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What is your skill level?

What is your skill level?

  • Beginner

    Votes: 19 7.1%

  • Bedroom Warrior/Tab only

    Votes: 41 15.3%

  • Can learn almost any piece if given time

    Votes: 138 51.5%

  • Can improvise over anything/Theory Renegade

    Votes: 54 20.1%

  • On call session musician/Recording artist

    Votes: 16 6.0%
  • Total voters
    268
#61
Good enough to play music full time for a living. I can learn and play virtually anything, understand intermediate theory, can craft original basslines, excel at fingerstyle, have been signed to a major label, have worked with and recorded with a couple notable producers, can read charts and music on a basic level (working hard on this right now!) and have been told I have a unique groove feel. That said, I am on a constant quest to improve and see cats at an open jam I attend regularly that just blow me away. I am also a below average slapper.

I will never be as good as I can be.
 
#62
I'm between Bedroom Warrior/Tab only and Can learn almost any piece if given time. I'm not limited to tab though. I can read the bass line of standard notation. In fact I can read most standard notation, as long as it's not something like a symphonic score. :eek: But I do only play in the bedroom. :hmm:
 
#63
I had to choose one of the options, but none of them pleased me to define my level. I'd say beginner-intermediate, because I am a beginner at bass, but I have some experience with guitar playing before. So, combined, I'd say not quite intermediate, but getting there. Not a beginner either, because I guess I know enough to defend myself on the fretboard.

Now, since I'm taking bass lessons (by a real, experienced bassist), and I'm getting a band together, I'll hope my level will jump to a decent intermediate in the next few months. Plus, I'm trying to practice on my own regularly.

Now there is the issue of whether I have natural aptitude for music... maybe I'll suck for life, but I'll try my best to enjoy every second of sucking, he he.
 
#64
Jazzdogg said:
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.

:D
Click to expand...
except there are guys who do 10 and 11 who can't do 8 or 9!!

as for me i've got pretty advanced chops and ears, and pretty natural feel for any style. my only downfall is my memory! I find it quite hard to remember lots of different parts in a short amount of time. I shine when just allowed to do my own thing
 
#65
Jazzdogg said:
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.

:D
Click to expand...

I'm not a teacher or a university trained musician... so take what I say with a grain of salt.

I think a better way to look at "Stages Of Development" would be to look at a musicans skill set. There are plenty of bassists who play, write and arrange music who have a rudimentary music education. They are still successful and can be good bassits. Notice that I did not link "good" with "successful".

My list might look something like this, specific to the bass guitar:

1. Basic knowlege of the fret (or finger) board and how the instrument works. Absolute rudiments of music: what is tempo, what is harmony, what is a melody, what is the role of the bass in an ensamble, etc. Know what a root note is and have the ability to play those notes appropriately. The bare bones beginner stuff.

2. Basic knowledge of, and the ability to arpeggiate, common chords (major, minor, 7ths, etc). Basic knowlege of, and the ability to play, major and minor scales. Can play with a drummer at medium tempo. Understands basic song structures like the blues... I-IV-V in 12 bars. Can play 12 bar blues in any key. Can utilize a lead sheet, tabs, and chord charts... not necessarily read music.

3. Can use written music to learn and play material. Can do some basic sight reading. Beginner improvisation skills, can play roots and other, appropriate, notes to support harmony.


...and so on....

Maybe around five for six is "Can accurately transcribe a peice of music with little difficulty".

I try to assess myself on what I can do with the instrument, not by how many gigs I get. I'm a better bass player than I was 20 years ago, but I play far fewer gigs.

All that being said: I don't think you have to be music theory genius or a super literate reader to be a good musican... but it sure helps.

As always, I could be wrong.
 
#71
I chose the 4th option. While I am not a full time bass player, I'm confident in my playing and have experience playing live and in the studio on an semi-pro level. I think sight reading and Upright bass would give me the credits to choose #5. I'm happy with my playing for the most part. I have plenty to learn, and try and improve as often as possible.

Recently I started learning covers by ear. So after about 100 songs I have a decent ear. And discovered I have a Harmonic ear. I tend to play the fifth sometimes instead of the root.
 
#74
Level 2 bass player here. Been playing EB for a bit over 2 years, DB for 2 weeks. I'd like to become a proficient doubler.

Trying to level up my ear training, reading, and jazz playing. It's like the more I study jazz, the more I realize how far I am from sounding like a jazzer. I can see myself spending a lifetime just trying to craft melodic, non-segmented walks. Kudos to all you that can move through changes like second nature, that's no small feat.

But, I am in 3 bands ironically enough, a jazz group that jams out the real book, a funk/hip hop band, and a classic rock cover band. I think playing with other folks has helped tremendously.

All in all I suck, and am as noobalicious as they come. But it's cool how just doing something everyday with the bass can propel you forward. Haven't missed a day of practice in my 2 years so far, and I plan to keep that going until my number's called. Maybe I'll be pretty okay before it's all said and done.
 
#75
I'm actually not 100% sure how to read tab! :p

I know the numbers represent frets, but I don't know what slashes, "s", and all the other symbols you see mean. I started out on upright so I already knew how to read when I picked up electric. I play mostly jazz so all of the gigs I get are written in standard notation anyways. :)
 
#76
I can Improve pretty well, but know very little theory, just the major scales. Never played in a band and have trouble jamming with other people because i am so used to improving solo. But i recently been jamming more with people and have gotten better, cant keep a beat well though. I dont know where to put myself on that list... But i consider myself... ehh in need of more learning, don't want to call myself good because I dont know what you guys consider "good". I am not skilled at "learning" other people's songs actually, i play what i can play and how i play it, i have trouble holding down a simple Van Halen song which uses only three notes but i could play an improvised slap solo anytime i pick up the bass guitar, that to an average person (non-bass player) seems awesome( ? whatever that means ? )
 
#77
I'm a garage band player that has gotten good enough to gig consistently and keep the pretty ladies out on the dance floor at the local dives. Good groove, key and timing instincts. I see a lot of bass players in other weekend warrior bar bands and my skill sets are comparable to the majority of those players. Can learn just about any popular rock/pop song note for note relatively quickly. Lots of holes in my general musical theory (like I said - garage band player) but working on it. Don't ask for a monster slap solo however - just not my thing.
 

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