Skill levels as a player

[Willie5String]

Just read an article published by a Berklee teacher that attempts to define players levels or types (Bass Players: How to Practice Bass Guitar Effectively – Berklee Online Take Note)

How would you define levels and the skills at that level? I’m swagging here…..these are MY definitions…

Early Beginner-Doesn’t really know how to hold or tune the instrument

Beginner-Can tune with a tuner, hold the instrument properly and has a rudimentary understanding of the instrument, can play a few simple songs

Intermediate-The hardest classification, knows each string name, can tune by ear, can play some songs and can compose simple bass lines?

Craftsman or Journeyman-Understands music theory at a simple level, has a good grasp of notes on the neck, can jam on songs while composing a bass line

Advanced-Understands complex music theory concepts, can compose bass lines for jazz type songs, can read tab or notes comfortably

Super Advanced-Can read music at speed, can compose complex bass lines at high speed

 

[Chicken Wing]

Can you please link to article?

 

[FatStringer52]

I probably would not agree with his definitions, but who am I!

The one thing that really made me cringe was the statement "can read tab . . . comfortably." Really, a teacher at Berklee. Don't take that the wrong way, I have absolutely nothing against tab, if used properly. I can understand them [Berklee] making their students aware of alternate notation systems, but c'mon man, shouldn't standard notation be the yardstick here.

Also, according to his definition, the only thing holding me back from being a "Super Advanced" musician (actually, I would consider myself more as a Craftsman/Journeyman) is the ability to read music at speed. Perhaps I should hone my reading skills and enroll at Berklee to knock out a quick music degree!

 

[Nashrakh]

I love their definition of the beginner as someone who "needs to work on every aspect of their musicianship".

Because that doesn't apply to almost all of us mortals, does it?

 

[Joe Nerve]

I'm a pro!

Yay.

 

[Pilgrim]

All classification systems are arbitrary and shot full of exceptions. But that one is somewhat instructive - if you care. I really don't.

 

[buldog5151bass]

Who cares about labels? It's all subjective.

 

[hrodbert696]

The one thing that really made me cringe was the statement "can read tab . . . comfortably." Really, a teacher at Berklee. Don't take that the wrong way, I have absolutely nothing against tab, if used properly. I can understand them [Berklee] making their students aware of alternate notation systems, but c'mon man, shouldn't standard notation be the yardstick here.

Those were the OP's classifications, not the Berklee article's. And I agree with you - there's really no such thing as "Reading tab comfortably," not in the sense that you could play a song you had never heard by sight-reading tab. I take tab as more of a way to show another player HOW you played a given part. But it assumes that they already know what the part is supposed to sound like.

 

[Jeff Hughes]

Perhaps your Crafts(person) Journey(person) should be called “Intermediate advanced” to stick to the scale gradations in your other levels. I do think this is where a lot of players end up though.

Is anyone really a beginner if they can’t hold the instrument? Maybe the early beginner could be someone who is unable to consistently balance and hold the instrument.

 

[beatmachine pro]

hmm, i wouldnt consider myself a great bass player
i like the stuff i play though

 

[FatStringer52]

Those were the OP's classifications, not the Berklee article's.

Ah yes, I can see clearly now. The article was not linked before and the OP has now been edited to stipulate as much. Or perhaps I just didn't catch that on the first read! All's well . . .

 

[Killing Floor]

…Jaco didn’t need a Berklee music teacher to define his skill level as a player…

 

[lark_z]

Hmm - the levels in the linked article are rather odd IMHO.

Beginners
Street players
Technically challenged
Forcers
Jazzers
Rockers
Semi-Pros
Pros

I guess it's a different way to convey the subject.

 

[LBS-bass]

Someone who doesn't know how to hold or tune an instrument is a non-player, not a beginner.

A beginner has learned some basic skills but is not very refined at applying them yet. Struggles with chord changes and playing in time.

I'd say there's an advanced beginner category for someone who is still playing basic major and minor chords but plays fluidly and in time.

Intermediate players have begun to learn more advanced chord forms and some more advanced applied theory. Can play in bands and hold their own with other players at that skill level to produce some decent sounding music. Still need to think about what they're doing and use chord charts, etc. to learn new material.

Intermediate-advanced players are beginning to move into the realm of internalizing the music. Getting away from charts, finding it easier to learn with less outside assistance. Ear developed to the point where they can learn accurately without charts if needed. Beginning to improvise.

Advanced players can learn accurately without assistance. Can read notation well enough to use for learning, but not to sightread in a live performance. Can improvise at a limited level.

Expert players can do all of that, improvise well, and sightread fluidly.

Within these categories can be various levels of theory knowledge, depending on the player and their ear ability. You do not need to know a lot of theory to be advanced if you truly hear and can internalize the music without it, but for most players it's going to be needed in order to get there.

 

[Basslice]

Here Are My Own Groupings (based on my own progress and watching many others):

Beginner: Can tune their own bass, holds the instrument properly. Is learning finger/picking, can play major scales, can play along with simple songs.

Advanced Beginner: Practices scales and modes, starts to read, understands theory in terms of keys, I,II, II, IV, V, VI, VII - octaves. Can learn more complex songs. Begins to understand tone. Working on timing.

Intermediate: Can play with others. Develops trust in their ear - i.e. understands when things are going wrong in a performance (time/key/changes). Can play more types of songs, can compose if they want to. Can read and follow a chart, improving sight reading.

Advanced: Continues to develop all of the things listed as intermediate. There is no clear differentiation as you become advanced. Can control tone and dynamics with hands. Has mastered their playing technique. Understands complex music theory concepts, can play many types of phrases and arpeggios. Can read and converse musical terms comfortably.

Super Advanced: Can read music at speed. Can improvise most anything. Not limited by genre.

 

[Bunk McNulty]

Of what use is it for me to know where I fit into some hierarchy? Am I any good? Not for me to say. I’m not in this to walk around feeling good about where somebody ranks me. I like to play. A lot. Lucky me, I actually get paid to do it.

 

[LBS-bass]

Of what use is it for me to know where I fit into some hierarchy? Am I any good? Not for me to say. I’m not in this to walk around feeling good about where somebody ranks me. I like to play. A lot. Lucky me, I actually get paid to do it.

If you were teaching, it would be good to be able to figure out what your students need. It's not really a matter of judgment to me, it's more a matter of figuring out things that might be useful either to me or to others. I know which players I fit in with in this hierarchy, and I know how I can help some folks who ask me for assistance.

 

[gln1955]

Can you do what you want to do as well as you want to do it?

No - you know what you need to work on

Yes - play your damn bass

 

[Basslice]

If you were teaching, it would be good to be able to figure out what your students need. It's not really a matter of judgment to me, it's more a matter of figuring out things that might be useful either to me or to others. I know which players I fit in with in this hierarchy, and I know how I can help some folks who ask me for assistance.

That is how I think about it as well. I don't rank myself so I can put it on my website or resume, more to figure out how far I have to go, or what I have to offer to others. I am a professor (not in music).

 

[bobfarabaugh]

So I am a semi-pro technically challenged street rocker. Who knew? Lol