I failed miserably in that module! And not because I don’t like slap. I ust struggled to make any kind of consistent intelligible sound. Weird thing was, one day like 6 months later, I started messing around and could do it. All of Josh’s wise words started to click. I’m still sloppy because it’s not a skill a focus on, but can at least slap and pop some octaves in a pinch. Nice thing it’s pretty independent from the other modules.
Yes! Cranking up some Sabbath tunes and just listening to the music that inspired you in the first place is a great move. No slap required
At the moment, the big problem I’m having is the fact that I have questions. I have lots of questions. All of them, in fact. All the questions. However I don’t know enough yet to know what questions to ask and how to ask them. All I know is that something isn’t clear or clicking with me but my neurodivergent brain can’t string together the proper thoughts to articulate what I’m having problems with.
Heck, I’ve run into that a few times on this forum even. Had to write a brain dump novel explaining the thoughts I’m having and hoped someone else could figure out the question I needed to ask. Granted, I’ve been dealing with this my whole life not just on bass but still.
Keep at it @Darryl ! Like others have said, I struggled with slap module, didn’t even finish the first lesson, as the noise I was making was unbearable to listen to, skipped it and will revisit my second go round of the course
I am very new at all this, and very serious. I guess this comes with aging: doing things seriously. I practice daily, between 25 and 75 minutes, and while my brain is demanding more, my hands seem to think I overdo it a bit. After my plucking fingers starting to act weirdly yesterday after chugging a bit too much, my left thumb is now cramping AF. I tried telling him he didn’t have to take it so seriously, to relax, but he’s cramping anyway. My pinky is on the weaker side, and my strings are buzzing so I guess my thumb is trying to compensate.
It’ll be time for me to do this strings lowering thing even if I didn’t want to. To conclude, I am struggling with the time factor. I am faster than my body is adapting. I am also struggling with the idea that I will actually be able to play someday (so I guess it’s self-esteem). At least, my cat is there for moral support.
It’s a long old (but fun) road @emiaharvey. I started at 49 with no music background. Coming up on 3 years. As long as you’re having fun and picking the bass up regularly it doesn’t matter. We all progress at different rates.
Take it slow and easy. Take many breaks. It will help to practice in multiple shorter sessions than one long one. Your mind and body need time to assimilate this strange new exercise you’re putting them through.
Look at it this way: If you go to a gym for the first time, would you expect to work out as hard and as long as experienced athletes do? Of course, not. This is a similar thing.
As has been said here before, give yourself time to suck. All beginners do. It’s perfectly alright. You’re doing great by just wanting to learn bass.
Thanks, you’re right, obviously, but I am very demanding with myself, with everything I do. Normally, I speed run my passions over a two-year period. I am scared that I will let it all down two years from now, and not even able to play one song. But it’s me against myself, as always! I am doing great!
I take it slow, I repeat workouts many times, but time isn’t infinite. I have obligations and I want it now, so I do it. When I feel it was the lesson too much, I repeat it the next time.
I won’t have choice but to cool down in the next week, we have a big pedal expo to attend to in Montréal so I won’t be able to play for at least three full days, and the five upcoming days leading there will be extra busy. I am pretty sure it’s going to settle down some concepts and maybe inspire my fingers. I hope so.
I would echo the encouragement of the others and yes to the cat for support too
If you would like a practical tip from someone who struggles with sore fingers (bad circulation), since you are time short for playing the bass but want to get good fast; learn some basic finger exercises (some warm up ones and some independence ones)
You can do these any moment when you have your hands free and it will improve your finger endurance and independence, so when you come to play your fingers are ‘better’ than otherwise and they can get closer to your brains demands faster
see: Greg Irwin finger fitness youtube vid
I hope you having a great day ladies and gentlemen. This is off-topic for this thread, but I don’t know what would be the right one. I just want to thank all of you here in this community for being an island of decency and honestly good intentions toward people around you. I am not commenting much nowadays, but from time to time I check what’s going on here, and always enjoy how people I already know a bit for a couple of years, a lot of different folks I would never meet in real life, just because of geography, embrace everyone, no matter who she or he is. … Being from Czechia, where Ukrainians are 2nd biggest minority, you got to know and befriend some of them. And, unfortunately, young men tend to die for old man’s delusions. A lot of them. … I just had to get out, I am so frustrated and angry, somewhere to be heard. Thank you, ladies and gentlemen, of Bassbuzz, you’re indeed something special on the internet. Have a good one.
I would conject that you can play now. Just find the pocket and sit in it. Don’t hold up some idea of perfection as the goal. Just hit the root on one and go with the groove.
I’ve also taken bass playing VERY seriously from the very beginning, as a perfectionist @emiaharvey . Much frustration, much satisfaction. And I can say the same - I am struggling with the idea that I will actually be able to play someday. You just have to practice, practice, practice, make daily exercise a routine, some things can’t be rushed…
Btw, your kitty is adorable I also have a supportive cat (but my kitty likes to sit on my shoulders). Cats seem to like low sounds
too
