Hi, I was just curious how long should it take a beginner with no experience to get out and play live? My goal is by mid next year. I just can see me playing gigs, I know I sound green and I know there's other musicians hungering for those chances. This is something I want to do!
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How long will it take for me to learn/play out live?
- Thread starter ArkhamAsylum
- Start date
I picked up the instrument at 13 and was gigging in the school big band a week later. I'm not saying I'm a prodigy or anything, but there's no time to waste!!
Possible, but not likely. If you have a good teacher and practice, you could be ready to attend your first jam session or open mic by December '13 and play in public. If you mean a serious, paying gig, almost certainly not.
?? none of us could possibly know that dude!
one thing is for sure, you can make it possible if you work hard enough.
Very possible. I started after about 10 months. Let me tell you something, most of the bassists you see at bars/clubs around that lower starting phase aren't that good. For every good player I see (holding a tight groove, good technique, comfortable on stage and good stage presence), I see a reasonable player and a bad player. In all honesty, if you can hold a basic beat playing roots then you'll be fine playing live. As you develop more as a player, you can add more dynamics to your playing, and make better basslines. Have good stage presence, be confident, and know your stuff well.
One thing that I wish people would have told me on my first gig: no one will notice if you miss a note. Maybe not even your band members. Get out there and have fun!
I was gigging 2 weeks after I picked up bass... the problem with sounding green is, the more you advance your skills, the more you realise you still have to advance and that you're still green.
Start gigging sooner, and you'll have extra incentive and experience to improve quicker.
The best time to start gigging is now
Start gigging sooner, and you'll have extra incentive and experience to improve quicker.
The best time to start gigging is now
- Apr 21, 2000
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- Gallien Krueger for the last 12 years!
Find some friends that play and get into a band situation as soon as you are comfortable. Not a playing out band, a just starting out one. Playing with other people in that situation is the fastest route IMO. I would find people that are slightly better than your level as that will push you.
Personally I don't think you can measure practice time in months. It all depends on how many hours you put in. If you put in 6 hours a day for 4 months you'll progress really fast. I you want to play live by xx date then just practice a lot of hours until then. When i decided I was ready yo start playing in a band I played for at least 2-4 hours a day 6 days a week.
I picked up a bass on Thursday and had my first originals gig (previous bass players lines) on the Fri. I'd had a few years as a very mediocre guitar player but decided to play bass with my fingers and just practised for the whole available time until the gig. I remember my fingers were blistered and sore and I probably sucked big time at the gig. BUT the rush was huge and set me on the path to my lifelong passion with bass!
My recommendation is jump in as soon as you can. You'll learn and progress far quicker when gigging. Just simplify bass lines you need to and go for it.
Cheers
Ben
My recommendation is jump in as soon as you can. You'll learn and progress far quicker when gigging. Just simplify bass lines you need to and go for it.
Cheers
Ben
Almost no way to know.
Do you have any musical ability?
Want is you goal as to play out.
A few songs, or a 3 hour gig?
I suggest practice,practice, practice.
2-3 hours a day.
- Apr 21, 2000
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- Disclosures
- Gallien Krueger for the last 12 years!
VERY true! When I first started, I was so driven and in love with "being a bass player" that I was actually practicing for 30 plus hours a week when I first started. My son is a drummer that reads music. After I taught him fingering technique, he played a gig 4 days later. One of the songs was Edgar Winters' "Frankenstein".
What kind of music will you play? If it is pretty simple with lots of root notes and few chord changes, you might be ready within a few weeks to hold it down although you won't sound brilliant. Do you already have band mates and know what you want to play? If so, get cracking and you will be ready very soon!
Like others have said, it just depends.. on your natural ability, how fast you learn, how many hours of practice you can put into it per day, everyday (not time in months or years). After I was playing for a few months, I could play stuff that probably a lot of people couldn't play after a year - and that's because I put in as many hours in those few months as most people do in a year, like 4-8 hours a day, everyday. I just spent a whole winter learning tab for songs I like (mostly classic rock). And that was before the internet so I had to buy the tab books! We have it made as musicians now!
When I went to college, it forced me to have my bass in my hands a solid 6-8 hours a day for 4 years straight (and I played in various bands with friends along side of school bands). I really think I progressed several "years" faster than the casual musician would have (and it helps to be surrounded by great teachers and players all the time). I still try to put in 2-4 hours a day, everyday (whether it's by myself, practicing with the band, or gigging) because I love it. I feel like I'm missing something all day if I don't pick the bass up.
I think I was gigging parties and stuff within a few weeks of picking up the bass. I sucked, but nobody expected me to be great, it was just fun! You really just have to drop any inhibitions, and not care. I know that's easier said than done, but as soon as you learn to do that, you'll automatically look more confident on stage to the crowd. And that will draw the people in whether your hitting just roots or flying all over the neck. Smile and nod, and look like you know what you're doing. And just dive in head first!!
When I went to college, it forced me to have my bass in my hands a solid 6-8 hours a day for 4 years straight (and I played in various bands with friends along side of school bands). I really think I progressed several "years" faster than the casual musician would have (and it helps to be surrounded by great teachers and players all the time). I still try to put in 2-4 hours a day, everyday (whether it's by myself, practicing with the band, or gigging) because I love it. I feel like I'm missing something all day if I don't pick the bass up.
I think I was gigging parties and stuff within a few weeks of picking up the bass. I sucked, but nobody expected me to be great, it was just fun! You really just have to drop any inhibitions, and not care. I know that's easier said than done, but as soon as you learn to do that, you'll automatically look more confident on stage to the crowd. And that will draw the people in whether your hitting just roots or flying all over the neck. Smile and nod, and look like you know what you're doing. And just dive in head first!!
It really depends on if you have background in music, especially the type you want to gig as, the amount of dedication/focus you're willing to put in it, and what you consider gig ready ability. In the majority of live band situations I've been in, as long as your root notes are there and the band as a whole sounds solid with good presence, then few people notice lack of experience. It may be repetitive to say, but for good reason, but get into a band situation where you are all or mostly all learning and developing as musicians and it will help tremendously.
Depends but I doubt it. Unless you are looking to play with a start up or band not to experienced. I can hold my own but trust me there are bands out there I'm not good enough for and I've been playing 11 years.
OP, welcome to TB. When you get a chance, please consider filling out your profile. It helps TB brothers and sisters to understand your situation a little better.
Some advice from an advanced beginner:
1. Get your bass professionally set up.
2. Get a qualified teacher and do regular (weekly) lessons. Rocket fuel.
3. Try out the Hal Leonard Bass Method book and CD. You'll learn to read music pretty fast.
4. Force-feed yourself some music theory.
5. Play along with music you like and try to work things out by ear.
6. Practice daily.
7. Find some musicians who are better than you are and play with them regularly.
8. Enjoy!!
I started just over a year ago. I've been the bassist at my church for six months.
Nothing like the low end! Welcome to it.
JMHO, YMMV of course!!
Some advice from an advanced beginner:
1. Get your bass professionally set up.
2. Get a qualified teacher and do regular (weekly) lessons. Rocket fuel.
3. Try out the Hal Leonard Bass Method book and CD. You'll learn to read music pretty fast.
4. Force-feed yourself some music theory.
5. Play along with music you like and try to work things out by ear.
6. Practice daily.
7. Find some musicians who are better than you are and play with them regularly.
8. Enjoy!!
I started just over a year ago. I've been the bassist at my church for six months.
Nothing like the low end! Welcome to it.JMHO, YMMV of course!!
