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I'm going backwards

Matt Till

Matt Till

Jun 1, 2002
16,305
111
43
Edinboro, PA
www.myspace.com
#1
For some reason, my bass playing is degrading. I feel I was better a year ago, and I've been playing ever since then. I try to play daily, and I've taken a grasp on new theory concepts. Ashamed to admit it, but after 7 years of bass playing, I finally took the time to understand modes, next thing you know, I'll learn how to tune my bass :smug: :D . One of many musical ideas I've take in, but despite being one year wiser: My playing is in the hamper, I'm washed up... out of ideas.

I've taken to recording jams I have with friends because I've regreted not doing it in the past. I've caught a few good ones, and had a few good ones: But I can't seem to make just bass and drums sound interesting the way I use to. It's probably just a rut, and I'll get out of it, but it sucks.

How do you usually get out of a rut? My plan: When I get paid (just got a new job, it might be a while): Get new strings!! That helps a ton. I've been having tonal problems lately. I have a love hate relationship with flats... I am going to go back to rounds when I have some money. It will help a bit, I know. But I'm trying to figure out how to get to the next step in my bass playing, and I've been at this stage for about 2 years.

Mostly venting, sorry.
 
#2
What you need is some new gear. New bass, new amp. I'm not saying there's anything wrong with your current gear, but new gear will improve your playing. Getting new gear is the only thing that maintains my playing level. Yes sir, you need some new gear.

And how did you get 14,000 posts? Did you change your screen name?
 
#4
it kinda looks like you might be overthinking your playing--when you are jamming, don't even think about what you are playing and just play...even if its just whole notes just play what you feel. That has helped me get out of ruts--because I was too focused on trying to get a really groovy bassline like all the heroes everyone talks about in the bassists section here--instead just let go of that thought and just play what you feel...


...and get new strings too
 
#5
Been there, felt that.

Sometimes it's good to remember that nobody plays well all of the time. There are other things going on in life that can be pretty distracting. If this has lasted for two years then I'd have to say that there is more to it than that. It sounds like it's a matter of direction. Something in your approach to bass or your expectations is getting in the way of your progress.

You mention that you've learned a lot in the way of theory lately, perhaps your theoretical knowledge has outpaced your technique. It could be, as superbassman2000 suggested, that you are over-thinking it all. Have you tried just playing as spontaneaously as you can, not trying to extend to the boundries of your knowledge but instead trying to play simply, tastefully and creatively? After decades of playing jazz and complex changes I find real enjoyment in playing simple music in a straightforward manner. James Jamerson played some of the most memorable bass lines in pop music but a lot of it was roots and fifths played with inventive timing. He knew his theory but his strength was in playing from the heart and feeling the music.
 
#6
The case may be that back then you just thought you were better than you were. After having more experience now, you may not find the same things as good or interesting, and the recordings from back then may only be good to you because of nostalgia. I have some recordings I did in college that I love and think sound great, but in reality I now know they pretty much suck. They suck in just the right way though, so I love them.
 
#7
Bryan R. Tyler said:
The case may be that back then you just thought you were better than you were. After having more experience now, you may not find the same things as good or interesting, and the recordings from back then may only be good to you because of nostalgia. I have some recordings I did in college that I love and think sound great, but in reality I now know they pretty much suck. They suck in just the right way though, so I love them.
Click to expand...



There is some truth in that: But I don't think I've ever thought of myself as "good." My friends use to go on about how good I was, and more than anything, it would piss me off. I would explain to them what good bass playing was and how it was nothing like what I was doing. I probably think I was better back then because now I'm just repeating what I did back then, but it's old news now.

I just have to figure out how to... get better I guess.
 
#8
maybe your playing has just gone in a different direction? I doubt you've gotten worse, you might have just started to get a more "roots" feel where you don't feel like you have to play a thousand notes to be considered good? possibly you are more comfortable with your playing that you feel you don't need to play the way you used to? I know that when I am nervous I tend to overplay, which a lot of non-bassists might think is really cool (yngwie malmsteen is a good example of the guitar version of this)
 
#9
Sometimes when I feel like I'm just going through the motions it helps me to go all the way back to basics. The other day I was jamming with my band and I was wondering why the song just wasn't happening like it did the first few times we played it. Eventually I realized that I was dragging. Not enough to be out of time, but I wasn't where I had been before. A little adjustment made all the difference to me, even though I doubt the rest of the band noticed either way. For me, anyway, it's less about what I'm playing than about how I'm playing it. But I'm not quite good enough to catch myself when I'm drifting away from what I would really like. I just have to look around when I get a case of the "blah"s and try to figure out what I'm not doing.
 
#10
After reading this thread and doing a little reflecting I have concluded that the sensation of "going backward" could simply be a matter of seeing your own limitations in a new light. When I was 17 I thought that I was pretty good but a few years later when I realized how much I had to learn I felt like it was a setback even though it was in fact a step forward.

This same thing happened over and again as I climbed the next obstacle only to realize that I had further to go than I had ever dreamed. It still happens after 40 years of playing, but along the way I've learned a lot of things. My career is similar, every time I learn a new area of data communications I simply find that it opens a door to more things that I have to learn. In retrospect I've learned a lot over the last 15 years but at times I still feel like an ant scaling Mt Everest.
 
#11
Yea man I'm in just coming out of that state right as we speak, I don't really know what I did, I think I told my self that I'm happy to just pick up an instrument and have the chance and the ability to please my ears with the succulent sound of bass ringing in my ears!
 

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