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I Think I Lost My Way

All 4 years pick and few months fingers

And see that is exactly your problem, fam. You expect few months of fingerstyle playing to sound the same as 4 years of playing with a pick. It just doesn't work like that. I'd like you to meet my friend :

Now you see, my friend used to be a strictly pick player I used to play mostly finger style. I sucked with a pick he sucked playing fingers. But seeing him rip with a pick I was like: man, I wish I could do that. Meanwhile my friend, he bought a new fretless bass guitar, and to him it just didn't feel right playing a fretless with a pick, so He decided to finally learn how to play fingerstyle. It took him a whole year before he felt comfortable about his fingerstyle and now a few years later , I can say that his fingerstyle playing is almost on par with his pick technique, and I think that says something considering the kind of music he plays. Now, I myself as a pick player never really reached his level, but I still got really decent with it. I also learned how to slap , something I never would've thought I'd be capable of doing and right now I'm practicing my double thumb technique, which by far feels like my biggest challange so far.

Tbh I was probably your age when I quit playing bass for the same reason that you are considering right now: I felt I wasn't good enough. And years passed before I finally took up the bass and gave it a second chance, and as a more mature person, rid of the teenage angst and bs excuses, on my second try I became way better than I ever was , even some friends that genuinely though I was a trash bass player got shocked by how god I become. And it all happened for 2 reason. Reason number 1. I was finally willing to sit down and practice my butt off until I was good enough and reason 2. I found myself a bass guitar that spoke to me like no other bass guitar ever did, and it wasn't even an expensive instrument, it's a Sire V7. But to me personally it just spoke to me. Right out if the box when I picked it up I felt like I was Thor and that the bass in my hand is Mjolnir and that we were made for each other. And that is basically my advice to you. Don't give up, you will regret it! I know I did. I wish I knew back then that my problem wasn't that I didn't have talent, my problem was being too lazy to put in the necessary work.

Second advice, find yourself a bass that speaks to you. I currently have 2 bass guitars. But I had multiple in the past. I owned an ESP and Ibanez, and currently I own a Fender Player series P bass and a Sire V7 Jazz bass, and I'd lie if I didn't say that the V7 just feel right when I pick it up. Though, what works for me doesn't necesarilly mean it will work for you , you need to find that bass that just feels right when you play it.

and Last but not least, actually tbh in matter of importance this actually ties into the first advice but basically this: stop comparing yourself to others, don't think how you compare to others, but how you compare to yourself. And this one is basically not only a bass advice but a life advice too. Focus on being better than you are today, not on being good enough to fit in. Practice each day to become a better bass player than you are today.

TL;DR version: Git gud you scrub
 
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And see that is exactly your problem, fam. You expect few months of fingerstyle playing to sound the same as 4 years of playing with a pick. It just doesn't work like that. I'd like you to meet my friend : Now you see, my friend used to be a strictly pick player I used to play mostly finger style. I sucked with a pick he sucked playing fingers. But seeing him rip with a pick I was like: man, I wish I could do that. Meanwhile my friend, he bought a new fretless bass guitar, and to him it just didn't feel right playing a fretless with a pick, so He decided to finally learn how to play fingerstyle it took him a whole year before he felt comfortable about his fingerstyle and now a few years later I can say that his fingerstyle playing is almost on par with his pick technique and I think that says something considering the kind of music he plays. Now, I myself as a pick player never really reached his level, but I still got really decent with it I also learned how to slap something I never would've thought I'd be capable of doing and right now I'm practicing my double thumb technique which by far feels like my biggest challange so far. Tbh I was probably your age when I quit playing bass for the same reason that you are considering right now: I felt I wasn't good enough. And years passed before I finally took up a the bass and gave it a second chance, and as a more mature person rid of the teenage angst and bs excuses, on my second try I became way better than I ever was even some friends that genuinely though I was a trash bass player got shocked by how god I become. And it all happened for 2 reason. Reason number 1. I was finally willing to sit down and practice my butt off until I was good enough and reason 2. I found myself a bass guitar that spoke to me like no other bass guitar ever did, and it wasn't even an expensive instrument, it's a Sire V7. But to me personally it just spoke to me. Right out if the box when I picked it up I felt like I was Thor and that the bass in my hand is Mjolnir and that we were made for each other. And that is basically my advice to you don't give up, you will regret it, I know I did. I wish I knew back then that my problem wasn't that I didn't have talent, my problem was being too lazy to put in the necessary work.

Second advice, find yourself a bass that speaks to you. I currently have 2 bass guitars. But I had multiple in the past. I owned an ESP and Ibanez, and currently I own a Fender Player series P bass and a Sire V7 Jazz bass, and I'd lie if I didn't say that the V7 just feel right when I pick it up. Though, what works for me doesn't necesarilly mean it will work for you , you need to find that bass that just feels right when you play it.

and Last but not least, actually tbh in matter of importance this actually ties into the first advice but basically this: stop comparing yourself to others, don't think how you compare to others, but how you compare to yourself. And this one is basically not only a bass advice but a life advice too. Focus on being better than you are today, not on being good enough to fit in. Practice each day to become a better bass player than you are today.

TL;DR version: Git gud you scrub

That’s another thing, I never really found another bass quite like my cheap p bass I got when first starting. I’ve tried everything from Vintera P basses to a short scale that I recently got even to a G&L Jazz Bass. I can’t find anything else in site and the only ones that felt fine and smooth for me was the Sterling by Music Man 34. I picked one up and the action felt right. I was like playing with cotton. Also for me the Rickenbacker 4003 feels great too as well and places me in a more Paul McCartney mindset or even a Rick James mindset as well.
 
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I absolutely love the 4003. Such a great neck , such an aggresive sound. And I love rick James. Great bass lines. You gonna buy that sterling? I think they have a beautiful fat sound for finger style and a good sound with pick, but they are a little too much for slap unlike the real MM which is just an overal killer bass. Also, you a Bernard Edwards fan?
 
I absolutely love the 4003. Such a great neck , such an aggresive sound. And I love rick James. Great bass lines. You gonna buy that sterling? I think they have a beautiful fat sound for finger style and a good sound with pick, but they are a little too much for slap unlike the real MM which is just an overal killer bass. Also, you a Bernard Edwards fan?
Bernard Edwards is the reason I play in the first place
 
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.
I was also thinking about going back into science again
 
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Science can get you a lot of places. You can still practice a few hours a day and do some side gigs. It is way easier to get that degree in science, leave to tour for a bit, then come back and get a job then it is to tour, come back, and try to go to school for science! Gets a lot harder to do school as you get older.
 
Science can get you a lot of places. You can still practice a few hours a day and do some side gigs. It is way easier to get that degree in science, leave to tour for a bit, then come back and get a job then it is to tour, come back, and try to go to school for science! Gets a lot harder to do school as you get older.
I was wondering should I just do something like nursing, public health or something in history. Cuz I want to do music cuz I love it but at the same time I was watching a video a while back, and the guy said you can’t be excited if you don’t know where you’re going. That’s how I am in my music program, I don’t know where it’s going to take me and with the current crush’s bound to change the landscape and with potential future threats like this looming I’d rather have a path that can be seen clearly.
 
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I can't watch this thread any longer. Sorry. Planning your future is very important. And maybe asking advice on TB may not be the best place.

You need to make decisions on your future considering things like income ability, looking into your attributes, and understanding your dreams. But it takes wisdom to make such decisions, possibly with help from friends, family, educators, counselors, etc. But that is just my opinion. Good Luck.
 
I can't watch this thread any longer. Sorry. Planning your future is very important. And maybe asking advice on TB may not be the best place.

You need to make decisions on your future considering things like income ability, looking into your attributes, and understanding your dreams. But it takes wisdom to make such decisions, possibly with help from friends, family, educators, counselors, etc. But that is just my opinion. Good Luck.
I’m sorry, to be honest I can’t either. It’s like my life needs reconstruction. I don’t know if that reconstruction is as little as changing my direction on bass, maybe switching back to guitar and songwriting or drastically moving into not only something more practical or fulfilling not only to myself but the world.
 
That's what I've been doing and there's a part of me that's like not that many people have complained about me being a predominately being a pick player, but the thing is would it be enough to help me especially when I would be sitting in class with guitarist who can literally do what I'm doing?
Dude, you are SO on the right track and you don't even know it! If people are not complaining about what you're doing, that's half the battle. And no, the guitarist can't do what you do, and even if he could, he can't do it and play guitar at the same time.

Know what I used to tell myself when I was unsure of myself? I'd say I'm not the best bassist in the world but I'm the best bassist on this stage right about now. And then once I got confident, I'd say I'm still not the best but I am my personal favorite :D Embrace what makes you you. Nobody's expecting you to be anything but the best version of you that you can be. I'd advise to always work on your fingerstyle as well because that is a thing bass players should know, too, and versatility is never a bad thing. But if you've got a cool pick thing happening, people don't see that every day and they will dig it.

However, that still doesn't address how you feel about your future. Something you have to decide for yourself. But if you choose music, just remember that it's a great thing to make music, but the only profession less merit-based is professional wrestling.
 
I’m sorry, to be honest I can’t either. It’s like my life needs reconstruction. I don’t know if that reconstruction is as little as changing my direction on bass, maybe switching back to guitar and songwriting or drastically moving into not only something more practical or fulfilling not only to myself but the world.
I think that once again, you are answering your own question. Re-read the last part of your last sentence - ..."moving into not only something more practical or fulfilling not only to myself but the world." You know inside your heart that you want to do something to make a difference in the world. You're only 18 yrs old, when I was 18 I was working part-time in a record store and pondering whether to even go to college. If I were 18 again I would hope for the intelligence and maturity that you are displaying in considering which direction you want to head in for your future. One thing that I wish that I did more of when I was your age was to reach out more for help from others. There are so many wise, helpful people in the world who I'm sure would love to help a guy like you think things through. You ultimately need to make the decision yourself, but you don't need to make it on your own.

Take your time, look into as many programs as you can. It's out there for you.
 
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Take your time, look into as many programs as you can. It's out there for you.

+1 And music will always be there regardless.

I was faced with a similar dilemma when my time in high school was coming towards an end. I actually had a solid music foundation, was participating in a pre-college program for a well-regarded university, and had a good chance of success (whatever that means) if I decided to pursue a music degree.

In the end I decided to pursue a degree in business. While getting my degree, I took every opportunity I could to involve myself in the campus music programs: symphony band, jazz band, pit bands, the sketch comedy house band... you name it. Those opportunities will be there for you as well regardless of what path you choose, and it's totally possible to advance significantly musically while studying something else as long as you put in the effort and pursue it with a passion.

I'm not trying to necessarily sway you to that direction, but I do want to hammer home that just because you choose a degree in something else doesn't mean that you need to put music on pause. Far from it.
 
I was wondering should I just do something like nursing, public health or something in history. Cuz I want to do music cuz I love it but at the same time I was watching a video a while back, and the guy said you can’t be excited if you don’t know where you’re going. That’s how I am in my music program, I don’t know where it’s going to take me and with the current crush’s bound to change the landscape and with potential future threats like this looming I’d rather have a path that can be seen clearly.

Those are a bunch of wise words you just typed. Music as a profession is one you Do or Do Not. If you "kinda do it" you don't get anywhere unless you are already set up (dad is a producer or you live next to Brittany). If there is a counselor OUTSIDE of the music dept, I would suggest setting up a time to talk with them. Let them know how you feel and where your heart is at. If they totally suck, let us know here and we will help.
 
Those are a bunch of wise words you just typed. Music as a profession is one you Do or Do Not. If you "kinda do it" you don't get anywhere unless you are already set up (dad is a producer or you live next to Brittany). If there is a counselor OUTSIDE of the music dept, I would suggest setting up a time to talk with them. Let them know how you feel and where your heart is at. If they totally suck, let us know here and we will help.
Definitely, because I’m still at this crossword as mentioned of either switching back to guitar like before I started bass or just moving on to something greater
 
There's great stuff in this thread, and some really good perspectives. I'll pass on one little bit of advice that I gave our college bound kid a few years back; maybe it will help.

Imagine a diagram, with the following overlapping circles. The first circle is "Things You Love to Do." Obviously music is in there, along with the other things that you really really enjoy. The second circle is "Things You Are Really, Objectively, Good At." And the third circle is "Things you can effectively monetize". (That's the tough one, I know, but you gotta pay the rent) These circles move and change as you grow older, so they might not always align the same way all the time. But if possible you want your career to be something that is within the intersection of all three regions.

So, in thinking about what to study in college my suggestion is to explore a range of options and give yourself some leeway to try on other hats for a while. When the time is right you'll know what to do. This is the perfect time in your life to do that, when your energy and curiosity are high, and you're hopefully not encumbered by lots of other responsibilities. And whether you do music as a career or not, any training you do now will help you so much as you go forward in your life, so there's no waste. You're a musician, and that's that.

One last thing -- Check out this graduation speech which Steve Jobs gave at Stanford. One of the best that I've ever heard, and I think it has some good advice for the road ahead for all of us. Stay hungry! Stay foolish!

 
Recently I’ve been to push myself out as this intermediate bassist when in reality I’m just a wannabe with a lack of rhythm. I might of had more rhythm in my high school band while playing with a pick but once I got out I started to lose it. What’s worst is as a result after going through a long phase of getting a new bass as a patch up from wanting a Jazz bass to a short scale I am beginning to realized it me and my lack of passion for bass beyond making money in music only cuz I don’t believe in good at much else. Now I am majoring in music in college and I feel it’s a waist cuz the very instrument that I play I suck at. At this point I’ve lost my way and I don’t know whether to just move to a less physically demanding instrument, go back into beats and production or just hang it up keep this as a hobby and do something else worth while in college which I’ll tell you is not much I mean yeah I’m good at history but that’s about it. All my way has been lost[/QUO

You probably don't suck; people who do generally do not get into music school or concern themselves with getting better. College music isn't for everyone, but the types of players I've seen walk around with degrees would surprise you if you hear them talk about or play music. It's your life so do what you is best for you, but what you are undertaking is meant to be challenging. When I was briefly in music school, my biggest hurdle was adjusting my expectations to being a student as someone who gigs successfully in other genres. I also have a degree in history. It's a great field of study and doing it at the college level will change the way you look at the world, but there will be days when you feel like the impossible is being asked of you until you answer the same question you will need to answer if you stay in music; what is the least painful way to get better at this? Whichever path you choose (if you choose at all; I certainly didn't) you will save a lot of heartache by embracing being a beginner; allow yourself to make mistakes so you can hear/see them and grow.
 
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Definitely, because I’m still at this crossword as mentioned of either switching back to guitar like before I started bass or just moving on to something greater

I don't see why you would have to switch. It doesn't need to be one or the other especially if you have an interest in producing music like you've mentiomed earlier. You can do both the guitar and the Bass. As for your degree, music can still be your side hassle, your passion project that you do while you use your day job to put food on the table. Regardless of your choice it doesn't always have to be an A or B choice.
 
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I don't see why you would have to switch. It doesn't need to be one or the other especially if you have an interest in producing music like you've mentiomed earlier. You can do both the guitar and the Bass. As for your degree, music can still be your side hassle, your passion project that you do while you use your day job to put food on the table. Regardless of your choice it doesn't always have to be an A or B choice.
I think I’ll stick with my music program. I’ll take @basslyer And embrace being a beginner but I always struggled with rhythm since forever and even though I’ve made home runs before my rhythm has always been a problem. I practice with a drum beat and metronome but to be honest even with that my rhythm mostly sucks. I can’t even pat my feet on rhythm.
 
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