Top 3 reasons you're a decent player?

[bassinplace]

I write the songs.
I play the songs.
I sing the songs.

It's my band, and I like me, so what's not to like?

Of love and special things? That make the young girls cry?

 

[Lo-E]

1. Good time
2. Big ears
3. Responsible and easy to get along with

Probably, but not necessarily in that order.

 

[Stranger Danger]

The 3 T's:
-Time
-Tone
-Taste

 

[TrevorOfDoom]

1. i live and die by the kick pedal (GROOVE!)
2. i learn fast and improvise well
3. i'm so damn pretty

 

[Fishheadjoe]

I try to play the song, not the bass
I'm in it for the chicks, so I am singularily focused
I have a Ric.




(on a a side note, I'm really glad my wife has no idea that this place exists)

Fishheadjoe

 

[Gubna]

I listen to my bandmates, both in playing and how they feel about something.

I keep a steady groove

I try to fart outside the studio room.

 

[autodidact]

I have 12 basses, none with the original electronics.

My rig costs $12,000+

I'm on TalkBass everyday

 

[themacinator]

Probably been said a million times but uhhhh..

1. Practice

2. Patience

3. Persistence

 

[StoutFellow]

Love this thread! Love the humour and the humility and the wisdom.

Me?
(1) I have a good ear
(2) I have no ego
(3) I do my homework

Seems to work for the bands I've been in.

 

[Chris K]

1. Because the audiences tell me so
2. Because my bandmates tell me so
3. Because I don't tell'm they''re wrong

 

[DownUnder_Funk]

1. Always working together with the band to come up with new material. I don't believe in a 'one person writes everything' approach. For me, it's like a community
2. Good ear, which thankfully allows me to be a quick learner and decent improviser if needed.
3. GROOVE!!

 

[RickeyC]

1. I practice, and know my stuff

2. Don't overplay

3. I enjoy what I am doing and you can tell

 

[Stilettoprefer]

1. I can read music, hands, tabs and chord charts. Playing guitar and classical trombone have helped immensely.

2. I have a good amount of music theory knowledge under my belt.

3. I have a great ear. Comes from playing classical trombone.

I need to work on my singing though. I guess I know what I'll be doing in my free time at home

 

[BrotherMoose]

1. Constantly maintain a steep learning curve. It's the best way to improve.

2. Record everything that sounds interesting when messing around at home. Even if it's a crappy dictaphone-type thing, it means you don't have to remember stuff that sounds cool, and can record it in different keys to see what sounds best.

3. Be ruthless with the riffs you come up with. Yeah, you might have spent half an hour trying to get a nice transition between bars, but if you play it back and think: "damn, this doesn't have much soul to it", don't use it. Also, increased complexity doesn't necessarily mean increased awesomeness.

 

[PastorofMuppets]

1. Grooving in the pocket more than showing off.
2. learning when to not play.
3. Listening and learning a wide range of music and figuring out what makes it great.

 

[NWB]

I usually show up to gigs and rehearsals sober. During gigs/rehearsals is another story though.

I mostly play on time and sometime even on key.

Occasionally I'll turn down enough for the keys and guitar to hear themselves.

I don't try to score with the female singer.









This is the humor section!

 

[robgator]

1) A life-long foot tapper, thus a good feeling for the beat.
2) Knowing what to play & when to play.
3) Coming to a gig with a game plan...charts if needed.

I could add a few more, but these are the big 3 for me.

Rob K.

 

[SquierJazz72]

1. I can groove with a drummer, and generally catch the beat.
2. I try to maintain familiarity with different styles, 'cause you never know...
3. I know usually, if all else fails, follow the roots. Not fancy, but it works.

And I can read music, if I need to.

 

[G On Bass]

1. I show up prepared, always sober, ego-free and with a good, positive attitude
2. I have a great ear and I know my gear and use what is appropriate to fit into the mix of each song.
3. I don't overplay

 

[phillybass101]

I started out with a good teacher although he was a classical guitarist. Used Simandle, and Paul Hindemith books. I still remember him. After about a year, I let him go and Larry Graham and Louis Johnson were my teachers.

Experience. been plauing for 42 years.

Don't take myselfs too seriously, and stopped comparing myself to others. There are many great players out there and we all have something to say.