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Finding Your Own Voice – The Inner Critic by Jimi Durso
In my most recent performance with Coincidence Machine, I was reminded again of the power of the inner critic. We all have one. It’s that voice in your head that tells you your line doesn’t groove, or that what you came up with isn’t hip enough, is too unusual, or too conventional, or whatever else you find wrong with your own playing. In order to be a creative bass player you need to come to terms with this aspect of yourself.
Some have recommended silencing this voice (though the earliest person I know of to speak on this was Maxwell Maltz in his system of “psycho-cybernetics”, my first exposure to the concept was at a seminar led by trombonist Ray Anderson) but the inner critic isn’t all bad. It’s the voice that tells you that you need to improve your intonation, or that you’re rushing the time, and many other weaknesses that without the aid of the inner critic you’d likely just leave alone (and never become the beat musician you can be).
But this critic becomes an issue when it disallows you from reaching your full potential, preventing you from exploring the vast wealth of possibilities that you can conceive of. This is why some say to “silence the inner critic”. Especially since, in a playing situation, you don’t generally have time to be arguing with yourself, or constantly passing judgment on what you’re trying to do in the moment.
The problem with this is that it’s next to impossible, and not really necessary (especially in light of the good things the inner critic does for us) to silence. I’d say it’s more a matter of learning to use this inner voice as a collaborator but not give it too much power.
For instance: imagine that you’re at a jam session and you’re struck with an idea, but it’s a bit unconventional. You’re inner critic may rise up and exclaim, “If you play that these people will think you’re too avant-garde”. This may even be true, but if you keep deferring to the judgment of your inner critic, you may find that it starts taking more and more control and you put yourself into a box (and one that continually gets smaller). Something I find useful is to acknowledge the inner critic, but treat what is about to happen as a sort of science experiment (e.g. “Let’s see if they do find this too avant-garde or not”). What I’ve found is that most of the time my inner critic is far more conservative than the people it’s afraid of alienating. As this continued, the inner voice started becoming less imposing (saying “This may be too unusual for this group” rather than “This will be too way-out and these guys will never want to play with you again”).
Over time you may find that your inner critic becomes more of a friend than an adversary, and you may start to enjoy discovering which ideas of yours really work and which ones don’t (in your own opinion). And every time you choose to do something that’s uniquely you, and the players and/or audience reward you for it, those inner criticisms become less stifling.
Gear News
New Gear: Alberto Rigoni Signature Bass, the VPR5 by Gaetano Costanzo!
Alberto Rigoni Signature Bass, the VPR5 by Gaetano Costanzo!
Internationally renowned bassist ALBERTO RIGONI (soloist, BAD AS, Vivaldi Metal Project, TwinSpirits, etc.) is proud to announce the release of his signature bass VPR5 made by renowned Italian luthier Gaetano Costanzo!
The bass is entirely handmade in Italy, without the use of CNC or other machinery, and has rather special features. The VPR is a 5-string bass (but also available as a 4-string) with 30 frets, Seymour Duncan pickups, Music Man Alnico style, passive electronics (volume, tone and a switch to select series/parallel/single-coil mode), alder body, and American maple neck and fingerboard. Gotoh tuners that ensure perfect intonation. The bass is totally painted white (nitro finish) but other colors can be requested. The VPR has a weight of about 2.9 kg and suitable for any genre.
For more information contact Gaetanobass77@gmail.com or visit online at www.instagram.com/gaetanocostanzoluthier or www.facebook.com/GaetanoCostanzoLuthier
Bass Videos
Interview With Bassist Graham Stanush
Bassist Graham Stanush…
Return to Dust is keeping Grunge alive and well! They have a new self-titled album that went out on May 3rd, 2024 and will be super busy promoting this project in the near future.
Graham Stanush is the bass powerhouse driving their sound and adding vocals to the mix. Join me as we hear all about Graham’s musical journey, details about the new album, how he gets his sound and their plans for the future.
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Bass Videos
Review: CrystalBright Rombo Picks
CrystalBright Rombo Picks
PR SamplePlaying bass with a pick is still a touchy subject in our community. I believe you should be able to use whatever you need to get your sound. Even though I mostly play with my fingers, I like to check out innovative new picks that might have something new to offer, sonically speaking.
Judith and Carlos from Rombo recently contacted me about a new material called CrystalBright that they have been researching for the last 12 months and offered to send some prototype picks. After trying them out, I put together this video with my findings.
For more info check out @rombopicks
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This Week’s Top 10 Basses on Instagram
Check out our top 10 favorite basses on Instagram this week…
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Gear
New Joe Dart Bass From Sterling By Music Man
Sterling by Music Man introduces the Joe Dart Artist Series Bass (“Joe Dart”), named after and designed in collaboration with the celebrated Vulfpeck bassist.
Above photo credit: JORDAN THIBEAUX
This highly-anticipated model marks the debut of the Dart bass in the Sterling by Music Man lineup, paying homage to the Ernie Ball Music Man original that all funk players know and love. The bass embodies many of the original model’s distinctive features, from its iconic minimalist design to the passive electronics.
The design process prioritized reliability, playability, and accessibility at the forefront. Constructed from the timeless Sterling body, the Dart features a slightly smaller neck profile, offering a clean tone within a comfortable package. The body is crafted from soft maple wood for clarity and warmth while the natural finish emphasizes the simple yet unique look.
Engineered for straightforward performance, this passive bass features a ceramic humbucking bridge pickup and a single ‘toaster’ knob for volume control. Reliable with a classic tone, it’s perfect for playing in the pocket. The Dart is strung with the all-new Ernie Ball Stainless Steel Flatwound Electric Bass Strings for the smoothest feel and a mellow sound.
The Sterling by Music Man Joe Dart Bass is a special “Timed Edition” release, exclusively available for order on the Sterling by Music Man website for just one month. Each bass is made to order, with the window closing on May 31st and shipping starting in November. A dedicated countdown timer will indicate the remaining time for purchase on the product page. Additionally, the back of the headstock will be marked with a “2024 Crop” stamp to commemorate the harvest year for this special, one-of-a-kind release.
The Joe Dart Bass is priced at $399.99 (MAP) and can be ordered globally at https://sterlingbymusicman.com/products/joe-dart.
To learn more about Joe Dart, visit the official Vulfpeck artist site here https://www.vulfpeck.com/.
Interview With Bassist Graham Stanush
Review: CrystalBright Rombo Picks
Preparing for Performance with Dr. Randy Kertz
Interview With Bassist Erick “Jesus” Coomes
