Indeed it is 
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Sh#T … Was I the only one who read that in Yoda’s voice???
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A shredder, he is.
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Started early he has
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Hey @Fahri : One last thing to keep in mind that I forgot to add to my post…
I have discovered that one of the wonderful things about learning the bass is the ability to play a less than complex version of most songs, and still have fun in the process. Just because you don’t play it the same was as the original, does not necessarily make it wrong. I was reminded of this aspect when I saw Josh’s new video outlining 5 different levels of playing the same song:
I don’t mean to present this as a lazy way of setting the bar low- but I just want to point out that if you can play with clean notes, make the changes at the appropriate moments, and most importantly keep good time with the drummer, it is quite possible to play basic versions of a lot of songs without being a virtuoso.
From the beginning, I have always practiced A LOT with drum tracks when writing riffs just because it is so much more fun. Without realizing it, I was getting better at keeping time and locking in with the beat, for example knowing in my head when a drum fill was coming since patterns seem to be in groups of 4 or 8. I really think that when you start playing with others (especially drums) if you can lock in and keep time, its possible to get away with playing roots and playing basic stuff.
One of the first things my guitarist told me after our first get together: “A lot of guys try to do too much and play too busy- but I really liked what you were doing.” I guess that could be taken the wrong way, but for me that was perfect validation that I could get away with a minimal approach. (and minimal talent, haha!)
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That voice in your head? It’s a piece of shit. it has literally done nothing in it’s life except make you feel bad, so feel free to ignore it.
I’m 50 and learning to play. I recorded myself the other day and even though I thought I was doing well, I sounded crap.
That voice in my head wanted me to give up. But I’m not listening to it because as frustrating as it is sometimes, and seeing the mistakes I make and wincing at them, I know I am making progress, and it’s fun.
And it also helps my mental health.
Will I be good enough to play in a band or be a session musician? Who knows? Right now I’m just learning for fun.
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Better yet - train your inner voice to be positive and encouraging instead of negative. One has to police oneself but it actually works. Every time you notice thinking something bad like after making a mistake in practice: “I suck.” try to redact it and word it in a positive way: “I can’t do this right now but I am putting in effort to learn it.”. After a while you will have shifted to more positive thoughts on the matter.
After reading through my post an idea came to mind: Train your inner voice to be like Josh 
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I actually really find it helpful to laugh at my stupid mistakes and then try to better it next time @juli0r.
I do get frustrated with my playing too , don’t get me wrong I get quite grouchy about it but realistically there’s little point in beating myself up about it ( I have enough issues going on in my head without adding extra pressure).
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Nice. 
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This morning I had this illumination about the subject. I think there is also a parallel to this with what I am feeling…
We have been “programmed” to be great at everything we do or not do them at all…
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was just reading a reddit AMA fromt he Bassist of Avril Lavigne and thought it might fit here well
Here’s the full AMA:
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Thanks for posting that Reddit link. Very cool hearing details from a bass session/touring pro- and I loved the question about “Impostor Syndrome.” That term fits in great with my feelings of sometimes being a bass fraud!
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I think you shouldn’t compare, I am not doing that myself. Having in mind that they are always more talented people to do whatever, even if you think are the greatest, you will find always greater people than you as well; you have to think that we all have different situations, different timings, different purposes and different skills and all of this stuff is making us unique too. So my advice is to continue your pathway no matter what, don’t stop learning all the time, trying to do your best always and also, celebrate the talent on others. And like Bowie used to say, take the best of the others and make it yours but with your own signature. I hope this helps you mate. 
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I could have written Fahri’s lament! The way I cope with it is simply by continuing to press forward, regardless. Micro goals, as someone here said. Knowing that in a few years time, if I continue to press on, I’ll have moved the needle. Will I be Pino Paladino or Carol Kaye? No. Will I keep having fun playing with my band and will I improve? Yes. Will I have learned a new skill that challenges my memory circuits and develops new ones, improves my brain-hand coordination, teaches me a little musicianship and a brand new language? Yes. Will I have expanded my connections with diverse people and with the universe? Yes. Will I enjoy myself along the way? Yes. These are the reasons I’m playing the bass.
And now, practice time…
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I resonate a lot with this as well and I know it for a fact that my thoughts of inferiority could as well be simply part of a defense mechanism of my neurological system not knowing how to coop with all these new pathways…
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Exactly! Creating new circuits (and heating injured ones) requires a lot of persistence. And the “leave me alone, stop asking me to do new stuff” circuits are very strong and recalcitrant. They need to be tamed. Yet the brain is flexible, and the experts say it stays flexible at all ages. So press on, find your inner goat!
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Fahri, I have three points for you.
- Eddy van Halen said reporters would always ask him what hobbies he had growing up. He said are you kidding me, I sat in my bedroom practicing guitar.
Only youth has the time for that kind of dedication…
2)I’m a professional timber cutter. Last week I tried to turn a veneer white oak( so I could spare a couple of trees) but the hinge popped before I was done . Several hundred dollars vanished. I survived but depression ruled for a couple days. The point even when your good you can fail. - Your a better bass player than me.
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Sorry guys but I personally feel enough oxygen and time has been spent on this thread. No one needs to feel “inferior” and everyone is learning, that’s why we’re here, … to learn. Enough!
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