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What is your skill level?
- Thread starter loinmute
- Start date
In between "Bedroom warrior/tab" and "can learn any piece given time." I'm more than a bedroom warrior, I play in two cover bands(first picked up bass, my first instrument 6 years ago), and do a decent job with the stuff we play(none of which is very difficult), however I'm not very technically proficient, and still have a lot of theory to learn.
I dont sightread at 1st sight. I am horrible at slapping popping and I want to be able to do that.
Good question.
I've been gigging and recording for over 25 years.
If I have a skill it's that I'm a groove player would can play the song.
I do a lot of subbing, and calls to record cold.
Just come in and play.
I watch youtube and see all these great slappers, and soloists.
Then I think I'm just OK.
Good tone, play the song, and the ability to work well with others will get you work.
Being a little funky does not hurt?
Mister underachiever here.
I used to play professionally. People tell me I’m pretty good but there are some very talented players out there and when I see them play I want to crawl under a rock and hide.
I used to play professionally. People tell me I’m pretty good but there are some very talented players out there and when I see them play I want to crawl under a rock and hide.
My level is OVER NINE THOUSAAANND!!!
No, just kidding.
Seriously, I am better than a beginner. I think it's more like bedroom warrior/tab dude but, then again, I can go beyond that as well.
I will never learn theory because I lack the natural aptitude and I lack the time necessary to put in the work to make up for lack of natural aptitude.
I will never be a session musician because that job calls for someone with a natural ear for music but I would love to be in a band. It's amazing how much great music people of moderate skill level can make in the context of a band, provided everyone is on the same page and has the same goals musically.
No, just kidding.
Seriously, I am better than a beginner. I think it's more like bedroom warrior/tab dude but, then again, I can go beyond that as well.
I will never learn theory because I lack the natural aptitude and I lack the time necessary to put in the work to make up for lack of natural aptitude.
I will never be a session musician because that job calls for someone with a natural ear for music but I would love to be in a band. It's amazing how much great music people of moderate skill level can make in the context of a band, provided everyone is on the same page and has the same goals musically.
These threads always make me question myself.....
I study Jazz full-time, but I'm always surrounded by other musicians doing the same, so I forget about anything all day long other than studying bebop and feeling bad about all the stuff that I need to work on.
I would say I have a proficient and working knowledge of both Classical and Jazz theory. I can sight-read well in both treble and bass clef, but feel really odd when I read treble clef while playing the bass. It throws me off pretty badly.
I can transcribe bebop solos fairly quickly, but advanced harmonic dictation scares me.
I can solo in a bebop style convincingly-ish and I can walk over changes fairly cleanly.
given a short bit of time, I can play most things, generally by ear.
I also like cookies and pie!
I study Jazz full-time, but I'm always surrounded by other musicians doing the same, so I forget about anything all day long other than studying bebop and feeling bad about all the stuff that I need to work on.
I would say I have a proficient and working knowledge of both Classical and Jazz theory. I can sight-read well in both treble and bass clef, but feel really odd when I read treble clef while playing the bass. It throws me off pretty badly.
I can transcribe bebop solos fairly quickly, but advanced harmonic dictation scares me.
I can solo in a bebop style convincingly-ish and I can walk over changes fairly cleanly.
given a short bit of time, I can play most things, generally by ear.
I also like cookies and pie!
There's an awfully big gap between "Bedroom Warrior" and "Can learn almost any piece if given time".
I can sight read adequately. Play most jazz tunes and can slap like a machine. I have good theory skills (music PhD). I am also a very humble man. Naa just kiddin about being humble. Can play a bit but have been playing for 40 years. Lots of practice. On the down side can't tap for %#@
Exactly! That's not a gap, is a friggen chasm, lol. But seriously, there is a MASSIVE amount of space between those two options. I'm a good bass player and haven't been stumped by many songs but about 65% (or more) of the music on my ipod would absolutely PUNISH me. I don't listen to much virtuoso-type stuff but even without that the technical proficiency on some of these tracks is just beyond my current skill level despite me not sucking, haha. At the same time I don't read tabs (I can, I just don't like them) but my theory is ok as is my reading (though neither is quite where it should be, lol).
Jazzdogg
Less barking, more wagging!
When I was coming up the stages of development for most bass players I knew were all over the map. Some people stay in one stage for several years, while others resemble prodigies.
1. Absolute noob. Has not yet learned that he doesn't know what he doesn't know.
2. Knows just enough to impress people who don't know any better, but manages to act self-confident, nonetheless.
3. Begins to amass a collection of songs that can be played - along with a recording - without making too many mistakes.
4. Has been asked to join a band comprised of other musicians at roughly the same skill level, the implicit purpose of which is "to get gigs."
5. Has survived long enough to become curious about the training, knowledge, and skills demonstrated by their bass heroes.
6. Has learned major scales, the cycle, the rudiments of intervallic relationships, and is getting more gigs.
7. Ears have developed well enough to quickly and easily hear the changes; begins to make solos sound deliberate and thoughtful. Getting better gigs.
8. Can sight-read standard notation, and understands music theory well enough to transcribe parts and charts. Starts to dabble in arranging.
9. Teaches college-level music
10. Has earned a reputation as a first-call bassist for recoding gigs.
11. Plays, writes, and arranges for living.
1. Absolute noob. Has not yet learned that he doesn't know what he doesn't know.
2. Knows just enough to impress people who don't know any better, but manages to act self-confident, nonetheless.
3. Begins to amass a collection of songs that can be played - along with a recording - without making too many mistakes.
4. Has been asked to join a band comprised of other musicians at roughly the same skill level, the implicit purpose of which is "to get gigs."
5. Has survived long enough to become curious about the training, knowledge, and skills demonstrated by their bass heroes.
6. Has learned major scales, the cycle, the rudiments of intervallic relationships, and is getting more gigs.
7. Ears have developed well enough to quickly and easily hear the changes; begins to make solos sound deliberate and thoughtful. Getting better gigs.
8. Can sight-read standard notation, and understands music theory well enough to transcribe parts and charts. Starts to dabble in arranging.
9. Teaches college-level music
10. Has earned a reputation as a first-call bassist for recoding gigs.
11. Plays, writes, and arranges for living.
