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Making Peace with My Mediocrity

#182
I haven’t read all of the comments, but I can say this. I, too, do not feel that I have or can achieve the level of proficiency I would like. I’m a year older than you, have heard you play, and you’re well beyond my abilities. Regardless, unless your perceived deficiency keeps you from enjoying the instrument and playing, why let it bother you? Clearly, lots of talented folks on this site respect both your ability and contributions.
 
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#183
Samatza said:
Doc I think you're being too hard on yourself. If you have a family and career naturally that would come first, that's logical.

On playing River People 75% of Jaco's tempo is pretty good going already. Unless you intend to play this as a performance piece why worry. I know that I don't alternate 100% either but to be honest it kind of works for me the way I do it and sometimes that just means one finger, I think Jamerson used one finger also.

Now over the last 45 years I think I can remember a few times that I had to play some fast lines that were beyond my skill level, a bit of slow deliberate practice got me there and in performance I could pull it off however 99.99% of the time the lines were relatively simple, just bass lines that required a good feel more than anything else.

As bass players we tend to beat ourselves up over what we can't do but rarely acknowledge what we can do and how far we've progressed. Like you I had a professional career, that and my family came first. My suggestion is continue with your lessons and enjoy the learning and playing experience, we don't have to be the best at it we only need to accept the joy that it brings. In essence we are all still just learning... the journey continues.
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I appreciate you sharing!
 
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#184
Dr. Cheese said:
The thing that really made me realize my limitations was playing Jaco’s River People, and realizing that my tendency to not truly alternate my fingers, but to play two notes with one finger then two notes with other meant that I could get to 75% of Jaco’s tempo, but I feel apart beyond that. My teacher said he knew no one who loves bass more than me, but I have never gotten where I want to be. I do not really have the time to just remake myself the way a young player could because I have a family and career. I think I could get up to two hours a day, but who knows?
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You’re a good player, you make interesting vids, and from what I can tell, a great guy. You can break the habit you describe with slow, steady dedicated practice. I have the same issue, and still lapse into it. Usually when I’m tired. Keep at it Doc. The journey is keeping us young.
 
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#186
Hey, no matter who you are or how good or bad you are, somewhere there’s someone who thinks you suck. There’s also someone somewhere who thinks you’re the best bassist they’ve ever heard. They both probably have some good reason to think the way they do. Doesn’t matter if you’re Victor Wooten or Nikki Sixx.
 
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#187
The better you get, the more your flaws become apparent. Its reverse Dunning-kruger.

It doesn't mean your voice on the instrument doesn't matter. Many of us have been watching the last dance during lockdown. Let's look at john Stockton vs Michael Jordan. John is not at Mike's level. It doesnt mean John should not have played basketball and didn't contribute immensely to the sport (he went into the hall of fame the same year as Jordan).

Good is a long way from perfect. But it's still good. Plus you get to take tiny steps in the general direction of perfect every time you pick up your instrument.
 
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#188
I'm like a lot of you. I've been playing a long time, but I'm nowhere near as good as I should be. But I love bass and being a bass player.

I started playing when I was 15. Took lessons throughout high school and was getting really good. College and beyond, my playing petered out to the point where I wasn't playing at all in my early 20s...
until, at age 26 or so, a youth volunteer at an after-school program I was working at inspired me to dust off my bass and my old lesson books.

I kicked around in a few different projects, but life took a turn for the worse around age 30 and I was off again for a couple of years. From age 32-37 I was in two seriously gigging bands, playing often, and felt myself getting better.

Then life took another massive turn for the worse and I fell into a depressive funk where I didn't touch my bass for a couple of years. I even got to the point where I wanted to quit playing altogether...
until a friend in my cycling club inspired me to pick my instrument up again, and made me realize that the "thing" I thought was missing from my life was music. I've been jamming in his project for the past 3 years.

I'm 42 now. I play at least a little bit every day. Even when I don't have time to really sit down and either practice my project's material or do exercises in my lesson books, I'll at least do the "spider exercise" and a few scales/modes for 5 minutes before I go to bed.

I realize that regardless of my skill level (which I'm always looking to improve), I AM a bass player. Being a bass player is a key part of my identity, more so than some of the other things I thought forged it.

I also realize that the more I learn, the more I realize I don't know a darn thing... which makes me want to learn more, and then I realize I know nothing... which makes me want to learn more...
 
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#189
Hey Cheese- We all thought about the possibility of being a player/ recording artist. Some of us did some cool stuff ( professionally ) while others never got the chance. Me the hack I am, have performed with Rick Roberts
( Fire-fall ), Ray Kennedy ( co- writer Beach Boys ) and Beverly Bremer (One hit wonder ). Got the chance to play Stanley Clark's Alembic Bass while he was in the Studio. I can die now !!!!! ..... Now, I play in the spare room to entertain my self. Looks are gone, and the hands are not much better. There are so many great player ( bassist )now, its hard to stand out. Just know you did some good stuff along the way. I see bass player out of big name schools that will do less than you, my friend. So be cool and enjoy the ride, its not over yet !
 
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#194
Dr. Cheese said:
Unlearning bad habits is like mowing the lawn with shears!:eek:
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That's a great analogy on a number of levels!

Doc, your insightful initial post clearly resonates with a lot of us on TB. I wouldn't trade the trip I've had through life for anything. It's been a great and rewarding adventure. But I do find myself wishing that I had carved out a little bit of time with my bass back when I was focused on more important things. I think about how much better my skills would be now if I didn't have to start almost from scratch a few years ago. I'm already a better player than I was when I let life get in the way. But nowhere near the player I'd be if I had spent a little time on chops maintenance along the way. Hindsight, right?

Thanks for throwing that out there. It is a bell shaped curve! Novice and non-players on one end and our many bass heroes on the other. I'm happy enough to be somewhere in the big pile of us in the middle. The middle gets it done. For me, watching people dance to our music says the middle is pretty good. And I've seen enough of your vids that I'd say you're on the Jaco side of the curve from me, so don't sell yourself short!

The "personal enrichment" also works on several levels. Not only does music enrich life in itself, playing a musical instrument improves cognitive function as we age. We're the same age, so I guess our little bass addiction isn't as bad for us as others might have been!
 
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#196
DrThumpenstein said:
That's a great analogy on a number of levels!

Doc, your insightful initial post clearly resonates with a lot of us on TB. I wouldn't trade the trip I've had through life for anything. It's been a great and rewarding adventure. But I do find myself wishing that I had carved out a little bit of time with my bass back when I was focused on more important things. I think about how much better my skills would be now if I didn't have to start almost from scratch a few years ago. I'm already a better player than I was when I let life get in the way. But nowhere near the player I'd be if I had spent a little time on chops maintenance along the way. Hindsight, right?

Thanks for throwing that out there. It is a bell shaped curve! Novice and non-players on one end and our many bass heroes on the other. I'm happy enough to be somewhere in the big pile of us in the middle. The middle gets it done. For me, watching people dance to our music says the middle is pretty good. And I've seen enough of your vids that I'd say you're on the Jaco side of the curve from me, so don't sell yourself short!

The "personal enrichment" also works on several levels. Not only does music enrich life in itself, playing a musical instrument improves cognitive function as we age. We're the same age, so I guess our little bass addiction isn't as bad for us as others might have been!
Click to expand...
If I am on the Jaco side of the curve, it is a really big curve.
 
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#200
Dr. Cheese said:
I have been playing bass longer than many who post here have been alive. For years, I was mainly self taught, and was mostly a bedroom bassist. I have played in bands, and I have gigged a little. Mostly, I have played with choirs since the 1990’s. About five years ago, I started taking lessons, and I have really been consistent for the last three years. I can see the improvement, but it has become obvious to me that I have some ingrained habits that are very hard to stop at sixty. To be blunt, I do not think I will ever come close to what I might have been if I had started serious study at least thirty years ago. Ideally, I should have stuck to string bass in college. That would have given me a very strong foundation. I do not plan to quit lessons or serious practice. I just know that it is more for personal enrichment at this point in life.:)
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Dig this post. I am 48 and have played for about 8 years consistently, and took lessons for about 2 years (started after giving up sports). I am happy with my current skill level because it is good enough to play in more than one band, and across several genres and styles of music. For the most part, my practice and learning comes from new songs being thrown at me. So, I sort of feel the same as you, that is, mostly satisfied with where I am. For me that is a mid-level (mediocre) bass player (not saying you are of course). I do not read music other than chord charts and the number system, and just learn the nuances by ear or a youtube video. O, I also have young-ish kids, a wife, and a full time job, so just not a reality to dive in much deeper. Would like to learn the "slap" skill, but the few nuggets I need to play presently can be faked. So, like you said, it is now for enrichment and mostly fun. The fun is playing out at the gigs, not sitting and shedding wood for several hours a day, not for me anyway. Good luck in your journey.
 
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