It was seven weeks ago today that I started to learn the bass. I’m at home all the time, so I have , amazingly, practised quite a bit, and I’m on module 13 now. I know that when I’m done, I’ll go back through the course to really get to grips with it all. I have ordered a music theory for bass book to hopefully help me understand it more. I really enjoy the playing, but I have to keep reminding myself it has only been a short amount of time. The devil in my head keeps telling me I should be better, and I’m not good enough. I’m determined to beat this and keep going. I just want to say this is an amazing group.
12 Likes
Yeah, that captures the frustrating-yet-magical side of skill-building perfectly. One day you’re fumbling like your hands forgot how to coordinate, and the next—bam—everything syncs up and flows without conscious effort. It’s classic non-linear progress: plateaus, micro-adjustments in the background, then sudden jumps when your brain finally integrates it all subconsciously.
The “try hard not to try hard” part is gold 
. It’s basically the flow state paradox—overthinking kills it, but you still need enough deliberate effort upfront to set the conditions. Too much force and you tense up; too little and nothing sticks. Finding that effortless intensity is the real art, whether it’s playing an instrument, gaming, coding, sports, whatever.
Those exponential clicks often come after grinding through the “two left hands” phase without quitting. The consciousness + effort balance is key: effort to show up and practice intelligently, consciousness to notice when you’re gripping too tight and need to let go a bit.
7 Likes
You’re doing the right thing by recording yourself.
In 12 months time you’ll be amazed at where you are compared to now.
2 Likes
Thank you. I think I’m doing really well and then watch the videos and can see I’m not as good as I thought , but I want to show that I’m not perfect and mistakes are ok. And maybe one day I’ll post a video I won’t cringe at.
1 Like
Good luck with that. I still pick out and cringe at every single mistake in the videos i do. We are usually our harshest critics, and I bet your probably better than you think you are.
4 Likes
I’m 5 years in and was listening back to recordings from our last gig and I can hear areas that still need work.
It never ends, but it does get easier.
3 Likes
Welcome to the beauty of learning sonething. You improve, but you’re so close to it you can’t tell the constant small increments of improving.
Recording yourself is one good way to see your improvement. I’ve also found that an audience is another good way. As the player, you notice every little mistake you make, but someone listening doesn’t. And I’m not talking like a “performing on stage” audience. For me, it’s just the comments the wife makes when I’m practicing.
2 Likes
Good points . I never thought of having some one watch me in person .