What does 3. 5 years of bass practice look like?

In January 2021, I started my journey with Ariane Cap's cohort. Her amazing online videos which really explained how to practice, and what to practice each week made a huge difference to learning this instrument.
I did the cohort again in February 2024-- the first 10 units.
I took the opportunity of putting a compilation of the differences.
Nice to look back ... and it's great that I have the videos too!
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I created Bass Rumblings website (www.bassrumblings.net) to keep all of my practice, songs, challenges, tips, resources. I hope to inspire people that you can start playing any instrument at any age - put the right practice in, and slowly develop your confidence.
I create a Facebook page to keep my thoughts of what I learnt, commiting to practice and other musings
/ bassrumblings
If that's not enough, subscribe to monthly newsletter where I gather my thoughts, and summaries my learnings.
eepurl.com/ijc6-r

[@anthonybridgeforth844]

Thank you for giving us a peek into your progress and what others can possibly anticipate with perseverance and sticking it out! Bravo!

[@bassrumblings]

And thank you for peeking :)

[@roachdoggjr155]

definitely looking more comfortable and playing super clean

[@bassrumblings]

Many many thanks... hope the improvement is noticeable in another 3 years! 'super clean' -- sweet !!

[@anitagupta3874]

Such an inspiring video! This is also a great example of the importance of recording yourself, even early on, and even just your practice exercises. Love it, keep going!

[@bassrumblings]

Absolutely!! Videoing yourself is so so helpful. I learn a lot by watching myself, and I can say that I've progressed more because of this (not the only thing, of course). I caught my 'mistakes' early. Many thanks for commenting!

[@joannalewis5279]

Go girl. I started 5 years ago after a long layoff and I'm 47 now

[@bassrumblings]

Thanks awesome !! love that you started later in life too !!!

[@33grinder33]

Very inspiring, you’re so much more fluid now. I’ve been playing for 2 years now, was utter rubbish when I started and now I’m just rubbish. But I keep plugging away. Kudos to you for reaching your standard in 3 years.

[@bassrumblings]

Do you have a great bass teacher? They might help you improve your rubbishness :) As long as you enjoy playing, it's all good!! Making music is what it's all about!

[@33grinder33]

@@bassrumblings Yes, I have a mentor who supports and encourages me. The last advice he gave me was that my bass playing would improve substantially if I could master note length, timing and string muting. So just the basic tenets of playing the instrument! 😂

[@renssy]

This is very inspiring. Thanks for sharing

[@bassrumblings]

I've been looking forward to making this video.. I mean, since starting to play the bass. I wondered how I'd play like in 3 years, and I'm happy'ish :) Looking forward to the next 3 years. Many thanks for your words... always nice to hear from people !

[@renssy]

@@bassrumblings the bass is such a beautiful instrument. Keep it up! You're doing great congrats

[@joeguitar419]

You're doing great! Keep up the good work, but most importantly, have fun playing bass!

[@bassrumblings]

Thanks Joe... Love playing and practicing !

[@TimSmith-fo5qw]

I’m in SBL as well and just saw this video there. Good for you! You’re doing great improving nicely!:)

[@bassrumblings]

Thanks Tim! The next stage will be harder to gage (gauge?) the improvements :) So much on SBL-- thankfully I'm a lifetime member !

[@rothloaf1980]

1. You've improved so much and you look comfy playing. 2. The Jackson looks painful to play compared to the Ibanez. 3. The jazz study learning curve is steep and a little cruel to confidence, but after the intake comes "Aha!" moments. Personally, my studies felt like years of never having the time to understand anything well. Just barely hanging on, then on to another thing I didn't know...

[@bassrumblings]

I still have my Jackson, in the case. I need to get it out and try it on for size. It's heavier which is why I went for an Ibanez. Learning intervals descending and ascending, [I never know which is which.... skinny strings to thick ones, I mean] is what is keeping me back... but I'm remedying that slowly. And few other things, but I know what I'm after now! Hopefully those A ah! moments will come thick and thin (is that the expression?!) ya know what I mean :)

[@rothloaf1980]

@@bassrumblings The Jackson looks like a 34" long scale bass with a wide, flat neck. My G&L was like that and I found (after 30yrs!) I prefer a 33" scale with a narrow jazz bass neck. I'm a Jazz Bass guy now.

[@bassrumblings]

@@rothloaf1980 I bought that bass online 2nd hand. It was going for a good price. I didn't know what to look for in a bass,... I do now !! I didn't know that 'jazz bass neck' was a thing, if you know what I mean. I guess, my Ibanez could be referred to as that... I better start playing jazz now :)

[@rothloaf1980]

@@bassrumblings Your Ibanez is like a jazz bass. The neck tapers to the nut and appears to have one less high fret than the Jackson.

[@user-hx5rr7wx8e]

Better play your favourite songs videos with tabs. You'll improve a lot. Trust me.

[@bassrumblings]

My very first spam! wow!

[@user-hx5rr7wx8e]

@@bassrumblings I'm not a spammer, but the one who's started to play bass by using music videos with bass tabs just this April. I can now play some of CCR, Lodi, dream lover, I fall to pieces, Jolene, rhythm of the rain, born to be wild, stumblin in, first cut is the deepest, diana, do it again, venus, yellow river, gren green grass, country road, neon light, tie a yellow ribbon, get together, you're only lonely and so on to a level. Have fun.