I Think I Lost My Way

[LeFunk Machine]

Another thing I feel is that I should try another instrument and perhaps when I get out of college the instrument I like might not be the one I make a career with

You were typing this as I was composing my response. I think your answer clarifies for me that you are not neccessarily wedded to music and bass as a career. If you were, you'd not even be asking this question about what instrument is right for you.

I was about to say the same thing. I don't know what instrument you have in mind next but I advise you, do not jump into another instrument assuming its easier or not as complicated. My brother experienced the same thing. He bought an electric guitar because he loved the solos. When he bought it, he found it too hard and wasn't ready to go through the lessons. Then he told me about the idea of buying a bass guitar saying "it only has 4 strings". I'm sure you can you know how he reacted

 

[James Collins]

Don't be afraid to change to another major or even another school if you have to. At the same time, don't quit just because something is difficult. Study something you enjoy and that challenges you.

I changed major multiple times in school and changed schools when my major was no longer worth additional out of state tuition. My major went from aerospace engineering to mechanical engineering to civil engineering to biology with a plan to go to pharmacy school, but then I later decided to go to medical school. Grades were never the reason for changing. I also started off at Georgia Tech and switched to East Carolina University because it wasn't worth out of state tuition.

My wife went back to school for a completely different degree than her first one. It is probably a little silly to expect a 17 or 18 year old person to know what they want to do with the rest of his life. It is frustrating, but know you are in good company.

Regarding music, my timing sucks. I always avoided playing with a metronome and counting. Now I can play some difficult songs, but I still sit with a metronome on 60 bpm trying to work out my counting like someone just starting out.

 

[singlemalt]

Sounds like you just ran smack up against the reality of a college level music performance program. Most of your fellow music students have probably had a lifetime of private instruction, played in band programs since middle school, and played in extra curricular bands or ensembles.

Did you have an audition to be accepted?

If you passed an audition, and were accepted into a program as a music major, they must have seen an acceptable skill level for an incoming freshman. Talk to your advisor, or department head and see if you are on track. They owe it to you to be honest and direct about your strengths and weaknesses. They are being paid to educate you.

First year of college is heavy. There’s all your core classes, at a new level of difficulty, learning new time management and study skills, (most kids struggle) new freedoms and distractions. Throw in a performance music angle and you have tons of work to do. You might be away from home for the first time. It can be overwhelming. And then the pandemic hit. Classes probably ended back in March. You aren’t the only one feeling lost.

Don’t hesitate to talk to your instructors and advisors. Talk to your folks about how you feel. It’s not unusual for kids to change majors as they search for direction.

Switching to a new instrument at college level? Not going to happen. There’s no time.

Think about if you really want to take something you enjoy and turn it into a job. If you know any pro or working bassists or musicians, ask how they feel about their choices, and what they did to get where they are. Don’t loan em money, but you can buy lunch.

Hang in there, and get back to practicing.

 

[Cutter8]

Can you post a clip or video of you playing? So we can hear/see it?

Seems a lot like lack of confidence. I have dealed with that all my life. It can be paralising.

Search online for "imposture syndrome", read about that, maybe it will give you more confidence. It's a struggle to beat yourself up every time. Believe me, I know.

I agree, but OP will be better off searching for “imposter syndrome”

 

[bass12]

Unless you have rich parents or really like gambling then forget pursuing music as any kind of career path. It’s just not realistic at this point. Are there people out there making a career out of music? Yes, but those people have either been doing it a long time or they were very, very lucky.

Take it from G.E.

 

[J_Bass]

I agree, but OP will be better off searching for “imposter syndrome”

You're right, thanks!

I can't edit it now. Thanks for the correction. I make some bad mistakes writing english, sometimes. And the phone keyboard gets a little confused sometimes, between portuguese and english.

 

[lark_z]

No music major here, but I can tell you after straight-A's in high school and junior college, when I got the the real college, it was a whole different beast. I was no longer the smartest kid in the room, big adjustment for me. Straight A's - HA - more like straight C's. I struggled for awhile, but stuck it out and had a successful and fulfilling career. There are a lot of different paths, but I can tell you that the best time to tough it out and finish college is when you're young. I've watched a lot of people really struggle to finish after they start working/ having spouse and kids.

 

[Cutter8]

You're right, thanks!

I can't edit it now. Thanks for the correction. I make some bad mistakes writing english, sometimes. And the phone keyboard gets a little confused sometimes, between portuguese and english.

I disagree. I have ready many posts of yours and think you actually write quite well in English.

 

[Jalen Fuller]

Can you post a clip or video of you playing? So we can hear/see it?

Seems a lot like lack of confidence. I have dealed with that all my life. It can be paralising.

Search online for "imposture syndrome", read about that, maybe it will give you more confidence. It's a struggle to beat yourself up every time. Believe me, I know.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/75XyZQwhrV14Njnw7

 

[J_Bass]

https://photos.app.goo.gl/75XyZQwhrV14Njnw7

It's difficult to hear, due to the sound quality, but I don't hear nothing wrong with your playing. And you are easily the coolest one on stage. You are on a mental crossroad, now. I'm just a hobbyist, I make my living another way.

You are young, you have to decide if you want to be a professional musician. It's tough, I don't doubt it.

But don't let the negative mentality to be the judge of your future. You definitely don't suck.

 

[FantasticFour]

The only thing I can think of sharing that could be of help to you, is that sometimes anxiety and lack of confidence paint things that are really important and crucial to you as 'meh'.
I've seen it myself. I've seen it in others. In those cases being enrolled in some kind of program (degree, tour, etc.) makes things worse because obligation multiplies anxiety. That doesn't mean you don't like bass that much. It just means you're freaking out.
Take advantage of summer holidays to stop playing and see if you end up missing it.

 

[Jalen Fuller]

Jalen, how old are you? For how many years have you been playing? We all have peaks and valleys in our development as musicians.

I’m 18 and have been playing for 4 years

 

[PennyroyalWe]

Firstly I’d recommend hitting up the counselors and advisors at your school. Most schools will have counselors who can help guide you through these feeling and help you find direction and make a plan of action to get you going a way you want to be going. I would also highly recommend that you look into what’s going on in student engagement at your school. One of the biggest obstacles for students going to college is the feeling of isolation and that can have lots of negative effects on your mind and performance. There’s lots of ways to connect with your campus and fellow students, and very likely music clubs or fun ensembles that aren’t connected to a class. It can be a bit intimidating jumping into a new place, new organization, with new people, but whatever way you choose to get engaged is likely to be a very rewarding part of your college experience and one more way you’re getting the most out of your time there. Stick with it, and good luck!

 

[Jalen Fuller]

It's difficult to hear, due to the sound quality, but I don't hear nothing wrong with your playing. And you are easily the coolest one on stage. You are on a mental crossroad, now. I'm just a hobbyist, I make my living another way.

You are young, you have to decide if you want to be a professional musician. It's tough, I don't doubt it.

But don't let the negative mentality to be the judge of your future. You definitely don't suck.

I don’t suck when playing with a pick but when it’s comes to fingers I still suck after a few months of practice

 

[LowActionHero]

Music is a really tough business to make a living in...

And therefore if you get a job outside of music, you can afford more music gear.
It's a cruel cruel world...

 

[J_Bass]

I don’t suck when playing with a pick but when it’s comes to fingers I still suck after a few months of practice

If you have been playing with a pick for 4 years, it'll take more than a few months to get to same level using another technique. And there is nothing wrong with playing with a pick.

Take time to listen to Bobby Vega and Steve Swallow, they are pick players and they are awesome.

 

[LeFunk Machine]

I don’t suck when playing with a pick but when it’s comes to fingers I still suck after a few months of practice

Wow, you're the opposite of me. I have difficulty playing with a pick. Pick is much hard in my opinion.

 

[hieronymous]

Doubt isn't necessarily a bad thing - sometimes moving through a crisis like this makes us stronger. I'm impressed that you are aware of issues in your playing that need improvement - many musicians don't realize those things.

One thing I've learned is how important it is to LISTEN. Don't just listen to the bass, listen to all the instruments and find how the bass fits into all of it. You want to develop your technique not so that you can play fast or impressive stuff, but so that you can play what you hear and feel in the music. I'd almost go so far as to say that it doesn't matter what you play, as long as you are listening to the music and not getting in the way.

As far as time goes, I have found that each note isn't so important, it's more like feeling these big blocks of time - they're almost like pillows, it's a pulse or a thread through the music. These blocks might be one measure, maybe two. Then you plop your notes down where they need to be, whether following the kick or snare or where the kick and snare don't go. That's why moving your body, whether bobbing your head or tapping your foot or dancing, helps - feel that pulse, those pillows, and put your notes in the right spots! And you can figure out the right spots by learning the basslines of the masters, but also listening to the entire song and seeing where they decided to put their notes.

One of the best things you can do is play with people better than you. Difficult under current circumstances but something to keep in mind. Playing along with albums (mp3s, YouTube, whatever) can't hurt. The main thing is - PLAY! Whether it's practicing basic stuff or having fun playing along with stuff, if you don't play you won't improve.

Finally, there are plenty of people that go to college and end up working in fields that have nothing to do with their majors.

 

[bherman]

I don’t suck when playing with a pick but when it’s comes to fingers I still suck after a few months of practice

Hard to hear the video - but what I can see from your playing is you need work on your technique (thumb up around the neck for one thing). If you have a top-notch teacher, I would think that you could learn finger style pretty quickly. I suck at playing with a pick, but with applied practice I'm sure that I could get good at it.

I would say that looking to make a career out of playing electric bass is a pretty tall hill to climb in this era. You'd need to be adept at all styles of music - be a good teacher yourself, since at least for a period of time until established, you'd need to teach in order to cobble together a living - have to be a top-notch sight reader, and probably would be good to play double bass also. I've talked to a few guys over the years in NYC (on visits) who were looking to make a living at it, and they all were running around doing 2-3 gigs each day, some jazz on upright and some electric.

Sounds like you're off for the summer, take the time to reassess what your next steps are. The fact that you are asking these questions says to me that as a young guy, you've got a pretty good head on your shoulders. Talk to as many people as you can to help give you more information.

Best of luck, and check back and keep us posted. Don't hesitate to reach out if you want to chat about any of this via pm.

 

[LeFunk Machine]

Fender is offering free lessons through in their "Fender Play".