What do you consider your skill level to be?
This is for fun and some skill attributes do cross over.
This is for fun and some skill attributes do cross over.
Enjoy the benefits of a premium membership!
Upgrade Account
-
TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
Join free Log in
Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.
What is your skill level?
- Thread starter loinmute
- Start date
I am very average, I am better than alot of bassist Ive seen and worse than alot of bassist Ive seen.
Me too. I play in an original band so I can craft a bassline that will fit the song. I can also play along to a cover if I know the song already. If not, I can learn it in good time. I know some music theory, yet I functionally cannot read music. I can play in the pocket, I play with a sense of dynamics, yet my improvisional skills leave much to be desired. In short, I am - the most average bassist in the world. And no, I don't drink Dos Equiis!
I'm only playing for a year now, and not very intensively either. That would make me a Bedroom Warrior.. Although I'm in the process of forming a band of other beginning musicians, so my skill level is expected to rise.
my skills as a bass player are high enough to keep me very busy playing, recording and producing, but not high enough to lose my day job.
Beginner. In theory, I could record stuff with some of my buddies and write music, but I don't. I know how to read music, but playing it is a whole different story.
I'm 54 years old, and I started playing bass in 1972 when I was 16. I only play 4-string basses.
Last week I finally learned that the big string is called the E string. And three metal bars up the neck from the end is the G note.
My instructor said that two or three years from now, we will take a look at the next string which is called the A string.
Last week I finally learned that the big string is called the E string. And three metal bars up the neck from the end is the G note.
My instructor said that two or three years from now, we will take a look at the next string which is called the A string.
The good: I have been playing for over 30 years and can learn anything by ear in a very short period of time. Several years ago, I was auditioning for an original blues band. The leader gave me cds containing about 30 songs. He asked me to learn 3 or 4 songs and show up for the audition 2 days later. When I arrived at the audition, he asked me what songs I had learned. I said all of them. He didn't believe me and started randomly picking out songs to test me. He was shocked that I could play all of them. I got the gig. The keyboard player in that same band has degrees from 3 different music colleges including Berklee. He told me that I was one of the best bassists he had ever played with.
Now the BAD: I cannot read music. I do not understand theory at all and am terrible at improvising. I usually need time to work things out. I have tried to learn to read music and just don't get it. I graduated from UMASS, Suma Cum Laude and am a member of the international honor society. I am also in the process of pursuing an Executive MBA and a Master's in Finance at Boston University so my inability to read music has nothing to do with a lack of intelligence. Maybe it's the fact that I have always been able to get the gig because of my ability to play by ear and leanr quickly so I never really applied myself when it comes to learning to read. The keyboard player from the blues band and I do a lot of recording together and we started a music production company. We are in the process of starting a record label. He once said to me "If you could read music, you would be deadly and could play with anybody". He always says that he cannot understand how I can play as well as I do and learn as quickly as I do without understanding theory. He has tried to teach me and I just don't get it. I wish I could.
Now the BAD: I cannot read music. I do not understand theory at all and am terrible at improvising. I usually need time to work things out. I have tried to learn to read music and just don't get it. I graduated from UMASS, Suma Cum Laude and am a member of the international honor society. I am also in the process of pursuing an Executive MBA and a Master's in Finance at Boston University so my inability to read music has nothing to do with a lack of intelligence. Maybe it's the fact that I have always been able to get the gig because of my ability to play by ear and leanr quickly so I never really applied myself when it comes to learning to read. The keyboard player from the blues band and I do a lot of recording together and we started a music production company. We are in the process of starting a record label. He once said to me "If you could read music, you would be deadly and could play with anybody". He always says that he cannot understand how I can play as well as I do and learn as quickly as I do without understanding theory. He has tried to teach me and I just don't get it. I wish I could.
