How Long Does It Take?

[mambo4]

to expand on my earlier post ("at least 15 minuets a day"):

there is little practical benefit to specifically nailing down some far-off goal.
Better to cultivate a fascination with each little step.
Finding joy in the incremental process will get you any distance.

 

[Billnc]

Better to cultivate a fascination with each little step.
Finding joy in the incremental process will get you any distance.

You know what? I've been playing for years, bass, guitar and lots of other instruments that have fallen by the wayside. I still sit back and do the repetitive exercises we must do, and enjoy them simply because I love the sound of an archtop guitar, or fretless bass, or fretted with flats. I don't do many swoops and stuff on the fretless, it's the pure sound of the string on wood I love. If you learn to make your instrument sound good the rest is icing on the cake.
In other words I agree with you.

 

[Russell L]

to expand on my earlier post ("at least 15 minuets a day"):

there is little practical benefit to specifically nailing down some far-off goal.
Better to cultivate a fascination with each little step.
Finding joy in the incremental process will get you any distance.

Great comment, man.

That's what I mean, get immersed in the feeling of playing. Don't worry about it.

 

[Russell L]

I don't really have an answer to that question, but I would like to share this one experience. Maybe this wasn't the right thread to put this comment on, but i hope someone reads it and can relate to it. Hey maybe I'll get a response! I met this one guy in the park that happened to play guitar. I told him that I had just recently bought a bass, and was looking forward to get serious with it. Later on we hung out at my house and started playing my bass. Afterwards he told me, "Dude you sure play bass better than anyone else who only has 2 weeks of experience" In that moment I actually felt for the first time of my life that I WAS ACTUALLY GOOD AT SOMETHING!! It made me feel like if I really have some talent, and that statement from my friend made me get alot of motivation. But then I started been hard on myself, kind of like a coach trying to push his team to their limits. I lost a bit of focus on my bass playing but surely when back to practicing and trying to learn new things like pattern, more controlled rhythm, timing, and improvising. But to this day I still wonder If my friend was just kidding or actually being serious about what he said...

(maybe i just take things to seriously IDK)

Here ya go, pal, a response. That's a sweet story, and it says a lot. It touches me with sadness, though, at the thought of you, feeling so fond of your playing, and then getting a compliment---but then, the good feeling gets squashed by the feeling of doubt.

To all: let NOTHING take away that bliss you find in playing your instrument. Forget scales and excercises for a day and fly high where all is good and nothing is bad. It is the same as transcendental meditation if you let your mind go while playing. I found it at age 8 while playing the piano one night, mesmerized. I found it while listening to Samuel Barber's Adagio For Strings, my mind floating across the lawn to my camp in the woods. I find it every day when I play.

When you play, it is ALWAYS good. Never forget.

 

[4StringMonster]

Here ya go, pal, a response. That's a sweet story, and it says a lot. It touches me with sadness, though, at the thought of you, feeling so fond of your playing, and then getting a compliment---but then, the good feeling gets squashed by the feeling of doubt.

To all: let NOTHING take away that bliss you find in playing your instrument. Forget scales and excercises for a day and fly high where all is good and nothing is bad. It is the same as transcendental meditation if you let your mind go while playing. I found it at age 8 while playing the piano one night, mesmerized. I found it while listening to Samuel Barber's Adagio For Strings, my mind floating across the lawn to my camp in the woods. I find it every day when I play.

When you play, it is ALWAYS good. Never forget.

Thanks for responding. And now that I read what I said on my last comment, I think I was been a bit harsh on myself, and maybe I didn't want to accept that i was DECENT at playing bass for only having 2 weeks of experience. But anyways I really liked your comment. You know, exploring your mind and communicating with your instrument (if that makes any sense to you). Practicing on things that will be essential to your bass playing is always good, but creating your own basslines is as important. I think it helps you see where your creativity is at. Anyways thanks for the respond, it made me think quite a bit, and it also gave some bass playing motivation!

 

[4StringMonster]

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