So how long does it take to make progress on bass?

[wmhill]

A lifetime, if you're doing it right. If you stop making progress, you're doing it wrong!

 

[Joe Nerve]

If you practice 5 days a week, rest 1, and use the 7th day to eat all the ice cream you possibly can :

5 minutes a day... 10 years
30 minutes..... 3 years
60 minutes.... 2 year
2 hrs..... 1 year
more than 2 hrs 3-6 months.

...for you average person, of course.
It has been scientifically proven.
Ice cream may be substituted with sex, or the playing of a favorite sport.

 

[newmusicmichael]

Well I got into this too late to ever do anything significant, so I will say my goals are just to learn all my favorite songs, learn about effects, achieve the tone I want, and learn all the techniques associated with bass guitar.

It's never too late. Well, once you're in the ground it's too late. But before that, it's not.

 

[FunkHead]

When I was 13 I got my first bass. I was able to play Zeppelin II in its' entirety in about two days.

 

[lfmn16]

I had a teacher that said becoming a great player takes practice (by yourself), rehearsing (with others), and listening (to great players). If you are making the same mistakes in songs over and over, you need to slow down and practice them correctly, otherwise you are just enforcing your errors. As others said, the best thing you can do is get a good teacher.

 

[iceboxbass]

Good morning and welcome to the low end.

A simple answer to your question is: Your progress is directly proportional to your effort (which, as cnltb noted, is exhibited in the "how" as well as the "how much"). Assuming the song you learned isn't that tough, and you've been practicing it, oh, a few hours a week for 9 months, muscle memory should have kicked in and you can play it pretty clean.

A more complex answer is actually a question: What are your goals? It's difficult to gauge progress without having goals to work toward -- even if it's being able to play "Hot Cross Buns" or "Mary Had a Little Lamb." If you couldn't play those songs 9 months ago, then you're making progress. But if you're just randomly plunking around, it can be hard to feel you're getting anywhere.

My point: In my personal experience, I've felt I was making true progress when I was either a) learning songs in preparation for a performance or, more significantly, b) taking lessons. Realistic, achievable goals + good teacher who can create a plan to get you to your goals + practice = progress, that wonderful feeling of accomplishment, and the motivation to take the next step.

A final note: You're on a journey, and it never ends. Good luck, and happy playing!

Let me add to the great advice given here...I tried learning playing bass using a DVD along with a book. In the DVD lesson it was stated that it's good to keep you bass on a stand and plugged into you bass rig which encourages you when you see it ready to play that you'll grab it and play, even if its only for 15 minutes. Let me tell you, keeping your bass ready to play is a great idea but 15 minutes isn't nearly enough play time. I usually practice 2-3 hours daily and that's on top of practice and gigging time with the 3 bands that I'm playing bass in. Have you ever heard of the "10,000 hour rule"? The rule is used for everything in life whether it's work, sports, hobby or playing an instrument, it takes a person 10,000 hours to be at the Pro level of proficiency. Long story short, I ditched the DVD, I played to songs that I already knew and within a month I was playing with a band. One of the best things that you can do is to jam with some friends or a band. The more that you play with other musicians you'll notice you're playing proficiency level increase. Don't hesitate taking some lessons if you feel that you're in a rut though. Good-luck and "Happy" thumping!

 

[kulit17]

Well I got into this too late to ever do anything significant, so I will say my goals are just to learn all my favorite songs, learn about effects, achieve the tone I want, and learn all the techniques associated with bass guitar.

its never too late to do anything!!! some people learn, some people learn fast...trick is not to get discourage. Everyone's advice is spot on thus far.

Another shout as far as teachers go....... getting lesson go along way. A good 30-45 minute lesson with a good teacher will be an equivalent of weeks worth of noodling trying to learn something yourself. If it hasn't been mentioned already, if you do try to get an instructor make sure that bass is there primary instrument and expertise. i've had a couple different teachers throughout the years due to time and availability from family life and two i didn't really care for were guitar/bass players teaching bass lesson. albeit they were great teaching theory and such, i didn't feel they gave me sufficient feedback as far as bass playing and proper techniques.

if you do end up just trying to progress yourself and be self taught, record yourself so you can be your own critic. you'll get a kick out of them after a couple years when your in a totally different level...

 

[MarshallNole]

I took lessons but it was mostly him teaching me guitar tabs and nothign else. I can look up tabs on my own. No sense paying $80 a month for tabs of songs I don't feel like learning.

I know... get another teacher. Just not sure how much learning theory at this point in my life is worth it. I have a career and do this as a hobby... so maybe being an imitator is all I will achieve.

 

[B Major]

Watch this.......

 

[lfmn16]

I took lessons but it was mostly him teaching me guitar tabs and nothign else. I can look up tabs on my own. No sense paying $80 a month for tabs of songs I don't feel like learning.

IMHO if a teacher starts with tabs it's time for another teacher. As you point out, you can look up tabs on your own.

 

[kulit17]

^^ ya i agree.... DO do your research when finding a teacher. i learned that after my wasted efforts with my first teach years ago. ask plenty of questions; how long have you been playing bass, do you still currently gig, do you provide your own teaching material...etc

any teacher that pulls out tabs or tells you to bring a book IME will not tailor your learning needs. you need to find a bass teacher that can structure his lessons to your level and not go by cookie cutter book that's given to him/her.


its never too late - so don't sell yourself short. once you start playing with other musicians that understand theory and better than you, you'll wish you hadn't wasted time fighting it.......which i speak from experience..... another thing to bring up when finding a suitable teacher is being upfront with your teacher and let them know that your schedule is busy or hectic. if they can accommodate a scheduled lesson for every other week, you can go to lessons and have at least two weeks to prepare for the next.

II know... get another teacher. Just not sure how much learning theory at this point in my life is worth it. I have a career and do this as a hobby... so maybe being an imitator is all I will achieve.

then again if your main goal is just to entertain yourself and noodle with a bass - then not much progression can be done there other than having great ability to read tabs and play along with them.....in that case perhaps rocksmith

seriously though, if you eventually want to play with other musicians, there's so much only knowing how to play tabs can do and believing its too late to learn theory.