This was great to hear you talking about the way that music works for you! However, the song that you play for the outro is mesmerizingly beautiful. The way that the melody flows back and forth between the registers, I love it. To write like that with a bass, is DEFINITELY a goal!
I completely agree with the approach of just "playing whatever and whenever you feel". I mostly play 6-string guitar (with a bit of bass guitar) and I will occasionally try to learn some riff or other bits of an existing song from a band I like, but 95% of the time I'm just jamming and riffing to whatever suits my fancy within the moment. I find this keeps me relaxed during my play session and I can avoid those moments of frustration when I'm not nailing a "known riff" of someone else's music. With this loose approach, I find I end my play sessions with a higher degree of satisfaction and a feeling of "that was fun". My brother is starting out on bass and that was one of the first pieces of advice I gave him: "Just play whatever makes you feel good and don't stress over not mastering your favorite band's songs."
Yes, I completely agree. Music is my language too. It's a way of life!!! When I want to play I do it with all my pleasure. I have no teacher. I like to teach myself. I practice what I want. Music is some special feeling coming from heart and mind. When you are playing now. Thanks for video. Great to know this.
So agree with all you say here particularly taking a break from something and returning to it later. You can't force your brain and I think artistic and creative minds especially. Even scientific minds are creative and have to be managed creatively not forced to do something. Fantastic video Cici. Thank You little sis.
I just sit down in front of the TV box and play through scales , then chords , then I'll play along to any music that randomly comes on the televisual unit . I've never ever learnt a song in my life , but I can play along to 99% of anything I listen to because theory 👍
You've got a natural musical ear, most of us have to work at that so congratulations :). Being able to hear some music and then play it is a wonderful thing, wish i had it. Yes i think a Q and A is a good idea. Thanks for this informative video.
I completely agree with everything you said in this video! 😁 I’m terrible learning things by numbers, or being taught by a book! Over the last nearly 20 years, I’ve taught myself guitar, rhythm and a bit of lead, piano, bass and harmonica all by ear, or good old trial and error 😉 I find it almost impossible to get good results by learning the “conventional” way. Thanks for putting this out, love all the content that you and Mr Dave put out ❤️👍
I can absolutely relate to that! Thanks so much for the lovely comment, it’s really interesting to hear how other people work :) I’m really glad you’re enjoying the videos
Few tips i learned over the years Cici, 1. Practising every day makes you not good - but legendary 2. Sing every day - and push your voice till you cant sing anymore 3. Learn how to play as many of the songs that inspire you as you can - and the lyrics 4. Make voice notes - and write lyrics 5. Meditate - and do breath work like wim hof method, a stressed mind can never make nice music ❤️ Best of luck cici
It’s a very good way or putting this “practice “ Régime,if you practice when you’re not really wanting to,but you feel you have to,then it becomes a chore and no one wants to do chores I watch your video’s and live posts and find you have definite affinity with your guitars,which is fab,well done you,I wish you happiness when you play and keep up tho
You talked about so many things that I relate to on my guitar. Especially when it comes to reading a wall of numbers etc. My English grammar is pretty good when warranted, but my numbers and maths constantly humiliate me and put me at such a disadvantage. I almost feel that maybe I've always had Dyscalculia? If that's the correct term? Things blur into one another on a subconscious level and I'll always need a calculator in my job, which is really quite embarrassing as a Draughtsman haha! My confidence and self-flagellation (perhaps the wrong term) is the largest thing holding me back. I'm a lot older than TH-cam itself and guitaring culture was so much simpler back then haha. Let me qualify that. TH-cam musicians are a double edged sword for someone like me. On one hand, I watch many of you amazing young people produce the most mind-bending and virtuosic performances and I fall under the spell of your skills and writing abilities. I subscribe and I consistently watch. The performances make me smile and feel really inspired, especially when its someone a lot younger than me. Again, context, so that that doesn't sound super creepy haha. What I mean is that when a young person is SO talented, without that many years of playing behind them it is beyond impressive. It gives hope for the future, thinking wow if they're THAT good in their early 20s etc, then imagine how amazing they're going to be in their 40s and 50s! People wondering why the radio and music is generally SO awful these days, compared to previous decades...its because you're all on TH-cam now haha and the dregs generally get record contracts! :P But then, back to the sword, the other side kicks in and I realise that I can NEVER be a Dave Simpson, or like a Jared Dines, a Cici Bass or one of many other hundreds of TH-cam musicians that I will have watched in the past. Its just too late for my old brain to sponge those kinds of skills up. I never could reach your levels because I always second guessed and doubted myself and listened way too much to criticism, spent not enough time spending time around and learning from better, more supportive musicians. Therefore, my practice regimes always fell by the wayside and I didn't want people to listen to me play, because I never COULD be that other person who was always going to be better. But that's on me, that's my fault for giving in to the negative voices in my head and in real life from others haha ! Sorry, that was a tangent, but I was trying to explain my lack of a practice regime, through lack of confidence, energy and belief. I am easily discouraged and it is an incredibly difficult wall to traverse. Cici, I'm not sure if you've already done a video on it before, but would you consider a video on how you rise above negativity, whether internally or from outside influences ? As incredible a player as you are, I am sure even the world's greatest have had to address some kind of unwarranted criticism in the past. How do you cope with any knock to your self belief as a musician, no matter how worthless the negativity might be ?
I love the sister videos . One thing I found intriguing about this video was the way you contrasted "spidery" vs "dextrous". I'd be interested to hear your thoughts on the the perceived differences between the two. Excellent content... thought provoking in an intuitive sense...
I've learning some scales lately to try and improve in my bass playing wish I could remember them though, interesting video cici, thanks for sharing how you understand music 😊👍
Aha! There's the answer to my questions on the video I listened to the other day. :D Ear training without formal ear training, with all the points needed to reverse engineer. And yes, everyone does need time away for the brain to process and wire the memory. The science explanation (from neurology) is what you will find if you do a search for the word myelination.
Thanks for the video. I’ve always failed with ‘lessons’ because my brain (especially since developing epilepsy) doesn’t work in that way. I tend to learn songs parrot fashion by ear, and by watching what someone’s fingers are doing. Frequently I’ll pick up on something like: “Oh, that’s like the ‘such and such a song’ motif!”
Dang girl … our thoughts are so aligned on this! And I never let a day go by without tapping on a handpan 🛸 and picking up a flute. I leave all my instruments out and set up to play, so that way there is no excuse. And as I pass by them, I just tap on them…It may only be for 30 seconds… Or perhaps 30 minutes… or perhaps even an hour and a half. It just depends on how the music pulls me in. I can easily get lost in it. But the daily play thing? Even if just for 5 minutes ….yeah….I’m a big proponent of that because it definitely makes a difference …. 🤗🛸🎶🦋
I think a Q&A might be a fantastic idea! Personally, I'd love to know how you create the ambient sound of the Moth. I am looking to get my first bass pedal and really love the ambient sounds you create in some of your videos. Would it be rude to ask what pedal (if any) you use? 😀 kindest regards Sam
I am a lot like you I practice and play when I feel like it and sometimes I will play hrs everyday and then sometimes I won't play for days it really just depends on how I feel. I hate having to force my self to play. But I also will buckle down to learn a new song or riff and make sure I always know all my songs in a set list for live shows and can play then very well with out having to think about it.
I'm a really new guitarist - only about 7 months into lessons - so I don't have the same level of skill as you. So I think a few of the things are the same and some are different. So for me, I also don't have a specific time that I practice, but I do have a regime in opposition to you. So I start with 15 minutes of going over the stuff that I'm learning in lessons, then I do 15 minutes of trying to learn something new that I'm not learning in lessons (so for example, my teacher is really averse to teaching specific songs for the most part, so I try and learn songs, at the moment it's Tears for Fears's Everybody Wants To Rule The World) and then if I feel frustrated at the end of that cause I'm not getting it or something, then I'll noodle for a few minutes with things that I already know (which can turn in to an hour long noodle if I really get into it!😂) but if I feel productive, I won't force myself to noodle.
So Queenie, I was right all along - you don't have a practice routine and the magic does simply flow out through your fingers. Your cryptic reply yesterday makes sense now. You little trickster you! 😁. PS. Moth 👍👍👍
Hahaha you made my morning. That’s very kind of you to say, thank you :) P.S I love your username, and it reminds me of the Rammstein keyboardist haha!
A friend of mine who is a decent bass player said he likes bass played by fingers and thumb rather than plectrum, and that is mainly how you play. That doesn't mean a pick is wrong as such but a pick can give a more attacking sound maybe but finger plucking gives a more natural smoother sound and is maybe more controllable? I prefer bass played by plucking and strumming anyway, and you mostly do that. I agree tying yourself down to rigid practice is not for all but may work for some and I agree learning to play songs, or along to songs is a good way to learn. One thing you have that I don't, is a good ear and visualisation of sound/music, and that to me suggests natural ability! Thanks for your thoughts on practice.
Hey ... as long it works , right ? I have not played in my own bedroom at all because I can’t I get too comfy to jam , I’ve tried tried it couple times over my life span and nope it’s not happening I tend to go to sleep 😴 Zzzz , anywhere else no issues. An old GF wanted to hear me play in my bedroom and I couldn’t perform for her then poof she split , Upside about that story is I slept good that night , if she would’ve only waited till morning like I stated ~ oh well.
My brain works the opposite from yours. I learn in a logical way and write everything down. But I could relate to it a LOT. I practice what I'm in the mood for that day and don't force it when I can't do it yet. I do online guitar courses and books, so it's very structured, but in a free way, with a lot of variety, I found out that's what turns on my brain. I never had formal guitar lessons, it would be a nightmare to be forced to think in the teachers thinking pattern. Then I would start to hate it and now Im having so much fun and improve a little every day. How many years have you been playing? and did you ever took lessons with a teacher?
That’s so interesting! It seems like we’re actually quite similar in a strange kind of way haha! :) I did have lessons, but they were very informal and freeform so it worked perfectly!
Well, if we were to be really picky, it would be ‘Regimen’, rather than ‘Regiment’, as ‘Regiment’ usually refers to an army unit. ‘Regime’ can refer to both a systematic approach to something, as well as a government. ‘Regimen’ most commonly refers to a systematic approach to something, but ‘Regime’ is most commonly used for both in Britain. But hey I’m a musician and not an English teacher haha! :)
You’re right, creatives don’t like being told what to do! 😂 you’re a perfect example of a creative person that just likes to go with the flow. Where the music takes you. 😊And just listen to the beautiful playing that comes from those fingers 😎 ps have you checked out Yvette young yet?? 😂😂
This was great to hear you talking about the way that music works for you!
However, the song that you play for the outro is mesmerizingly beautiful. The way that the melody flows back and forth between the registers, I love it. To write like that with a bass, is DEFINITELY a goal!
I completely agree with the approach of just "playing whatever and whenever you feel". I mostly play 6-string guitar (with a bit of bass guitar) and I will occasionally try to learn some riff or other bits of an existing song from a band I like, but 95% of the time I'm just jamming and riffing to whatever suits my fancy within the moment. I find this keeps me relaxed during my play session and I can avoid those moments of frustration when I'm not nailing a "known riff" of someone else's music. With this loose approach, I find I end my play sessions with a higher degree of satisfaction and a feeling of "that was fun".
My brother is starting out on bass and that was one of the first pieces of advice I gave him: "Just play whatever makes you feel good and don't stress over not mastering your favorite band's songs."
These thoughts are deep, smart, and beautiful. Thanks for sharing.
Yes, I completely agree. Music is my language too. It's a way of life!!! When I want to play I do it with all my pleasure. I have no teacher. I like to teach myself. I practice what I want. Music is some special feeling coming from heart and mind. When you are playing now. Thanks for video. Great to know this.
So agree with all you say here particularly taking a break from something and returning to it later. You can't force your brain and I think artistic and creative minds especially. Even scientific minds are creative and have to be managed creatively not forced to do something. Fantastic video Cici. Thank You little sis.
I just sit down in front of the TV box and play through scales , then chords , then I'll play along to any music that randomly comes on the televisual unit . I've never ever learnt a song in my life , but I can play along to 99% of anything I listen to because theory 👍
You've got a natural musical ear, most of us have to work at that so congratulations :). Being able to hear some music and then play it is a wonderful thing, wish i had it. Yes i think a Q and A is a good idea. Thanks for this informative video.
I completely agree with everything you said in this video! 😁 I’m terrible learning things by numbers, or being taught by a book! Over the last nearly 20 years, I’ve taught myself guitar, rhythm and a bit of lead, piano, bass and harmonica all by ear, or good old trial and error 😉 I find it almost impossible to get good results by learning the “conventional” way. Thanks for putting this out, love all the content that you and Mr Dave put out ❤️👍
I can absolutely relate to that! Thanks so much for the lovely comment, it’s really interesting to hear how other people work :) I’m really glad you’re enjoying the videos
Few tips i learned over the years Cici,
1. Practising every day makes you not good - but legendary
2. Sing every day - and push your voice till you cant sing anymore
3. Learn how to play as many of the songs that inspire you as you can - and the lyrics
4. Make voice notes - and write lyrics
5. Meditate - and do breath work like wim hof method, a stressed mind can never make nice music
❤️ Best of luck cici
It’s a very good way or putting this “practice “
Régime,if you practice when you’re not really wanting to,but you feel you have to,then it becomes a chore and no one wants to do chores
I watch your video’s and live posts and find you have definite affinity with your guitars,which is fab,well done you,I wish you happiness when you play and keep up tho
Cool video, Cici! You have such a great philosophy!
Thank you so much Vad, I’m so glad you think so! :)
Loved that piece of music you played at the end👍
Thank you so much! I’m really glad you enjoyed it :)
You talked about so many things that I relate to on my guitar. Especially when it comes to reading a wall of numbers etc. My English grammar is pretty good when warranted, but my numbers and maths constantly humiliate me and put me at such a disadvantage. I almost feel that maybe I've always had Dyscalculia? If that's the correct term? Things blur into one another on a subconscious level and I'll always need a calculator in my job, which is really quite embarrassing as a Draughtsman haha!
My confidence and self-flagellation (perhaps the wrong term) is the largest thing holding me back. I'm a lot older than TH-cam itself and guitaring culture was so much simpler back then haha. Let me qualify that. TH-cam musicians are a double edged sword for someone like me. On one hand, I watch many of you amazing young people produce the most mind-bending and virtuosic performances and I fall under the spell of your skills and writing abilities. I subscribe and I consistently watch. The performances make me smile and feel really inspired, especially when its someone a lot younger than me. Again, context, so that that doesn't sound super creepy haha. What I mean is that when a young person is SO talented, without that many years of playing behind them it is beyond impressive. It gives hope for the future, thinking wow if they're THAT good in their early 20s etc, then imagine how amazing they're going to be in their 40s and 50s! People wondering why the radio and music is generally SO awful these days, compared to previous decades...its because you're all on TH-cam now haha and the dregs generally get record contracts! :P
But then, back to the sword, the other side kicks in and I realise that I can NEVER be a Dave Simpson, or like a Jared Dines, a Cici Bass or one of many other hundreds of TH-cam musicians that I will have watched in the past. Its just too late for my old brain to sponge those kinds of skills up. I never could reach your levels because I always second guessed and doubted myself and listened way too much to criticism, spent not enough time spending time around and learning from better, more supportive musicians. Therefore, my practice regimes always fell by the wayside and I didn't want people to listen to me play, because I never COULD be that other person who was always going to be better. But that's on me, that's my fault for giving in to the negative voices in my head and in real life from others haha !
Sorry, that was a tangent, but I was trying to explain my lack of a practice regime, through lack of confidence, energy and belief. I am easily discouraged and it is an incredibly difficult wall to traverse.
Cici, I'm not sure if you've already done a video on it before, but would you consider a video on how you rise above negativity, whether internally or from outside influences ? As incredible a player as you are, I am sure even the world's greatest have had to address some kind of unwarranted criticism in the past. How do you cope with any knock to your self belief as a musician, no matter how worthless the negativity might be ?
another awesome video CiCi,cheers from Tuscaloosa,Al.!!!!!!!!!!!!
I love the sister videos . One thing I found intriguing about this video was the way you contrasted "spidery" vs "dextrous". I'd be interested to hear your thoughts on the the perceived differences between the two. Excellent content... thought provoking in an intuitive sense...
I've learning some scales lately to try and improve in my bass playing wish I could remember them though, interesting video cici, thanks for sharing how you understand music 😊👍
Aha! There's the answer to my questions on the video I listened to the other day. :D
Ear training without formal ear training, with all the points needed to reverse engineer.
And yes, everyone does need time away for the brain to process and wire the memory. The science explanation (from neurology) is what you will find if you do a search for the word myelination.
Thanks for the video. I’ve always failed with ‘lessons’ because my brain (especially since developing epilepsy) doesn’t work in that way. I tend to learn songs parrot fashion by ear, and by watching what someone’s fingers are doing. Frequently I’ll pick up on something like: “Oh, that’s like the ‘such and such a song’ motif!”
Thanks so much for watching :) Haha that is so much like how I work too! You’re definitely not alone there!
Dang girl … our thoughts are so aligned on this! And I never let a day go by without tapping on a handpan 🛸 and picking up a flute. I leave all my instruments out and set up to play, so that way there is no excuse. And as I pass by them, I just tap on them…It may only be for 30 seconds… Or perhaps 30 minutes… or perhaps even an hour and a half. It just depends on how the music pulls me in. I can easily get lost in it. But the daily play thing? Even if just for 5 minutes ….yeah….I’m a big proponent of that because it definitely makes a difference …. 🤗🛸🎶🦋
Ahh amazing!! I’m somehow not surprised that we have all this in common as well! So cool to hear yours and other people’s approach to things :)
I think a Q&A might be a fantastic idea! Personally, I'd love to know how you create the ambient sound of the Moth. I am looking to get my first bass pedal and really love the ambient sounds you create in some of your videos. Would it be rude to ask what pedal (if any) you use? 😀 kindest regards Sam
I am a lot like you I practice and play when I feel like it and sometimes I will play hrs everyday and then sometimes I won't play for days it really just depends on how I feel. I hate having to force my self to play. But I also will buckle down to learn a new song or riff and make sure I always know all my songs in a set list for live shows and can play then very well with out having to think about it.
That’s so interesting to know! We definitely are very similar :)
I'm a really new guitarist - only about 7 months into lessons - so I don't have the same level of skill as you. So I think a few of the things are the same and some are different. So for me, I also don't have a specific time that I practice, but I do have a regime in opposition to you. So I start with 15 minutes of going over the stuff that I'm learning in lessons, then I do 15 minutes of trying to learn something new that I'm not learning in lessons (so for example, my teacher is really averse to teaching specific songs for the most part, so I try and learn songs, at the moment it's Tears for Fears's Everybody Wants To Rule The World) and then if I feel frustrated at the end of that cause I'm not getting it or something, then I'll noodle for a few minutes with things that I already know (which can turn in to an hour long noodle if I really get into it!😂) but if I feel productive, I won't force myself to noodle.
Right off the bat, " my brain hates rules ", me, yeeeesssssss!!!
So Queenie, I was right all along - you don't have a practice routine and the magic does simply flow out through your fingers. Your cryptic reply yesterday makes sense now. You little trickster you! 😁. PS. Moth 👍👍👍
"My brain hates rules... "😅😅😅🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣😁😂😎👍
Congrats from France!
Hahaha! Thank you so much :)
at 14:00 she is literally explaining how she has super powers i dont get how someone one can be that talented
Hahaha you made my morning. That’s very kind of you to say, thank you :) P.S I love your username, and it reminds me of the Rammstein keyboardist haha!
Great video Cici, that was an awesome insight 😀🤘🎵🔥🔥🔥
Thank you so much Adam! I’m so happy to hear that! :)
A friend of mine who is a decent bass player said he likes bass played by fingers and thumb rather than plectrum, and that is mainly how you play. That doesn't mean a pick is wrong as such but a pick can give a more attacking sound maybe but finger plucking gives a more natural smoother sound and is maybe more controllable?
I prefer bass played by plucking and strumming anyway, and you mostly do that. I agree tying yourself down to rigid practice is not for all but may work for some and I agree learning to play songs, or along to songs is a good way to learn. One thing you have that I don't, is a good ear and visualisation of sound/music, and that to me suggests natural ability!
Thanks for your thoughts on practice.
Nice Video!
Greetings from Germany
Danke schön! Ich bin wirklich froh dass es dir gefallen hat! :)
Are you in a practice studio? Looks really nice ..
It’s my sister’s old bedroom Haha!!
Hey ... as long it works , right ? I have not played in my own bedroom at all because I can’t I get too comfy to jam , I’ve tried tried it couple times over my life span and nope it’s not happening I tend to go to sleep 😴 Zzzz , anywhere else no issues.
An old GF wanted to hear me play in my bedroom and I couldn’t perform for her then poof she split , Upside about that story is I slept good that night , if she would’ve only waited till morning like I stated ~ oh well.
My brain works the opposite from yours. I learn in a logical way and write everything down. But I could relate to it a LOT. I practice what I'm in the mood for that day and don't force it when I can't do it yet. I do online guitar courses and books, so it's very structured, but in a free way, with a lot of variety, I found out that's what turns on my brain. I never had formal guitar lessons, it would be a nightmare to be forced to think in the teachers thinking pattern. Then I would start to hate it and now Im having so much fun and improve a little every day. How many years have you been playing? and did you ever took lessons with a teacher?
That’s so interesting! It seems like we’re actually quite similar in a strange kind of way haha! :) I did have lessons, but they were very informal and freeform so it worked perfectly!
It's okay USA state of Illinois archcilla know what's up 😜 I play the same way for 42 years live live un dead
Yeah ,, keep up with the video,syou are an inspiration
Be safe
S
Have I told you lately how wonderfully talented and important you are...?
You ARE😉😎👍
😎👍❤😞
You need to watch Victor Wooten's video on practicing. He is pretty much saying the same thing about practicing.
🤘❤
The word you’re looking for is “regiment”
Well, if we were to be really picky, it would be ‘Regimen’, rather than ‘Regiment’, as ‘Regiment’ usually refers to an army unit.
‘Regime’ can refer to both a systematic approach to something, as well as a government.
‘Regimen’ most commonly refers to a systematic approach to something, but ‘Regime’ is most commonly used for both in Britain.
But hey I’m a musician and not an English teacher haha! :)
Great video ❤️
Thank you so much! I’m so glad you enjoyed it :)
You’re right, creatives don’t like being told what to do! 😂 you’re a perfect example of a creative person that just likes to go with the flow. Where the music takes you. 😊And just listen to the beautiful playing that comes from those fingers 😎 ps have you checked out Yvette young yet?? 😂😂
Cool 😎 herd the playing 🎴
👍
Hey Queenie! Hope your doing well!
Hey James! All good here thank you, hope you are too? :)
😃😃😃