How to Ace a Bass Audition

You’ve been steadily improving as a bassist and spending quality time practicing. Your bass, your amp and your pedals are enabling you to sound like yourself. Now you’ve decided to put yourself out there — and you’re ready to audition.

Auditions can be both exciting and terrifying. Even if you feel pretty good about your playing abilities, it’s still normal to be somewhat nervous about playing prepared music for ears that are listening very closely. In that spirit, here are some tips to help you arrive at your audition confident and ready to showcase your best self.

PICK THE RIGHT SONGS

Most of the time, you’ll get to choose what you want to play at the audition, so begin by creating a setlist that shows off your strengths. (Some schools have their own requirements.) It can be tempting to open with something flashy, but consider starting with the song you feel most confident about. Usually, playing something simple with great tone and dynamics (and playing it correctly) will make a better impression than trying to tackle something tough and not nailing it. Keeping the setlist short will give you more time to get inside every piece so that you can play it well even if you’re nervous, tired, or otherwise distracted.

CHOOSE YOUR APPROACH

If you’re auditioning for an established band, ask how closely they want you to emulate another bass player or whether they’re willing for you to provide your own interpretation. If the goal is to nail someone else’s approach, isolate the bass part and put it under a magnifying glass. Get as close as you can to their tone, note choices, note length, and general vibe. Sheet music will help you make sure you’re playing every note correctly. Think carefully about how you will mesh with the rest of the band. Either way, pay close attention to the groove being laid down by the drummer, your closest rhythm-section partner.

FOCUS ON THE DETAILS

Whether you’re copying what’s been done or coming up with your own approach, you should know the songs inside and out. Even if you’ll be reading music at the audition, aim to have everything thoroughly memorized — including the most common keys and tempos for every song, the technique (i.e., fingerstyle, pick, thumb, etc.) that works best, and where you intend to play the notes on your bass) — a couple of weeks before the audition.

During your pre-audition practice sessions, don’t hesitate to slow the bass part down, loop tough sections, and mute bass lines so you’ll be able to nail the part when you’re playing along with the band. During those rehearsals, record yourself and evaluate your playing ruthlessly. Instead of simply making a mental list of weak spots — “there’s a tricky section around bar 49,” for example — work out every wrinkle so that you’re 100 percent confident when you step into the audition. As celebrated Olympic skater Scott Hamilton says, eliminating every “could’ve, would’ve, and should’ve” will allow you to step into the audition room feeling as prepared as you can be.

PREPARE WITH MOCK AUDITIONS AND VIDEOS

Once you’ve tightened up the songs on your own, play them in front of other people. Many classical musicians do “mock auditions,” which give them a chance to play their audition pieces for friends or teachers. Mock auditions are a great opportunity to play through trouble spots and get honest feedback from musicians you respect.

If you don’t have the opportunity to play the audition pieces live in front of others, video can help you see what others see: Where do you hesitate? Do you look tense or relaxed? Are you able to smile and look up from your instrument? Ask yourself also if you plan to sit or stand. How’s your strap height? Is your bass set up and ready to go? Do you have the best strings for the audition, and do you want them to be brand new or broken in? Will you be wearing earplugs or in-ear monitors? How do you manage transitions between songs? As you go down the setlist, stop and fix details, but remember that in performance, you’ll have to keep going even if you make a mistake. Be prepared for the bandleader to call any song on your list in any order.

Pre-audition rehearsals are also a good time to think about the clothes you’ll be wearing. Tight clothes or shoes can affect how you play, but wear what’s right for the band. Wearing your “audition outfit” in the mock audition videos might seem a little excessive but it gives you a chance to see what’s both comfortable and appropriate. Just as putting on a uniform gets you into the mindset of a particular job, practicing while wearing your audition clothes can help you get in the spirit. It also means you won’t have to worry about picking out clothes the day of the audition.

PRACTICE IN YOUR MIND

Some bass players listen to the music on repeat for weeks before the audition, but even if that’s not possible, set aside time each day to practice the songs in your mind. Hear each note, each phrase, each section, and each song all the way through. If your brain practices deeply, it’ll send the messages to your fingers. Visit the audition space beforehand if you can (or at least look at pictures of it online) and visualize yourself playing well in that room. The goal is to be able to play the music in your sleep; knowing each note at a cellular level and seeing yourself succeed is the best way to boost your confidence.

This kind of stringent preparation also gives you a chance to practice putting the stresses and worries of your personal life on hold while you focus on the audition. Think about the effect that your adrenaline will have: Do you clam up or sweat when you’re nervous? Will your hands shake, making it tough to play or hold a pick? The good news is that you can deal with nerves by deeply understanding the music and building trust in yourself. Consider using breathing techniques favored by public speakers and actors to deal with adrenaline.

ACING THE AUDITION

On the day of the audition, make sure you’re rested. Drink plenty of water, stretch, and listen to your body. If you’ve prepared well, the music itself should be the last thing you’re worried about.

Warm up before you leave home. Build in extra time in case you get lost or encounter traffic so that you arrive early enough to feel grounded and get in tune (this is another reason to visit the audition room before the day of your audition if possible).

If your nerves threaten to overwhelm you, try to be grateful for the talent you have and acknowledge the hard work that got you this far. Trust your training. Be fully present. Think twice before making last-minute changes to the music you’ve practiced so hard to perfect. Do your best, and don’t criticize your performance until you leave the room because the moment you let your confidence and clarity waver is the moment you risk slipping.

Good luck!

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