--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The worst thing I could be thinking is…" description: "\"The worst thing I could be thinking is how could I be a cool bass player.\" — Mike Gordon" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/156/mike-gordon-17838_bass_the-worst-thing-i-could-be-thinking-is-h_1730073.png" --- # The worst thing I could be thinking is how could I be a… ![“The worst thing I could be thinking is how could I be a cool bass player.” quote by Mike Gordon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/156/mike-gordon-17838_bass_the-worst-thing-i-could-be-thinking-is-h_1730073.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/156/mike-gordon-17838_bass_the-worst-thing-i-could-be-thinking-is-h_1730073.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/156/mike-gordon-17838_bass_the-worst-thing-i-could-be-thinking-is-h_1730073.png) > “The worst thing I could be thinking is how could I be a cool bass player.” [Mike Gordon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-gordon/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The fear of not being cool can hinder artistic growth; embracing humility allows genuine improvement. **In simple terms:** Worrying about coolness blocks progress. Key Takeaway Focus on skill, not image. Themes self‑doubt creativity growth mindset Mood introspective encouraging Type motivational practical When to use this quote - music lessons - band rehearsals - creative workshops - personal coaching Key Concepts musicianship confidence building Questions to Reflect On - How does self‑image affect your practice? - What steps can you take to shift focus from image to skill? A Different Perspective Obsessing over image can cause paralysis and stunt development. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bass/) [Bass player](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bass-player/) [Bass players](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bass-players/) [Cool Bass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cool-bass-1421659/) [Gamer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gamer/) [Player](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/player/) [Song](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/song/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Thinking Cool](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking-cool-478158/) [Worst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/worst/) [Worst thing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/worst-thing/) ## Related quotes > [I was always the sexy bass player in the background while Robin stood centre. Barry and I played it up a bit, gave 'em…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maurice-gibb/i-was-always-the-sexy-bass-player-in-the-background-while-robin-stood/) [Maurice Gibb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maurice-gibb/) > [As I said, when we needed to move over to rock'n'roll, Sam and Vernon couldn't quite make the shift. So that's when Larry took…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-innes/as-i-said-when-we-needed-to-move-over-to-rock-n-roll-sam-and-vernon/) [Neil Innes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-innes/) > [I don't really have a favorite bass player. I listen to a lot of bluegrass. But then again, I'm not a typical bluegrass bass…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-gordon/i-don-t-really-have-a-favorite-bass-player-i-listen-to-a-lot-of/) [Mike Gordon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-gordon/) > [So the whole basis for jazz music is based on the fact that the bass player could not play his instrument.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miroslav-vitous/so-the-whole-basis-for-jazz-music-is-based-on-the-fact-that-the-bass/) [Miroslav Vitous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miroslav-vitous/) > [I was charmed by a performance given by Crowded House at Toronto's Massey Hall where the bass player broke a string.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alannah-myles/i-was-charmed-by-a-performance-given-by-crowded-house-at-toronto-s/) [Alannah Myles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alannah-myles/) > [While it's a great indulgence, it's also very interesting to have three bass players on the same track.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryan-ferry/while-it-s-a-great-indulgence-it-s-also-very-interesting-to-have/) [Bryan Ferry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryan-ferry/) > [In jazz, you listen to what the bass player is doing and what the drummer is doing, what the pianist and the guitarist is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-amram/in-jazz-you-listen-to-what-the-bass-player-is-doing-and-what-the/) [David Amram](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-amram/) > [Without getting real personal, we liked our bass player Ed. 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I'd love to have a band, where I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryan-adams/i-always-just-wanted-to-be-the-singer-or-the-bass-player-in-the-band/) [Bryan Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryan-adams/) > [I was never much of a bass player.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-adams/i-was-never-much-of-a-bass-player/) [Ryan Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-adams/) > [Imagine if you were a drummer, and you accidentally picked up two magic wands instead of sticks. There you are, keeping the beat, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-hedberg/imagine-if-you-were-a-drummer-and-you-accidentally-picked-up-two/) [Mitch Hedberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-hedberg/) ## More by Mike Gordon > [I feel like I want to write some songs and I don't know how to go about doing it. Usually it's the lyrics that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-gordon/i-feel-like-i-want-to-write-some-songs-and-i-don-t-know-how-to-go/) [Mike Gordon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-gordon/) > [I think one thing that helped the sound change, it's a real subtle thing; it's just one switch on my bass, it has three…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-gordon/i-think-one-thing-that-helped-the-sound-change-it-s-a-real-subtle/) [Mike Gordon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-gordon/) > [The way that we imitate each others' riffs is something that other bands don't do as much. If we're jamming with a jazz band,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-gordon/the-way-that-we-imitate-each-others-riffs-is-something-that-other/) [Mike Gordon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-gordon/) > [I like referring to the saxophone and having a guitar lick instead. 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But then again, I'm not a typical bluegrass bass…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-gordon/i-don-t-really-have-a-favorite-bass-player-i-listen-to-a-lot-of/) [Mike Gordon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-gordon/) > [Surrender to the flow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-gordon/surrender-to-the-flow/) [Mike Gordon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-gordon/) > [There's no way we could play a country song as well as a country band or a Latin song as well as a Latin…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-gordon/there-s-no-way-we-could-play-a-country-song-as-well-as-a-country-band/) [Mike Gordon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-gordon/) > [I agree with the rest of the band, that a truly synthesized sound isn't really what I would want to go for.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-gordon/i-agree-with-the-rest-of-the-band-that-a-truly-synthesized-sound-isn/) [Mike Gordon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-gordon/) > [The guy we want to get is the guy who did the Aerosmith album which is coming out in two days, and a Chili…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-gordon/the-guy-we-want-to-get-is-the-guy-who-did-the-aerosmith-album-which/) [Mike Gordon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-gordon/) > [I want to get an handful of spare basses to use first of all if mine breaks, and second, to learn some things about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-gordon/i-want-to-get-an-handful-of-spare-basses-to-use-first-of-all-if-mine/) [Mike Gordon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-gordon/) [Explore all 36 Mike Gordon quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-gordon/) ## More Bass quotes > [I remember that the bass was turned up slightly more on the mix from last week, and I thought that was good - or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-ronson/i-remember-that-the-bass-was-turned-up-slightly-more-on-the-mix-from/) [Mark Ronson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-ronson/) > [In life's orchestra, the bike is the double bass. Hard to forget it](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-fournel/in-life-s-orchestra-the-bike-is-the-double-bass-hard-to-forget-it/) [Paul Fournel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-fournel/) > [Bass guitar is the engine of the band.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzi-quatro/bass-guitar-is-the-engine-of-the-band/) [Suzi Quatro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzi-quatro/) > [I'm 12 years sober, so I don't have beer! When I used to drink I really liked Bass Ale!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristin-davis/i-m-12-years-sober-so-i-don-t-have-beer-when-i-used-to-drink-i-really/) [Kristin Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristin-davis/) > [The kind of fishing that I do is pretty much bass, trout or freshwater fishing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dale-steyn/the-kind-of-fishing-that-i-do-is-pretty-much-bass-trout-or-freshwater/) [Dale Steyn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dale-steyn/) > [Imagine if you were a drummer, and you accidentally picked up two magic wands instead of sticks. There you are, keeping the beat, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-hedberg/imagine-if-you-were-a-drummer-and-you-accidentally-picked-up-two/) [Mitch Hedberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-hedberg/) > [I was never much of a bass player.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-adams/i-was-never-much-of-a-bass-player/) [Ryan Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-adams/) > [I've always been playing with other people, and that's how I learned. I got a kit of drums I couldn't play, but I also…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ringo-starr/i-ve-always-been-playing-with-other-people-and-that-s-how-i-learned-i/) [Ringo Starr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ringo-starr/) > [I grew up on the pirate radio scene which started out as drum 'n' bass music. U.K. garage picked up and got bigger on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dizzee-rascal/i-grew-up-on-the-pirate-radio-scene-which-started-out-as-drum-n-bass/) [Dizzee Rascal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dizzee-rascal/) > [Close to the Edge by Yes. Such a fun tune to play on bass.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-acton/close-to-the-edge-by-yes-such-a-fun-tune-to-play-on-bass/) [Brian Acton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-acton/) > [I've been in a band, so I understand the politics. Sometimes the bass player doesn't like what the guitar player is doing, and you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ric-ocasek/i-ve-been-in-a-band-so-i-understand-the-politics-sometimes-the-bass/) [Ric Ocasek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ric-ocasek/) > [That's what Joe Don Rooney and I do. 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