• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

I Stink, I Just Do

#21
I believe it was Tony Smith who said
" Youre Groove is your Greatest lick"

So what if you cant slap like Luis Johnson, tap like Brian Bromberg and everthing esle like Victa Wooten

KNow what niether can many of Us.

Most of Us TB'er are more Impressed by "In the Pocket" Groovers no matter how simple the line, than some hot dog that can do all sorts of crazy "hot diggity" crap but cant hold a steady groove to save his life.

Cheer up Man
and rock steady no shame in that:bassist:
 
#22
low-endz said:
I believe it was Tony Smith who said
" Youre Groove is your Greatest lick"

So what if you cant slap like Luis Johnson, tap like Brian Bromberg and everthing esle like Victa Wooten

KNow what niether can many of Us.

Most of Us TB'er are more Impressed by "In the Pocket" Groovers no matter how simple the line, than some hot dog that can do all sorts of crazy "hot diggity" crap but cant hold a steady groove to save his life.

Cheer up Man
and rock steady no shame in that:bassist:
Click to expand...

+1. I've been playing for a long time too Illbay. And still get very frustrated from time to time. For me I think it comes from being self taught. I feel like I've plateaued with my limited knowledge several times. I've walked away before but came back. As soon as I started playing again I couldn't believe I had stopped. I missed it. There's always room for improvement plus it feels so damn good to play. We all aren't cut out to be pros. But I know playing the bass makes my life a lot better than not playing the bass.
 
#25
I know exactly where you are coming from. Youtube is very amazing and frustrating. I am mediocre. I admit it. But I really enjoy playing the bass. I get together with a group of other players of varying degrees once a week and it is fun. I think the key is to find people that are playing for the same reasons as you, not the same skill level. I will never be an amazing bassist, but I am a bassist and that is all that ever mattered. I am a golfer first though.
 
#26
low-endz said:
I believe it was Tony Smith who said
" Youre Groove is your Greatest lick"

So what if you cant slap like Luis Johnson, tap like Brian Bromberg and everthing esle like Victa Wooten

KNow what niether can many of Us.

Most of Us TB'er are more Impressed by "In the Pocket" Groovers no matter how simple the line, than some hot dog that can do all sorts of crazy "hot diggity" crap but cant hold a steady groove to save his life.

Cheer up Man
and rock steady no shame in that:bassist:
Click to expand...

+2
I never liked all those over-the-top techniques, I like to slap 'n' pop, but I'm still quite noobish. Also, I get more enjoyment out of playing a nice smooth groove, than playing an uberfast fingertapping solo.

Just my $0,02

Furthermore, whenever I try to play some fast slap 'n' pop my not-so-musical friends look at me awkwardly. While they can appreciate the more easy listening grooves.
 
#27
Get back to the metronome bro....and work!!!

Play in time, emphasize the click note, play fast 16ths and challenge yourself to no end. Do it 'til your eyes cross.
Drill yourself with some good finger dexterity exercises, and did I mention...use your metronome. I don't care how long ya been playing' you are never too good to sit down and do some metronome work, just you, the bass, and the metronome.

Get out of your comfort zone and challenge yourself. Your brain and fingers will adapt to the new stresses you place upon them.
 
#29
Get some lessons from a good teacher. I guarantee you will make your biggest gains most quickly with a good instructor.

Don't worry about the fancy shtuff. That's for Guitar Center bass tryouts anyways. Most of the memorable basslines are simple. Intro to "Under Pressure" or "Ice Ice Baby". Simple stuff like that. Ask someone who doesn't play bass to hum a Stanley Clarke or Victor Wooten bass line and they'll probably ask, "Who?"
 
#31
:bassist:
mothmonsterman said:
Low self esteem is a bass player trait i think :P

Uh, I beg to differ my friend, you cant put me in that box, nor a bunch of other cats I know, pro types and not. In fact if you were to have to stoop to simplistic generalizations, I'd say most of us are really well grounded cats. Easygoing, but solid.


only time i feel good about my playing is when we are screwing around completely smashed (cause when your drunk you don't give a crap) then going over the tapes and listening to all the groovy stuff i came up with.... if only i was like that all the time :P.

read The Music Lesson by Vic Wooten. It'll let you be easy and act like a lightnin' rod, or beacon, for mother music without ahving to drink , toke, or whatever. In fact, you'll find that easy space as a completle 'clear' eventually where you lose yourself in the groove. Heaven man.

you're a bass player believe or not you are rare as hell someone is looking to play with you.

Its harder when you're not 25



Yeah my ear is weak too, i'm half deaf (feeling bass though my feet ftw)
And i think there are just some tones i plain can;t hear.

BUY MORE WATTS!


we are bass players, no matter how good other people see us we still suck :D
Click to expand...

:help:
:bassist:
 
#33
Practice! try getting a teacher u connect with,
if u get results from lesson 1 or 2,stay with him,
if not,then try someone else.
A teacher should show u something really eye opening every time,

let someone else open some doors for you,try harder,and relax,breath smoothly and enjoy it! have fun..THAT'S the point of it all.
if it isn't enjoyable,and it's a chore or frustration when u play,then try guitar or something,bass isnt for u.

from your post,I'd say,if u play for 35 years, u probably love bass!
..then my advice is..
try harder and get an inspiring teacher.
We all have crapola days,that's life.
hope u r feelin' better by the time u read this post.
 
#34
It's okay. I suck, too. We could start a club.

Seriously, though. If you feel like you've plateaued, set it down for a while. Pick another hobby. Listen to new music. If you are supposed to keep playing bass, you'll know because that's what you'll want to do. You don't need to be fancy or be an amazing groover. You need to want to play bass and that makes you a bass player. Besides, most of the people who come to concerts, etc do not know the difference anyway and most bassists I know won't tear you apart if you don't play perfectly. In fact, I like it when I see other bassists not be perfect. I get intimidated by amazing people.
 
#36
Illbay said:
Sorry to blast this out onto the 'net like this with no provocation, but I'm so frustrated it's just brimming over.

I have been playing off and on for 35 years, and I just stink. It's not that I'm not "musical," or have no ear, or whatever. I just seem to have a physical limitation. I'm not fast, or smooth, whatever. I make mistake after mistake.

Learning to slap? I forever SOUND like a guy learning to slap.

Playing fast riffs? "Sweeping"? My MOTHER sweeps better than me.

At this point I just feel like flinging every single axe out onto the street and letting the garbage pickup collect 'em tomorrow morning (can you imagine driving by and seeing an Alembic neck sticking out of the garbage can?)

Part of the problem is finding anyone who wants to play, and has the same level of interest I do. If I were a bad golfer, at least I'd find SOMEONE to play golf with (in fact, I'd probably be popular).

But who the **** wants to fool with an over-the-hill spastic bass-player?

I give up, I really do.
Click to expand...

I know exactly how you feel , the amount of times ive heard people slap with lightning fast precision and just though "i should just give up now" but hang in there , its not all about speed. Some of my favourite players are people that play the simplest lines.
 
#39
low-endz said:
I believe it was Tony Smith who said
"Your Groove is your Greatest lick"
Click to expand...


This is great! I've never heard this quote before, but the idea is the first thing that came to my mind when I read the OP's comments.

I am not a fast player either, and after more than 20 years of playing I don't think I'm headed that direction. Instead I focus on groove and dynamics and try to build every song the best ways I can. I try to write bass lines that are interesting and serve the song well. Usually, as long as I stay focused on those things, I feel pretty successful and satisfied overall as a player. When I occasionally lose sight of those things, frustration sets in, and I realize I need to refocus.

OP, don't give up! Keep working, and set attainable goals that you can be pleased with. I've been playing all these years and only very recently received a couple of compliments that meant a great deal to me. One came from a drummer in this cover band I played in over the summer. He told me, "You listen. That's rare." That was so simple that it kind of blew me away, because I realized just how important it is to really listen when you play. (Although I never thought it would be considered a "rare" quality to such an experienced drummer.)

The other compliment came from a local engineer/producer friend, who calls me up when he has a singer/songwriter type in his studio who needs a bass player. He told me he likes my playing, and that it isn't what I play so much as how I play it.

Those two comments, from two different musicians I respect, drew my attention away from my limitations and frustrations and got me focused on the things I can actually do right. Although I've always generally enjoyed playing, I enjoy it even more now!

Good luck!

Matt
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back