You'll always have an "accent", if you started to learn music after your young teens (Marcus Miller)

[piotr_c]

Ha... I saw a recent interview of God Stanley Clarke saying that he was taking a few months off to pratice and take his playing up a few notches... I wonder if this SMV tour got to him and made him want to try more banging techiques...
If the man himself has to practice some more, well EInstein was right with his relativity theory ;-))

[jazzyvee]

Yum riy-it there yam are Glyn, are day think about im.  
Bostin, i'm off fer a kipper tie.
 
lol
Jazzyvee

[tubeperson]

Yes the learning never stops!  Keep on keepin' on.

[bigredbass]

S l a d e  . . . . oh my, my, my, my mis-spent youth, Glynn.  Ah well, G'dby to Jane, and Mama, We're All Crazee Now.  I'll be diggin' out the Humble Pie, Savoy Brown, and Wishbone Ash now.  Sheeeesshhh . . . . . that's it, I'll work on my Brit accent for a while ! ! !  
 
J o e y

[Glynn]

Jazzyvee, are you at Birmingham Arts Fest this year or Rush Hour Blues? Glynn

[jazzyvee]

My band have been offered a spot at the rush hour blues session and one of the bands I play bass in are playing at arts fest this year so I will let you know when.

[kimberly]

Hi Guys,  
 
  Good thread!
 
  To capture the gist of it *from my experience*.    
 
As stated previously, MM has an opinion and I say everyone has one or two or three or four opinions and it's all gonna depend on their/your mood, life experiences, phase of the moon and who knows what else.  Everyone's different is the point and everyone will have their own style/accent based on their background and life experiences.  
 
Can someone improve or learn beyond a certain point/age?  I'd say yes.  Can they change their accent?  I'd say yes again.  
 
For historical background/perspective.
 
I began playing at age 15 and was playing in cover bands by the time I was 17.  I played in bands and stayed on the road for more years than I care to remember.  Nothing serious, just dance cover bands, also known as human Top 40 jukeboxes.  By the time I was in my early 30's I was so burned out, I quit playing completely for 17 years.
 
About 6-7 years ago I rediscovered my love of music.  I tried three bands of different styles and didn't really connect 'inside' where my heart is.  Then one day I saw Wooten on Youtube doing 'Amazing Grace'.  Wow!  Now that was some serious music!  And that was what really got me playing seriously again.  I wanted to play like him.  
 
But....no way I could.  Different style/technique and physical challenges on my part (missing picking hand fingers due to childhood injury) and upside down strings, being 'set in my ways'....
 
Anyway, I started playing around doing what I could do and I grew and grew and grew.  Did I say I grew?  I play nothing like I did 30 odd years ago.  Not even close.  Do I have an accent?  Sure, but *only on certain styles* that go back to my roots.  I'll say for sure, that accent doesn't exist when I'm playing my material as a soloist.  Very, very different style wise, technique wise and mainly heart wise.  
 
To sum it up (finally).  
 
Anyone can learn to play at any age or time in their life.  How good they get is going to depend of *how much they want to* barring physical challenges AND how much they practice.  Someone who practices an hour a week is not going to progress like someone who practices an hour a day seven days a week.  Practice two hours a day, seven days a week.  Three hours....  as many as you can 'afford' with your available time and around your obligations.  You will learn and you will get good.  And you will have an accent, but it won't guide your playing especially as you *progress musically beyond where you started*.  Ask me how I know.  
 
Of course, this is all my opinion guided by everything I've ever done of which most is likely unique to me and me alone.  But....if it worked/works for me, why can't it work for you or anyone else?  
 
Best Regards,
 
Kimberly  

[tubeperson]

Kimberly, you are an outstanding and incredible person.  Keep up your journey in music and life as well.  I am quite inspired to say the least!

[terryc]

My opinion...don't listen to famous people however good they are, just play and enjoy and as far as the accent I bet most of us on here can tell the difference between Miller & Wooton, Jaco and Haslip and King & Clarke.
At the age off 55 I rarely take on board people's opinions 'cos that's what they are..there point of view and no more..now advice..that's a different matter!!

[jacko]

Terry and I are both from the North East so we'll always sound like Jimmy Nail no matter how hard we try :-)
 
Graeme

[terryc]

Wha' aye man, weet ya sayin' there, havna a cloo whit ya taaking aboot marra

[lbpesq]

Historically in baseball, the greatest most gifted players have generally made lousy coaches.  Ted Williams was born as one of the naturally greatest hitters of all time, but he couldn't teach someone else how to hit.  The few who are graced with the special talent often really don't understand how the rest of us operate.  Of course even the most gifted must still work at their craft and practice, practice, practice.  If Marcus Miller means that if you're not born with it, (which naturally manifests at an early age), you can't develop it at a later age, I would agree his position has some validity.  But that doesn't mean someone who doesn't have it inherently can't work their ass off and get damn good at their craft, be it music, baseball, or most everything else.  Pete Rose wasn't born with it, but still became one of the all time great hitters.  
 
Someone sometime told me about the Rule of 10,000. Spend 10,000 hours doing anything and you'll invariably get real good at it.
 
More importantly, most of us do this for reasons other than money.  Many of us make no money at all, but keep playing away.  One doesn't have to have the chops of a Marcus Miller or a Stanley Clarke to have a complete blast playing.  And, ultimately, isn't that why we spend all this money on Alembics and equipment and schlepp it around?  It's fun!
 
Just my lil' ol' opinion.
 
Bill, tgo

[yogalembic]

'Reckon we all should just grab a bass, tune up, and play.  : ))

[yogalembic]

'Reckon we all should just grab a bass, tune up, and play.  : ))
 
And, as Bobby Vega says, Fingers, pick or thumb...just get it done!

[5sicks]

The Peter Principle applies. Once you think you have become adept at something the natural evolution is to try to take the next step. If that next step is inept then return to what you know and work harder at it until you are ready for that next step.