What is your most difficult challenge in playing bass.

[Neil Folkard]

Just wondering what everyone struggles with the most in bass world. Speed, theory, fills, gear?

Don't get me wrong, I'm always working on improving my technique, but for me, a relatively new player, the biggest challenge by far, has been understanding gear, effects pedals and order in the chain, especially in live situations. It almost seems like you have to be a scientist to get all your amp settings and effects pedals and levels and being heard but not being too loud all integrated well, especially in live situations.

How about y'all?

 

[TN WOODMAN]

Finding the time to actually play the bass.

 

[Curtbass]

Finding the time to actually play the bass.

I couldn’t agree with this more

 

[Mushroo]

The most difficult musical skill for me is learning songs by ear.

 

[Malcolm35]

Hearing the changes. I do most of this relying on theory (what may/could happen).

 

[jeffb28451]

Getting the guitars to turn down.

 

[G On Bass]

Singing harmonies while playing, though I'm getting better at getting it down quickly.

In a band setting, besides too much volume from drums or guitar, it's when I learn the song right and guitarists learn it wrong.

 

[Neil Folkard]

Getting the guitars to turn down.

And yet strangely, when my guitarist feels that I am too loud, he is the quickest to jump all over it, lol.

 

[JRA]

removing the frets.

 

[pcake]

learning to work around first some injuries and then tendonitis and arthritis.

i can no longer hold the bass neck the way i used to, so it's been a re-learning experience. on the other hand, i can still play.

 

[DuckSoup]

I'm always struggling with something, and seeking to learn, but the 2 most frustrating things are...

Creating fills\licks.
Playing fast parts.

We were going to cover Carry on my Wayward Son at our church, and I had to back out because I couldn't learn some of those fast parts in-time. I felt super frustrated. I just struggle playing fast.

 

[Boogiepop]

learning to work around first some injuries and then tendonitis and arthritis.

i can no longer hold the bass neck the way i used to, so it's been a re-learning experience. on the other hand, i can still play.

I'm with you on this. I have to shift/guard my thumb position constantly to avoid straining the damaged joint(s).

B.

 

[dave64o]

Singing and playing. That's much harder than I expected when I first started getting more serious about playing, but I'm glad I'm starting out doing both.

 

[Spin Doctor]

The most difficult musical skill for me is learning songs by ear.

I would not have thought that would be a problem for you.

 

[BassChuck]

Dealing with the shadows. Knowing that most people don't know the value of the bass.

 

[Spin Doctor]

Dealing with the shadows. Knowing that most people don't know the value of the bass.

This is interesting. Can you describe some of those situations? Personally I've never been in a rock, blues or R&B band that didn't want the bass loud enough to peel paint off the walls. Jazz is a little more subtle, but not by a whole lot.

 

[StyleOverShow]

working in three bands, it’s keeping true to tone and technique with disparate content. Be easy to just go with one style, ostensibly my favorite and apply to all tunes/bands.

 

[City]

Finding my sound

 

[2112]

1. Singing while playing.

2. Improvisation.

 

[baxter_x]

When in studio, playing perfectly synchronized with the metronome.