I first picked up a guitar over 20 years ago. I have never really played with other people and never done a gig. I still don't think of myself as "good" and never refer to myself as a guitarist/bassist/musician. Some people just don't have it. I could start drawing or painting for the next 20 years and probably wouldn't be any good at that either.
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How long did it take you?
- Thread starter SmokinJoe992
- Start date
I would argue that either 1) You are way better than you think you are, or 2) You haven't really made a concerted effort to get better. I agree that not everyone is capable of becoming Stevie Ray Vaughn or Jack Bruce depending on your instrument of choice, but I think everyone is capable of making music with a reasonable amount of effort.
The keyboard player was walking on your bass line with his/her left hand. Some of them never learn to not do this and realize only one bass player is required.
Sorry to hijack, but couldn't help myself with this comment.
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Not sure if I'll ever be good. At least by my standards (or others). I played guitar for over 30 years before I picked up a bass (about 20 months ago) and I had confidence in my guitar playing... not sure I ever impressed myself, though. All I had to do was visit a local venue and check out bands and realized, wow! that guy/gal is really good! The one thing I've always had is a feel for the music and good sense of timing. To me, that's every bit as important as skill level. Also, the ability to be a social chameleon... that can go a long way if you are auditioning/playing in a group setting. So, I am a very average bass player that loves music and tries to get along with whomever I am surrounded by. As far as getting "good"?... as long as I keep up my practice/playing routine, I think it's pretty much inevitable that improvement will come along.
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From the first time I picked up and instrument and could competently play with others - a couple of years when I was in my early teens.
Last instrument I taught myself to play - from initial purchase to first gig - a couple of months when I was in my late 40s.
Different skillset, mindset and levels of commitment and/or motivation.
Last instrument I taught myself to play - from initial purchase to first gig - a couple of months when I was in my late 40s.
Different skillset, mindset and levels of commitment and/or motivation.
It’s really a meaningless question, therefore the answers are also meaningless. What is “good”? I can tell you for sure that when I joined my first band and played my first gig I wasn’t very good at all.
There is a certain charm in naïveté. I wouldn’t worry about these kinds of questions, just play. To paraphrase Zappa, we’re musicians, not music critics.
There is a certain charm in naïveté. I wouldn’t worry about these kinds of questions, just play. To paraphrase Zappa, we’re musicians, not music critics.
Smooth_bass88
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- Oct 31, 2006
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I stared bass at 12. I recently saw a video of myself playing “cult of personality” by Living Colour with my band when I was 16; hadn’t seen that vid in many many years.
I couldn’t believe how good I sounded.
I used to woodshed like crazy (still do), but you just don’t have any perspective at that age.
So I guess it depends on if you have natural talent combined with how much and how hard you practice.
Jaco started playing bass at 16... he’s only 24 or 23 on his debut solo album. Just sayin’.
I couldn’t believe how good I sounded.
I used to woodshed like crazy (still do), but you just don’t have any perspective at that age.
So I guess it depends on if you have natural talent combined with how much and how hard you practice.
Jaco started playing bass at 16... he’s only 24 or 23 on his debut solo album. Just sayin’.
It probably took me close to 10 years before I could play at a level I felt I could be proud of. That might be different for everybody, or maybe I changed and saw my own playing differently. Most of that growth happened in probably a 2-3 year range of fairly regular but not intensive practice, and quite a bit of jamming with various people. I didn't join a gigging band until well after that, and it showed me that things can be quite a bit different up on the stage.
Pablo Casals was a brilliant cellist, and I love a remark that he reportedly made when he was in his eighties or nineties. He continued to practice intensely with his cello in those golden years, and when he was asked why he was so diligent he replied with one of these statements:
I think I’m making progress.
I think I see some improvement.
I think I’m making progress.
I think I see some improvement.
I started playing bass when I was 16. I was not very good and for the most part because I couldn’t realize that I was playing it in the same way as I played my guitar (which I started playing when I was 12). When I was 20 I had an epiphany in the midst of a band practice. It took about twenty seconds for the realization to be transferred from my brain to my hands. From that moment on, I was a mediocre player and have remained one since.
So, I was bad for four years then mediocre for the next fifty years. I do not think I’ll be reaching the next level although I have tried - practice, lessons and interaction with some very good players. Not everyone is going to be a killer player but I think most dedicated players can reach a point where they’re confident and capable.
So, I was bad for four years then mediocre for the next fifty years. I do not think I’ll be reaching the next level although I have tried - practice, lessons and interaction with some very good players. Not everyone is going to be a killer player but I think most dedicated players can reach a point where they’re confident and capable.
The week after I first touched a bass. Southern Gospel quartet at age 15. Granted, not exactly the most difficult genre to grasp (different versions of 1-4-5 all day long), but it was that quick. "Here, come to rehearsal and try this - cool, see you Sunday." Three years later, my first touring act. Bass just made sense to me where other instruments did not.
I knew I wanted to play bass at 12, finally got one around 38, got more serious about playing around 42, joined the praise band at church at 44 and "gigged" the next Sunday, and quickly realized how much more serious I needed to get to ever consider myself good.
Which I'm still working on 5 years later.
Which I'm still working on 5 years later.
I started playing bass 24 years ago. A year after I got my first bass, I played a talent show- 2 Hendrix tunes. I played bass on one and guitar on the other. I watched the recording and at that moment I know I was a bass player. I still play regularly, although more upright currently than electric. I've only been playing upright for about 5 years. No teacher. I think I am ok on electric and upright. I like to go through lessons with my daughter and pick up stuff I should have learned years ago. I don't think I'll ever stop.
I've played classic rock, metal, blues, bluegrass, funk- I just really like playing. Even songs I think are terrible when I learn them, I usually end up finding something about them I like.
I've played classic rock, metal, blues, bluegrass, funk- I just really like playing. Even songs I think are terrible when I learn them, I usually end up finding something about them I like.
I had a strange journey I think. Was always a drummer, but played bass for fun in my bedroom. Almost never amplified. After playing for maybe 3 or 4 years completely on my own, a friend of mine told me about a friend of THEIR friend who needed a bass player for a gig in two days. She knew I played for fun and asked if I wanted to try. I said sure, even though I wasnt confident in myself at all I knew how to play certain songs from tabs (some easy primus /RHCP, metallica, etc etc) so i figured I could pick up the type of music they were playing (basically hair metal). Played the first gig with them and they were so impressed they asked me to join full time. Their previous bass player was a guitarist who played bass to help out, and they were SHOCKED I could play as fast as him with my fingers while he had used a pick. That's when I thought to myself "hey I guess I'm pretty good!". This was about 4 years ago, and playing in that band made me SO much better than I am now. Every time I feel like I'm really good and happy with my skill level, I will hear something or someone else that humbles me and makes me try new things.
I say all this to say- I think "good" is a moving target. I thought I was "good" when I learned how to play along to Too Many Puppies on my ipod. I thought I was "good" when I joined a gigging band and learned other people originals songs. I thought I was "good" when I was coming up with my OWN original lines and trading solos with a lead guitarist. Looking back on it, I was never as good as I thought I was and I constantly swing between "hey I'm a damn good bass player" and "wow I am TRASH" but I'm always trying to get better in small ways.
I say all this to say- I think "good" is a moving target. I thought I was "good" when I learned how to play along to Too Many Puppies on my ipod. I thought I was "good" when I joined a gigging band and learned other people originals songs. I thought I was "good" when I was coming up with my OWN original lines and trading solos with a lead guitarist. Looking back on it, I was never as good as I thought I was and I constantly swing between "hey I'm a damn good bass player" and "wow I am TRASH" but I'm always trying to get better in small ways.
It’s strange for me. I played bass for about 6 yrs in a band, then for about 4 years as a drummer in another band. While I was drumming I never picked up my bass, and even for about 4 or 5 years after my drumming stint I didn’t play it. Old guitarist wants to have me join a new band last year, and after about 2 months of playing all hours of the night at home, I am a better player than I have ever been. Even when I was practicing with the first band twice a week, and constantly playing shows. I’m faster, more accurate, and can slap and pop when I want. I can keep a line moving and play triplets....it’s really surprised me. So...my advice would be to take about a 10 year break and you’ll be able to play better than you ever could before 
PS I did pick up an old Peavey to mess about sometime after the drumming stint to mess about, but would play mostly just acoustic style in the back room. So the answer is about 20 years I guess
PS I did pick up an old Peavey to mess about sometime after the drumming stint to mess about, but would play mostly just acoustic style in the back room. So the answer is about 20 years I guess
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I was good enough to get paid to play when I was 16. Many decades later, that is still the case. And as the fella sang, “I’ve still got a long ways to go.”
I agree, asking someone if they think they are good is not a productive question. That is why my questions were 1) how long did it take you to play with others? 2) how long until you joined a band or music group? 3) how long until your first gig? 4) how long until you were comfortable referring to yourself as a bass player or musician.
I will be the first to admit that when I first started playing with others I was not very good, and when I played my first gig I was better, but still not good.
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