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Mistakes and failures--no one wants to hear those words or experience the feelings associated with them. However, to err is human and thus we are all doomed to fail at something at sometime in our lives. Mistakes are setbacks which can be discouraging, but do not need to be the end of whatever quest we are on.

How does this apply to playing bass? The answer is easy--playing any instrument is an art form and many musicians are passionate about their craft. With passion comes a curse--when we fail or make a mistake, we can become frustrated. This is normal.

Many a great person, if you could ask them, would say that their mistakes and failures were the stepping stones to success. If you want to succeed as a musician, be prepared to deal with mistakes and failures.

When I say mistakes, I'm referring to the little things that can rattle our confidence as bassists. Because our instrument is so important to the music, our mistakes can make or break the feel of a song and alert the user that something is wrong. This can be as frustrating as stepping on your cable and unplugging your bass, flubbing a note, missing a cue, or breaking a string. These things, while frustrating, are also teaching moments. The can mold us into great players and be a fantastic learning experience.

As much as we prepare, we must always be ready for the unexpected. We take careful time to prepare our equipment, make checklists, and double check everything, but what about our mindset? What do we do to prepare ourselves for the inevitable? How will you react if your monitor craps out in the middle of a song?

I think the answer lies in mental preparation. We must understand that mistakes will happen (whether or not we can control them) and know how to instinctively work through them without skipping a beat (or at least make a suitable recovery). We must also NEVER allow our failures and mistakes to govern our attitudes. We must learn to press forward and use what we've learned to improve ourselves.

So how do we develop this attitude? That's easy, it's already in you. You simply need to get it out in the open where it can be of use. Frustration is normal in everyday life--so it is with being a musician. Simply let frustration teach you. Experience IS the best teacher.

Dust yourself off and get back in the saddle...

Thanks for your time.

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