What do you do, when feeling like "Noob Josh"?

Technique
21

So much this. I’m going through this now. I’ve been jamming with friends for a while and I’m able to mostly keep up, improvise. I think to myself, “I’m not too bad, I’ve got this etc.”

When I try to learn a new, more challenging bass line/play along with a song/hit a lesson with Josh that really challenges me and I think “Nah, I’m actually hopeless and a complete beginner STILL. Why am I bothering?” Or I should be able to play this off the bat, why can’t I?

It is hard but I really appreciate the valuable wisdom. The more you play, the worse you get🤣

3 Likes
22

I picked up my tenor sax for the first time in months after some dental surgery nonsense, expecting to sound horrible. Man, I sounded pretty darn good.

Then I played again today….and I’m right back at suck. Why? Because my expectations quickly got back to where I was. Yesterday I wasn’t sure what would come out. Today I challenged myself at the level I was playing at.

The more you know…
image

1 Like
23

You’ve got this. That is an achievable goal.

Can I offer an odd bit of advice that works for me?

If you take a dog for a walk (dogs, in my case) or just go for a walk or run — count! Left foot is 1 and 3, right foot is 2 and 4. “And” is when your foot lifts up. Count as you walk or run. I have clocked my dog walks at an average of 116bpm. I run bass lines in my head as I walk. It helps get the rhythm down. My timing has improved significantly, and you don’t have to have your bass in your hands or a metronome ticking to do it.

4 Likes
24

I hope the rests in the song come in time with intersections :upside_down_face:

2 Likes
25

More like my band mates saying, “Chad, why did you stop?”
“Oh, this is where my dogs usually poop” :grin:

8 Likes
26

To update my status…

I paused for two days and started with practicing major and minor scales up and down. That was bringing the fingers coordinated again.

After a few days I started the lesson again that I stopped at. After just two days I got it.

Now I say to myself just one lesson at a day - not more. So slowing down - not putting me under pressure anymore.

My guess: I will get into trouble two or three times in future. But I learned to get over it again. :beers:

6 Likes
27

Good for you.
Just take it slow and enjoy yourself :+1: :+1: :+1:

2 Likes
28

I do the same thing. And before I start a new lesson, I practice chugging with a metronome in order to develop right hand coordination and speed. Then I go through the previous excercise and practice that a few times.

Quality before quantity.

2 Likes
29

My advice is a little different, which is play a bit every day. Take a break from the modules, but don’t put the bass down entirely. Some days I work 12 hours and mind is made of mush. I’ll pick up the bass and noodle a few minutes.

Maybe just 10 minutes. 10 minutes every day will get where you want to go. Don’t obsess over mistakes. Because I’ll bet they’ve always been there but now you hear them. Which is progress in itself.

This really is helpful for me! Really the only time I have to practice during the week is when I’m back home from work and…you guessed it…my mind is pretty mush and I’m not super motivated to play, even though I love the instrument. I’ll try shorter, more frequent times and see where it gets me. Thanks! :slightly_smiling_face:

1 Like