I HAVE TUNNEL VISIONED

coolvirgin69

coolvirgin69

Mar 11, 2019
27
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4,551
#1
All I can think, talk, or write anymore seems to be about trying to be a better bassist. I want to be the best I can be. That has become my single life goal. Y'all got any tips? Anything I should definitely be doing? I play around with a metronome all the time and have sort of built up the natural pulse. I am having issues with playing along with drum tracks and have only figured out so far that I should really be focusing on subdivisions. I have a problem restricting myself to a certain genre however. So if there's a funky drum track, yeah I can half ass (more like a quarter ass) do it, but it just doesn't feel natural. What does feel natural and follows the beat just doesn't sound good. I don't want to blame it on the drummer and don't think it's the issue considering that I go around to listen to other drum tracks and a lot of those give me trouble as well. I found I do well with this one rock tom track that runs at 120bpm, and a few others with similar effect. I do best just listening to the music I already enjoy not following the same bass line but following the drums of it. I guess I should keep track of what songs I do well with and go from there.
EDITS
Also, I can't afford lessons.
I do practice songs. Obsessively so.
Sorry for my somewhat aimless rambling, it happens :hyper:
 
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#5
coolvirgin69 said:
I don't want to blame it on the drummer
Click to expand...

That's your first mistake. Problems are ALWAYS with the drummer. Or if not then with the guitar player and vocalist, and sometimes the keyboard player.

Seriously though, find a drummer friend and start a punk band. Playing with other people will up your skills faster and better than playing to canned tracks on youtube.
 
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#7
bkbirge said:
That's your first mistake. Problems are ALWAYS with the drummer. Or if not then with the guitar player and vocalist, and sometimes the keyboard player.

Seriously though, find a drummer friend and start a punk band. Playing with other people will up your skills faster and better than playing to canned tracks on youtube.
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See, that's what I just started. I think he is playing a preset drum track however, and am unsure if what he has sent through a message was something he came up with or a track he learned. Some acidjazz, apparently. Sounds like LSD porno music. Anyway, I am just not into the genre. I can't feel the groove. Is it a bad idea to just give up on it? I think so.
 
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#8
If you are just not into the music no reason to force yourself to do something un-enjoyable but in my opinion you should take the opportunity to jam live with as many people as you possibly can from all sorts of skill levels and genres. Many you will not gel with, but many you will, and each playing experience will make you a better musician step by step. And if you decide you really don't like LSD porno music send the drummer my way and move onto the next experience.
 
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#9
bkbirge said:
If you are just not into the music no reason to force yourself to do something un-enjoyable but in my opinion you should take the opportunity to jam live with as many people as you possibly can from all sorts of skill levels and genres. Many you will not gel with, but many you will, and each playing experience will make you a better musician step by step. And if you decide you really don't like LSD porno music send the drummer my way and move onto the next experience.
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Yeah, he did well but I just can't. I don't think the music is poor but I just can't take it seriously.
 
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#13
Practice, practice, practice. If your heart is really "in it" you will get better. Remember that old adage - practice makes perfect. Find some friends or even strangers and play/jam together, some of them may be able to help and guide you(and don't worry if your not as good as them). You said you can't afford lessons - check out Youtube - there are lots of beginner lessons/tips all over that website. Do not be afraid to attempt to play completely different genres of music even if you don't like or appreciate them. I can tell you the best bass players/musicians are skilled in many different genres and can literally leap into most any crazy playing situation and handle it competently. Lastly, be patient and if this is really what you want don't give up. It will come in time. jmtcw
 
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#14
  • Get a teacher, they can focus on what you need and shortcut the learning process. Look at studybass or scottsbasslessons or other free resources while you can't afford lessons. Plan to learn and improve your whole career, I've been playing bass for almost 40 years now and I still take lessons, a few years ago with Mark White (Spin Doctors) and right now with Andrew Pouska.
  • Play with as many (real) drummers and musicians (get it?) as you can, you can learn from all of them
  • Take a music theory course, I took one at my community college and it was very helpful, with reading, theory and ear training being some of the most helpful topics
  • In addition to practicing (i.e. playing along with) songs, you should be learning scales, chords, rhythms, and improvisation

If you can maintain your level of enthusiasm and commitment over the long term, you will be a great bass player!
 
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#17
brianrost said:
1. play with other people as often as possible

2. when playing with other people kicks your butt, work on whatever you discovered you don't know

3. repeat
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I started over after a decade off from wrist issues. I (thought) was in pretty good shape - I can do this!. Then I went and played a few times at church. I need to work on this. So I did, went back. I need to work on that. There is no better motivation than being up in front of a bunch of people, and having to fudge your way around something you can't play. Almost a decade later, I can play again. At least I think I can.
 
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#18
If its a career you want - No wife. No kids! Responsibilities will overpower the dream. Don't get me wrong, I have no regrets. I made the right decision for me. Wife, 2 kids, 3 grandkids. Successful in other ways. Its rare someone can sustain the needs of a career and a family.
 
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#19
brianrost said:
1. play with other people as often as possible

2. when playing with other people kicks your butt, work on whatever you discovered you don't know

3. repeat
Click to expand...
This ^^^ X 1000. I cut my teeth in church when I was a kid, which meant I was playing different songs every week, often playing with different people depending on the week, & playing multiple services (or "sets" if that floats your boat). My playing got way better really quick.

I always try to play with people that are better than me. Sink or swim, right?
 
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