Your 2025 Bass Highs & Lows

[Dusky Bass]

Earlier, I was reflecting on my bass journey in 2025. It's been an interesting year, and I feel like I've had some good wins. Thought I'd share and hope to hear yours, too!

Some highs:

• I feel like my knowledge of the fretboard really grew through practicing arpeggios; playing them diatonically through all 12 keys
• I took a few in-person lessons with a couple of great teachers that helped me build my confidence and validate my knowledge
• I got together with a drummer friend a couple of times to simply freestyle jam, and it was really fun. I was surprised at the quality of my impromptu bass line creations
• I picked up a couple of pieces of gear:
  • TC Electronics Ditto 2 pedal - made practicing and improvising a lot of fun (in a different way from playing with tracks in a DAW)
  • JOYO 30W amp - so awesome to have near the TV to noodle and hear my bass to noodle/practice in the living room

Some lows:

• I intended to either start or join a band in June that plays funk, soul, R&B focused music... that didn't happen
• I intended to record a 4 bar bass line everyday, but just couldn't keep up and stopped about two weeks into it
• I think I stretched myself too thin trying to learn too many things from too many sources; in-person lessons, online platforms, YouTube, books, etc.

Overall, I feel like I've made good progress and am so grateful to be able to play and enjoy music. How about you?

 

[2saddleslab]

Highs:
-Finished the long awaited all original 2 album project [release for early next year], and all that it entails. What a blast!
-Fine tuned my rig for both live & in the studio.

Lows:
-Lost too many people that were huge influences on my life.

 

[Dusky Bass]

Highs:
-Finished the long awaited all original 2 album project [release for early next year], and all that it entails. What a blast!
-Fine tuned my rig for both live & in the studio.

Lows:
-Lost too many people that were huge influences on my life.

Congrats on the album! Sorry for your losses. LFG 2026!

 

[bass_ke]

Highs:

Joined two incredible bands, including this tribute which is making me work harder are chops and being true to the albums

Bring Me To Life | Gold Coast QLD

Bring Me To Life, Gold Coast. 1,752 likes · 156 talking about this. Bring Me To Life, Australia's Tribute to Evanescence Come to the end of a dream with us and hold your last breath as we bring...

www.facebook.com

Played a decent amount of shows and am again 'match fit' for live music

Got custom molded tips for my IEM's, ears have never been happier

Got my tone condensed down to a single pedalboard

Lows:

I dropped the intro to sweet child of mine at a decent sized gig (I've played it so many bloody times, brain fart moment )

Backing tracks for the tribute were far too complex on initially, we've dumbed it right down to 2 channels now...

 

[burgerdj]

Highs: Good friend released an album that I got to play on most tracks. Joined a second band with really talented musicians. Gigged a few times and had some laughs.

Lows: endlessly cycling through pedals trying to find what will work with the new band. Driving 45 mins and paying for rehearsal space. Conflicts with family time (the lowest musical low).

 

[Polfuste]

High:
- i'm progressing on my read learning; and i'm now able to play notes i see on a sheet. Not sight reading at all, just working bar per bar but able to figure out rythm and notes.
- I discovered Musescore to write sheets/tabs. This software is so powerfull and quite easy to use that i've started to write my transcriptions, and even lateley share it. A way to give more sense about this work i'm doing to grow on my musical path.
- I lived an unexpected revolution due to my right shoulder problem by discovering the 30" short scale world. My Sire U5 is now my #1; and I have not any desire to play 34" basses anymore; but GAS for another 30" bass

Low:
- The jazz 4tet i was in since close to 10 years has fallen apart. I've had the chance to play my favorite music with good guys during all these years. We still have to meet to discuss about it. No hard feelings at all, just life agendas which are more and more difficult to arrange.
- I've finished my first real composition i was happy from for this 4tet. But i realize this tune has given me more frustration than satisfaction. We've had the time to finalize and play it with the band but i still felt more frustration than satisfaction. I've had more pleasure working on our pisanist composition and add my flavour, then develop my tune. Composition seems to not be for me. We'll see.

 

[Jefenator]

Lows:

• Losing out on some desperately-needed work in January because the drummer wanted to abstain from performing until a later date when I'd be away.
• A paid rehearsal project that often drives me nuts.
• Holiday parties.

Highs:

• Making almost $1K for one show in July without having to drive 1000 miles. (Same band – new drummer.)
• Scoring a 1960s Silvertone at a garage sale for $30. It's a little tough to play, but it has more mojo than my P-bass!
• Getting flown up to Sitka, Alaska for a weekend. (And getting super lucky with the weather.)

 

[Dusky Bass]

Really fun and insightful to read everyone’s Highs & Lows this year! Hope others will continue to share

 

[MrAB4003]

Highs:
- Finishing and releasing my third album, Swimming in the Clouds, in January
- Writing and recording most of the songs that will be on my fourth album. I started making this album in April and the process is still ongoing. I plan on releasing it in the spring of 2026.
- Trying out Garry Beers' 1974 Rickenbacker 4001

Mids (Bittersweet Moments):
- Donating my first ever bass to my local school of the arts
- Watching the Black Sabbath Back to the Beginning concert and then Ozzy Osbourne's (RIP) death in July

Lows:
- Getting and returning a Gretsch Streamliner Bass in the spring
- Trying to love my 2021 Fender MIA P Bass, but it hasn't happened yet
- Trying Rotosound 77s that only ended up lasting only four months

 

[Dusky Bass]

Highs:
- Finishing and releasing my third album, Swimming in the Clouds, in January


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Congrats on the new music! Sounds like a productive year!