Just recorded myself.

[bassmonkey]

Boy, do I suck!

I thought it might be good to get some audio samples of my new bass posted, showing what the various pickup selector positions sound like.

So I plugged the bass into my Mac and played along to a track. It was awful, such a simple piece, but my tone was terrible, timing was out, truly bad. It goes to show how having other instruments playing covers up a multitude of sins. I need to get myself into the woodshed.

 

[Jason Hebert]

I felt the same way the first time I recorded myself at home.. One of the best things you can do the discover your faults and work on correcting them though!

 

[fly]

don't stop man............it'll be good in the end...........


keep playin'

 

[bassmonkey]

Cheers guys.

I know it's a really good thing to do in order to improve. I was just shocked how bad it sounded. It was painful to listen to.

 

[Jason Hebert]

If you're like me, you're probably your own worst critic too..

 

[phatduckk]

hey man - dont sweat it. there's something to be said about recording. to me its stressfull and i get nervous and screw up simple things as well. its rediculous.

like you, i feel at home with a band etc.... again, there's something to be said about getting in the groove with your band/friends.

i wouldnt blame your skills too quickly....

i also have friends that cant jam ever - but if you put em in a studio theyre awesome. different settings/scenes bring out the "player" in us differently.

w/ that said tho - this is one of the reasons ive taken up lessons. someone to whip me into shape and to revisit the basics w/ a proper approach as opposed to just going at it like i did when i first started.

also - try just jamming along to your fav song a few times then record your bits. it might loosen you up and change the whole vibe.

i have faith in the monkee

 

[Jason Hebert]

hey man - dont sweat it. there's something to be said about recording. to me its stressfull and i get nervous and screw up simple things as well. its rediculous.

like you, i feel at home with a band etc.... again, there's something to be said about getting in the groove with your band/friends.

i wouldnt blame your skills too quickly....

i also have friends that cant jam ever - but if you put em in a studio theyre awesome. different settings/scenes bring out the "player" in us differently.

w/ that said tho - this is one of the reasons ive taken up lessons. someone to whip me into shape and to revisit the basics w/ a proper approach as opposed to just going at it like i did when i first started.

also - try just jamming along to your fav song a few times then record your bits. it might loosen you up and change the whole vibe.

i have faith in the monkee

I do the same thing.. I get nervous when I click record.. No one but me around, and I still booger up the simple stuff..

 

[bassmonkey]

i have faith in the monkee

What about the monkey, though?

That's strange what you said about people who can't jam, but are fantastic in the studio. I never really thought about it before. I wonder what makes the difference?

Of course, there are people out there who are great at both.

 

[MingusBASS]

Look on the bright side, at least you realized that it sounded bad. There are folks who have no clue how horrible they sound, and they post the clip/video on the internet for everyone to see. We all have a lot to learn, it never stops, but some folks are clueless. When you play a gig/session that doesn't meet your standards, you can do one of two things. You can let it get you down or you can learn from your mistakes and improve yourself. Hopefully this will drive you to work on your weaknesses.

 

[Danserrano]

it's funny how those "man i suck" moments can just motivate the heck out of ya lol

 

[bassmancb]

We all have those "man I suck moments". It's just part of growing as a bass player. Use it as a tool to improvement. Don't sweat it we've all been there.

 

[phatduckk]

What about the monkey, though?

i confused the two monkeys... i knew you were the one from teh UK but was too lazy to scroll up for the spelling. my bad

everyone's different man. we're all comfortable in different situations... dont sweat it. its just different things to practice.

i kinda suck at playing slow... but playing fast, im on the money. its a factor of how i thought myself how to play.

 

[adouglas]

I've been playing since about 1980 (if you can call what I did for way too many years "playing"), and I still suck.

I know I suck.

I also know that my bass looks like a toilet seat.

I embrace both.

(Embrace the toilet seat. It is your friend. Rejoice in the coolness of the porcelain on your fevered brow when you are in dire straits......)

I stopped worrying about my suckiness a long time ago, the same way I stopped worrying about the fact that I do not, in fact, have the body of a Greek god and do, in fact, have no chin. Not to mention that I'm 5'7" on a good day. I'm really, really good at being ignored by beautiful women. It's a particular skill of mine.

Like G. Gordon Liddy said (probably apocryphally...the line is from "All The President's Men), "the trick is not minding."

I do what I do, and when the noise sounds good (to my standards) I'm happy. If others like it, I'm ecstatic. If people ask me back, get a towel.

And if it sucks, too bad. I'll make it better next time.

 

[Big Poppa]

bassmonkey what interface did you plug into? everything sucks directly into garage band....if you have a good interface ploease do not start recording until you have your tone set. Everybody on the planet plays areound their sound

 

[bovinehost]

I suggest playing live at one of the EBMM fiestas. At the Open House in SLO, I looked out and saw a virtual sea of bassists, most if not all capable of playing rings around me. Also Steve Lukather is sitting there.

Then in Dallas, I am on stage and Dave LaRue is looking at me. And Sterling Ball. And Chuck Rainey. And of course the virtual sea of bassists, most if not all capable of playing rings around me.

Also, Chuck Rainey comes over and drinks coffee and whatnot and sometimes we actually do play basses. I kind of imagined that he wasn't paying that much attention when I played - why would he? One day, we're talking and we're discussing our pal Mel Brown and how soft he plays. "He's not like us", Chuck says to me. "We dig in."

And I realize that he's actually been LOOKING AT ME WHILE I PLAY.

That was a pretty scary moment.

The same is true with Sterling. I like to believe he's ignoring me during the few times we've played together, but believe me, he isn't. He isn't ignoring anything that's going on musically, and without making my nose too brown, you guys do realize that Sterling Ball is a monster bassist? Sure. You know that.

Almost weekly, I get to demonstrate my limitations to SmallEQ, Strangeglow, Mobay, a bunch of guys that really DO know how to play.

Fortunately, I do KNOW that I'm a hack, and I've known it for so long that I've learned how to disguise it, usually.

That's the key, I think. Play what you know, make yourself happy, find a decent drummer who understands what you do (God bless you, Andy Alsup, wherever you are) and don't overplay.

If you're not Dave LaRue, less is more. When in doubt, play fewer notes.

I've often said, "I suck, but my tone is good" and that goes a long way, too. If you SOUND good, then you ARE good.

So sayeth the bovine.

Now go forth and rock.

Jackie

 

[Big Poppa]

Thanks Jackie. I know where not to go on the bass. I dont get cocky. I watched one of the best players in the world yesterday underestimate the song country boy on a world audience. (crossroads) He should sit down and have a quiet talk with himself.

The next bit of advice that comes to mind is not playing every gig like your last or most important. I have watched so many players go through the motions or not take it seriously because it is a small crowd or the beer is flat or his girlfriend botched his waxing. You never ever know who is out there listening and it is kind of like flying a plane you only fly it one way....if you are going to be a musician then you must always give 100%. I dont care if it is a gig for the national Lesbian grandmothers in Mudflap Kansas...( I like lesbians dont worry, it just sounded funny)
you should approach it the same as playing Crossroads.

I was born with a little bit of natural talent. I also realized that my skilsets were perfect for the family business. I chose that instead of going "pro". I am self taught, but would be seriously a clueless hack if not for the opprotunity to play with John Ferraro and secondly Chad Wackerman. I was fortunate to start playing with Albert when I was 17 and have had a lot of support from various people. Playing with better people is always good.

Kbaim and some other forumites were at a JP clinic where JP pretty much insited that I play guitar with him in front of several hundred fans of JP's. I cant and dont play anything like him. Im not worthy on a techincal scale.
WHen it came time to start I started the jam in my kitchen and made him take it from there. I think I did ok considering the circumstances but the important thing is to publically once agian know not where to go and what I cant play.

Last night Vince Gill didnt trade stop breaks with Albert. I remember Vince Gill when he was a 18 peeking in the window of the Sundance saloon on the Tuesday night jams with Albert Lee Buddy Emmons Glen Campbell Don Everly and various raging Cats. Vince has studied Albert up one side and down the other as has all modern country players. Vince could have done it but I figure there were two things, 1. Albert rarely gets the audience he deserves anymore and VInce was a class act in giving him the whole enchilada, and 2 He had nothing to gain by trying to trade licks one on one broadcast internationally. Vinnie Moore refuses to play Country Boy...it scares the livin daylights out of Petrucci. He would rather lick hot pavement than have to play it. Morse and Luke love it. Luke calls it the "giant steps of country. It is soloing through major chords only...no pentatonic cheating. Poor Tyler got put in the Country Boy seat at the CLB and he had never had to play that stuff. Tyler went out and bought Ablerts videos and is learning that stuff nicely.

THe next playing tip is that yesterday Tyler got to play the second stage encore. There was Harvey Mandel who seriously overplayed and was just bad and I never bag on players, Jed Hughes an australian phenom who cut his teeth on Albert and came up to me and said, "Mr Ball, I saw you play in Tamworth Australia when I was 12" WOW.
SHeryl C rows old guitar player some louisiana guy and this hot australian chick. MOst of them didnt know how to jam. period. Tyler almost did. You got 6 guitarists up there playing "going down and they all steamrolled each other and most except for jedd tyler and the australian chick noodled over the others solo. It was impressive is you you wanted simultaneous notes but really a insensitive display of cluelessness and ego. Not one player laid out once. IN those situations pick your spots play your ass off when they point to you but in the mean time either sit out or play something that supports the song and the other players. As Miles Davis said...It wasnt the notes I played it was the ones I didnt. Did the crowd like it......yes

Now Im 52 and was thinkng of quitting playing live. I told Steve Morse that and he flew to California and we played a gig. Im not quitting anymore. We all get down. It is about breaking through personal barriers when challenged and accepting what you do.

Im now trying to make a little solo cd of what I do. I play pretty good bass, fair guitar, and am facinated and intriqued by all fretted stringed instruments. Bozouki, Uke Mando Mando cello baritone guitar etc.

I had a very good confidence boost recently from Rodney Crowell. He told me to stop booking other bass players in Biff Baby's....He said that I was Biff Baby's and the feel is best with me in it. I was defering that seat to anyone I could because I didnt play enough. Luke in his own way did the same\....so now Im doing what jackie said. Im playing and pretty secure and playing better than ever. I had a great night playing at brians wedding and it was a love fest because I ignoed the "monkeys in the back of my mind and the ones that had a condo on my back.

As the NIke ads said, Just do it...but start with the right eq, the right GPS, be sensitive and supportive musically to others and make sure that you have the right attitude.....

 

[fogman]

Now Im 52 and was thinking of quitting playing live. I told Steve Morse that and he flew to california and we played a gig. Im not quitting anymore. We all get down. It is about breaking through personal barriers when challenged and accepting what you do.

BP,
The way I see it is it's exactly like golf!
It's very personal and you are only truly competing with yourself. Every little improvement feels good, and a slide the other way feels like crap. It doesn't matter who's around. Besides, there's always tomorrow.
Guitar is my favourite sport!

 

[bassmonkey]

BP-I have the old style iMac, dome-shaped. I just plugged directly in and recorded on a free piece of software called Audacity. I set the EQ flat, because I wanted to show how the different pickup positions sound.

Jack-I've seen you play. I think you are pretty good. Wish I could play as well as you.

adouglas-I'm okay with the fact I suck, I was just surprised at how much I suck.

 

[phatduckk]

Thanks Jackie. I know where not to go on the bass. I dont get cocky. I watched one of the best players in the world yesterday underestimate the song country boy on a world audience. (crossroads) He should sit down and have a quiet talk with himself.

The next bit of advice that comes to mind is not playing every gig like your last or most important. I have watched so many players go through the motions or not take it seriously because it is a small crowd or the beer is flat or his girlfriend botched his waxing. You never ever know who is out there listening and it is kind of like flying a plane you only fly it one way....if you are going to be a musician then you must always give 100%. I dont care if it is a gig for the national Lesbian grandmothers in Mudflap Kansas...( I like lesbians dont worry, it just sounded funny)
you should approach it the same as playing Crossroads.

I was born with a little bit of natural talent. I also realized that my skilsets were perfect for the family business. I chose that instead of going "pro". I am self taught, but would be seriously a clueless hack if not for the opprotunity to play with John Ferraro and secondly Chad Wackerman. I was fortunate to start playing with Albert when I was 17 and have had a lot of support from various people. Playing with better people is always good.

Kbaim and some other forumites were at a JP clinic where JP pretty much insited that I play guitar with him in front of several hundred fans of JP's. I cant and dont play anything like him. Im not worthy on a techincal scale.
WHen it came time to start I started the jam in my kitchen and made him take it from there. I think I did ok considering the circumstances but the important thing is to publically once agian know not where to go and what I cant play.

Last night Vince Gill didnt trade stop breaks with Albert. I remember Vince Gill when he was a 18 peeking in the window of the Sundance saloon on the Tuesday night jams with Albert Lee Buddy Emmons Glen Campbell Don Everly and various raging Cats. Vince has studied Albert up one side and down the other as has all modern country players. Vince could have done it but I figure there were two things, 1. Albert rarely gets the audience he deserves anymore and VInce was a class act in giving him the whole enchilada, and 2 He had nothing to gain by trying to trade licks one on one broadcast internationally. Vinnie Moore refuses to play Country Boy...it scares the livin daylights out of Petrucci. He would rather lick hot pavement than have to play it. Morse and Luke love it. Luke calls it the "giant steps of country. It is soloing through major chords only...no pentatonic cheating. Poor Tyler got put in the Country Boy seat at the CLB and he had never had to play that stuff. Tyler went out and bought Ablerts videos and is learning that stuff nicely.

THe next playing tip is that yesterday Tyler got to play the second stage encore. There was Harvey Mandel who seriously overplayed and was just bad and I never bag on players, Jed Hughes an australian phenom who cut his teeth on Albert and came up to me and said, "Mr Ball, I saw you play in Tamworth Australia when I was 12" WOW.
SHeryl C rows old guitar player some louisiana guy and this hot australian chick. MOst of them didnt know how to jam. period. Tyler almost did. You got 6 guitarists up there playing "going down and they all steamrolled each other and most except for jedd tyler and the australian chick noodled over the others solo. It was impressive is you you wanted simultaneous notes but really a insensitive display of cluelessness and ego. Not one player laid out once. IN those situations pick your spots play your ass off when they point to you but in the mean time either sit out or play something that supports the song and the other players. As Miles Davis said...It wasnt the notes I played it was the ones I didnt. Did the crowd like it......yes

Now Im 52 and was thinkng of quitting playing live. I told Steve Morse that and he flew to California and we played a gig. Im not quitting anymore. We all get down. It is about breaking through personal barriers when challenged and accepting what you do.

Im now trying to make a little solo cd of what I do. I play pretty good bass, fair guitar, and am facinated and intriqued by all fretted stringed instruments. Bozouki, Uke Mando Mando cello baritone guitar etc.

I had a very good confidence boost recently from Rodney Crowell. He told me to stop booking other bass players in Biff Baby's....He said that I was Biff Baby's and the feel is best with me in it. I was defering that seat to anyone I could because I didnt play enough. Luke in his own way did the same\....so now Im doing what jackie said. Im playing and pretty secure and playing better than ever. I had a great night playing at brians wedding and it was a love fest because I ignoed the "monkeys in the back of my mind and the ones that had a condo on my back.

As the NIke ads said, Just do it...but start with the right eq, the right GPS, be sensitive and supportive musically to others and make sure that you have the right attitude.....

i feel like i just sat down with Pops and got schooled. this might be my favorite post ever. this is the rad wisdom of a mentor i never had. thanks pops!!! i wanna hear more

 

[Sub1 Zero]

I'm so glad to know I'm not the only one who makes RIDICULOUS mistakes when recording

It can take me all night sometimes just to record one thing