Ruts, learning and actually getting somewhere

Ruts, learning and actually getting somewhere
Thu, Mar 24, 2011 • 04:07 PM UTC - By SLV

My first ever blog (counter to the theme of the blog)

I'm a bass player, not a great bass player like so many Kompozers, but at least I know my way around a fretboard. At 48 years old, I am only 3+ years into my musical journey. After more than 30 years of admiring musicians, I finally broke down one day and bought a bass. i signed up for some lessons and learned basic musical theory.

The problem is, I moved three times in the 3+ years of playing music. I never played in a band but I spent countless hours learning cover songs from my favorite bands. I found Kompoz at the perfect time because I was staring to get bored.

Kompozing took me in a completely new direction, I joined in October and flew out of the box with a handful of songs that were interesting (at least to me.) Now though, I seem to have fallen into a rut. Every new idea I have seems to be fashioned after the previous ideas. When I explore new genres and the great songs of other Kompozers, I find that I don't have the skills needed to contribute much worth hearing. Sure, i can play your basic rock song, add some licks to a blues piece, or even explore some simple ethnic styles, but I'm not finding ways to learn the stuff i really want to play.

The situation makes me wonder. How do people get from novice blue-note players to skilled jazz and funk players? How can one use the open-forum style of Kompoz to learn something new? How do I use the contributions of the great players to make my skillset better?

It strikes me that the term rut describes a trench in the road. The rut still follows the road and is ultimately going in the same direction.

Am I making progress by paying dues within my current skillset or is the rut preventing me from getting better?

Have any of you seasoned musicians felt this way at some point in your journey?

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MHenebury on Thu, Mar 24, 2011 @ 04:50 PM UTC

Hey Jeff, I know what you mean.

Things that can get you out of the rut include:

Getting involved in different projects where you find that you have to do the type of thing you haven't practiced much.

Using effects to generate new ideas.

Approaching writing in different ways - e.g. drum loop first then bass, or lyrics first then guitar etc.

Getting a new guitar techniques book really helped me work on things I needed to, and I always flick through the guitar magazines every now and then.

Also, and as we get older we are all guilty of this, listen to different types of music, find a new band that you like, learn some new songs.

Erm... that's all I can think of at the mo.

MarkAlanDooley on Thu, Mar 24, 2011 @ 05:03 PM UTC

I got a drum machine with a bagillion different rhythms from all sorts of genres, next thing ya know I did a monster samba.

billy on Thu, Mar 24, 2011 @ 05:17 PM UTC

hmm.. let's see.. sounds like every musicians growing pains.
suggestions:
try playing styles you DON'T like or ones you are NOT good at. Download projects from Kompoz that you might stretch your abilities and remember, you don't HAVE to contribute a track. Consider them as practice projects.
Listen carefully to the bassists you like.. try to emulate them.. imitation is a form of flattery. You can't be them, but you will learn lots by copying them.
Talk to other bassist.. most musicians can't resist giving others trade secrets and techniques.
Sometimes you can get out of a rut by NOT playing for a while. Force yourself to take a break.
There is only one way I know to get better at anything, and that's repetition. There's no substitute for hours/years of playing.
Above all, find what makes you happy while playing and be sure to do that too.

SLV on Thu, Mar 24, 2011 @ 05:24 PM UTC

You guys are great, just a few responses so far and I already have some ideas.

I just realized from one of Mark Henebury's comments that I had just started getting into a whole new genre about the time I joined Kompoz, I had just bought some music from a band called Calibro 35 that inspired several of my first projects. Maybe it's time to reach out to some new bands for inspiration.

Mark (Dooley). What kind of drum machine did you get? One of my issues is that my drum tracks are the loops in Logic Pro. There are a lot, but after a while, you run out of options.

And Billy, I like your idea about downloading and emulating some of the players I want to be like. Some of the stuff is really advanced, but I'll never learn it if I don't try.

Good responses guys. Thanks a lot!

MarkAlanDooley on Thu, Mar 24, 2011 @ 07:09 PM UTC

I got a Line6 looper, great writing tool, but really only has about 300 drum sounds, got a whole album out of it though

RB on Thu, Mar 24, 2011 @ 08:08 PM UTC

Yes. No substitute for years of practice. Playing live and screwing up seems to be a great way to lock in performance memory. Getting a basis in theory is a better start than most. Working against you is the fact that many musical synapses are connected at an early age. That's why you can see kids shredding an instrument after just a few years. Something in the adult brain has been hard wired to an extent that's not easy to un-wire when it comes to learning an instrument. I started very young... things like learning instruments and languages seem very natural in my brain. Other things, well, not so much. My best advice is LISTEN, LISTEN, LISTEN. Emulate. Steal. Try to learn the parts of great performances verbatim. It starts to wire you up to how great musicians think about phrasing and technique.

You tube is a great place to find video lessons and great performances. The pause and rewind button should get worn out.

Good luck on your journey my friend!

SLV on Thu, Mar 24, 2011 @ 09:31 PM UTC

Thanks for that Rick. I was afraid part of the answer was logging hours (damnit, I wanna be great now!)

I can relate to the young mind thing. Mine was math and physics. I actually wish I could unknow some of that stuff.

I'm going to take your advice on the YoiTube thing. Part of my problem is that I seem to start with players like John Myung and Bunny Brunel when I probably should scale up through some intermediate music.

Thanks again,

bjorn on Fri, Mar 25, 2011 @ 02:58 AM UTC

I remember starting out many moons ago taking my first stumbling chords on a very-hard-to-play Hagstrom semi-acoustic and thinking "this is going to take forever to learn". Spending many hours practising has to enter the equation somewhere, unfortunately :). However, what has helped me a lot is to try to play stuff you can't play, i.e. never think "No way I can play that", but instead attempt to copy something off a favorite artist. You will most likely not get it 100% right, but you WILL be moving forward. Pushing the limits always gives you something (if nothing else, I got severe hand pain out of it :))

I am happy to give bass advice, just PM me

Rock On

B

SLV on Fri, Mar 25, 2011 @ 11:11 AM UTC

Thanks Bjorn. You are actually one of the "seasoned" artists I am aspiring to be like. I appreciate your help.
JC

Bottom_End on Fri, Mar 25, 2011 @ 11:16 AM UTC

Practice your favorite tune in every key.

SLV on Fri, Mar 25, 2011 @ 11:28 AM UTC

Tet another one of the admired bassists on Kompoz. Thanks Ron. You too have been targeted for emulation. (Don't worry, it sounds worse than it really is. It will hurt me more than it hurts you!)

Lonnie on Fri, Mar 25, 2011 @ 01:12 PM UTC

Start the new project on an instrument that you know very litlle about. It forces you to listen to the melody notes and not focus on the fretboard patterns that you know or are trying to learn.

Take a hint from B1 and get a cheap Uke.

MDK on Fri, Mar 25, 2011 @ 02:23 PM UTC

I've always felt the fastest way to get better is by playing around really good musicians. Like Rick said, emulate and steal every bit you can. Kompoz is a great place to learn and get better.

CoryFrey on Fri, Mar 25, 2011 @ 03:48 PM UTC

Practice. Just like anything in life be it career or playing an instrument its a matter of getting in there and doing it.

I would not focus on different styles yet. Practice what you like to play. I believe every player must go through the blues portal first. Its the basis for all rock and some degree jazz. If the typical 12 bar 1-4-5 pattern is too easy there are some blues that still challenge me like Allman Brothers. Joe Bonamassa.

When it really comes down to it. Dont beat yourself up you cant play side one from your favorite Dream Theater album. Instead focus on whatever you do play. Play clean. I would rather hear a solid bass groove to play off than one filled with bad timing and flubs.

I have never been one for the less is more or KISS[Keep it simple stupid] KISS to my ear usually leads to LOVE[Leave out virtually everything... You can add color to your playing once you are comfortable with the basics of the song. Strip the song down maybe playing simpler get it solid. Then add the color the fills and runs. Never be afraid to think out of the box and try new things. I could just go on for days about this. Practice man practice.

joel_sattlersongs on Sat, Mar 26, 2011 @ 05:09 AM UTC

The great violinist, Jascha Heifetz,
was walking down 57th Street in New York,
and pedestrian stopped him and asked
"Could you tell me how to get to Carnegie Hall?"

And Heifetz replied, "Yes.....

....practice, practice, practice!"

.

MHenebury on Sat, Mar 26, 2011 @ 06:23 AM UTC

[cue trombone] Wah Wah Wah Waaaaaaaah...

maf on Sun, Mar 27, 2011 @ 07:17 AM UTC

Inspiration is the Key.. Find it.

Digging up old Hendrix albums does it for me.

Take a break.

Play another instrument...Keys, guitar..for you?? for a song or 2.

Find a collaborator...

Jeff, you are way ahead of the game...only 3 years... WOW. You are a Guitar player's dream.. you put up bass and drums;original concept; complete songs.. Dagny had it easy.. By the way, I'll be getting the guitar going soon; I've ordered some equipment to help me..Anyway , I'll jam to your stuff.

Jeff, from my eyes and ears you are not just a Bass Player, you are a songwriter, arranger too. Don't be afraid to do the Producing yourself.. meaning.. saying exactly what you want and where you want it.. and directing players... My whole band experience I have directed others..but I really enjoy being directed/produced... no decisions to make....lol see you on the next project...mark.

SLV on Tue, Mar 29, 2011 @ 11:21 PM UTC

Thanks everyone, I think I found my lost inspiration. I had to leave town on a business trip and was feeling separation anxiety from my music room. Before I left though, I decided to fill my iPhone with some music that I haven't heard in a long time.

Inspiration issue settled! I realized what style of music I want to play and I learned it is different than what I listen to for pure listening enjoyment.

Oddly enough, on the airplane, 30 minutes away from home, I listened to the Greatest Hits of the Talking Heads. (Don't laugh....yet anyway.)

You see, I grew up in the 70s with long hair, rock and roll, and the whole lifestyle that came with the package. Back then, I thought the Talking Heads were stupid. However, I had to acknowledge that they have some killer basslines. I already have three or four song ideas just from the first plane ride.

Next, I likstened to Duran Duran. (OK, you can laugh now). You see, I used to hate them too because I thought they were stupid and annoying. I also always acknowledged their killer basslines.

Finally, I realized that I have no desire to be a all-round "artists". I just want to lay down the funk. If you get a chance, listen to the Talking Heads and Duran Duran, then imagine those bass styles with some cool organ, funky guitar and various brass and woodwinds instruments. That is what I want, and that is what I will be 9one day.)

As everyone indicates, practice and playing time is crucial. I do both, a lot. I go out of my way to learn new techiques, and I emulate some of my favorite music. I just needed a bump in the right direction. Thanks a lot!

And Mark Farmer, I can't wait until you get your guitar. I have a project in mind.

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