The Worst Mistake I Ever Made On Stage - And How To Avoid It!!

[@vilago5]

this video is coming at a great time for me. have a mini performance in 3 weeks for the first time in years. i have been trying to get too flashy and getting in my own head as a result. this should be good advice!

[@Slarti2]

Yes, I think all bassists have messed up a live performance at some point. I forgot the opening bass riff of a song I started. I thought I'd just play something like the riff and it would come back to me. I played a few bars of a random series of bass notes and the drummer joined in but turned to me and said "I don't know this song!?" I stopped and the song bass riff popped into my head. The singer laughed at me afterwards and said "That was funny, but you shouldn't have apologised. You would have got away with it!"

[@5mastodon]

What a cracking video. I'm a year into learning bass and like so many others,I think we instantly become obsessed with wanting to be the fastest most technical players the world has ever seen but first and foremost we need to nail the basics,that's the most important thing. I'm currently working through the Groove trainer lessons over on Talking Bass and these courses are helping me so much with not only my playing and technique but also the understanding of the instrument it's self. Great stuff

[@hectorfuentes73]

hank you for sharing stories like this. It helps me continue growing as a musician and bassist 👍👌❤️

[@Henck4]

Years ago I played the bass in a Salsa band. We played for an audience on a lawn. We prepared a list what to play. I am also using scores for sidereading as a reminder. I was a little distracted and not paying attention to our maestro when he said something of importance. I asked my neighbor musicians but they did not reply. Sweating immediately out of my pores. The first note I missed, feeling awful but then my pre-programmed fingers started to play. It went well and nobody noticed. But for me it felt horrible. As you said Mark knowing a lot of songs can help you overcome such moments. Thanks for sharing.

[@Henck4]

The maestro changed the order of the list.

[@davidbalan6571]

If you 're a beginner on bass , you 're probably practicing wondering when should rhythm, you start looking into practicing rhythm..

[@Grumdot]

Yeah, I have done that on two different instruments. On Cornet and bass. The boo-boo was not my fault. The keyboard player rehearsed the song in G, but played the song at the gig in F. 😬

[@KimSE4]

This echoes what Jeff Berlin has been saying about learning music first and bass second. Makes sense.

[@bassbuffricky]

Amen to that! Note to self: even when you're not playing in a piece, you're still part of that piece. The beer will have to wait. 😅😅

[@Teuts2000]

I'll take a wild guess...you accidentally picked up a regular guitar? 😊

[@thomasfioriglio]

Thanks so much Mark. Haha, and thanks for sharing that photo. I've played quite a few songs where the bass line may be simple but just repeats and repeats. And yeah, it's easy to lose focus. The Cure and U2 have a lot of songs built around repetitive bass lines, and they do take some concentration to play. Thanks!

[@ianmackenzie686]

Showing up to an r & b gig in a cowboy hat and a fender j.

[@louaiello1493]

Definitely one of your more entertaining (no pun intended) videos! Thank you for this - great advice!

[@henryeowens]

Great video. Thanks for this.

[@ToddBrittain1963]

Great stuff Mark. 100% on the money.

[@drawebajo1750]

Hi Mark! I will tell you the opposite story where the pianist started another song and as soon as we started playing I played Eb but the song the pianist opened started on Dmaj7 The fact is that it was his mistake but because it was playing piano full chord (more notes), looks like it was a mistake by the bassist. Of course the band leader knew who was screwing up, but to the audience it was the bass

[@nylesfrench3568]

Excellent Tips and advice as usual.

[@JHBarrett]

I have 💯 been there

[@bassbuffricky]

@@JHBarrett I think we all have. Fortunately, we all can learn from our mistakes. 🙂

[@kaosgumi]

Is that Mr Bungle I hear in the background ? Well at least you got good taste in music… and you are also one of the best teachers on YT.

[@talkingbasslessons]

@@kaosgumi yes it is. I’ve covered a Bungle riff here;,kzbin.info/www/bejne/mWSsiZKJrLKAoNksi=r7Pvbxw8jrEKINpl

[@talkingbasslessons]

@@kaosgumi and Trevor Dunn has also been on the channel: kzbin.info/www/bejne/mZ-zgXmirqybf68si=5FArm_JMZRYfxAFn

[@Tillsssq]

great video! hope to see a tutorial on Orion by Metallica one day, your videos help me a lot

[@SamuelRHoward]

Had to pause, wondered what key I must have leant on to cause Mr. Bungle to start playing in another tab....

[@werkzeugmann6224]

Always be confidently relaxed when playing.. but not asleep! Just like the airplane pilot - follow the pre-flight checklist even if its seems mundane to do one every time...

[@brianhogan9611]

If that's the worst mistake you've ever made on stage your lucky(or sensible). e.g. Played a gig were we got paid with free beer. (Yes I know really stupid idea) Between sets they had a yard of ale contest so the floor was wet. Last set I was so inebriated I slipped in the beer and landed on my back. I played a couple of bass notes whilst lay on my back (all in key Mark). I clawed my way to my feet by pulling myself up the amp and speaker but fell again twice more. Strangely there was an inexplicable power cut after my third attempt at horizontal bass playing.

[@bassbuffricky]

😂😂😂😂😂😂👌👌

[@talkingbasslessons]

Ha ha. No it’s nothing close to the worst thing that’s happened to me on stage. I’ve had people die, break limbs, had fires, been legless drunk, thrown up on stage and more. I’ve had hundreds of BAD cock ups and some crazy band stories. That said, when it comes to stupid playing mistakes, this one is a very good example because it’s such a simple thing with a terrible sound.

[@DarkShaman667]

Jup. Been there, done that. Bands take consistency over fancy playing any day.

[@mervitirkkonen7443]

Thank you for this lesson! Music first - oh yes, this is the thing.

[@NelsonMontana1234]

Been there.

[@dannirodgers2703]

😖😖👍👍❤❤ That was a funny story, but so true. I enjoyed listening and I also learned a HUGE lesson here for the future *I'm a beginner. I will remember that.

[@davehowell5298]

Thanks for fessing up on that. I’m sorry but I did laugh. I have 50 years experience as a trumpeter and 10 also playing bass and I wish I could say I’ve never done anything similar 😀.

[@backpackmusician]

That face is priceless

[@drawebajo1750]

In that case a one note is not big deal. I remember a video where a piano is playing with a saxophone and they both keep playing in different keys and the saxophonist doesn't even hear it

[@talkingbasslessons]

@@drawebajo1750 you might be missing the point of the lesson. It’s not about catastrophic issues on stage (I’ve obviously experienced hundreds of problems much worse than this). It’s just about nailing the simple stuff. The mistake is an example of the easiest thing you could play. One note.

[@TehDFC]

I'm still going to take lessons from you Mark 😁

[@eleni8920]

I have the music in front of me even when I know the music well. I prep for brain freeze.🤣

[@alexl.9917]

A real jazz legend, can't remember exactly who, once said, if you make a mistake, just repeat it so it seems to be on purpose 😂😂😂

[@abbeyna01]

😂 that’s why he did the slide. Make it sound cool

[@xpatsteve]

We had a saying in a band I played in years ago: If you play the wrong note (or chord), play it like you meant it.

[@talkingbasslessons]

It's kinda true. But... you're pretty much damned if you do and you're damned if you don't. If you're playing a fill or a solo that works OK. But in a sparse bass line there's no getting around it. If you let it ring out, its obvious. If you shift to the correct note, it's obvious. I guess the best plan of action is to play the right notes!! lol

[@drawebajo1750]

Watch Peter Gabriel - Don’t give up feat. Sinéad O'Connor live in Chile in 1990 (Sting on bass). Thousands of people were at that concert, and the person who f@cked up didn't even realize it or was just showing poker face

[@stracepipe]

Years ago, when I was in a brass band, we were told that if we realized we had a hit a wrong note, or were about to hit a wrong note, then HIT it. Then the audience will think it's meant to be there rather than it fizzling out like a f*rt thus making it obviously a mistake.

[@randyfox8484]

My cringeworthy moment came on my songwriting partner/bandmate’s very first live stream performance only one month ago. Intro to first song - my partner starts off the intro with arpeggios on electric guitar only, I come in to give the intro some vibe by going down the frets on the A string to the open A before sliding up to the A one octave higher for emphasis. Playing down to the low A I was supposed to go C to C-flat to A. Like a dumb @ss I hit an A-Sharp instead of the C-flat. There for all to hear - and I hear it and cringe every time I hear the live stream. I still cringe and shake my head every time I listen to it. Chalk it up to first time live stream performance nerves - but it’s etched in celluloid history all the same. Ugh…

[@paulandcorinnekozak1138]

Oh Mark. I was cringing as you related your story. Who among us has not been there. Sharing is caring and your video was a great way help all of us.

[@RobertWadlow292]

There's no mistakes. Just tell them you were playing jazz 😂

[@Ja_Zer]

5:12 Mr Bungle?

[@talkingbasslessons]

Yes sir! Sweet Charity

[@RkyMtnBassist]

You know, you're looking at the words, but your away with the faeries! 😅😂 PRICELESS Mark!!

[@qu14torze82]

5:20 Not an idiot, just a human being.

[@mattfoley6082]

There are no wrong notes in jazz. You were playing the flat 9.

[@markbass354]

HOWDY MARK

[@ManuelAguilar-gj2wg]

Keith Richards saudí the slow songs has. More time to make mistakes

[@timharris2141]

Been There😂.

[@alanhearne6733]

A fraction of a millisecond.... Not long at all then 😊

[@MarcLuc-pc3by]

Please WATCH!

[@garyhobbs9481]

Hi There, Gary from KZbin. Mark ! You are being a little hard on your self there fella. I’m sure your the only one in that audience who remembers that colossal bum note. You have more than made up for it with your 1st class tutorial lessons. C flat Mark…..C flat….

[@aHalfaMongrel]

BUNGLE!!!!

[@vaughanjones5933]

So you played a wrong note? wow.

[@fredla7353]

I do not appreciate the political campaign advertisements .... please inform your promotion person to tell them to STOP it~ I am a member of your Site.

[@rlacombe]

KZbin picks the ads, not the content creator

[@talkingbasslessons]

Nothing to do with me. KZbin, Facebook and Google all pick ads based on what it sees as your interest. Content creators have no influence on it at all.