Sounds like you are doing great! Concentrate on this:
Time and rhythms.
Time and rhythms.
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Get yourself a metronome and solidify your timing. Critical to bass playing and invaluable to any band. Work on your eat training. Congratulations on your progress to date!!
Sounds like an outstanding 1yr run. Well done. If you can’t currently play with other musicians or even if you can.
Compose and record 3 or 4 of your own compositions. Make sure you are satisfied with them. There are many many ways online to ask other musicians to add to your creativity. It’s inspiring and illuminating. Allows for healthy networking. Musical attainment and sharing the love of music. Let your artwork breathe.
Compose and record 3 or 4 of your own compositions. Make sure you are satisfied with them. There are many many ways online to ask other musicians to add to your creativity. It’s inspiring and illuminating. Allows for healthy networking. Musical attainment and sharing the love of music. Let your artwork breathe.
I am going to tell you something that everyone else tells you, and then I will let you know what happens if you don't, because I am living proof of if you don't. Start now to look for and play with other people, no matter if all you do is play roots or how bad they may be, or if they are so good that they find you not at their level, so what! Then find someone else. I was where you were at the 1 year mark. Exactly where you are, with theory, reading, instrument setup/maintain, scales, notes..etc, everything. I was on a mission. I took lessons from two different real teachers. I put everything into it just like you. I also played my bass using the Rocksmith for song play-along, you can look it up if you don't know what it is. I would keep telling myself at the point your at now, that I'm not good enough to play with others, I need to learn more, I need to play along to songs more. I need to do this and that more, no one will want to play with me, I don't know enough yet. Now its 3.3 years later, after that 1 year mark for me, so 4.3 years now, and I STILL do everything your doing now, meaning watching bass teaching videos, read music, and play like 400+ songs on my Rocksmith and ace them all, BUT, I still have not played with one single real person/group/jam session, whatever. Do I think I'm good enough now to play with others, on paper? Heck yes, but you know what? I'm a little scared, because I never have yet. Don't let yourself get to the point I'm at now, go for it, listen to them when they say to play with others.
First, I appreciate you sharing your journey so far as well as everyone else who has provided advice in this thread - hearing what you and others do to get better helps me a great deal. I’m similar to you in terms of the length of my experience playing bass (I’m at about 20 months now) and my use of StudyBass.com as my primary source for bass education (I’m in Curriculum Three). Before coronavirus, I was practicing weekly with a band, so I second everyone’s recommendation to start playing with others to further your development. I also started noticing recently some “holes” in my bass education around technique and rhythm, so I took deep-dive courses on these two areas through Luke at BecomingABassist.com, which have been very helpful. In 2021, I’m going to focus on playing along to records/songs, as well as take Mark’s (Talkingbass) courses on ear training and reading music. I’ve realized that while all these online courses are helpful, I really need to be playing along a lot more with recorded songs (and listening closely to the songs to understand what makes them work) in order to internalize everything I’m learning through the online coursework (I don’t think I’ve truly done that yet, and I know it’s a long process that comes with a lot of experience). In addition, once coronavirus is controlled, I will resume practice with my band and might look for others to play with too since my band mates are only available one night a week. So that’s what I’ve done so far and what I plan to do over the next 12+ months to get better. Hope this helps and thanks again for sharing.
Wow, your really getting things done! In sharp contrast to my procrastination. I don't really have any advice to add, so I'll just sit back and see what the others are saying. Most all of it will help me as well.
All of Mark's "Talking Bass" online free lessons are fantastic. I feel he really explains everything so well. I'm always watching his videos even when there is no bass in my hands. Anyone can learn a lot from him. Adam Neely gives you such a deep insight into the topics he covers but I feel one would 'get' what he is saying much easier if that one had at least some music theory already under their belt. Adam goes outside the box in his explanations and that makes it super interesting. Rick Beato's music lessons are more advanced, and there is definitely a need for that type of instruction when your at a certain level. Some people on here suggest the OP gets a real music teacher, and I 100% agree, because when I was learning all the theory and 'how it all works', I had so many questions I fired right back at my teacher for answers and that certainly beats looking everything up online all the time. If you go to a teacher and say, I wanna learn bass guitar, maybe some will start you off with a Mel Bay book or something but if you go into your lessons with a teacher and say, "I want to learn what the II, V, I chord progression is and what can I play over it on bass", they will gladly teach you, so you have to ask. I have always felt the need for a real teacher in my overall music studies and I think it would help the OP here springboard to the next level. Even if you only take the lessons for 6 months.
Be sure to practice standing up. At the music store I managed. We had a recital and it was really awkward seeing everyone playing really awkwardly standing up for the first time. Plus its good practice for gigging to be on your feet.
(I have never been paid to play music. I am paid for moving equipment and standing for 5 hours!)
Play at church, play with friends, go to open jams and just play. If you say yes on bass a lot you will get to play more often than a guitar player! (Post covid)
You have received a lot of good advice. Just go slow and do one thing well at a time! Keep it up! Happy anniversary!
.
(I have never been paid to play music. I am paid for moving equipment and standing for 5 hours!)
Play at church, play with friends, go to open jams and just play. If you say yes on bass a lot you will get to play more often than a guitar player! (Post covid)
You have received a lot of good advice. Just go slow and do one thing well at a time! Keep it up! Happy anniversary!
.
I didn't have time to read all of the other responses, so forgive me if this was already mentioned.
Since playing with a band/other musicians isn't advisable during The Covid pandemic, the next best thing is to play along to backing tracks.
You have a multiple backing track options, and I suggest taking advantage of the variety. Here are a couple of examples of what I mean.
1) Find backing tracks for actual songs from bands that you are familiar with. They may be free, or you may need to find them. But try to learn the original bass line and play along to the track.
2) Find simple, original backing tracks and try to make up your own bass line. Make sure to start with easy things first, so you don't get discouraged.
Another thing that I would suggest is to keep learning as many songs as possible. Specifically, learn by ear. Get a transcribing program/app to really supercharge your ability. Get one that allows you to slow down songs, change the key of songs, and eq out the bass line to some extent. Examples of theses app/programs are: Transcribe, Amazing Slow Downer, Anytune.
There are many others, but those three all all easy to use.
And finally, if you like video games...get Rocksmith. Look it up if you aren't familiar with it. The developers overestimate it's ability to teach guitar/bass;however, it is very useful for someone who already plays. I used to teach both guitar and bass, and the students who used Rocksmith all progressed faster. And students who were progressing slowly, suddenly started progressing faster once they started using it. Plus, it is fun.
If you do all of these things, you should notice your progressing steadily. In fact, you will probably be ready to join a band by the time the pandemic is over.
You seem to be on a good path already and so much good advice has been given.
I would just add that whereas in the past the difficulty might have been the lack of good resources and information, today the difficulty might be to stay on track and to not get overwhelmed by too much information. With so many resources all over the internet such as the Scott Devines/Rick Beatos, Gear Reviews, Spotify, millions of Instagram Chop Videos and so on it can get confusing and our attention span for one thing might suffer. So whatever you choose on doing I suggest to really go into depth with it and get out all the information you can. My experience has been (and this might not be everyones) that I always learn more from transcribing two or three basslines/Solos and seriously studying them in depth instead of doing 50 or so on the fly. Also its always good to experiment with things and observe yourself, via trial and error and questioning yourself and others you may arrive at knowledge that will have a very solid foundation.
I would just add that whereas in the past the difficulty might have been the lack of good resources and information, today the difficulty might be to stay on track and to not get overwhelmed by too much information. With so many resources all over the internet such as the Scott Devines/Rick Beatos, Gear Reviews, Spotify, millions of Instagram Chop Videos and so on it can get confusing and our attention span for one thing might suffer. So whatever you choose on doing I suggest to really go into depth with it and get out all the information you can. My experience has been (and this might not be everyones) that I always learn more from transcribing two or three basslines/Solos and seriously studying them in depth instead of doing 50 or so on the fly. Also its always good to experiment with things and observe yourself, via trial and error and questioning yourself and others you may arrive at knowledge that will have a very solid foundation.
BobDeRosa
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Don’t let the nerves stop you. The first time you do it will be a bag of nerves and one of the biggest rushes in your life. You might not play at your best but if you are honest with everyone and say you are looking for people to play with they’ll be supportive of that. Go for it. Strike out if and suck if that’s what happens because you will get better. Or it could equally be great and you’ll wish you had done it sooner. I’d always rather deal with ‘what is’ rather than ‘what if’.
Even as a professional I have walked into situations where although I’ve not been nervous about it, I’ve become significantly aware I’m now holding it down for some of the best the country has to offer. But here’s the thing, those folk still get the same feelings as well when they are in a situation with people they feel are better than they are. We all get it, just take that step into it and enjoy the ride because you are going to love it!
My same experience exactly! No book, online course or even sitting with an instructor will advance your skills more than playing with others - hopefully, skilled musicians as indicated. You really understand "being in the pocket" and "driving the bus" when you're doing it for real in a band setting!
I realize covid has put a damper on folks getting together, hopefully that goes away next year. Maybe you can begin the search now (online) to find some folks to eventually jam with. I'm very lucky to have old bandmates to continue to play with.
Best of luck on your journey!
Hey, you're doing great. Really achieved a good amount of groundwork and fundamentals.
You dont mention recording yourself, but did I recall you discussing options of home recording devices before??
That's certainly a next step in practicing/recording/assessing to backings. Working on timings, getting familiar with locking into drums/setting your own rhythm(s), hearing and varying your tone & dynamics, feel, vibe, effects etc.... Playing along to songs is fun & useful but when you are one of the stand alone instruments in a band set up, its another skill/experience level.
You mention Scotts Bass Lessons - are you a member? It does cost, but SO much resources there, almost overwhelming choice. Not everything might be relevant to your tastes, but so useful to have everything in one 'bass school'. Plus you can chat/share with other students, get feedback etc. There's also a new Players Path grading system, where you work on different song backings at developing levels 1 to 9. Pushes your playing technique through levels of difficulty.
Keep going with reading music theory. Much better way to understand rhythm on a music score than tab.
Then when you feel right, connect with other musicians to jam with. Next step but what its all about fundamentally. fun & rewarding.
Well done, happy Bass
You dont mention recording yourself, but did I recall you discussing options of home recording devices before??
That's certainly a next step in practicing/recording/assessing to backings. Working on timings, getting familiar with locking into drums/setting your own rhythm(s), hearing and varying your tone & dynamics, feel, vibe, effects etc.... Playing along to songs is fun & useful but when you are one of the stand alone instruments in a band set up, its another skill/experience level.
You mention Scotts Bass Lessons - are you a member? It does cost, but SO much resources there, almost overwhelming choice. Not everything might be relevant to your tastes, but so useful to have everything in one 'bass school'. Plus you can chat/share with other students, get feedback etc. There's also a new Players Path grading system, where you work on different song backings at developing levels 1 to 9. Pushes your playing technique through levels of difficulty.
Keep going with reading music theory. Much better way to understand rhythm on a music score than tab.
Then when you feel right, connect with other musicians to jam with. Next step but what its all about fundamentally. fun & rewarding.
Well done, happy Bass
Having taken drum lessons and playing drums in a band with others for a grand total of only 2.5 years, some 30 years ago, allowed me to skip over the entire music notes time values and relations to one another when I started to play bass some 26 years after that, and that was a big help right there. I'm surprised I remembered all that stuff because I played trumpet for 4 years in school and I didn't remember anything at all about notes in drum lessons 7 years after that. Was it like that for you on the transition from drums to bass or did you just not know anything about notes and reading?
