Here’s why you’re probably better than you think you are
By Jon Liebman
December 26, 2024
So, how good of a bass player are you?
Strange question, maybe, but hear me out.
There’s a story I don’t share very often, about when I moved to Florida to go to the University of Miami to study music in 1984.
I had a certain perception of myself as a bass player. I didn’t see myself as a major league player.
Maybe that’s why I decided to go to school!
For some reason, the people down there seemed to think I was more of big league player than I thought I was. Almost right away, I started getting called for shows and concerts that I never would have expected to be called for back home in Detroit.
At the time, I was greener than green, in so many ways (you’ll hear me tell you a couple of real doozies in the video!).
But I persevered, and I figured it out.
Watch this week’s video, where I share some insights and advice I hope you’ll find helpful when it comes to your own perception of yourself as a bass player.
Be sure to leave a comment below with your thoughts and takeaways. I’d really like to hear about your experiences.
Let’s play bass!
Jon
Thank you for the encouragement
You’re welcome, Frank. One day at at time, my friend. 🙂
Thanks, Jon, for the reminder to always focus on the incremental progress. I certainly can play better than a year ago, and I’m continuing to make additional progress on a regular basis. I suffer from the feelings of imposter syndrome when it comes to my bass playing, even though I’m going on 4 years now and play both at my church monthly, and weekly with my classic rock cover band, The RADIO PLAYS. I suffered from these feelings just this past Sunday, which was brought on by a few finger and mental mess ups during my service playing after a near flawless rehearsal earlier. I have always received more positive feedback on my playing than I felt I deserved, so I must be better than I think, or haven’t encounter honest critics yet! In any event, I will take your advice to heart in the effort to make the imposter feelings lessen in the future. Thanks, again. Rob
Good plan, Rob. Be sure to keep me posted on your progress!
I started learning bass late in 1964. Some friends and I started a rock band and played together until 1970. I played with a couple of other guys until 1972. I was a fairly good player but because there was nobody close to where we lived that actually knew anything about bass, that’s all I was; OK. I didn’t play with anybody again until Oct. 2007 when a new Cowboy Church was started where I live. I was terrible. One reason was I had never played country music, not to mention I hadn’t played with anybody for 35 years. With the help of a man playing steel guitar with us I learned the basics of the Nashville Number System. A whole new world opened up. Now, approaching 75, I’m better than I’ve ever been.
Awesome, George! Thanks for sharing that inspiring story.
I feel kind of a disconnect. I can play if I have the music, and I have memorized some of the music that you have given us. I can’t seem to be able to play without the music. Same old same old problem I have. I do enjoy what you have given us to play though, and I know I am better since I joined. Thanks.
Thanks for the feedback, Joyce. Maybe instead of trying to play the entire piece from memory, what if you memorized a few bars at a time, then tried to play that without the music? In other words, take it little by little instead of all at once and see if that helps. Let me know!
Hi John, I feel that I have gotten better and I am still improving. However, I have to constantly fight the mental battle of being 80 years old. I don’t finish lesson books but I still learn from them. I watched a life story on Luther Vandross who practiced 6 hrs a day for 6 days a week. Now having the passion that I do about music, that is what I would have done with the same passion in the past, not now, because of life responsibilities. That hurts. Get the picture??? It hurts but I keep going.Thanks for your help.
John Bullock,
Thanks for sharing that, John. I say keep following your passion and just do the best you can. The fact that you’re improving consistently is great!
Thank you!
You’re welcome, Michael. I hope you’re getting a lot out of these videos.