strummer
Enormous Member
At bass playing I suck big time, but I also hear things inside my head. I always suspected they were somehow bad things, but maybe I should listen more closely to the voices
- Thread starter adouglas
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Rano Bass
Well-known member
There's nothing wrong with that, just make shure to learn from different cd's or videos so you can learn new things, it's a great way to avoid playing the same stuff over and over. IMO
Bill
Well-known member
This is a cool thread! I feel a little stuck in my bass playing, too. When I sit down & noodle with the bass at home, I end up playing the same little runs & licks over & over & over, usually with slight variations. I need to learn new stuff, but, like so many other people have mentioned, there's just no time. I can learn basslines to songs easily & keep up with new tunes learned by my band, but if I had to sit down & play solo in front of a group, I wouldn't impress anybody.
Cool thread -
Even though I love playing, I have always felt that I am technically mediocre, and have "heard lines in my head" that I haven't a clue how to express on the bass. One huge hump for me was soloing - Tommy cured that - he'd stop playing and I'm out there on my own.
The solos have definitely improved from persistence, but I still feel there's so much I want to do, but didn't know where to even start. So I took a lesson. First time in 27 years. It was really scary to have a monster player listen to me play and then help me sort out where I want to go. I got load of assignments to fill in holes in my very limited education, and I'll be practicing for weeks. We set it up that I would call for another lesson when I have a handle on the first batch - that way I can work as I progress and still deal with kids/job/band commitments. Of course, with no time limit till the next lesson, the onus is on me to move it along, but I'm pysched - it's cool to have a direction to move toward. One piece of advice I will pass along - for developing solo lines, he suggested learning the heads of jazz tunes - gives you great jumping off points. Even though it's only been a few weeks, I can feel a difference - confidence-wise, at least.
Even though I love playing, I have always felt that I am technically mediocre, and have "heard lines in my head" that I haven't a clue how to express on the bass. One huge hump for me was soloing - Tommy cured that - he'd stop playing and I'm out there on my own.
The solos have definitely improved from persistence, but I still feel there's so much I want to do, but didn't know where to even start. So I took a lesson. First time in 27 years. It was really scary to have a monster player listen to me play and then help me sort out where I want to go. I got load of assignments to fill in holes in my very limited education, and I'll be practicing for weeks. We set it up that I would call for another lesson when I have a handle on the first batch - that way I can work as I progress and still deal with kids/job/band commitments. Of course, with no time limit till the next lesson, the onus is on me to move it along, but I'm pysched - it's cool to have a direction to move toward. One piece of advice I will pass along - for developing solo lines, he suggested learning the heads of jazz tunes - gives you great jumping off points. Even though it's only been a few weeks, I can feel a difference - confidence-wise, at least.
I'm going to try to improve alot this year. I'm acutally going to practice consistently! I've got both of Todd Johnson's dvds, and norm stocktons groovin for heaven dvd's. All are great, and I'll have plenty to pracitce. Consistency is the key.
Bill
Well-known member
Great idea, Sharon! I might sign up for some lessons next year in order to improve my playing. Certainly wouldn't hurt anything!
silverburst
Well-known member
I'm going back to take lessons on jazz guitar (and maybe to pick up some bass hints too). I've been hanging at Jazz club as of late and have been inspired.
shamus63
Well-known member
Good thread! I've been toying with the idea of signing up for a basic workshop at our local Jazz School in Berkeley...
...wouldn't mind learning to sight-read charts or having real knowledge of scales and chords...especially when I get called for blues gigs, and a bass solo is almost always a given at some point.
...wouldn't mind learning to sight-read charts or having real knowledge of scales and chords...especially when I get called for blues gigs, and a bass solo is almost always a given at some point.
