretty good.
