The Evolving Bassist

I've been playing bass guitar earnestly since 1976. For some reason, I resisted taking lessons for 3 years, learning solely from listening to songs on the radio and on records.

I was fortunate to have picked up on the patterns that music uses, and how they are applied to bass. I was blessed with a fairly good ear, too.

I signed up for lessons at the local music store in 1979. Sometime after this I picked up a method book called The Evolving Bassist by Rufus Reid. Over the years I've made at least 3 attempts to work my way through it, each time giving up. Why? I found the repetition (and mistakes) inherent in and necessary for mastering the exercises too frustrating. I wanted it all, "now".

Most of the music I played at that time didn't absolutely require the skills that would be honed by doing the exercises. Still, something inside me felt that I ought to do the exercises at some point.

My latest attempt at working through the book began in 2005. I'm still at it - a bit more than halfway through.

Over the last 6 years I've practiced more intentionally, intensively, and fruitfully. Working through books like The Evolving Bassist and Patterns for Jazz is immensely helpful.

Still, most of the music I play these days still doesn't require the skills developed in these books. As a result, I find myself somewhat over-prepared when I play, but I've come to the conclusion that this is better than coming to gigs as a kind of "blank slate". My focus is now on how I can best contribute, rather than on how I'm going to reinvent the wheel by spontaneous inspiration. Fewer unpleasant surprises this way.