Hmm, it bears mentioning that he DID buy his bass and just was short of 70$ needed to buy the one he really wanted.
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Was I Wrong? (personal problem w/ parents and music)
- Thread starter StoneTempleCore
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Hmm, it bears mentioning that he DID buy his bass and just was short of 70$ needed to buy the one he really wanted.
Perfect!!!! +1 here. Mine would have been walking 25 miles uphill ( both ways
) to school in the snow barefoot.Yeah, so?
Just read what he says and the way that he says it. He's got I'M ENTITLED stamped in bold letters across his forehead. I think his parents are just a little sick of hearing him whine.
I'm not going to dwell on that whole "right or wrong" isssue, or even the "spoiled" responses. OP, you're young, things will seem unfair and unjust. You'll get older and realize it wasn't such a big deal. Everyone goes through it, no exceptions. Parents are goofy sometimes, but they are usually looking at the bigger picture.
On the flipside, you could've had those parents that forced their children to practice their instruments for hours.
However, I do agree that the Music Teacher was in the wrong. That just seems entirely ridiculous to tell a student to buy a 5-string bass just for a low C#.
In the end, the good part is the OP has a 5-string bass that he earned himself and apparently likes the sound. So it needs a few fixes? All basses, regardless of price, run into those problems. Fortunately nowadays, we have an amazing amount of resources (this forum, youtube) to learn to fix those problems.
While a more expensive bass gives a head start in quality, it's really up to the bassist's technique and skills to make it actually sound good. Concentrate on that. You'll eventually get another instrument like the rest of us have. It's that Gear-Acquisition Syndrome most of us have been stricken with.
I see you are in Louisiana. You have a lot of great opportunities to make a living as musician there. When I lived there, I did, and my wife who is from New Orleans, did, and her son, who is still there, does. My family did not want me to be a professional musician, and, even when I went to Loyola in New Orleans to further my music education, I still got that "when are you going to get a job?" question, even though I was playing almost every night and going to school. It can be done. You should look at music ed at Loyola New Orleans, or LSU, even Nichols U in Thibodaux, if you're down in the bayou country. You could go to school and be a band director, or music therapist, or film composer, or a great bass player-but you need to get exposed to the wide variety of things that can be done under the umbrella of "musician".
That said, here's my two cents. I don't know where you live in the state, but Lousiaina has a rich musical heritage, and you should build on that. The Cajun and Zydeco music scene is very active and needed world wide. Are you Cajun French? Can you speak the Cajun dialect? Can you sing? If you can do both, and play bass, you have a jobs waiting for you. The New Orleans style R&B and jazz are the foundation to a lot of music. Don't forget - New Orleans is the birthplace of jazz. You are in a great location for a musician. Look at the long list of music greats from the state, start with Tab Benoit, go back into his Cajun heritage. Check out the Meters, Allen Toussaint, Lee Dorsey, Earl King, Band like Little Queenie and the Percolators. New Orleans bass players like George Porter,
James Singleton.
Your SX bass is fine - it's probably of better build quality than an original P bass, so don't worry about that right now, but concentrate on getting better and finding a mentor who is out playing. You can get a new tuner from Rondo, if that is what is needed. And in a few months time, you can move to a better bass. SX's are good basses for the money. What I am saying is you an do with what you have for the time being, but you need to focus on other things that are more important to your development as a musician. As far as your parents go, don't bug them about it. Your task is to prove to them that there is a need for what you want to do, and you will do what it takes to get where you want to be. You have to prove yourself. You say you are 17, and that is the age where you are testing your wings, and slowly pulling away from your parents and trying to become your own person. Your folks may not like that - it's normal- they may not want to admit that you are only a few years away from adulthood, but it's called growing up. Time to set your own course. Be kind to them but do not anyone stop you from being what you want to be. It is up to you to put forth the effort to succeed.
That said, here's my two cents. I don't know where you live in the state, but Lousiaina has a rich musical heritage, and you should build on that. The Cajun and Zydeco music scene is very active and needed world wide. Are you Cajun French? Can you speak the Cajun dialect? Can you sing? If you can do both, and play bass, you have a jobs waiting for you. The New Orleans style R&B and jazz are the foundation to a lot of music. Don't forget - New Orleans is the birthplace of jazz. You are in a great location for a musician. Look at the long list of music greats from the state, start with Tab Benoit, go back into his Cajun heritage. Check out the Meters, Allen Toussaint, Lee Dorsey, Earl King, Band like Little Queenie and the Percolators. New Orleans bass players like George Porter,
James Singleton.
Your SX bass is fine - it's probably of better build quality than an original P bass, so don't worry about that right now, but concentrate on getting better and finding a mentor who is out playing. You can get a new tuner from Rondo, if that is what is needed. And in a few months time, you can move to a better bass. SX's are good basses for the money. What I am saying is you an do with what you have for the time being, but you need to focus on other things that are more important to your development as a musician. As far as your parents go, don't bug them about it. Your task is to prove to them that there is a need for what you want to do, and you will do what it takes to get where you want to be. You have to prove yourself. You say you are 17, and that is the age where you are testing your wings, and slowly pulling away from your parents and trying to become your own person. Your folks may not like that - it's normal- they may not want to admit that you are only a few years away from adulthood, but it's called growing up. Time to set your own course. Be kind to them but do not anyone stop you from being what you want to be. It is up to you to put forth the effort to succeed.
you are wise. be not discouraged, you are setting yourself up for success. continue on your path. i hope your parents and you resolve your differences amicably. and most of all, have fun playing your bass!
Why not sell one of the other instruments to get the one you need?
Also, a lesson might be learned here about committing to something you don't have the means/tools to provide, even if there is the expectation that it will be provided by your deadline.
Murphy's law looms always!
Also, a lesson might be learned here about committing to something you don't have the means/tools to provide, even if there is the expectation that it will be provided by your deadline.
Murphy's law looms always!
@Travis J
At the time, I only owned the J bass (which was modded to my liking) and the Strat (which I built from a kit). Neither would have earned me much at all, and I'd prefer to keep and learn on them than sell them.
Also, I did look up how to set up my bass. I did, and the tuner buzzing stopped.
@chungweishan and bassgod0dmw
What did start as a question from them turned into a demand. I guess I buckled due to peer pressure. The money was being saved up for a keyboard (which was bought later on), but was used for the bass. I did think about a five string before, but I didn't know if I was ready for the low B. It's not just used for the C#, there are other parts using the B.
Also, I'm the only bass guitarist in the band.
I've requested a moderator to close the topic. I'm thankful for those who gave me good advice and a straight answer, but I'm appalled at some of the answers here.
At the time, I only owned the J bass (which was modded to my liking) and the Strat (which I built from a kit). Neither would have earned me much at all, and I'd prefer to keep and learn on them than sell them.
Also, I did look up how to set up my bass. I did, and the tuner buzzing stopped.
@chungweishan and bassgod0dmw
What did start as a question from them turned into a demand. I guess I buckled due to peer pressure. The money was being saved up for a keyboard (which was bought later on), but was used for the bass. I did think about a five string before, but I didn't know if I was ready for the low B. It's not just used for the C#, there are other parts using the B.
Also, I'm the only bass guitarist in the band.
I've requested a moderator to close the topic. I'm thankful for those who gave me good advice and a straight answer, but I'm appalled at some of the answers here.
If you ask for opinions, you have to realize that is exactly what you are going to get. What were you expecting?
The wha-ambulance from a spoiled kid.
"I asked my parents for $70."
My father would have laughed at me. I would laugh at my son. You want $70? Go use the talents God gave you and earn it.
"I can't get a job because I'm too busy." Right. I was in all the "advanced placement" courses, played in a rock band with my friends, lettered in baseball, cross-country, and swimming, and held a job at the local italian specialty shop.
Spend less time on a message board and more time working and less time complaining.
"I asked my parents for $70."
My father would have laughed at me. I would laugh at my son. You want $70? Go use the talents God gave you and earn it.
"I can't get a job because I'm too busy." Right. I was in all the "advanced placement" courses, played in a rock band with my friends, lettered in baseball, cross-country, and swimming, and held a job at the local italian specialty shop.
Spend less time on a message board and more time working and less time complaining.
Why close the thread?
Maybe further opinions will help solve a similar problem for the next young'un who seeks advice about their parents position. And maybe they'll learn to respect that.
You seem to only heed the responses that validate your attitude.
Good luck!
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