How to become a pro bassist?

[interp]

Do what Lee Sklar says: Lee Sklar's top 5 tips for bassists | MusicRadar

Seriously, this guy is the ultimate pro player and offers good advice for any player.

 

[bassistheplaceofcourse]

Tort pickguard.

 

[obimark]

Why

For someone asking the question, and (only having played bass a VERY short time) you seem to have all the answers. Good luck to you.

 

[malthumb]

I think I should dress like jamerson

If ever there was a post sorely in need of emoticons, this is it.

You know what I think I will just become a dj and also be a writer since I like writing I mean I prefer this over working my but off all the time I mean what time would I spend with future bf

If you can change your mind that quickly based on responses from faceless hordes on the internet, you are in for a troubled life. You're still in high school (or so it seems from your video) so you have time to make life decisions. Just be aware that decisions that are easily changed by random comments and criticism were never really decisions at all.

This is lbs in my schools music show

I am taking into account that you are still in high school, but I must say.....this is pretty bad. Sure, it was shot on a smartphone, which does nothing for sound quality, but even looking beyond the sound quality, there is so much to improve on. For all of you. Starting with LOSE THE FREAKIN' PHONES!!! If you don't know the lyrics well enough to perform without reading them from a phone then either practice until you can or pick another song. That looks bad for all of you, not just the two "rappers".

If you are SERIOUS (refer to my first two comments in this message for reasons I think you may not be) then you need to hone your craft. Practice, practice, meet people, learn to read music quickly, learn to play with others and practice.

 

[NoiseNinja]

Be lucky.

This!

Sucking up, being pushy and knowing the right people helps too.

Also this piece of priceless advise from no less than Frank Zappa:

Be a loyal plastic robot for a world that doesn't care . . .
Smile at every ugly
Shine on your shoes & cut your hair

 

[mellowinman]

1. Quit your job
2. Join a band
3. Write the next big hit
4. Money will flow in, and your life will be easy from now on! Expect adulation, fast cars, attractive partners and jet-setting extravagance!
5. Step 1 is the most important. No successful Rock Star has a day job.

 

[BoomSTICK]

"Pro" is really about getting paid to play, and knowing a lot of styles of music. I know plenty of working cover bands that would be considered pro musicians simply by the fact that they get paid to play someone else's music. It takes time, who you know, decent bass knowledge and being available to do the work. Now if you want to be the bassist for a particular artist and your networking skills get you to an audition, do you know that artists body of work? a pro without question would. Take the time and define what pro means to you. Good Luck.

 

[groooooove]

i am a full time musician and my primary instrument is the bass. so, here we go

1. work really hard.
2. make todays weakness tomorrows strength.
3. repeat step 2.
4. make sure if anyone asks someone if they know you, the response will be along the lines of "i love that guy" or "yeah he's a great dude." if thats not happening, you're not going to work.
5. if you want to be a pro, act like one. when you treat it like a job you'll be surprised how quickly it can become a job. bear in mind a job is a 40 hour work week - put that much time into giving others a reason to pay you for your services. that may be networking, practicing, web presence, cool hairdo, anything really. do the work and you'll get the reward.

 

[E.J. T.N.T.]

There is a lot of good advice already given but I think this gets overlooked all the time: education.
Lessons are important since they can help you on a lot of different levels but pursuing an education in music can help launch your career in a lot of different ways.



First of all you will be surrounded by music and musicians that under normal circumstances you would not. Moreover it does not have to be college-level education but that would be the best case scenario. Luckily you live in the US where there are a lot of modern music institutions with a modern curriculum and not just classical music.



I know my advice might sound a little bit different than what most have been suggesting but try and see it this way. If you were an employer and had to hire somebody, a candidate with good academic education will always look better on paper (and also come with a lot of other positive contributing skills) than a candidate that does not have one.



A very good way to benchmark this is to look at some of your favourite artists. How did they get where they got. What was their career path? Were they academically educated, did they play in a lot of different bands, did they just get lucky?



Their stories can tell you a lot on how you can be a successful professional.



Excellent examples: Carol Kaye, Juan Alderete, Chris Chaney, any youtube musician.

 

[gjohnson441496]

I recently had an opportunity to be in 3 bands simultaneously. They were very different in their approach to practice. The most professional one was obvious...

1. They were focused. There was a dead set start and end time for practice, and the song list for practice was sent out and was not deviated from.
2. They were capable of playing music from every genre.
3. Knowing how to read music is essential. I had to transcribe the MD's original intro because it was complicated. I mostly play by ear, but knowing how to read music came in handy.
4. There was no wasted time. There was no jamming, and little chit chat. The MD had a set agenda and stuck with it.

I think the most important aspect of being a professional has to do with being focused and sticking to your agenda whatever that might be. Being a skilled player, knowing your chops is also very important if you want to be successful playing with others.

Hope this helps.

 

[Jay boogs]

For someone asking the question, and (only having played bass a VERY short time) you seem to have all the answers. Good luck to you.

How don't have all the answers that's the reason why no one makes it because you get mad when someone tries to ask a question

 

[knumbskull]

Do what Lee Sklar says: Lee Sklar's top 5 tips for bassists | MusicRadar

Seriously, this guy is the ultimate pro player and offers good advice for any player.

this is great!

 

[lfmn16]

Lots of good suggestions here. The only thing I would add is to find some people actually making a living doing what you want to do and talk to them.

 

[eJake]

Being good at anything takes lots of practice. Decide what it is you really want. And I swear man if you don't really really want it you won't get there. Don't give up when it looks impossible just practice harder. If you don't believe in yourself no one will believe in you.

Oh yeah and metronome metronome metronome. She is the real teacher, groove starts with having good time.

 

[socialleper]

I have been playing bass for a year and after just exploring music and just life in general I realized I want to become a pro bassist . My playing is OK but I feel I'm bad and probably won't make it to being a pro but anyways I would like to know the steps needed to become pro or at least close to it. BTW my style is typically roots, fifths, thirds, octaves and chromatic and diatonic movement

"Pro" means a lot of things, so first you need to figure out exactly what you want. Do you want to be a session\backup band guy? Do you want to be in your own originals band? Do you want to play standards at events and local venues?
All three will require lots of practice. And no matter how much you practice you will never feel like it is enough, which isn't a bad thing. The moment you feel too comfortable with your skill level is the moment you start backsliding.
Play along to MP3s, a metronome, and any musician that is willing to play with you. Playing with people is one of the most important things a person can do. Music isn't science, it is a collaborative art like dance; you need others there to really feel it out. Don't be afraid to play with musicians that are "better" than you because that is the best way to get better.
Develop a thick skin. Learn to take criticism, learn to live with disappointment, learn the proper ways to communicate with strangers, learn to drink, and learn to like Ramen noodles.

 

[Ductapeman]

It's easy to get good enough to work-- all you have to do is not quit. It's easier to quit than to keep playing, which takes a minimum amount of internal discipline, which is why so many guys don't follow through. Just about everyone I broke out of Olympia, WA in the early 1970s has done well by himself. But do yourself a big favor, if (as I suspect) you are a younger fellow-- while you can, find a junior college and take a couple of Business Management classes. THAT will put you head and shoulders above the competition when your chops come up to speed, trust me-- and you will be far better suited to protect yourself in the long run.

 

[Brother Goose]

Practice, Practice, Practice!

Play as many styles as possible with as diverse a cast of cats as possible!

Be a likeable, sober, punctual, courteous, and humble person.

Have a great tone- mostly in your hands.

Sing.

Seek out a mentor and actually follow their advice.

Play another instrument (or four): one of the best bassists to leave Syracuse in recent years now tours out of Nashville on both bass & guitar. He is a monstrous cat and a wonderful person.

And.....

Go ahead and get yourself some Cisco certifications and an ability to support yourself outside of music!

Good luck and (mostly) hard work!

 

[DoctorNop]

First, no you don't have a style "roots, fifth.." don't give you a style. And after a year of playing, let me laugh with your style.

Second, learn to play, your video is a garbage, your band is a garbage. And no, this isn't the smartphone record the problem.

Third, put your ego in your ass.

And then finally, take my comments to build yourself because I'm not even close to how rude music industry is.

 

[jcerio]

1) Practice
2) Get in a band and learn how to function with a drummer. Join the first band you can and play with others. Play styles you don't even like (as they will teach you something).
3) Network - Meet with any pro musician you can find. Find out what they did. Find out who they know. Go to open mic nights. Go to other bands' shows.
4) If practice and playing and networking in a band doesn't get you moving in the right direction quickly enough try formal lessons/education. Then repeat steps 1-3.

• Get a teacher. Should be someone who has been there done that. I've been playing for decades and I still go to a teacher sometimes. Go to YouTube and search "Lamont Johnson bass". That's my teacher.
• Pick 10 songs that you really like. Learn to play them.
• Pick three songs you don't like. Learn to play them.
• Meet other bass players. Your teacher can help with that. If you are in a decent sized metropolitan area, look for Facebook groups of bassists and other musicians. For example, if you are in Detroit, Detroit Bass Players is a very active group of bass player, many of whom are professionals and play for artists that you more than likely have on your smartphone.
• What two-fingers said
• What Odinbass said
• What bass12 said.

There is so much useful information in all of these responses and I wish I could recognize you all, but in addition, here is my 2 cents worth:

Always try to play with musicians that are more advanced than you. You will up your game in a hurry.
LISTEN! LISTEN! LISTEN! To everyone and everything. Pick out what's important, leave the rest.
Make sure that all your gear is appropriate for the engagement and in proper working order.
Bring anything and everything you can think of that you might need.

And last, and probably the most important, be a "Good Hang". Be the person that brings professionalism and a positive attitude to every musical endeavor. Leave the drama, bad moods, bad hygiene, bad outfits, and bad attitude at home.

 

[FenderB]

I'm from New York

Go get em..