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[praiseHisname]

How does one know when they have crossed the threshold of "Beginner" to "Intermediate?"

---In your opinion---

I ask because I've been practicing/playing for about 5 years and I still feel like - well for lack of a better term - an Intermediate-beginner!!!  (I just made that up)

[dhagler]

How does one know when they have crossed the threshold of "Beginner" to "Intermediate?"

---In your opinion---

I ask because I've been practicing/playing for about 5 years and I still feel like - well for lack of a better term - an Intermediate-beginner!!!  (I just made that up)

+1. I too have been playing for five years, and I've gotten pretty good at what I know. But perhaps the threshold is crossed when you start something new. For me, I think crossing the threshold would involve either learning a significant amount of theory (modes, scales, etc.) or learning to slap.

[Kelz-Da-Basshead]

One thing ive learned is that many musicians dont think they are as good as they are and the ones that do generally arent as good as they think they are.  When you do a run it sounds different to you than it does to everyone else. You hear all your mistakes and you know all your weaknesses, and when you see other musicians play you tend to focus on what they can do that u cant so you think lower of your self.  I know Victor Wooten say that he makes mistakes all the time in performances but no one ever seems to notice. There are some beasts on LGM but they dont believe it. I would point them out but they would just deny it.  Which is part of the reason i love the bass room. everyone is so humble. Cuz in the drum room they slit throats.

[DWBass]

I've been playing well over 35 years now and still consider myself to be an intermediate player! At my age, I just don't have the time or energy to really further my skills beyond what they are. I'm good enough to play all my gigs with no problems and I'm satisfied with that.

[phbrown]

I found this on a website.



(I don't have java script enabled so I hoped I typed tag correctly)

But basically you are at the intermediate level when you are able to create something.
If that means you have a chord and develop a bassline or if you just make up a song based of the sound of birds. You have passed the stage of beginner.

[phbrown]

Woot! that just made my day that I got the picture in there!

[dhagler]

I've been playing well over 35 years now and still consider myself to be an intermediate player! At my age, I just don't have the time or energy to really further my skills beyond what they are. I'm good enough to play all my gigs with no problems and I'm satisfied with that.

DW, I like that answer! Sometimes we see other players doing extraordinary things, and we begin to think, "Well, I've been playing _____ years so I should be able to do that too." But perhaps those things don't fit your playing situation. That's not to say growth for its own sake is not good, however.

[jeremyr]

I consider myself lower-mid intermediate.  Every time I pick up the bass I find something new or hear something that I need to be doing differently.  It's a struggle and EXTREMELY frustrating. 

Sometimes I hate to hear myself and cringe and some of the things I do.  It's definitely a process.  Yall pray my strength.

[DWBass]

DW, I like that answer! Sometimes we see other players doing extraordinary things, and we begin to think, "Well, I've been playing _____ years so I should be able to do that too." But perhaps those things don't fit your playing situation. That's not to say growth for its own sake is not good, however.

I agree. I am still learning but it's what I focus on that counts. For example, I won't waste time on learning to slap triplets or similar tricks because I simply will never use it! I will practice runs and such! I will not learn songs just for the sake of learning them (well, I do but not often). I learn songs that I'm actually going to perform. I do quite a lot of listening especially on how the bassist plays in relation to a composition. I'm very critical of many bassists because I don't think they are actually relating to other musicians but focus on themselves only. I'm an 'ensemble' player. Anyway, I'm rambling now! What was the question again??

[MikeGee]

I agree. I am still learning but it's what I focus on that counts. For example, I won't waste time on learning to slap triplets or similar tricks because I simply will never use it! I will practice runs and such! I will not learn songs just for the sake of learning them (well, I do but not often). I learn songs that I'm actually going to perform. I do quite a lot of listening especially on how the bassist plays in relation to a composition. I'm very critical of many bassists because I don't think they are actually relating to other musicians but focus on themselves only. I'm an 'ensemble' player. Anyway, I'm rambling now! What was the question again??

ensemble player I like that. I consider myself an accompanying player. Never playing more than a simple fill, using but 2 or 3 formulas for that, nothing flashy. Just a 1,3,5 or 1,5 line or sometimes I'll add a flat 7th.

[dhagler]

DW, again you've put it in perspective. You too, MikeGee.

[DESQ]

To answer your question:  One has crossed the threshold from beginner to intermediate player when they can do the following things without hesitation or second-guessing:

1.Knowing the neck forwards and backwards.  If and when the keyboardist/organist yells out a note for you to play you instinctively go to that note w/o hesitation. 

2.You are able to tell a person what key you are playing in (by ear recognition and neck recognition) without hesitation. 

3.You can recognize various chordal progressions for songs, especially testimonial songs for which you have not learned the bass line verbatim from a record.  You know where the songs goes is going.

That is the foundation of for any intermediate bass playing.  Everything else is fluff, such as slapping, chording, tapping, the various modes, the ultra-quick fills.  Those won't matter if you have not MASTERED the three principle fundamentals above. 

If you know your neck, can determine what key you are in and can recognize and predict the chordal progression (and various turn arounds) congratulations you have moved from beginner to intermediate.

[praiseHisname]

I've been playing well over 35 years now and still consider myself to be an intermediate player! At my age, I just don't have the time or energy to really further my skills beyond what they are. I'm good enough to play all my gigs with no problems and I'm satisfied with that.

DW,

...that is the level i've been striving to achieve, the level of just being "satisfied." When I can feel a song in my heart and soul and just express it emotionally through my bass. Slapping & Poping is nice and has its time and place; however, it's never been at the top of my list of techniques I covert. I'm simply more traditional and I love a legato type of groove.
In other words, I don't think I'm asking too much in trying to achieve my level of satisfaction. I think my goal is very realistic, and after reading some of these posts, I have a renewed hope and drive to continue down the path I'm on!

[praiseHisname]

One thing ive learned is that many musicians dont think they are as good as they are and the ones that do generally arent as good as they think they are.  When you do a run it sounds different to you than it does to everyone else. You hear all your mistakes and you know all your weaknesses, and when you see other musicians play you tend to focus on what they can do that u cant so you think lower of your self. 

...I never looked at things that way before - but you make a very good point!

I can recall after a few services being told "Man you were killing the bass." Although, I respond with something positive, I'm really thinking they're just sparing my feelings.
I know that sounds bad, but I'm just being truthful. Don't get me all wrong though, some days are better than others.

[praiseHisname]

I consider myself lower-mid intermediate.  Every time I pick up the bass I find something new or hear something that I need to be doing differently.  It's a struggle and EXTREMELY frustrating. 

Sometimes I hate to hear myself and cringe and some of the things I do.  It's definitely a process.  Yall pray my strength.

Jeremyr,

I'll definitely be praying for you bro, because I feel your pain. This is so great to know that I am not alone in this!!!! "Growth" is not an easy process and can sometime get a little crazy. I sometime surprise myself because one minute I'm happy and kissing my bass and the next I just want to throw it out the window, but that's only after I smash it into a thousand pieces. 
Thank God I don't feel like that often, but I've been there. 
Thank you for your post!

[ronrector]

When I switched from guitar to bass as a kid I really got into playing by ear and admiring all the bass players of my time.  My favorites were BB Dickerson, Verdine White (The Early Years), Satch, Motown, TSOP, and the like.  I could alomost keep up.  Jazz became my ultimate source with Abraham Laboriel(Bob James/Ron Konoly), Joe Hall (the Black Byrds), Ron Harris and many more.  The more I listened the less I played.  I spent over $3000 in 1979 on my sound system and began DJin.  And then in the summer of 79 I heard this bass player on Tom Brown's, Brown Sugar album named Marcus Miller.  It was my first encounter and I had never heard anything like him.  All this to say is that I love the bass instrument and its conribution to a song and I always have these incredible licks in my head no matter what song I hear.  It frustrates me that I cannot play them but I have learned this pass year that when I can contribute to a worship service and have fun doing it knowing that the gift that I have always had is now being perfected is the best feeling, beginner or intermediate. I'm a Beginner.

[floaded27]

I consider myself lower-mid intermediate.  Every time I pick up the bass I find something new or hear something that I need to be doing differently.  It's a struggle and EXTREMELY frustrating. 

Sometimes I hate to hear myself and cringe and some of the things I do.  It's definitely a process.  Yall pray my strength.

so says the dude who only needs 15 minutes tops to learn a song. lol. but i feel u. its actually that constant discovery and correction that keeps you growing and moving forward. it gets annoying though, but its a necessary process.

I agree. I am still learning but it's what I focus on that counts. For example, I won't waste time on learning to slap triplets or similar tricks because I simply will never use it! I will practice runs and such! I will not learn songs just for the sake of learning them (well, I do but not often). I learn songs that I'm actually going to perform. I do quite a lot of listening especially on how the bassist plays in relation to a composition. I'm very critical of many bassists because I don't think they are actually relating to other musicians but focus on themselves only. I'm an 'ensemble' player. Anyway, I'm rambling now! What was the question again??

thats my problem sometimes. i only get time to practice stuff that i will perform and techniques i know i will use. the issue with that is i dont get that exploration that comes with the other stuff. there are techniques where i say "i'll never use that because it doesnt fit with what i do, then i see or hear someone use it in a way i never imagined, and im like wow. sometimes when i get that exploration time i discover new uses myself. unfortunately its limited.

[ronrector]

Making and playing music is an art like some people can paint a Picasso free hand style while others paint by numbers but they love to paint.  A deep love and appreciation for music as an artist makes you a more than an average player at any level. It will keep you humble, yet yearning for more.

[csharp57]

I've enjoyed reading all the responses on this thread.  I agree that the bass room is the best.....

I am a rookie through and through.  But progress is very important to me.  Why??  I've been a keyboardist for MANY years.  One day I picked up the bass to help a friend learn a song and never put the bass down since.  Even thought i've played the bassline with my left hand, its not the same thing as playing a bass guitar.  After years of looking at bass players and wondering why they can't pick up this, hear this change or play a certain way; The bass has humbled me.  I finally love music. (was forced to learn keys) The word practice is no longer a bad word to me.  It even sounds better than sex!!!!  (hope I didn't just offend anyone)

I wanna be the best I can be on the bass.  Not to show off or be some arrogant idiot. But because I am SOOOO in love with the bass, I wanna know all I can.

In the church area I'm surround by here in NYC, I see all the great bass players the city has to offer.  A few well known church choir musicians are my good friends.  I never envy their talent, but i'm hungry to know the bass as well as they do.  On that note.... my bass is calling me!!!!

[Asahel]

I am THE ultimate patzer (chess speak for beginner).  Heck, I'm not even at beginner level, but two stories below that... more like the "sub-basement".  No one here can possibly be beneath me musically-speaking.  I am lacking in every possible musical aspect to even dare post here.

I'm 46 and don't have as much time as I'd like to to learn how to play good and be my best.

BUT, I am on the path to learning, I enjoy practicing, and I feel blessed that I have discovered music.  AND as little as I have to offer, I give my all.

I'll take that, and run along the path the Lord has laid in front of me with it.