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Someone plays better than you?
- Thread starter Axtman
- Start date
As a hobby bass player I'm totally fine with others playing better than I do; no envy, just some admiration. 
I can learn from them if I want to.
I can learn from them if I want to.
Worry about yourself, not others. A lot of musicians chose to work with other musicians not just because of their talent, but usually because of how pleasant and easy they are to work with. If another player plays something I like, I try to learn from it or if it's beyond my abilities, enjoy it! There are thousands, probably hundreds of thousands that are better at playing something than each of us, but no one sounds quite like each of us (or ever will)! So try your best to sound like you and be a joy to work with, and who cares about comparing and competing over music anyway!?
honestly?
When i was younger i would definitely be intimidated. in some cases would avoid it. in other cases would practice and study nearly around the clock.
nowadays, if someone is really killer, i do what i can to be friendly with them since I like having those people in my life.
if thats not possible, i just enjoy the great playing and try my best to "take notes."
When i was younger i would definitely be intimidated. in some cases would avoid it. in other cases would practice and study nearly around the clock.
nowadays, if someone is really killer, i do what i can to be friendly with them since I like having those people in my life.
if thats not possible, i just enjoy the great playing and try my best to "take notes."
It never bugs me and if it's something that just blows my mind, I try and soak it all in. With social media being such an integral part of society, it's impossible not to see so many killer musicians and styles the world over. All you can do is learn from it and/or sit back and enjoy it. I personally never would've discovered bands like Dirty Loops or Snarky Puppy, or players like Kinga Glyk if it weren't for the internet. And man, I learn so much from watching players like that.
The most important thing that I have ever learned is that music is not a competition. There will always be players who are better than you and there will always be players who aren't as good as you.
Be genuine, original, and always do your best.
Be genuine, original, and always do your best.
Don't care. That's the beauty of it all: there's room for everyone - pro players, not so pro players, semi pro players, etc.
there are a boatload of people who play better than me and I'm O.K. with that.... Music is not my only hobby, nor my career (be cool if it was). I see people play and get a little motivated to work a little harder, but thats about it.
Not even talking about music specifically, but if someone "outdoing" you makes you want to do anything other than fight harder, you really have to take a look at your commitment to begin with. For instance, I know I have zero interest in being a professional musician. Not that I wouldn't enjoy it, but I have taken up another profession and that's my focus. Now, that being said, even then, I practice quite a great deal. Sometimes just on playing runs and changes. ...sometimes working on tightening up my playing. I am either all in, or all out. Even with my current situation, no WAY am I going to show up to any show or session and be clearly the guy that wasn't prepared.
I gotta tell this story: I finally got out of music school and went straight to playing two gigs a day, five days a week, for three months. I thought I was ready for the big time so off to Los Angeles I went. I was making the auditions rounds and finally found a good fit. It was one of those where the band had its own rehearsal room and they were running players through back to back. Came my turn I hit all the check boxes - I knew the material, I looked right (important in those days), I had the training and I got along with the rest of the band. One more guy to audition but the band said the chair was mine. So this kid comes in, maybe 16 years and he pulls a six string out and plays the rehearsal material perfect. Then he says, " If I may, this song here ----- is great but I think the bass part would work better if it was this ------. But that doesn't quite work with the the rhythm guitar part so it should be this -----. Yeah, I know that's kind of vague so here is how the two parts work together (Plays both parts at the same time.". Yep, I felt like an idiot - the kid was a genius. So I went back to my apt. to lick my wounds. hen a friend dragged me out to see Pattatuci.. Humbling lesson complete. But I learned quite a bit from both players and that is the point - yeah, you will always find somebody better than you but those are the people you learn from and get inspiration from. Music isn't a contest. It is a matter of self expression and how well you you can translate your ideas into music. Never stop growing and never stop learning.
PS
But I get very depressed at myself and regret being so focused on rock & metal for so long that it stunted my growth as a bassist.
No - what happened is you expanded your horizons and found out there is much more out there to learn. Congratulations!
But I get very depressed at myself and regret being so focused on rock & metal for so long that it stunted my growth as a bassist.
No - what happened is you expanded your horizons and found out there is much more out there to learn. Congratulations!
I get excited, want to show my appreciation for the great playing, and maybe chat gear if given the opportunity.
This is EXACTLY right. Granted, there is that floor that that is hard to describe but is evident to everyone that, if you fall below it, you stink, but if you are above it, really, that is ALL that matters. To be above it, you just have to be solid in what you do. No matter how simple or how complex. I am sure everyone has heard at one time or another that I'd rather play with a musician that plays something simple solidly than someone that is very creative and complex but plays it so poorly that it just doesn't fit like it should. That is the rule: "fit". Figure out what your role is from part to part, song to song, band to band. ...and fulfill it.
