Digest

This episode delves into five common mistakes bass players make when starting out, offering valuable insights and advice to avoid these pitfalls. The speaker, a seasoned bassist, shares his own experiences and regrets, emphasizing the importance of a balanced approach to learning and playing. He stresses the need to understand the fundamentals of bass playing, including rhythm, groove, harmony, and chord tones, and encourages listeners to study the greats, like James Jameson, Bob Babbit, and Pino Paladino, to learn their language and techniques. He also cautions against obsessing over gear and neglecting the craft, highlighting the importance of playing in bands and gaining experience through real-world situations. The speaker emphasizes that while mistakes are inevitable, it's crucial to learn from them and keep pushing forward. He concludes by promoting the new "Beginners Journey" program within the SPL membership, designed to guide aspiring bassists through the early stages of their journey, offering step-by-step lessons and a focus on playing real songs.

Outlines

00:00:00

Introduction and Announcement

This Chapter introduces the episode's topic: the speaker's mistakes as a beginner bassist. He explains that he's recording solo due to Ian's absence and announces the launch of "The Beginners Journey," a new program within the SPL membership designed for aspiring bassists.

00:07:04

Mistake #1: Ignoring Fundamentals

This Chapter focuses on the speaker's first mistake: ignoring the fundamentals of bass playing. He explains that this led to him not being a functional bassist for a long time and emphasizes the importance of understanding the bass player's role in a band, which is to provide a solid foundation and glue the rhythm and harmony together. He also highlights the importance of groove, time feel, and chord tones.

00:15:00

Mistake #2: Not Learning from the Greats

This Chapter discusses the speaker's second mistake: not learning from the greats of bass playing. He emphasizes the importance of studying classic bass players who are known for their functional playing in bands, rather than just focusing on flashy soloists. He recommends listening to James Jameson, Bob Babbit, Carol Kaye, and Pino Paladino, among others, to learn their language and techniques.

00:19:48

Mistake #3: Focusing Too Much on Flash

This Chapter addresses the speaker's third mistake: focusing too much on flashy techniques like slapping, tapping, and playing fast. He acknowledges that these techniques can be fun and impressive, but warns that they can be a distraction from the fundamentals and lead to painful experiences when playing in bands. He encourages a balanced approach, emphasizing the importance of mastering the fundamentals before pursuing flashy techniques.

00:25:38

Mistake #4: Not Playing in Bands Sooner

This Chapter explores the speaker's fourth mistake: not playing in bands sooner. He admits that he had some embarrassing experiences in his early bands, but believes that he should have embraced those experiences and learned from them. He emphasizes the importance of playing with other musicians to gain real-world experience and develop as a bassist.

00:32:34

Mistake #5: Obsessing About Gear

This Chapter focuses on the speaker's fifth mistake: obsessing about gear. He acknowledges that gear can be a fun part of the bass playing experience, but warns against letting it overshadow the importance of developing musicianship. He emphasizes the need for a balanced approach, focusing on both gear and craft.

00:36:44

The Importance of Belief and Learning

This Chapter concludes the episode by emphasizing the importance of belief and learning. The speaker shares stories of musicians who took up bass later in life and achieved a high level of proficiency, demonstrating that anyone can become a great bass player with dedication and a systematic approach to learning. He encourages listeners to believe in themselves and to embrace the journey of learning and growing as a musician.

00:42:47

Recap and Conclusion

This Chapter summarizes the five mistakes discussed in the episode and provides a final call to action for listeners. The speaker encourages them to avoid these mistakes and to focus on the fundamentals, learn from the greats, play in bands, and maintain a balanced approach to gear and craft. He concludes by promoting the "Beginners Journey" program within the SPL membership and expresses his desire to bring back the long-form conversations that were a hallmark of the podcast.

Keywords

Q&A

• What are the five common mistakes bass players make when starting out?

  The five mistakes discussed in the episode are: ignoring fundamentals, not learning from the greats, focusing too much on flash, not playing in bands sooner, and obsessing about gear.

• Why is it important to understand the fundamentals of bass playing?

  Understanding the fundamentals, such as rhythm, groove, harmony, and chord tones, is crucial for becoming a functional bass player who can effectively provide a solid foundation for a band's music.

• Who are some of the great bass players that aspiring bassists should study?

  The speaker recommends listening to James Jameson, Bob Babbit, Carol Kaye, Pino Paladino, and other classic bass players known for their functional playing in bands.

• What is the "Beginners Journey" program and how can I access it?

  The "Beginners Journey" is a new program within the SPL membership designed to guide aspiring bassists through the early stages of their journey. It offers step-by-step lessons and a focus on playing real songs. You can access it by visiting startwithspl.com.

• Why is it important to play in bands?

  Playing in bands provides real-world experience, helps you develop as a musician, and allows you to learn from other musicians.

• How can I avoid obsessing about gear?

  The speaker encourages a balanced approach, focusing on both gear and craft. He suggests dedicating time and energy to developing your musicianship as much as you do to acquiring and using equipment.

• Is it possible to become a great bass player even if I start later in life?

  Yes, it is possible. The speaker shares stories of musicians who took up bass later in life and achieved a high level of proficiency, demonstrating that anyone can become a great bass player with dedication and a systematic approach to learning.

• What is the most important thing to remember when starting out as a bass player?

  The most important thing is to believe in yourself and to embrace the journey of learning and growing as a musician. Don't let self-doubt or limiting beliefs hold you back.

• What is the speaker's advice for aspiring bassists?

  The speaker encourages aspiring bassists to focus on the fundamentals, learn from the greats, play in bands, and maintain a balanced approach to gear and craft. He also promotes the "Beginners Journey" program within the SPL membership as a valuable resource for aspiring bassists.

• What are the speaker's plans for the future of the podcast?

  The speaker and Ian are considering bringing back the long-form conversations that were a hallmark of the podcast, as they feel there was real magic in those conversations and that listeners enjoyed them.

Show Notes