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What is your most difficult challenge in playing bass.
- Thread starter Neil Folkard
- Start date
Not getting what’s in my head to come out on the bass. And knowing that, if it did, it still wouldn’t meet my standards.
I came to bass late in life after playing keys since a little kid. I became a composer/producer in broadcast and mostly hired others to play—cats who were way above my pay grade as players.
So right now, the bands who would have me aren’t good enough for me, and I may not be good enough for those I aspire to play with.
All that said, I’m putting in as much time as I can, knowing it is what it is and someday I’ll get wherever it is I’m going to get. And that’s good enough.
I came to bass late in life after playing keys since a little kid. I became a composer/producer in broadcast and mostly hired others to play—cats who were way above my pay grade as players.
So right now, the bands who would have me aren’t good enough for me, and I may not be good enough for those I aspire to play with.
All that said, I’m putting in as much time as I can, knowing it is what it is and someday I’ll get wherever it is I’m going to get. And that’s good enough.
I`m still very much a beginner, and I have small hands. My biggest challenge is getting my fingers to stretch far enough to hit the notes. But I`m getting there.
Besides finding time...
1) improvisation/open jamming. I'm better when I'm given some riffs "for homework" then I'll come back next practice with a solid bassline. My brain is simultaneously ADD but with processing delays.
2) I'm not very good at slapping or tapping. I can do it once in a while, but that's about it.
3) I want to get better at playing chords.
4) I'm working on playing with a lighter touch.
And although it has nothing to do with playing, I am terrible at doing my own setups. I want to get better at that.
1) improvisation/open jamming. I'm better when I'm given some riffs "for homework" then I'll come back next practice with a solid bassline. My brain is simultaneously ADD but with processing delays.
2) I'm not very good at slapping or tapping. I can do it once in a while, but that's about it.
3) I want to get better at playing chords.
4) I'm working on playing with a lighter touch.
And although it has nothing to do with playing, I am terrible at doing my own setups. I want to get better at that.
Ric5
Inactive
- Jan 29, 2008
- 29,772
- 30,452
- Disclosures
- I like 5, 8, 10, and 12 string basses
When you are playing with mediocre musicians, and playing a mediocre song that you don't like … trying to pretend you are into it and having fun
Hearing the chord changes in jazz standards. No problem when I have a chart, but a walk in jam session........I'm better off sitting at the bar downing a shot of Jack with a Bud chaser.
Oh, and when to reach toward the nut or toward the bridge to play a chromatic outside of the key I'm playing........I get confused on that...
Oh, and when to reach toward the nut or toward the bridge to play a chromatic outside of the key I'm playing........I get confused on that...
having a consistent group together on a regular basis so the band gets tight and really grooves!
Practicing. Seems like I wanna play more than I want to practice and that is an issue. I need to practice more but I'm easily bored. I travel a lot for work as well and I can't take my bass. Might get a shorty for the road this year.
there's that.
Overall though? Soloing..Something I struggle with a lot. To an untrained ear it probably sounds ok, but anyone who knows anything knows Im full of crap when soloing.
Its getting better though
I hope to resume playing when I retire in five years. Until then a little aimless noodling will have to suffice.
I have never worked on applying any of my theory to bass guitar in any organized fashion. I also struggle to practice more than just a lot of riffs. I play pretty often, though.
At the moment, song analysis. It's something I really want to get good at and I'm currently not. I also want to get good at sightreading and I'm working on that right now, so analyzing basslines is sitting on the back burner for the time being.
- Finding the time to play, rehearse and gig when working swing shift.
- Singing while playing
- Band member issues
- Finding a way to keep going thru the 60's hands, back, knees, hips, feet memory issues
Speed, followed by theory.
Speed seems to be something I just can't do. I practice a lot, trying to increase my dexterity but I can't seem to crack the barrier that I'm currently at.
Theory - I've got a bit under my belt but there's so much more to learn and I can't seem to find the time.
Speed seems to be something I just can't do. I practice a lot, trying to increase my dexterity but I can't seem to crack the barrier that I'm currently at.
Theory - I've got a bit under my belt but there's so much more to learn and I can't seem to find the time.
It’s not quite what you’re asking, but I don’t get to tell this story often.
I started on brass, euphonium specifically, but I play all of the brass horns. I played at a very high level at a very young age- some called me a prodigy, but I actually know a few prodigies and I’m definitely not that lol.
I picked up bass in like 8th grade, I picked it up really quickly, but I never learned to practice. A lot of my physical growth on horns happened hand in hand with my musical development, and I never got to pay the same dues on bass. I’m pretty good by any standard, but I never reached anything close to the level of technical prowess or pure chops that I had on horns, and it bothers me every day.
I guess I could practice, but *shrugs*
I started on brass, euphonium specifically, but I play all of the brass horns. I played at a very high level at a very young age- some called me a prodigy, but I actually know a few prodigies and I’m definitely not that lol.
I picked up bass in like 8th grade, I picked it up really quickly, but I never learned to practice. A lot of my physical growth on horns happened hand in hand with my musical development, and I never got to pay the same dues on bass. I’m pretty good by any standard, but I never reached anything close to the level of technical prowess or pure chops that I had on horns, and it bothers me every day.
I guess I could practice, but *shrugs*
