Oh boy, this one speaks right to me. I'm 42, been playing the Bass since mid 90's, and only in the past 5 years I had understood something very important to me: I don't need to be something my inner self dream to be. I always dreamt to be a famous bass player, being in a famous band, give interviews, being on the spotlights, you know, things like this, pretty common with every musician starting a career. Well, it turned out that I didn't managed to reach that level I was dreaming about, and life went in another direction... That was really frustrating to me and I almost quit playing. After some inner talking I understand now that I have my own thing and that's good enough to live a fulfilled life without need to be the best, not only the best bass player, but the best husband, the best neighbor, the best teacher, etc... Man, this is your best video ever, we need more videos like this, more discussions like this! Thank you for sharing this with us! Cheers from Brazil!
This has been a major issue for me: imposter syndrome. Thank you for highlighting it, and it's great to know it's not just us in the lower echelons of the bass world that get it.
Dang, nothing like touching a nerve. Sitting here laughing and crying and relating. I feel like I've always felt this in every situation since I first picked it up, played in front of another or even sang in the grade school choir. But hey, I'm an old guy now and yet I'm still working through it. I'm still trying to stay loose in front of colleagues and teachers. Thank you Ian, for your willingness to go there. I believe listening to this will a be part of my warm-up for quite some time.
Wow, just going through the comments. This blows my mind. What a response. What a massively universal issue. The vulnerability expressed here, to me, is both unexpected and is yet so necessary to confront. Man, I admit that I'm a bit sad at the constraints so many of us have placed on ourselves, and yet hopeful and inspired. I deeply appreciate the brutally honest sharing.
I was attracted to the Bass by the Slap technique, as a kid around 1980. I still can't Slap after playing Bass for 20 years 😃 Gave up on it totally, and embraced my on way, my voice, by discovering Bass Players who never Slap, and I loved them!! Anthony Jackson is one 👌🏿❤️ I'm enjoying the Bass a lot. Greetings from Uganda 🇺🇬👊🏿🖤
Thanks Ian. The psychology of being a musician and a performance artist needs more discussion. Many of us are a lot better in the practice room than on the stage. Perhaps Scott could bring in a sports psychologist or other professional (like he did with the chiropractor) for a course in SBL on this subject.
Soooooooo true! And when imposter syndrome becomes humility, that helps you keep on practicing and growing. Thank you so much Ian for sharing this, I think one needs courage to be able to talk about it this way, but it's a beautiful present for the community
as a Bassist. I have always been into the musicians who took the bass into a totally different Direction. I Idolized players like Stu Hamm, Billy Sheehan, Michael ManRing , Sean Malone. and various others. when i went to college i studied bass under Stu Hamm. yeah i was geeking out for the 1st few weeks of being there. i was trying to play his licks his way. he stopped me one day and say .. that sounds like my voice, what is your voice and i looked at the bass like it was my 1st day picking up a bass.. it took me sometime to find out my voice but by the end of the semester he asked me again.. where is my voice.. and i played. i was spontaneous , Fluid in my playing, i wasn't there to impress him i was there to tell the class what my voice was. so now when i meet a musician that i looked up to i treat them like they are human beings, like they are me. hell i have had some big name players over to my house and they slept here rather than a hotel room
Steve Jenkins is a beast! I love that bassists of your level talk about how they feel and fear when someone like Stevie is in the audience. I know this fear well when the jazz police show up at gigs. I've found it all goes on in your own head (and not theirs), and it's not about competition, it's about music
It’s been a while since I’ve saved a video to my Inspiration playlist. You explained these big points in a powerfully effective way - paying the help you received forward exponentially. Thanks for your efforts and their ongoing impact.
Hey Ian, in a related theme. I watched your Jackson 5, I Want You Back breakdown a while ago. I was coming up to 1 year of learning bass and that inspired me to learn it for my Bassversary. It took me 6 weeks and about 3 hours a night, but you know I got there. So thanks again for the great content and positive vibe ;)
This has been one of the most eye-opening, AHAAA moment videos I’ve seen so far. Just what I needed to help me continue the desire to get better on the bass. I wanted to give up even though I love to play. Thanks Scott. Big virtual hug to you.
Ian, this one was exactly what a lot of us needed to hear. Probably right under our noses but not even considered, until you just clicked the light on. Right on! As always, another great on in the can.
Truth. I quit playing for a time as a younger man, when I saw this spectacular player (think 1993, 6string classical metal bass tapping and slapping) in concert only to find out he's best friends with the band leader and just moved to town. I had played for 10 years but could never imagine myself being as good as that guy, and talked myself right out of the gig. He NEVER took the gig afterwards. I always felt like an imposter. It was years later before my brother-in-law put a bass in my hands and said "he can only play one gig at a time, there are plenty of gigs that need a bass player" and I immediately understood. Imposter syndrome still gets me sometimes even 20 years later!
This video is so important. I think teachers should make their students watch it. Ian, you and Scott are really having some great, important conversations in this video and on the podcast. Thanks for all you guys do.
What a great lesson! So true and communicated with such great humility! And yes, it totally applies to bass playing, but it also applies to lots of other stuff. I think most bass players experience these same thoughts and insecurities, which makes us all more alike than not. Thank you, sir!
Oh boy, I really dig all of Ian's videos and speeches, the contents, the honesty, the irony he uses to talk about anything, from serious to fun matters, i really look like a fan boy don't I? Cheers.
You nailed it!!! I suffer from imposter syndrome and the superhero analogy made perfect sense. You can’t be a master of all the weapons or pine for them all. Pick the one you love and own it!
Genuinely a eureka moment... that's exactly what I've been suffering with for the longest of time.. imposter syndrome.. More so because I've played guitar for near on 16 years predominantly, but my most recent project asked me to play bass and since 2020 that's been my only focus, and I've finally been able to get out of my writers block and make my own sound on the bass... but I'm always thinking I'm just a poser, and I dont qualify to call myself a bassist... even though this band now has gotten further than anything else musically I've ever done... But thank you for opening this dialogue up, and I'd be sooooooooo interested into a deep dive on replicating dirty synth sounds on the bass 🤘😜 please do more 🥰
Mate, excellent topic, awesome video. I found myself nodding along to this whole thing, I didn't ever think of the subject consciously before but there are so many valid points in here that really opened my eyes. The "own voice" thing in particular is something I've been discovering with my own playing, instead of going for (insert favourite bass player's name here)'s sound, I've been picking what I love about these sounds and techniques and finding out what resonates with me the most to adapt to my own technique to give me my sound or voice. Thanks for finding, or helping me find, the missing puzzle piece in my endless quest for bass enlightenment :)
You've mentioned things along these lines a few times in the podcast, and I have to say, embracing vulnerability as a strength really applies across so much of life. You speak about this with such honesty and conviction, which I think is important. So many of us are socialized to be stoic and unfeeling, and this cuts us off from our true strength.
Wow, really a very touching message in this video Ian. You nailed the feeling and the real way of finding one’s inner voice to craft our own identity as artists
GREAT Video!!! actually answer a lot of questions I ask myself all the time. Seriously thanks for posting, thus might be the most motivating video I’ve ever watched.
This is a very good message and one that I needed to hear and I imagine more people need to hear. I especially find the superhero analogy to be helpful. Cheers and thank you Ian!
This arguably one of the most valuable pieces of advice about bass-playing (and as the comment below me states) and life in general I have seen on TH-cam. Thank you for your honesty and generosity of heart.
Quite possibly the best Thing I’ve seen in a very long time. Moved me to think about what “I” means as a bassist and not what “I” should mean. Having the confidence to speak with your own voice is what I’ve been looking for. Simple but mind crushingly obvious! Thanks you- thank you- thank you!
Ian. I love your philosophy on the inner-voice, our Saboteurs, the "I am not enough". Well, as you say - we are enough! Because there is only one of us on the planet and with time, self-compassion and sharing our journey with others, we can push the best version of ourselves out into the world, become better Bass players, musicians and humanBEINGS. Keep sharing your unique perspective. Thank you.
Oh man I love everything about this. The advice and your gig. Quality isn’t a single linear scale. It’s the unique thing that you can bring to the moment from yourself to make the music you are part of better.
Thanks Ian. I think I needed this. I have a vivid memory of playing the upright at a festival with my high school jazz choir as a sophomore. The ballroom was so full that students from other schools were on the floor literally feet away from us performers. I had seen so many other groups perform that day and in front of me, out on the floor, were the other bassists I had ogled that day and I suddenly became the weakest player in the room. That was 22 years ago. I wish someone had told me then what you have just told us now. It can be intimidating to play in front of Wolverine, but I’m Thor. And sure Wolverine is dope, but he’s got his baggage-filled origin story and his weaknesses just like me. The support we put out in the universe for those who do the same thing we are trying to do (bass playing, magic tricks, woodworking, writing, whatever) will eventually come back to us. Just wanted to shared some gratitude for your playings and your sayings. Stay cool, Thor!!
That was awesome. I used to take guitar lessons from Martin Simpson. He said nearly the same thing to me. I really am better when I am mindful of my own style. But it is still a struggle, one that is worth having. Thank you so much for bringing it up.
Man. You are one of the most powerful and joyful voices on the internet right now. Thank you! I recently committed to playing bass in a good country/rock band. Good original music, and also paid dancehall cover gigs. I am traditionally a guitar player and although I've played a fair amount of bass in the studio and played bass in a rock band for a couple years once... I really was under qualified for this gig, musically speaking. It's kicking my ass, country bass is no joke. Truly learning how to play without a pick is no joke. Some of these covers are no joke. I'm the oldest one in the band, and I'm also out of my league. It's extremely intimidating and also super exciting. I have to constantly remind myself that I am bringing some intangible value to the situation. I am definitely an exciting and engaging performer, and I know that's valuable. It's easy to forget that stuff though. Easy to get lost worrying about what I can't do or don't understand. I love the message of this video. You are just inspiring and awesome to watch!
🙏Thank you for relating this great story and inspiration. I'm an older guy who has had a bass around the house for many years and just recently started to put some time into practice and learning. Started on guitar, too. Very rewarding.
You are dead right..! I'm in my sixties and I always was afraid to get out of my comfort zone in front of an audience. Bringing this to light and to stop comparing myself to one of my hero's can be a tough sell but has to be recognized, dealt with and overcome. Thanks for another great Podcast.
Wow! This is the best lesson I have seen in a long time. I am a good bass player, but until recently, I felt like I was always seeking some form of external validation of my playing. Timing of this video couldn’t have been better. Love your content! Thanks so much fellow super hero!!
I've always done my own thing, I've made myself an expert in everything I do some can't relate at all to the imposter thing... but I LOVE your synth bass stuff and any time anyone asks about synth bass, I tell them to checkout your stuff. I really enjoy your playing and presentations on SBL, youre one of my favorite musicians so keep up the great work! Youre like the bass version of Tim Pierce 🙂
I love your content Ian, you play and speak from the heart, you're not trying to sell anybody anything. So refreshing. Also the best taste in music and tones
Love this. The way I really like to think about this is that no one is an imposter because everyone is one. You never get to a point in what you do where you have everything down perfectly.
This story reminds me of the first song I learned on bass. I had been playing guitar and taking lesson for a few years. The band I was in wanted me to start picking up bass. They picked a really easy song for me to learn on bass. I practice really hard with the song so I would be prepared for our next practice session. We’re playing the song at practice and I’m feeling pretty good about my first time with the band. Then all of a sudden the whole band goes quite. For whatever reason I turn to the drummer and he’s giving me this weird look, like common. Then after a few seconds everyone starts playing again. In all my practicing at home somehow I never noticed that part of the song had a little bass solo. It wasn’t hard I just didn’t realize when practicing that it was a solo, and sometimes when it’s a bass solo the rest of the band will go quite. The drummer was trying to give me the look of dude play, this is your time. I just didn’t get what was going on. 😅
I needed this ,I have been playing bass since I was 16,now 54 , I started playing after hearing Iron Maidens Piece of Mind album,I hate playing songs where I have to sit on one or two notes for the whole song so I throw in little runs to keep myself busy, not many bands want someone like that unfortunately, it sucks but I am who I am.
I'm a keyboard player, and this is probably the most relatable video so far for me. I'm 57 and my first proper stage time as a synth player(musically),was back in 1996. Totally a disaster for my set, but know one else realized. Someone unplugged my rig and all my patches were gone, so I improvised for the time I had. I was lucky to have been a speaker for my mountain bike club, so was ok in front of people already. Tracking vocals for the first time ATM. Always learning something, and this is important for people to learn their voices of expression.
I had a panic attack while trying to practice today. 7 years of undergrad and I honestly can't stop thinking that I'm a failure for not graduating sooner. It may not be imposter syndrome exactly but it's definitely holding me back from music
I have been a professional bassist for many years - At 40 I stumbled into a long form comedy improv class. Studying improv - which at its core is all about true, egoless, collaboration. This ended my impostor syndrome. Because now it's always ALL ABOUT THE MUSIC.
The crappy thing about imposter syndrome, is that it effects every corner of my life. In my head, I think I suck at everything and there is always someone better than me, at everything.
As for the last sentence, realizing it is probably the best one can do. There will ALWAYS be someone better than you. But the thing is, you also are better than someone else, you have something in which you're good at (and by "you" of course I mean: "we", everyone). As bassists, and as persons. It's a self esteem issue, believe me, I KNOW about that. All we can do about it is do our own thing, as best we know, and realize it's GOOD, and it's not a competition: there will always be that jazzy bassist that can play 5 minute solos, and we're not him, we are OURSELVES, but there's also that guy that focus so much on technique, he forgot playing with passion, and thus is boring.
The MOST VALUABLE VIDEO EVER! 🙌🏼 Technique is important but finding, respecting and being proud of YOUR VOICE, your uniqueness, is priceless. Many thanks Ian for openly talking about this. This is real world in a bass player life. Now I know this is common even for my bass heroes 😎❣️
Thanks man , great advice. As a novice player, I used to be nervous about making mistakes and did the same thing. Overthought everything. Now I simply play through and turn it into a mini solo. Lol. Now my band mates want me to play more solos....OH no!... lol
I watch the SBL vids and have a membership as well. This morning as I was thumbing through, I saw this video and shared it on Facebook as an existential post about being yourself and how this mentality helps with that. Bravo and thank you!
Very much appreciated Mr. Ian 👍 That self-doubt thing is no joke. The second half of your story, the Jonathan Maron part, really hit home. The self deprecation and half-assed excuses. In my case it wasn't synth pedals, but having wrong or uncool musical influences 😂. Thanks again mate.
The bass player in my band sent this to all of us. We’re playing a show in Nashville next month and we all expressed this thing of how equally cool and terrifying it’s going to be to play in front of a crowd of ‘real’ musicians… you know the ‘pros’ that will likely be there that will likely be able to see all the flaws in our playing. This is a great word of encouragement to play with the skill and personality that we have as individuals. Great word!
I really dug this message, Ian. Thanks. For years I've been leaning on my right hand technique and people hire me because of the rhythm it provides, but I feel like my fills and soloing suck. Thanks for putting it in my head that my sound is my sound and if that's why people like my playing, then hey...that's just fine with me now. Thanks again.
HI Ian, thank you so much for this video. It spoke to me on so many levels as it is not just to find your voice when you express yourself musically. It is finding your voice also generally and express yourself and BE who you really ARE. Thank you. Keep on vibin'
Great video! It's so nice, for me, to know that players of your talent have these same feelings. Playing is a very personal thing. Overthinking can be a creativity killer. Thank you!
I needed to hear this (not in regards to bass playing), but because I often feel the imposter syndrome in other areas of life. Thank you for giving me another perspective to think about.
Always appreciate this sort of advice from Ian. I think most of us bassists need to learn to get out of our own way! When are the scott and Ian podcasts coming back? I miss bass dad chat!
A few months ago, and after 3 years playing the bass, I started playing in a small blues group. Although I had been playing other instruments in groups for years, this was my first time playing bass in a small group. I was so self conscious, my brain was clogging my ability to play, my fingers were stiff. After a few practices with the group, I started enjoying myself and forgetting about the stress. I figured, the worst that could happen was that I would be asked to leave the group. But instead, I started receiving compliments for my playing (!!), I couldn't believe it. The takeaway for me is as follows: just think of the music and the rest will come. Of course, woodshedding the parts helps a lot too. Thank Ian for another great video.
Hey Ian, I think that's one of the most helpful videos I've ever seen on TH-cam. Thank you. Funny that you are self-conscious about your playing. You are light years ahead of most of us. I was saying to myself the other day, one of my goals for my bass playing is to get good enough to go into a really good bass shop and play in instrument off the shelf without embarrassing myself. Maybe we all have imposter syndrome. Maybe I need to play this video every day until it takes root.
I'm 34.....been playing since I was 16, and it took me up until about 2-3 years ago to finally get past the imposter syndrome feeling and find my voice. Where you like playing synths, I've always loved echo and delay soaked ambient stuff, and it took ONE PERSON (my wife) hearing a playback of something I did going "that's gorgeous, who is this??" For it to click for me that, yes I'm worthy of a compliment and praise (I've always been TERRIBLE at receiving either).......thanks for the video man, really hit home
I’ve been playing bass with a hammer for years. I was hoping no one else would figure out my technique. Oh well… Seriously though, someone should write a book on the psychology of playing music, specifically bass. It’s a fascinating subject. Well done!
I love playing clean, simple, old country bass lines (think Waylon Jennings’s Black Rose). I love playing those songs and I think I’m pretty good at it. I also feel ashamed about it because those lines are pretty easy and simple. But I love it and it speaks to me. Thanks for making this, Ian.
Just like as a drummer I’ve never aspired to sing or be a front man but last year for several months I found myself in a gigging band that I was singing and playing drums in. It was terrifying and exciting all at once. I have a whole new respect!
Awesome video. I'm not pro, I'm just a very passionate bass player who started playing in 1994. Almost 30 years and I can't slap. I like it but can't do it, never took serious lessons in order to get good at it. But I know my stuff on bass. But during gigs I'm always afraid that some bass player is in the crowd and making fun of my playing. But the right thing to do is HAVE FUN PLAYING. I do play for myself and if the people watching enjoy it then good, otherwise I guess I'll be better next time. Sometimes I'm even afraid that my bandmates expect more from my playing. But then I realize it's all in my head. Paranoid thoughts. Thanks for the video. Very good stuff to think about
So glad to hear this. These kinds of topics are becoming the most interesting to me, more than physical technique. Gaining technique and knowledge is great but deploying it requires the right attitude. But what is the right attitude? Imagine any artist you admire. It could be Picasso, Charlie Parker, it doesn't matter. What do they have to use? Jimi Hendrix' hand is not fundamentally different from your hand. Even his brain is built from the same blueprint as the rest of us. So what is different? It might be largely the attitude of confidence. Now the question becomes "where does that confidence come from?".How do we live in a way that nurtures our creativity?
There was this band that my band had made friends with and we were opening for them a few shows, and their bass player, he was just fucking rad; he always stole the show at their gigs, and I thought , this guy is the best bass player on a local scene that I’ve ever seen. The thing is I’m the same kind of bass player, people always love me at shows , I don’t know , I’m just like all over the place , type of guy who had to buy a wireless system because I was kicking the chord out of my bass several times per show. But I thought this guy was in a league of his own, and one night me and him end up doing a bunch of coke and we end up in this bar, you know, talking our asses off, and I told him what I thought, I said you’re maybe the best local bass player I’ve ever seen, And he was like “Dude, that’s what I think about you” and he starts humming one of my baseline and he’s like “you know , I wish I could come up with shit like that, and you’ve got the stage thing down too , it’s impressive as fuck” and I couldn’t believe it. We ended up agreeing that we must both be on the same level .It was maybe the highlight of my not very storied career as a bass player. I will always remember that night, and I just realized that it’s possible he could watch these videos too, and I haven’t spoke to him in about 15 years. So Zibbi, if you ever read this , you’re the man , thank you for that .
Oh boy, this one speaks right to me. I'm 42, been playing the Bass since mid 90's, and only in the past 5 years I had understood something very important to me: I don't need to be something my inner self dream to be. I always dreamt to be a famous bass player, being in a famous band, give interviews, being on the spotlights, you know, things like this, pretty common with every musician starting a career. Well, it turned out that I didn't managed to reach that level I was dreaming about, and life went in another direction... That was really frustrating to me and I almost quit playing. After some inner talking I understand now that I have my own thing and that's good enough to live a fulfilled life without need to be the best, not only the best bass player, but the best husband, the best neighbor, the best teacher, etc... Man, this is your best video ever, we need more videos like this, more discussions like this! Thank you for sharing this with us! Cheers from Brazil!
This has been a major issue for me: imposter syndrome. Thank you for highlighting it, and it's great to know it's not just us in the lower echelons of the bass world that get it.
At first I didn’t know where he was going with this video, but there’s some really good stuff in this. Thanks for this insightful video!
and without playing a damn note on the bass 😂
Dang, nothing like touching a nerve. Sitting here laughing and crying and relating. I feel like I've always felt this in every situation since I first picked it up, played in front of another or even sang in the grade school choir. But hey, I'm an old guy now and yet I'm still working through it. I'm still trying to stay loose in front of colleagues and teachers. Thank you Ian, for your willingness to go there. I believe listening to this will a be part of my warm-up for quite some time.
Wow, just going through the comments. This blows my mind. What a response. What a massively universal issue. The vulnerability expressed here, to me, is both unexpected and is yet so necessary to confront. Man, I admit that I'm a bit sad at the constraints so many of us have placed on ourselves, and yet hopeful and inspired. I deeply appreciate the brutally honest sharing.
I was attracted to the Bass by the Slap technique, as a kid around 1980.
I still can't Slap after playing Bass for 20 years 😃
Gave up on it totally, and embraced my on way, my voice, by discovering Bass Players who never Slap, and I loved them!! Anthony Jackson is one 👌🏿❤️
I'm enjoying the Bass a lot.
Greetings from Uganda 🇺🇬👊🏿🖤
Regarding this, I think Ian should do a video top 10 or 5 bass players who never slap.
@@cptncanela now that's a great idea!! Anthony Jackson, James Jamerson, Thundercat..... 🤔😎
@@BlackRootsAcademyOfSoul ikr!
Love this guy, so genuinely excited about playing - totally infectious!
Thanks Ian. The psychology of being a musician and a performance artist needs more discussion. Many of us are a lot better in the practice room than on the stage. Perhaps Scott could bring in a sports psychologist or other professional (like he did with the chiropractor) for a course in SBL on this subject.
Soooooooo true! And when imposter syndrome becomes humility, that helps you keep on practicing and growing. Thank you so much Ian for sharing this, I think one needs courage to be able to talk about it this way, but it's a beautiful present for the community
This applies to so much more than music! Thanks for the wise words this morning! I needed this today.
as a Bassist. I have always been into the musicians who took the bass into a totally different Direction. I Idolized players like Stu Hamm, Billy Sheehan, Michael ManRing , Sean Malone. and various others. when i went to college i studied bass under Stu Hamm. yeah i was geeking out for the 1st few weeks of being there. i was trying to play his licks his way. he stopped me one day and say .. that sounds like my voice, what is your voice and i looked at the bass like it was my 1st day picking up a bass.. it took me sometime to find out my voice but by the end of the semester he asked me again.. where is my voice.. and i played. i was spontaneous , Fluid in my playing, i wasn't there to impress him i was there to tell the class what my voice was. so now when i meet a musician that i looked up to i treat them like they are human beings, like they are me. hell i have had some big name players over to my house and they slept here rather than a hotel room
Steve Jenkins is a beast! I love that bassists of your level talk about how they feel and fear when someone like Stevie is in the audience. I know this fear well when the jazz police show up at gigs. I've found it all goes on in your own head (and not theirs), and it's not about competition, it's about music
It’s been a while since I’ve saved a video to my Inspiration playlist. You explained these big points in a powerfully effective way - paying the help you received forward exponentially. Thanks for your efforts and their ongoing impact.
That was the most insightful information I've heard about being a musician in a long time. Thanks.
Hey Ian, in a related theme. I watched your Jackson 5, I Want You Back breakdown a while ago. I was coming up to 1 year of learning bass and that inspired me to learn it for my Bassversary. It took me 6 weeks and about 3 hours a night, but you know I got there. So thanks again for the great content and positive vibe ;)
This has been one of the most eye-opening, AHAAA moment videos I’ve seen so far. Just what I needed to help me continue the desire to get better on the bass. I wanted to give up even though I love to play. Thanks Scott. Big virtual hug to you.
Thats not scott
@@chrisspectre8938 It's American Scott :D
Ian, this one was exactly what a lot of us needed to hear. Probably right under our noses but not even considered, until you just clicked the light on. Right on! As always, another great on in the can.
Truth. I quit playing for a time as a younger man, when I saw this spectacular player (think 1993, 6string classical metal bass tapping and slapping) in concert only to find out he's best friends with the band leader and just moved to town. I had played for 10 years but could never imagine myself being as good as that guy, and talked myself right out of the gig. He NEVER took the gig afterwards. I always felt like an imposter. It was years later before my brother-in-law put a bass in my hands and said "he can only play one gig at a time, there are plenty of gigs that need a bass player" and I immediately understood. Imposter syndrome still gets me sometimes even 20 years later!
This video is so important. I think teachers should make their students watch it. Ian, you and Scott are really having some great, important conversations in this video and on the podcast. Thanks for all you guys do.
What a great lesson! So true and communicated with such great humility! And yes, it totally applies to bass playing, but it also applies to lots of other stuff. I think most bass players experience these same thoughts and insecurities, which makes us all more alike than not. Thank you, sir!
I really love these kinds of insightful videos. I remember Scott did one a while back about not giving up. Good stuff :)
LOVE this!!! Very inspiring. Don't hide your light, folks! SHINE!!
Oh boy, I really dig all of Ian's videos and speeches, the contents, the honesty, the irony he uses to talk about anything, from serious to fun matters, i really look like a fan boy don't I? Cheers.
You nailed it!!! I suffer from imposter syndrome and the superhero analogy made perfect sense. You can’t be a master of all the weapons or pine for them all. Pick the one you love and own it!
This is such a great video!! It’s a video I always go back to listening to. Thanks Ian!
👊🏻👊🏻👊🏻
Yay! Free and helpful mental health convos! Love the content man!
Genuinely a eureka moment... that's exactly what I've been suffering with for the longest of time.. imposter syndrome..
More so because I've played guitar for near on 16 years predominantly, but my most recent project asked me to play bass and since 2020 that's been my only focus, and I've finally been able to get out of my writers block and make my own sound on the bass... but I'm always thinking I'm just a poser, and I dont qualify to call myself a bassist... even though this band now has gotten further than anything else musically I've ever done...
But thank you for opening this dialogue up, and I'd be sooooooooo interested into a deep dive on replicating dirty synth sounds on the bass 🤘😜 please do more 🥰
Technique, theory, AND psychology. I love it. More psychology please.
Mate, excellent topic, awesome video. I found myself nodding along to this whole thing, I didn't ever think of the subject consciously before but there are so many valid points in here that really opened my eyes. The "own voice" thing in particular is something I've been discovering with my own playing, instead of going for (insert favourite bass player's name here)'s sound, I've been picking what I love about these sounds and techniques and finding out what resonates with me the most to adapt to my own technique to give me my sound or voice. Thanks for finding, or helping me find, the missing puzzle piece in my endless quest for bass enlightenment :)
You've mentioned things along these lines a few times in the podcast, and I have to say, embracing vulnerability as a strength really applies across so much of life. You speak about this with such honesty and conviction, which I think is important.
So many of us are socialized to be stoic and unfeeling, and this cuts us off from our true strength.
Thanks Ian, it’s a message that works in many aspects of life. I think you are a good man and not only a very good bass player.
What a great video. Thank you for having the courage to be vulnerable!
Wow, really a very touching message in this video Ian. You nailed the feeling and the real way of finding one’s inner voice to craft our own identity as artists
This is beyond valuable. Thank you. Keep swinging that hammer
Powerful stuff to think about. As someone else once said 'get out the way of yourself'.
GREAT Video!!!
actually answer a lot of questions I ask myself all the time.
Seriously thanks for posting, thus might be the most motivating video I’ve ever watched.
Thank you Ian for your transparency and yes you are a super hero and a great inspiration to many in the bass community. See you in the shed 😎🙏🎸
This is a very good message and one that I needed to hear and I imagine more people need to hear. I especially find the superhero analogy to be helpful. Cheers and thank you Ian!
This arguably one of the most valuable pieces of advice about bass-playing (and as the comment below me states) and life in general I have seen on TH-cam. Thank you for your honesty and generosity of heart.
Thanks Ian. You always seem to go where I need you to go. I’ll use this.
Quite possibly the best Thing I’ve seen in a very long time. Moved me to think about what “I” means as a bassist and not what “I” should mean. Having the confidence to speak with your own voice is what I’ve been looking for. Simple but mind crushingly obvious!
Thanks you- thank you- thank you!
You have been supportive. You also have done a good job of balancing being real and still promoting your business. This I've seen is not easy.
Thank you Ian for sharing this. There's a tendency to imagine that those who have achieved a high level of proficiency don't struggle.
Ian. I love your philosophy on the inner-voice, our Saboteurs, the "I am not enough". Well, as you say - we are enough! Because there is only one of us on the planet and with time, self-compassion and sharing our journey with others, we can push the best version of ourselves out into the world, become better Bass players, musicians and humanBEINGS. Keep sharing your unique perspective. Thank you.
Oh man I love everything about this. The advice and your gig. Quality isn’t a single linear scale. It’s the unique thing that you can bring to the moment from yourself to make the music you are part of better.
Thanks Ian. I think I needed this. I have a vivid memory of playing the upright at a festival with my high school jazz choir as a sophomore. The ballroom was so full that students from other schools were on the floor literally feet away from us performers. I had seen so many other groups perform that day and in front of me, out on the floor, were the other bassists I had ogled that day and I suddenly became the weakest player in the room. That was 22 years ago.
I wish someone had told me then what you have just told us now. It can be intimidating to play in front of Wolverine, but I’m Thor. And sure Wolverine is dope, but he’s got his baggage-filled origin story and his weaknesses just like me.
The support we put out in the universe for those who do the same thing we are trying to do (bass playing, magic tricks, woodworking, writing, whatever) will eventually come back to us.
Just wanted to shared some gratitude for your playings and your sayings. Stay cool, Thor!!
Bruh. This was just spitting straight truth.
That was awesome. I used to take guitar lessons from Martin Simpson. He said nearly the same thing to me. I really am better when I am mindful of my own style. But it is still a struggle, one that is worth having. Thank you so much for bringing it up.
Man. You are one of the most powerful and joyful voices on the internet right now. Thank you!
I recently committed to playing bass in a good country/rock band. Good original music, and also paid dancehall cover gigs. I am traditionally a guitar player and although I've played a fair amount of bass in the studio and played bass in a rock band for a couple years once... I really was under qualified for this gig, musically speaking. It's kicking my ass, country bass is no joke. Truly learning how to play without a pick is no joke. Some of these covers are no joke. I'm the oldest one in the band, and I'm also out of my league. It's extremely intimidating and also super exciting. I have to constantly remind myself that I am bringing some intangible value to the situation. I am definitely an exciting and engaging performer, and I know that's valuable. It's easy to forget that stuff though. Easy to get lost worrying about what I can't do or don't understand.
I love the message of this video. You are just inspiring and awesome to watch!
🙏Thank you for relating this great story and inspiration. I'm an older guy who has had a bass around the house for many years and just recently started to put some time into practice and learning. Started on guitar, too. Very rewarding.
You are dead right..! I'm in my sixties and I always was afraid to get out of my comfort zone in front of an audience. Bringing this to light and to stop comparing myself to one of my hero's can be a tough sell but has to be recognized, dealt with and overcome. Thanks for another great Podcast.
Wow! This is the best lesson I have seen in a long time. I am a good bass player, but until recently, I felt like I was always seeking some form of external validation of my playing. Timing of this video couldn’t have been better. Love your content! Thanks so much fellow super hero!!
I've always done my own thing, I've made myself an expert in everything I do some can't relate at all to the imposter thing... but I LOVE your synth bass stuff and any time anyone asks about synth bass, I tell them to checkout your stuff. I really enjoy your playing and presentations on SBL, youre one of my favorite musicians so keep up the great work! Youre like the bass version of Tim Pierce 🙂
This is the most beautiful video I've ever seen. It is the greatest teaching that can be given to a musician of any level.
I love your content Ian, you play and speak from the heart, you're not trying to sell anybody anything. So refreshing. Also the best taste in music and tones
Love this. The way I really like to think about this is that no one is an imposter because everyone is one. You never get to a point in what you do where you have everything down perfectly.
This story reminds me of the first song I learned on bass. I had been playing guitar and taking lesson for a few years. The band I was in wanted me to start picking up bass. They picked a really easy song for me to learn on bass. I practice really hard with the song so I would be prepared for our next practice session.
We’re playing the song at practice and I’m feeling pretty good about my first time with the band. Then all of a sudden the whole band goes quite. For whatever reason I turn to the drummer and he’s giving me this weird look, like common. Then after a few seconds everyone starts playing again. In all my practicing at home somehow I never noticed that part of the song had a little bass solo. It wasn’t hard I just didn’t realize when practicing that it was a solo, and sometimes when it’s a bass solo the rest of the band will go quite. The drummer was trying to give me the look of dude play, this is your time. I just didn’t get what was going on. 😅
Thanks so much for sharing this. It's so comforting to hear that pro's feel like this and are human too!
I needed this ,I have been playing bass since I was 16,now 54 , I started playing after hearing Iron Maidens Piece of Mind album,I hate playing songs where I have to sit on one or two notes for the whole song so I throw in little runs to keep myself busy, not many bands want someone like that unfortunately, it sucks but I am who I am.
Magnificent Ian. So good man and I swear you were talking right to me. Thank you!
Ian , you're a real inspiration to me
Well put and never looked at it that way in any of those scenarios
Thanks for all you do and share Scott!!
I'm a keyboard player, and this is probably the most relatable video so far for me. I'm 57 and my first proper stage time as a synth player(musically),was back in 1996. Totally a disaster for my set, but know one else realized. Someone unplugged my rig and all my patches were gone, so I improvised for the time I had. I was lucky to have been a speaker for my mountain bike club, so was ok in front of people already. Tracking vocals for the first time ATM. Always learning something, and this is important for people to learn their voices of expression.
I had a panic attack while trying to practice today. 7 years of undergrad and I honestly can't stop thinking that I'm a failure for not graduating sooner. It may not be imposter syndrome exactly but it's definitely holding me back from music
I have been a professional bassist for many years - At 40 I stumbled into a long form comedy improv class. Studying improv - which at its core is all about true, egoless, collaboration. This ended my impostor syndrome. Because now it's always ALL ABOUT THE MUSIC.
The crappy thing about imposter syndrome, is that it effects every corner of my life. In my head, I think I suck at everything and there is always someone better than me, at everything.
Mate, I can tell you, you're not alone with this one! I'm 60+ years old and I totally relate what's been said in this video.
As for the last sentence, realizing it is probably the best one can do. There will ALWAYS be someone better than you. But the thing is, you also are better than someone else, you have something in which you're good at (and by "you" of course I mean: "we", everyone). As bassists, and as persons. It's a self esteem issue, believe me, I KNOW about that. All we can do about it is do our own thing, as best we know, and realize it's GOOD, and it's not a competition: there will always be that jazzy bassist that can play 5 minute solos, and we're not him, we are OURSELVES, but there's also that guy that focus so much on technique, he forgot playing with passion, and thus is boring.
Social media does that to people, it profits on insecurity. The key is to just enjoy what you're doing it, because you're doing it for yourself.
The MOST VALUABLE VIDEO EVER! 🙌🏼 Technique is important but finding, respecting and being proud of YOUR VOICE, your uniqueness, is priceless. Many thanks Ian for openly talking about this. This is real world in a bass player life. Now I know this is common even for my bass heroes 😎❣️
Thanks man , great advice. As a novice player, I used to be nervous about making mistakes and did the same thing. Overthought everything. Now I simply play through and turn it into a mini solo. Lol. Now my band mates want me to play more solos....OH no!... lol
I watch the SBL vids and have a membership as well. This morning as I was thumbing through, I saw this video and shared it on Facebook as an existential post about being yourself and how this mentality helps with that.
Bravo and thank you!
Very much appreciated Mr. Ian 👍
That self-doubt thing is no joke. The second half of your story, the Jonathan Maron part, really hit home. The self deprecation and half-assed excuses. In my case it wasn't synth pedals, but having wrong or uncool musical influences 😂. Thanks again mate.
The bass player in my band sent this to all of us. We’re playing a show in Nashville next month and we all expressed this thing of how equally cool and terrifying it’s going to be to play in front of a crowd of ‘real’ musicians… you know the ‘pros’ that will likely be there that will likely be able to see all the flaws in our playing. This is a great word of encouragement to play with the skill and personality that we have as individuals. Great word!
Really hit the nail on the head. So true and a huge help knowing that I'm not alone.
Wow, that was awesome!! I'm not even currently studying bass, but I can see this applied in so many ways in life.
I really dug this message, Ian. Thanks. For years I've been leaning on my right hand technique and people hire me because of the rhythm it provides, but I feel like my fills and soloing suck. Thanks for putting it in my head that my sound is my sound and if that's why people like my playing, then hey...that's just fine with me now. Thanks again.
HI Ian, thank you so much for this video. It spoke to me on so many levels as it is not just to find your voice when you express yourself musically. It is finding your voice also generally and express yourself and BE who you really ARE. Thank you. Keep on vibin'
Beautiful message you're conveying here...
Great video! It's so nice, for me, to know that players of your talent have these same feelings. Playing is a very personal thing. Overthinking can be a creativity killer. Thank you!
I needed to hear this (not in regards to bass playing), but because I often feel the imposter syndrome in other areas of life. Thank you for giving me another perspective to think about.
Always appreciate this sort of advice from Ian. I think most of us bassists need to learn to get out of our own way!
When are the scott and Ian podcasts coming back? I miss bass dad chat!
A few months ago, and after 3 years playing the bass, I started playing in a small blues group. Although I had been playing other instruments in groups for years, this was my first time playing bass in a small group. I was so self conscious, my brain was clogging my ability to play, my fingers were stiff. After a few practices with the group, I started enjoying myself and forgetting about the stress. I figured, the worst that could happen was that I would be asked to leave the group. But instead, I started receiving compliments for my playing (!!), I couldn't believe it. The takeaway for me is as follows: just think of the music and the rest will come. Of course, woodshedding the parts helps a lot too. Thank Ian for another great video.
Hey Ian, I think that's one of the most helpful videos I've ever seen on TH-cam. Thank you. Funny that you are self-conscious about your playing. You are light years ahead of most of us. I was saying to myself the other day, one of my goals for my bass playing is to get good enough to go into a really good bass shop and play in instrument off the shelf without embarrassing myself. Maybe we all have imposter syndrome. Maybe I need to play this video every day until it takes root.
absolutely great, you are so open, which is so powerful!
Thanks. Always get plenty of tips and good thought food with your capsules. Love from Canada.
Man, that’s quite humble and inspiring! So glad to see that cool guys are still humans (or superheroes) just like many of us bedroom bass players.
I'm 34.....been playing since I was 16, and it took me up until about 2-3 years ago to finally get past the imposter syndrome feeling and find my voice. Where you like playing synths, I've always loved echo and delay soaked ambient stuff, and it took ONE PERSON (my wife) hearing a playback of something I did going "that's gorgeous, who is this??" For it to click for me that, yes I'm worthy of a compliment and praise (I've always been TERRIBLE at receiving either).......thanks for the video man, really hit home
This is a great story. Something you could apply to many aspects of life!
Thank you.
Perfect timing for me. I needed to hear this, thank you :)
Well said! You hit this one 'Outta the park!' Thanks :)
I’ve been playing bass with a hammer for years. I was hoping no one else would figure out my technique. Oh well…
Seriously though, someone should write a book on the psychology of playing music, specifically bass. It’s a fascinating subject. Well done!
I love playing clean, simple, old country bass lines (think Waylon Jennings’s Black Rose). I love playing those songs and I think I’m pretty good at it. I also feel ashamed about it because those lines are pretty easy and simple.
But I love it and it speaks to me.
Thanks for making this, Ian.
I like to reach people with music. A good song and a good groove are worth more than outplaying other musicians.
That’s the content I think people need the most. Amazing job!
Just like as a drummer I’ve never aspired to sing or be a front man but last year for several months I found myself in a gigging band that I was singing and playing drums in. It was terrifying and exciting all at once. I have a whole new respect!
Awesome video. I'm not pro, I'm just a very passionate bass player who started playing in 1994. Almost 30 years and I can't slap. I like it but can't do it, never took serious lessons in order to get good at it. But I know my stuff on bass. But during gigs I'm always afraid that some bass player is in the crowd and making fun of my playing. But the right thing to do is HAVE FUN PLAYING. I do play for myself and if the people watching enjoy it then good, otherwise I guess I'll be better next time. Sometimes I'm even afraid that my bandmates expect more from my playing. But then I realize it's all in my head. Paranoid thoughts. Thanks for the video. Very good stuff to think about
Thank you brother. These words will help me in many aspects of my life. I needed to hear this.
Could possibly be the best bass instruction video out there! 🎸
So glad to hear this. These kinds of topics are becoming the most interesting to me, more than physical technique. Gaining technique and knowledge is great but deploying it requires the right attitude. But what is the right attitude?
Imagine any artist you admire. It could be Picasso, Charlie Parker, it doesn't matter. What do they have to use? Jimi Hendrix' hand is not fundamentally different from your hand. Even his brain is built from the same blueprint as the rest of us. So what is different? It might be largely the attitude of confidence. Now the question becomes "where does that confidence come from?".How do we live in a way that nurtures our creativity?
I love your channel!! Awesome material to sink in..It’s all about the groove!!
Nice to hear !
Thanks Scott .
🙏🏾😎
This is one of the most valuable pieces of content I've ever seen/heard
Very insightful.
Instead of being the next someone else, be the first and only you.
There was this band that my band had made friends with and we were opening for them a few shows, and their bass player, he was just fucking rad; he always stole the show at their gigs, and I thought , this guy is the best bass player on a local scene that I’ve ever seen.
The thing is I’m the same kind of bass player, people always love me at shows , I don’t know , I’m just like all over the place , type of guy who had to buy a wireless system because I was kicking the chord out of my bass several times per show.
But I thought this guy was in a league of his own, and one night me and him end up doing a bunch of coke and we end up in this bar, you know, talking our asses off, and I told him what I thought, I said you’re maybe the best local bass player I’ve ever seen,
And he was like “Dude, that’s what I think about you” and he starts humming one of my baseline and he’s like “you know , I wish I could come up with shit like that, and you’ve got the stage thing down too , it’s impressive as fuck” and I couldn’t believe it. We ended up agreeing that we must both be on the same level .It was maybe the highlight of my not very storied career as a bass player. I will always remember that night, and I just realized that it’s possible he could watch these videos too, and I haven’t spoke to him in about 15 years. So Zibbi, if you ever read this , you’re the man , thank you for that .