How Good Were You?

It's hard to answer the question, "How good were you". You need to have some kind of reference point. Like "Could you play X song or do X skill and X speed and X finger tapping".
Do you get what I mean?

 

not very good, that's for sure.

 

i've been playing bass for about 3 years now and i'm pretty decent at it, i know some basic theory and i can read notes but not wery fast. i stopped using tabs and stuff about 1 and a half year ago so i only learn songs by ear. i can play with fingers and with a pick but my slapping ain't that good, i can slap some sly and the family stone stuff and some botsy stuff but thats it. i'm pretty good at improvising and i know the theory behind it, in my band i write basic bass lines for every song and then i stirr things up by playing some thing different from time to time. i play everything from old motown tunes to death metal, so i know how to play a basic country, reagge, ska, hardcore, funk, soul etc etc bassline.

 

At year three I felt the same way, that I havent progressed enough. Just dont worry about it and practice.

 

I was physically a pretty good player 3 years in, but it's taken me over 30 years (and it's still a continuing process) to develop the musicality to get the most out of my physical abilities. The head is far more important.

 

I've been playing guitar for over 25 years and bass for over 20. I've also taught a number of players over the years.

I'll answer your question by emphasizing that everyone is different in their learning styles, aptitudes, interest and good old talent. There is stuff out there that even with all my experience, I still can't play. I just have to accept that my fingers probably can't move like that.

Periodically, someone comes along who just takes off in their playing, due in large part to their inherent qualities listed above.

A young guy I taught about 12 years ago surpassed my ability at the time in a couple of months. This was basically having never played before, but fiddled around with guitar for a short time previous.

Within six months, he was sight reading at a ridiculous rate and could outplay most bassists in the local scene. He was getting gigs I wouldn't even audition for because I knew there would be no hope.

Now he's a hairstylist. Go figure...

 

There are Different levels of "good". I'm probably not better than I was fifteen years ago (with regards to speed, Dexterity, or "what I can pull off") But I'm a much more seasoned, experienced, and smart player. Know what I'm Sayin?

 

Never been into bass soloing much-still aint. Tho I could/did & still do make up one now & then
I'm more a "in the pocket player-one with good timing & I know I can make virtually ANY band I put my mind to, sound better! The ONLY times I've been in bands that weren't 'successful' was when I didn't/wasn't able to have a 'say' in the material/style/ show we did. Since then-I've taken on a "musical director" type pos. & every band I've been in has gotten regular gigs-usually a weekly spot in same venue/club etc. And this happened in the 1st band I was in too. Bad thing is...... I made -almost- more $$$ then to what we make today-relatively speaking!

Sorry it all came out in "quote" greay area!

 

after 3 years i could downpick the HELL out of a bass (many broken strings as testament...). other than that not so great...

 

All I know is, the older I get, the better I was....

 

playing abot 3 and a half years and i dont think i am bad, i have had compliments on my playing but i think that becomes part and parcel of perfoming. i can slap a bit, i tap a fair amount, use 3 fingers nearly all the time. know major and minor (Harm,Nat Melodic) learning modes currently, sight reading is coming on but needs alot of work. the only trumpet of mine i will blow is that i am pretty versatile.

 

Not as good as I am now but... At that time, I was playing for about 3-4 hours everyday (instead of studying ) and taking private lessons for about a year. Kind of hard to make it salient but I could play Stu Hamm's version of "moonlight sonata" pretty well and was starting to develop some ability to put together solo's on the upper register of the bass. I think I was just starting to get "good".

 

Frkn-
I THOUGHT I was pretty good. I had the good fortune to start working shortly after I bought some equipment. I can hardly listen to some of my old gig tapes, I was way too busy and rushing the beat like crazy. But that was a Long (!!) time ago.
I also wish I could have hooked up with some other bass players and taken a wider approach to the instrument.

 

I've been playing for 27 years or so and I'm still not very good.

 

+1 Beat me to it.

 

I'll let you know when I get to three years, but I have the feeling I'm still going to be really crappy.

 

I checked out the Offspring cover on your site, do you have a teacher? Your technique is definitely lacking and might be holding you back a little.

At 3 years my slapping was crap, mainly because I mostly worked on fingerstyle. I could slap a little, but it wasn't anything to write home about.

 

about as good from a technique point of view as I've ever beent (this was due to LOTS of hours practicing), but not so far developed in terms of taste & musicality