When does it click in?

[the federalist]

Playing/learning/practicing about a year now.

Taking weekly lesson with competent instructor.

Practice every day at least 30 minutes, and most often 1+ hours: scales, chords, learning fretboard, reading music, fingering exercises, playing simple songs, hand position. I use a metronome.

Definitely improving, slowly but surely. Some days I play pretty well and feel I'm advancing and other days it's not so great, but I understand this is a normal part of the learning process. Also, I understand different people progress at different rates.

My short term goals are to be able to read music competently, to be able to improvise a bit, to be able to move around the fretboard easily, to have good tone, and to stay in time when the going gets tough.

My question is, is there a time when it all comes together and I can consider myself no longer a beginner? I look forward to moving beyond the basics and focusing on refinement.

When I was learning a second language, the day arrived when I realized I was no longer translating what I heard into English, but rather was understanding what I heard in the second language. Similarly, I no longer had to think about grammar when I spoke, the words just came out. Is there a similar point with the bass where everything clicks in?

 

[bassbully]

In time. For some it comes quickly and for others others it takes forever it seams....maybe never. I have been playing bass 12 years and guitar on and off since I was in my teens. I never will be great but am a solid bassit. As for guitar it's still a struggle but I remain dedicated for what time I have to get better at both instruments.

 

[bholder]

I've been playing for, umm, 43 years or so and an still having "aha" and "d'oh" moments, your mileage may vary!

 

[mikefromchurch]

it will never click if all you do is practice and learn. If you can feel 3 notes all day long, you are better than the guy who knows everything.

 

[Matthew_84]

Practice every day at least 30 minutes, and most often 1+ hours: scales, chords, learning fretboard, reading music, fingering exercises, playing simple songs, hand position.

I'll be honest, and your teacher may disagree, but I think you're not spending enough time learning songs and spending too much learning other things.

When you learn songs, you learn how to listen, you learn how to play in time (rhythm), you learn licks and phrases you can use later, you learn musicality (song construction and chord progressions), discipline, and if you have sheet music for the songs you're learning, then you also learn how to read.

In my opinion, doing fingering exercises is the most redundant and pointless exercise ever... If you learn songs, you will learn different fingerings anyway. Spending time doing fingering exercises will only teach you how to play patterns (usually non-musical ones at that).

After learning a song, you should de-construct it and learn what scales and chords are used and why. You can then play through the song, playing different chord inversions and see how they sound. It will also teach how to play basslines (how to lead up to the next chord, when to complement the melody with harmony, and if doubling the melody - how to write melodically).

It will also teach you the fingerboard, hand positions, and technique.

My short term goals are to be able to read music competently, to be able to improvise a bit, to be able to move around the fretboard easily, to have good tone, and to stay in time when the going gets tough.

Not to discourage you, but this is really a long term goal. It's going to take a while to accomplish all of these tasks.

A good short term goal may be finding a song with a great bassline, and learning to play it. The rest will come if you continue to learn and analyze what you learned.

 

[20db pad]

It's more of a gradual thing, although there are lightbulb moments along the way. It's not like you say "I'm not getting this" on Monday and then say "Now I have it all figured out" on Tuesday. Competence sort of creeps up on you over time - it's built up of little concepts and realizations that coalesce over time.

All of it happens much faster if you are doing this stuff in a group doing live performances.

 

[pacojas]

you must also approach your music spiritually, imo. meditate,.. at least clear your head & stretch before practice. block out everything and let one note ring,... let it sustain & decay.
now take a breath and think about your tone and what it means.
this is not just a thing,.. it requires passion & zeal to master. it ain't gonna happen over night. study theory between practices especially before sleep.
(at least that's how i did it)

 

[nostatic]

All of it happens much faster if you are doing this stuff in a group doing live performances.

^^^ even if the "live performances" are a practice room or garage. Unless you are trying to be a solo bass player, the point of playing the instrument is to have musical conversations with other humans. Victor Wooten talks about music being a language, and the way you learn languages best is by immersing yourself in it and "jamming" with others (ideally, players who are better than you).

 

[wvbass]

I've been playing for, umm, 43 years or so and an still having "aha" and "d'oh" moments, your mileage may vary!

Agreed. I have had "beginner" status for about 35 years now.

 

[BazzTard]

you've had enough lessons. Time to play with others.

This is where you really progress, or fall flat on your face.

To re-use the language analogy, you know some words,and a bit about grammar. You now need to start conversations with others. Put sentences together.

 

[grisezd]

Play with others and often. You'll know that you're getting there when you feel like you're holding up your end and it sounds awesome. It's a great feeling.

 

[Dave W]

Yup, play with others. You'll be surprised how out of place it feels at first but how much you actually know.

 

[Jazz Ad]

I won't be original. Get out and play. It's time.
You can keep your practice aside and it will make it much more interesting and valuable.

 

[zontar]

Is there a similar point with the bass where everything clicks in?

Hopefully.
It might come all out once, on several occasions or gradually over time & one day you realize it.
How quickly--that varies from person to person.

And I've had later ones over the last couple of years, including it being a year since I got my fretless bass-and the clicking in on that as well.
Part of that has been playing with others--that experience helps a lot,as others have pointed out--but continuing lessons can still help.
This will vary from person to person depending on how you learn, how you problem solve, how you remember stuff, how you relate to people, and how much time you have to devote to playing bass.

 

[CatSquare]

I think you will have that 'click' moment many times, for me it hasn't all come together (to me that means total mastery), but the connections I make are exciting and leave me with a sense of accomplishment and confidence. Just recently I leveled-up my touch and really had an ah-ha moment with regard to dynamics. The other week I realized I was comfortably navigating my way through these chord changes I had been working on. When stuff like this happens, it's great, but new challenges arise in the place of old ones - I don't think the learning process ever ends (I like that about music).
I definitely agree that playing with others will be a good experience for you (as it is for any musician at any level). I also think play-along apps are amazingly helpful and instructive; get iReal Pro if you have an Android device and enjoy endless stress-free, any key, any tempo, jazz jams whenever you please.

 

[s0c9]

you've had enough lessons. Time to play with others.

Play with others and often. You'll know that you're getting there when you feel like you're holding up your end and it sounds awesome. It's a great feeling.

Yup, play with others. You'll be surprised how out of place it feels at first but how much you actually know.

Get out and play. It's time.

What these guys all said..
NOTHING will improve you playing like playing with others... be that jamming or joining a band.
WHY? Nothing is quite as embarrassing as showing up and not knowing the parts... LOL

Before I self-taught myself lead guitar.. I played rhythm only. Singer quit and lead moved to vocals, refusing to do both jobs. They said I had to learn the lead parts on Sweet Home for the following weeks rehearsal or they'd be looking for a replacement. "But I'm not a lead guitar player!" I said.. "You are now!" they replied.
I swam!!
(true story BTW).

 

[BassikLee]

Been playing for 33 years. As soon as it kicks in, I'll be sure to let you know.

 

[Smooth_bass88]

It's different for everybody, really. I was lucky, things pretty much clicked from the get-go, but I'm always trying to challenge myself. For example when I have to learn 20-30 songs in a couple weeks, or working out a difficult passage. Sometimes things don't 'click' until the day of the gig!

 

[Buzz E]

I don't think it will ever truly "click" like a second language does. There is always more to learn and practice, and it can be a challenge. Most everybody can speak one language, sometimes more than one. If it was that easy to learn an instrument, everybody would be doing it. Enjoy the ride!

 

[BassFishingInAmerica]

The biggest change will come when you play a few scales, progressions and songs that have never been played before. When you are happy with what you are hearing, a new level has been reached. There are many other levels that you will unconsciously reach -- listening to a song and knowing what notes are being played (before picking up the bass), playing things you thought were impossible or just learning something and saying, "How did I do that?" The biggest thing to remember is you will never really recognize when it is happening, like becoming really proficient at riding a bike.