(Thanks to Hardtail in the Guitar Forum)

Below is the audtion requirement list for the position of bass player in the United States Air Force. In my opinion, it is a little bit less stringent than the requirements for guitar, but only by a hair. Anyway, I think it also serves as a great milestone for me to try to achieve despite the fact that my chosen genres are mostly electronic and very aggressive. Maybe you'd feel the same way...so here it is. By the way, they're hiring.

Bass Guitar Audition Requirements

Scales and Arpeggios: Perform all scales and arpeggios from memory throughout the full practical range of the instrument (lowest open string to the 19th fret). Scales may be performed with finger or pick (performer's preference) Minimum tempo for all scales: 16th notes at quarter note = 92.
Diatonic scales: Perform all major, melodic minor and harmonic minor scales.
Chromatic scales: Perform the chromatic scale through the specified range.
Arpeggios: Perform all forms of seventh chords from memory, two octaves, ascending and descending, using two different left hand positions, demonstrating accuracy of intonation and tone. Tempo for all arpeggios: 16th notes at quarter note = 60.

Jazz Profile: Improvise an appropriate bass line and solo for selections in the following categories:
Blues: Blue Monk, blues changes in any key
Rhythm Changes: Anthropology, Wee/Allen's Alley, Salt Peanuts
Standards: All the Things You Are, Joy Spring
Latin: Blue Bossa, Desafinado, The Girl From Ipanema
Ballad: In A Sentimental Mood, 'Round Midnight

Selections are recommend titles. Other appropriate selections may be substituted

Performance Repertoire: Perform excerpts from the band's current performance repertoire similar in difficulty to the following excerpts:
Classical:
Grainger: Molly on the Shore, m 18-27 at quarter note = 112
Smith: Variations on a Hymn by Louis Bourgeios, m 4-23 at quarter note = 132
Sousa: The Stars and Stripes Forever, intro and 1st strain at quarter note = 132

Jazz/Pop: Performed with a minimum of a full rhythm section:
Double bass:
Sister Sadie, 1st 8 bars of the head at quarter note = 176

Electric bass:
Harris: Mira, Mira, meas. 125-145 at half note = 120
Brecker/arr.Taylor: Some Skunk Funk, quarter note = 108
The New Real Book, vol. 3: Dancin' in the Street, quarter note = 132

Classical Solo: Perform a solo demonstrating intonation, rhythmic accuracy, and overall musicianship. Selection chosen by auditionee to demonstrate ability level.
Recommended solo: Eccles: Sonata in G minor (or solo of comparable difficulty)

That doesn't look so different from the standards required at Berklee College for a bass major.
see pages 23-25

Yes, folks, there are lots of people in the real world that you have never heard of who can pass these standards.

Get practicing!

I used to have a sign in my studio saying,

If you don't practice....someone else will!

I'd be willing to bet that there are a lot of players that are signed to major labels in rock bands that couldn't pass those standards.

I'd go so far as to say that the majority of players players in "big name" rock bands couldn't play the bulk of that stuff.

I sure can't.

I think you might be surprised at how well some of these guys play. I always am. Seems like all I ever hear are stories like "yeah man, I was doing the free jazz thing for a couple of years, then I had to sell my upright so I could eat, then a bud calls and..."

Jeremy is right though, there are tons of no name guys that could pass those audition requirements falling down drunk. In fact, I would expect the Air Force to require that you double on electric and acoustic. And be willing to learn tuba (for parades). The Air Force doesn't send their recruits to the Army-Navy School of Music. Their line of thinking is that if you can't play now, you won't be able to play in 6 months. I agree.

Maybe saying that the "majority" of rock guys can't play that stuff is a little harsh. I've met some semi-pro/pro rock players than can seriously play pretty much anything you ask them to.

On the other hand, I've met some guys that lucked into being pro musicians because they were in the right place at the right time. These are guys that were in a band in high school that made it big and they never bothered to learn anything more about their craft.

It's interesting to see what music schools require of you and what you have posted is a great accomplishment for those who want to achieve. Sadly, being able to play all of those things still won't guarantee you a gig!

i went to school for engineering. i think i have an equally accomplished set of skills in that. it stands to reason that to be considered an educated bassist, you should have a demonstrated range of skills.

robb.

I have not met very many people who have had a long career in music who do not have a high range of skills.

Some of these people would have a lot of trouble with those standards and yet can play anything they have ever heard in their lives at the drop of a hat.

And that is a skill which is not listed on the qualifications. Listen to something once. Play it. Improvise on it.

If you haven't got the formal skills, having a great ear and memory will go a long way.

Some people are born with these things but they can be developed.

Great idea to use this as a set of competency goals. I remember that for entrance auditions for music schools everyone played standard solo repertoire from memory - it's interesting (and kind of disappointing) that all the performance rep requirements are full band or orchestral pieces ...



Really?

Every person I know personally who is making a living as a musician is highly competent and is working his/her tail off to be the best player possible, is constantly hustling to get (and keep) gigs, is striving to stay on top of what's happening in the music world. All of these people are driven, or manic even.

Moreover, I know a lot of players who are doing all that and are STILL not making a living playing music. They're supported by spouses, or trust-funded by parents, or living off of other income ...

And I'll go as far as to say that I don't know a single working, full-time musician who isn't good at what they do, and who doesn't have serious skills and talent.

There just aren't enough paying gigs for bad players to get (and keep) them. At least not in this town.

There are some not-so-great players that I play with regularly.

There are usually the band leader (and everyone who works as sideman will groan and nod their head now...tnb....I can hear you from here).

But they do have some serious business skills to constantly keep the band booked....they have showmanship skills which keep the crowd entertained and they usually have an encyclopedic repertoire of tunes. Plus they have a big list of possible sidemen on every instrument and they can either put up with our whining or know who else to call next.

What do you mean, Jeremy? I only work for very talented/qualified/sane band leaders. To suggest that they may lack certain basic skills is blasphemy.

robb got me thinking.....(danger! will robinson! danger!)
My optometry curriculum had a whole lot of important information that I use every day. But it also had a whole lot of information that was totally irrelevant. And there was a third category of information that I don't use at work but served to teach me how to think like an eye doctor. I expect that most other fields also have these three categories. The trouble with life is that you don't really know which ones of these skills/classes/requirements are important and which should have been culled until after you've mastered the whole list.

No shortcuts, so enjoy the process, baby...

Peace
Paul K

I just looked at the military standards again.

They don't look that hard. I would hope that my students can do that after a few years. I'm teaching them all that stuff....it's up to them to practice it.

They seem fairly straightforward to me and I'm no bass-master to put it mildly (wish I'd done a full reply now to have some access to a suitable smiley!). Of course I wouldn't cut the classical side at the moment as I've never tried. Bear in mind that this is the requirements for a job in which you will be paid to play as opposed to college entrance requirements where you will pay tem to learn.

My best friend is that guy. He can't read music and has essentially zero theory knowledge. He can play guitar and piano like a bad mother and he does it all by ear.

Looks like I hit a nerve with the working pros!!!

Let me clarify a little bit.

I've had the opportunity to meet a lot of big name bands. I used to know some of the right people to score invites to after-parties and such.

These are mostly punk bands and hard rock/metal bands. A few of the bass players I've met are wicked players. A few of the guys were in bands that scored record deals when they were 18 or 19. They didn't know much outside of their genre.

I just caught a bit of a military jazz combo playing at some awards ceremony. These guys can play! I just feasted my ears to this 4 piece group doing a sweet version of "Freddie Freeloader". It's got to be a great job where you even get paid to practice. I just couldn't deal with the uniforms, bad haircuts and having to wake up at the crack of dawn. Those all seem very contrary to the life of any musician.

You lost me at diatonic..........sure, there are guys who make it big and don't know that stuff, but the percentage is probably equal to the amount of the few athletes that make it to the pro level out of the millions of wannabees. How many others made it big for 15 minutes and are now trying to make a living in their 50's and 60's playing at county fairs and bars.

I believe to make a steady career out of it, one has to learn the things in the first post. It gives you the ability to be on call for fill ins, do studio work, to teach, plus do your own thing, which is more likely to let you make a living without living on the road, playing your two big hits for the 10,000th time.

You have to remember, you are a soldier first....a musician second.....the primary purpose of your fish, is to kill the enemy if neccessary..........secondary is to entertain.

Seriously, I bet they don't have it bad. Unless it's changed now, if you are single you get free housing(if you don't mind sharing a room), meals, medical, dental, clothing, and 30 day annual leave. Then you get paid too.

I had my own room most of the time I was in the Army and I was a lowly spec 4. Depends on the unit, depends on the base. As does the tour of duty.

The Commander or First Sergeant can easily make or break a band. Also, rank has nothing to do with your ability to play, but that doesn't stop the hack that out ranks you from stealing all the good parts or gigs. Yeah, you're in the Army. And the Army's in you.

It is an unforgettable experience.