Lfalex v1.1 Posted October 3, 2008 Posted October 3, 2008 (edited) Just as the title says, an opportunity to blow your own trumpet... Then suck it all back in again. I'm thinking in terms of everything that being a bassist encompasses. It may even prompt people to consider strengths/weaknesses that they never knew they had (here's hoping!) I'll kick it off; [b][u]Good bits[/u][/b] I can learn by ear relatively swiftly. Robust enough to carry heavy kit. Never had a problem with instrument weight My technique can't be all bad. I don't get aches and pains from playing. Never found a bass neck profile that is difficult to play. Good endurance levels. Can play for hours. Can stay awake for extended periods. Good for the post-gig drive home. My timing's usually good. Drummers like me. Don't mind Fretless. Just have to practice it to get my ear back in Limitless patience in recording studios Punctual [b][u]Bad bits[/u][/b] Limited Theory. Can't read (music) Can't do slap (!) I don't [i]get[/i] Reggae (from a playing point of view) yet I quite like it as a musical genre. I can't follow some Odd meters. No worries with "Take Five" or "Unsquare Dance", but Tool-esque "Math-rock" leaves me looking for "1"... I like Non-concert pitch tunes for some reason, but can't be bothered to re-tune to 439 or whatever just for one track. Sweaty mits. Ruin strings, and the frets on my Yamaha are going greener than an old church roof! I don't use effects. Surely it must be robbing me of some variety at some point. My weakest finger on my fretting hand is my middle. All the stuff I play seems to avoid major scales, and it doesn't get as much use as 1,3&4 Tendency to buy slightly bizarre/ unusual (but good) instruments You get the gist! what are your strengths and weaknesses? Edited October 3, 2008 by Lfalex v1.1 Quote
MuseMatt Posted October 3, 2008 Posted October 3, 2008 Good bits I can learn by ear relatively swiftly. Robust enough to carry heavy kit. Never had a problem with instrument weight My technique can't be all bad. I don't get aches and pains from playing. Never found a bass neck profile that is difficult to play. Good endurance levels. Can play for hours. My timing's usually good. Drummers like me. I'm good at filling empty spaces in songs I add show I have a good theoretical base I can read music (though not a vue) I like jamming Bad bits Can't do slap (!) I'm not really good with 3/4th measures... somehow 6/8th is great I'm hypermobile which sometimes leads to crappy right hand technique I don't have enough money to buy the gear I want so I'm using multi-fx I want to be kinda loud Quote
Hot Tub Posted October 3, 2008 Posted October 3, 2008 Good bits Can learn by ear fairly easily Once learned, can commit tunes to memory very quickly Pleased with my current (and slowly increasing) "repertoire" of nearly 200 songs No problem with odd meters Got really good rythmn Good clean fretting/positioning technique Don't use effects - prefer "clean" sound and to use the eq available on the instrument and amp Bad bits Limited theory Can only read very basic notation Can use tab, but not too hot Can't do slap Don't understand jazz, and don't particularly want to Over critical - nothing I play is good enough No confidence - never had the b@lls to play in front of anyone except Mrs Hot Tub I'll probably come back and edit this as I think of more points. Quote
rjb Posted October 3, 2008 Posted October 3, 2008 + Fingerstyle technique is pretty good and mobile (floating thumb), though I lost the ability to do triplets after breaking my hand. Good with timing, odd meters seem to cause me little trouble. Pretty fast at learning by ear. Good at percussive/groove oriented stuff (but not great at slap). - Slap technique really, really, really needs work (not that I'd use it much). Very little theory. Unable to read music. Not as melodic as I would like to be. Cheers- Quote
lowdown Posted October 3, 2008 Posted October 3, 2008 [quote name='Hot Tub' post='298527' date='Oct 3 2008, 12:45 PM']Bad bits - never had the b@lls to play in front of anyone except Mrs Hot Tub[/quote] Garry Quote
waynepunkdude Posted October 3, 2008 Posted October 3, 2008 Good Bits. Can drive a van I think I have an awesome alternate picking technique I can use my pinky I can play in front of 1 - 100000 people doesn't bother me I always play with a smile on my face I can play while jumping about like a mad man Bad bits Can't play slap Can't play very well with my fingers Not very good with theory 4/4 or bust. Quote
Bilbo Posted October 3, 2008 Posted October 3, 2008 Good bits Always want to get better Always want to learn more Systematic approach to musical development Can read dots and charts Know lots of theory and learning more every day Play quietly (am aspiring to almost disappearing completely) Can slap but don’t Mostly only play fretless Can swing on an electric bass Know how to get the best sounds and textures out of my bass (of 22 years) Can and do play jazz, jazz and more jazz Can play Latin music reasonably authentically Play the music not the bass No problems with odd time signatures Won’t play ‘Canteloupe Island’ or ‘Watermelon Man’ (trust me, that’s a good thing) Will tell you what I think of your playing if you ask Will tell you my opinion on anything whether you ask for it or not Bad bits Will tell you what I think of your playing if you ask Will tell you my opinion on anything whether you ask for it or not Have not recorded much that I am proud of Almost never play original music Play far too many covers gigs Struggle with pains in my hands that can, when they are bad, undermine my otherwise credible technique Intonation can slip if I am bored (am working on that) Soloing can get a bit predicatable Only know three tunes; ‘So What, ‘Impressions’ and ‘Lush Life’ Don’t practice enough Not interested in effects Not really interested in ERBs but would welcome the opportunity to try one Quote
Adrenochrome Posted October 3, 2008 Posted October 3, 2008 [b]BAD[/b] Get bored during long easy songs Can't sight read very well [bass clef is weak] Don't have 'classic' fretting hand position Backing vox out of tune if no good monitoring Don't slap [b]GOOD[/b] Don't slap Fine playing with pick/fingers/thumb palm-muting etc Always confident and happy onstage (play okay no matter what's happening) Fretless technique fairly good Always put the band sound ahead of my personal preferences for volume/EQ etc. Can groove like a mother Quote
Mr. Foxen Posted October 3, 2008 Posted October 3, 2008 [u][b]Good[/b][/u] Dedicated to my band (guess thats the main reason I'm in the band) Do all my own instrument setting up, and that of guitarist Good finger technique (totally not needed in my band) Never found a bass neck profile that I couldn't swap for one I liked more [u][b]Bad[/b][/u] Dreadful at playing by ear Can't count Can't keep time Play tapping and trills in quiet bits of practice Dial all the high end out of my sound (I like it, but rest of band complain) Play horrible looking basses that look like I found them in a skip (cause I have) Change basses and entire pedal board every practice Forget how the song goes and where the notes are and where I'm supposed to be playing Tune my bass half a step out and not notice during the part I played so many times its in muscle memory, then forget how it goes whilst playing live Can't read music Talk about basses all the time Tell people their beloved vintage instruments are planks of wood and demonstrate by taking it apart Call my bandmates pricks constantly Press for more drone parts in songs so I can feed back and pose Stroke my nipples whenever someone gives post gig compliments Trying to learn the 'Murderface Solo' Been listening to nothing but Bolt Thrower for the last 3 weeks Spend all my money on more cheap basses and have totally crap cabs and an unsuitable amp Quote
Cantdosleepy Posted October 3, 2008 Posted October 3, 2008 Adrenochrome is the only person so far to have put 'don't slap' in the correct column. Come on bass players, try harder! Quote
rjb Posted October 3, 2008 Posted October 3, 2008 (edited) [quote name='Cantdosleepy' post='298603' date='Oct 3 2008, 02:33 PM']Adrenochrome is the only person so far to have put 'don't slap' in the correct column. Come on bass players, try harder![/quote] Hehe, was thinking along similar lines when I did mine. Still, getting the right technique can't hurt. You don't [i]have[/i] to use it! Edited October 3, 2008 by rjb Quote
geilerbass Posted October 3, 2008 Posted October 3, 2008 (edited) [b]Good[/b] Very competent at reading music Have a good knowledge of theory Love playing in odd time signatures Can slap, but very seldom do Have a fairly decent groove and can sit back on the beat when required Love playing live Love engaging with the crowd when playing live Not phased by poor live sound [b]Bad[/b] Back/neck/shoulder pain Don't practice enough Terrible at picking things up by ear Mind tends to wander when playing, often getting me lost Not a huge fan of recording Not good at writing my own songs Frequently changing my mind about what bass I want Really need to learn and practice more harmony/scale studies Edited October 3, 2008 by geilerbass Quote
P-T-P Posted October 3, 2008 Posted October 3, 2008 [b]Good[/b] - I know everything I'm supposed to know to be able to play the songs I'm gonna play - I know what everyone else is supposed to playing - I can move ('dance' would be giving me too much credit!) and play at the same time - I play notes for their full duration. If it's four 1/4 notes, that's what you get, not four dotted 1/8s or worse. - I'm not shy about being heard. I (hopefully) play some nice thingss to add depth to a song or get the folks dancing. No point in me being there if I can't be heard. - I don't tend to be flashy just for the sake of it. I can play some fast, complex runs, but I only do so where they work. - You'll know how important what I do is when I'm not there and you don't know when to end your solo/start singing again/head for the chorus - Happy to use effects but only sparingly - My gear is quality and works 99.9% of the time and for that 0.1% it doesn't, there's a quick and painless back-up plan void of drama - I'll play whatever you want me to play, but not before I've tried to convince you about what I think I should play and why I'm right and you're wrong - Decent theory knowledge - Comfortable with most genres - Have good grrove and sit nicely in the pocket - Ultimately, I'm all about the songs - I'm a good arbiter of what is and isn't appropriate without being precious about it. e.g "Show me the way to Amarillo" has it's place, a balding, 55 year old man singing "True Colours" does not (even though he can sing it well) - I'm not afraid to just plod if it's the right thing. You can still get a funky groove going with just one note. [b]Bad[/b] - Reggae is my achilles heel. One day I will master it but I am baffled by all but the simplest of grooves - I know what everyone else is supposed to playing - My sight reading is complete pants - I wish I could appreciate jazz the same way I appreciate a great pop song. I would love to enjoy the freedom playing jazz offers but I can't deal with listening to enough of it to make me able to suitably improvise in a jazz setting - Amazing bass playing doesn't excite me unless the context in which the gymnastics sits benefits, rather than simply being a vehicle for the exercise. - Solos are all too frequently boring (which is why bassists and drummers need to work hard to make them bearable) - Especially true of bass solos (the exception being bass soloists who do funky things without the aid of a band, like playing complete songs with all the tapping and stuff, that's performance) - I'm not much of a soloist lol - I don't like being told - Probabll Quote
Rich Posted October 3, 2008 Posted October 3, 2008 [b]Woohoo[/b] ^_^ Blessed with a great ear -- if I listen to something once, I can usually pick it up Good sense of rhythm Never, ever get stage fright or nerves of any sort Can sing fairly well too, even while playing fairly complicated stuff (if I practice at it!) Reasonably versatile -- can slap/use a pick/play fretless Happy to sit in the pocket all day, driving a groove and not worrying about solos Nice kit [b]D'oh[/b] Can't read a note, although I can follow a chart My theory sucks -- I couldn't spot a Phrygian dominant scale if it bit me on the arse Not got the fastest fingers in the world Very self-critical Can't solo to save my life (apart from maybe slap) Want more nice kit My hands are gradually succumbing to arthritis Quote
The Funk Posted October 3, 2008 Posted October 3, 2008 [u]Bad Bits[/u] - Crap ear - Limited theory - No stage presence [u]Good Bits[/u] - All about the groove - Pretty decent slap player too - Decent writer - Can drive Quote
doctor_of_the_bass Posted October 3, 2008 Posted October 3, 2008 I'm feckin' awesome at everything! I LOVE SLAP! In fact, I do it on everything, even soft, quiet ballads - just love blowing everyone else away! Wickety whack!!! Quote
Josh Posted October 3, 2008 Posted October 3, 2008 Good: I can work out pretty much any song thrown at me, very confidently. I can slap, and do quite often behind closed doors. I can adapt to any kind of bass. I can happily hold a solid groove for a whole set. I can solo, not blazing fast Jaco esque-chops though and I'm glad I can't. I've got a good sense of rhythm, and I can lock in with any Drummer or to any beat. I've got consistent technique which I'm pretty proud of. I can most genres of music without a second thought. I'm very energetic in a live situation, when with the right musicians. I'm very open minded in writing situations and speak when spoken to. I can jam with other bassists very easily, if the other is competent. I can go all night long. I've got a back which isn't buggered. I can play in different tunings very happily. Bad: I'm quite opinionated. I can be very critical. I can read, I'm just very very slow at it. I don't like P-Basses, which apprently is a bad thing. I can walk but I'm never comfortable doing so. I can get bored very quickly. I play a full step down, which is a major no no with most guitarists....apparently. I play a 6 string, which is the sign of the Devil, if he existed. I don't like Clones. Quote
Shockwave Posted October 3, 2008 Posted October 3, 2008 (edited) Good: I use equipment suited to the music played. Pick up material really quickly with no notation. Can jam pretty well I usually play decent equipment. Bass taste getting better! Great showmanship. Bad: I dont play suitable basslines to restrained bass styled music. Not very solid without a drummer. Cant write music. No decent slap technique. I dont practice. Never have a correctly working amp. Come to gigs and practices with completely different basses. Have owned over 30 basses in a 4-5 year period. Stubburn as a mule. Picky but not picky at genres of music. Cant stand other peoples egos as i have a huge one of my own. Get bored really easily. Have only ever been not chucked out of a band once. Impatient for gigs to get started. Far too tall and Gangly to be on a high stage. Bad reputation in Bristol for overplaying. Dont know any theory. Edited October 3, 2008 by Shockwave Quote
leonshelley01 Posted October 3, 2008 Posted October 3, 2008 Good: Timekeeping Fingerstyle/plectrum playing Learn new tunes quickly Happy to play other peoples choice of song Play guitar as well Bad: Get bored easily Don't know enough theory (pentatonic/major/minor scales only, don't understand modes) Poor practise routines (keep on doing the same old stuff/songs at home) Quick to loose patience with less experienced musicians (even though I know we were all beginners once) Spend to much time gassing about what to buy next rather than practising with what I've got After doing these lists, it's a wonder anyone wants me in their band! Quote
Protium Posted October 3, 2008 Posted October 3, 2008 [quote name='doctor_of_the_bass' post='298680' date='Oct 3 2008, 03:54 PM']I'm feckin' awesome at everything! I LOVE SLAP! In fact, I do it on everything, even soft, quiet ballads - just love blowing everyone else away! Wickety whack!!! [/quote] YEAHHHHH Quote
lowhand_mike Posted October 3, 2008 Posted October 3, 2008 Good good ear good timing learn songs pretty quick and usually before the others in the band am often telling them how to play it good range of styles will play for beer will play songs i dont even like don't really get nervous bad no stage presence can't read sheet stuff i find my shoes extremely interesting on stage over critical of myself big mood swings if it starts going wrong my head goes down (even more) get really annoyed if the audience just sit there need to learn more theory (well need to learn theory) loose interest on route note songs Quote
Dr.Dave Posted October 3, 2008 Posted October 3, 2008 Best bit. I get to have (at least) as good a night out as my audience doing something I love but I go home richer while they go home poorer. Worst Bit My desire (and ability) to carry 2 tons of wooden boxes up a fire escape in the pissing February rain has decreased by a factor of 7 trillion percent....... ......and counting! Quote
ARGH Posted October 3, 2008 Posted October 3, 2008 My playing and equipment choice and are above criticism. Any person/s found commenting on either the former or latter should be thoroughly patronized for their obvious foreign stupidity.* *Stole that from a Darkthrone lp,point awarded for which one..... Quote
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