I have been playing bass for a year now and so far I know all 12 keys, know how to use root and combine them with 5ths, 6ths, flat 7ths and octaves. I also know my major and minor triads, Major and minor scales and some blue chord tones. I play along with different songs which the covers sounded crappy at first then I improved a little since then and I always practice with my drum machine which most of the time I'm in time with the drum but I feel I don't sound that good so I wanted to know what level y'all think Im on and what should i do to feel better and to continue growing as a bassist
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Not having an inflated ego is as important as feeling good about your playing, so you're half way there...
One year is a short time in the study of an instrument. You said yourself that you are improving, so be patient and persistent.
Playing with other people sounds like a good next step to me. It will help you get better faster, and it is a whole lot of fun too! Enjoy the ride.
One year is a short time in the study of an instrument. You said yourself that you are improving, so be patient and persistent.
Playing with other people sounds like a good next step to me. It will help you get better faster, and it is a whole lot of fun too! Enjoy the ride.
^ This
Playing with others you consider better than you is the best way to make progress.
It really helps you progress in ways that playing along to recordings or drum machines cannot.
It provides that spontaneity and interaction that can only be had by jamming with real live people.
It forces you to up your game quicker, and to connect on that special musical level.
Playing with others you consider better than you is the best way to make progress.
It really helps you progress in ways that playing along to recordings or drum machines cannot.
It provides that spontaneity and interaction that can only be had by jamming with real live people.
It forces you to up your game quicker, and to connect on that special musical level.
I know that a marathon is 26 miles (42 km) and that to be able to run in the Boston Marathon, one needs to finish a major authorized marathon in under 3:30:00 (h:m:s). Before I started running, I did not know any of that. In fact, many people who run on a regular basis probably don't know anything other than people run in the Boston Marathon.
Now, just because I know those things doesn't mean I am physically able to run in the Boston Marathon or any marathon.
Now, just because I know those things doesn't mean I am physically able to run in the Boston Marathon or any marathon.
I felt waaaay behind at my one year mark, too! I was plowing thru method books, and took near weekly lessons seriously. It wasn't until i played with other decent musicians (almost 2 years in) that my playing literally grew in bounds. In my case i dove in to CL and auditioned for my first band ... and got it. It's different to learn to play along to things, then it is to actually make the music!
I'm still not at a point where i can comfortably jump on any stage with any group of folks and not blow a line here or there, but our band has given me focus & drive to create, learn, & step up my role in it
Stick with it ... peaks, plateaus, & valleys!
I'm still not at a point where i can comfortably jump on any stage with any group of folks and not blow a line here or there, but our band has given me focus & drive to create, learn, & step up my role in it
Stick with it ... peaks, plateaus, & valleys!
Not having heard you play, I have no idea.
Cool! Then it seems like you're doing all the right stuff, just be patient, keep practicing and playing with others, and you'll keep getting better. I started on guitar and it wasn't until I was playing for 2 to 3 years that I didn't think I sucked.
It sounds like the technical aspects might be overshadowing your freedom to rock out.
You didn't give us enough information to rate you as a player. Since you've only been at it for a year, it sounds like you've made a reasonable amount of progress theory-wise. Try concentrating on your timing. Playing the right note at the wrong time is just as bad (if not worse) than playing a wrong note. If you hit a clunker on the beat, at least you don't throw the whole rhythm off. Relax, enjoy playing for what it is, and progress at your own pace. Hope this helps.
Most people who really care about playing well feel the same way you do. I know I did. It was several years of playing (and having some challenging music to play helped) before I felt that I was any good. Keep it up!
Play with others and keep practicing. I am a life long sax player that has recently added bass to my repertoire. Since I have a solid background in music the bass is coming along quickly. HOWEVER:
As a sax player that went out to play with others as a teenager--I quickly was able to discover I was woefully inadequate by comparing my ability to my bandmates. I was fortunate that I was able to land a full-time sax gig as a teen and was able to practice during the day. I turned practice into an 8 hour day job. Literally for 4 years--I practiced 8 hours, 7 days a week when in this band. Keep practicing with relentless determination and you will see, feel and hear the difference in short order.
As a sax player that went out to play with others as a teenager--I quickly was able to discover I was woefully inadequate by comparing my ability to my bandmates. I was fortunate that I was able to land a full-time sax gig as a teen and was able to practice during the day. I turned practice into an 8 hour day job. Literally for 4 years--I practiced 8 hours, 7 days a week when in this band. Keep practicing with relentless determination and you will see, feel and hear the difference in short order.
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concentrate on songs ... not scales ... play in a band with some good musicians ... then you will get better
According to legend; when the Ramones toured England in 1976 a young Joe Strummer approached Johnny Ramone about how to start a band. Strummer thought he had master the guitar first. Johnny said, F#+¥ that. It takes to long and you'll be to old to rock out. Three chords and hit it! Following that tour, inspired English youth's formed The Clash, The Sex Pistols, Joy Division, Siouxsie and the Banshees and the Cure. Never underestimate the power of naivete and balls.
Join the club! I've only been at it for a little over a year and I pretty much think I suck. I take weekly lessons and play on my church's praise team. Other than that I carve out time here and there to practice alone, in my man cave, my dogs don't even hang out with me That said, I really try to do the praise music justice by listening to the originals and trying to figure out what the bassist is doing. I am making good progress from just pounding out root notes to adding some color here and there where appropriate. That has been a hard transition for me to make for some reason. Rhythm is difficult for me too, and I don't really know why. I can mimic it ok, but trying to count it out is killing me. I don't beat myself up over it, I just keep plugging away practicing. I do recognize that I am 48 years old and a complete newb to playing any instrument, so I do not beat myself up over it. I just study and practice and experiment. I do realize that at some point it will come together and my worship leader may tell me "a little less funk, please".
That said, I really try to do the praise music justice by listening to the originals and trying to figure out what the bassist is doing. I am making good progress from just pounding out root notes to adding some color here and there where appropriate. That has been a hard transition for me to make for some reason. Rhythm is difficult for me too, and I don't really know why. I can mimic it ok, but trying to count it out is killing me. I don't beat myself up over it, I just keep plugging away practicing. I do recognize that I am 48 years old and a complete newb to playing any instrument, so I do not beat myself up over it. I just study and practice and experiment. I do realize that at some point it will come together and my worship leader may tell me "a little less funk, please". 
Try and figure your strengths and weaknesses. Work on your weak areas, and go slow and try to be as perfect as possible working scales. Get to know major and minor penatonic scales all over the fretboard. You will use these in rock blues country and gospel. Scott's bass lessons has a free vid on this right now it's a good learn.
Lock up with the drummer. Know his every move and become one together. That will make your job easier. Listen to everything and all the instruments as well. A developed ear is your greatest asset.
Have fun and try to structure you practice into goals instead of just noodling away on the bass. Also record yourself when you play or practice. It will help you hear what you need to work on
Lock up with the drummer. Know his every move and become one together. That will make your job easier. Listen to everything and all the instruments as well. A developed ear is your greatest asset.
Have fun and try to structure you practice into goals instead of just noodling away on the bass. Also record yourself when you play or practice. It will help you hear what you need to work on
If you sound anything other than terrible after one year, you're making fine progress!
I've only been at it for a little while myself, but one thing that's really helped me was a visual aid to mark how much actual time I'd put in. Last year I put 100 sticks of rose incense in a jar, and whenever I practiced, I'd burn one, and wouldn't stop practicing at least until the stick was gone (at which point I'd probably be lost enough in what I was doing to keep playing anyway).
Early on when I got frustrated at how lousy my playing was, I'd look at my incense jar and see that there was still such a long way to go that I didn't need to worry about being perfect yet. Later on when the jar was maybe half full I'd feel comforted knowing I must at least be better than I was, even if I couldn't tell yet, since I had proof I'd been practicing.
Last week I burned my last stick, and to be honest, I can see for certain that I'm worlds better than I was when I first filled the jar. I'm still pretty awful, but I'm less awful than before, and I think the knowledge that I'm getting there steadily is enough not to worry about it.
Also my bass has the smell of roses baked into it, which is pretty cool too.
--^@
I've only been at it for a little while myself, but one thing that's really helped me was a visual aid to mark how much actual time I'd put in. Last year I put 100 sticks of rose incense in a jar, and whenever I practiced, I'd burn one, and wouldn't stop practicing at least until the stick was gone (at which point I'd probably be lost enough in what I was doing to keep playing anyway).
Early on when I got frustrated at how lousy my playing was, I'd look at my incense jar and see that there was still such a long way to go that I didn't need to worry about being perfect yet. Later on when the jar was maybe half full I'd feel comforted knowing I must at least be better than I was, even if I couldn't tell yet, since I had proof I'd been practicing.
Last week I burned my last stick, and to be honest, I can see for certain that I'm worlds better than I was when I first filled the jar. I'm still pretty awful, but I'm less awful than before, and I think the knowledge that I'm getting there steadily is enough not to worry about it.
Also my bass has the smell of roses baked into it, which is pretty cool too.
--^@
Learning the basics from an intellectual standpoint is extremely helpful and will definitely speed things up. However, that alone will not make you a musician on any instrument, its just a requirement. The thing that really makes you something is play, play, play, play. A few things that helped me I'll list, and all the other advice above is great - there are many paths to this.
1. Try to play with others and preferably those that are much better than yourself.
2. Learn new songs constantly - but not just how they were written (tab). Learn to play along with them with your own bassline that fits the chord and rhythmic structure - this forces you to listen more and explore the fret board. Record it, listen back and critic yourself like you would any music.
3. Know every note on the fret board. Learn to jump from any note to all the same across the board. Then, try jumping from roots to all the 5ths etc.
4. Experiment with plucking notes, listen to how the sound changes as you change your attack (both in where on the finger you pluck to where on the string you do it), practice with right hand in different positions and listen to how the tone changes - get those sounds in your ears and your muscle memory. Try to get a note to sound as good as you can then try to do that with multiple notes. Listen to the evenness of your note delivery and if it is not keep trying to get it that way.
5. Play as much as possible as already mentioned.
Good luck, and no worries you will get there if you stay at it.
1. Try to play with others and preferably those that are much better than yourself.
2. Learn new songs constantly - but not just how they were written (tab). Learn to play along with them with your own bassline that fits the chord and rhythmic structure - this forces you to listen more and explore the fret board. Record it, listen back and critic yourself like you would any music.
3. Know every note on the fret board. Learn to jump from any note to all the same across the board. Then, try jumping from roots to all the 5ths etc.
4. Experiment with plucking notes, listen to how the sound changes as you change your attack (both in where on the finger you pluck to where on the string you do it), practice with right hand in different positions and listen to how the tone changes - get those sounds in your ears and your muscle memory. Try to get a note to sound as good as you can then try to do that with multiple notes. Listen to the evenness of your note delivery and if it is not keep trying to get it that way.
5. Play as much as possible as already mentioned.
Good luck, and no worries you will get there if you stay at it.