Whilst I try as hard as time allows to be the most rounded musician I can be, there are areas of my playing that are pretty much nailed but, equally, there are areas where I have to acknowledge shortcomings. My time is pretty good, I can find my way around most chord charts, my reading is ok, my Latin bass playing is quite sophisticated, my walking lines can be quite creative on a good day, I can improvise reasonably convincingly over most Jazz standards etc. On the other hand, I have no more than a rudimentary slap technique, my two-handed tapping is negligible, my knowledge of harmony is more limited than I would like it to be, my intonation on double bass is shaky and my thumb position playing is grim.
Walking through town this lunchtime, getting some air, I was thinking about a gig I recently did with guitarist Nigel Price (who I have know for about 15 years). When I first gigged with Nigel, he was great but in the intervening years he has progressed at an astonishing rate and is now absolutely world class. Nigel still practices 4 hours a day. Running this over in my mind, I had a revelation.....
[b]Things I have practiced diligently in the past[/b]
Time
Finding my way around chord charts
Reading
Latin bass
Walking lines
Improvisation
[b]Things I have hardly ever or never practiced but just ‘picked up as I went along’[/b]
Slap technique
Two-handed tapping
Intonation on double bass
Thumb position playing
I see a pattern developing.....