Plateau/Rutt

[dead_presidents]

Hey everyone, basically i've been playing for about five years, and in any band I have been in I have always sang, in this respect my bass playing has been an after thought. In the same token, I love playing bass (it has got so bad that I feel naked without it when I'm just singing), and I would love to get my bass playing to the same standard as my singing, and this will come with practise I know, it's just my bass playing is so predictable, and full of my own idiosyncrasies, I would like to bring something new to the table? I try to cop different bass players and styles but it's as if any of the stuff i've learnt is filtered through my own style and not in a good way( It doesn't sound natural, it's like a parlour trick)

Do any of you have any advice for me?

[tangentmusic]

There's nothing wrong with having idiosyncrasies. They can also be termed "your style". If you feel you have the singing aspect down, then during non-singing instrumemtal sections,try to get a little adventurous with your playing. I dont know your perferred genre, but try to challenge yourself. Bandmates may suggest a cool fill or scale to integrate into a song. You most likley have not reached your playing plateau. (have any of us?) We have all been in a rut now & then...

[dead_presidents]

thanks for taking the time to reply. Funky, soulful stuff I suppose would be my preferred genre, but that's the thing say I was playing in a country style, or a slow drippy ballad, I would filter it through that . Maybe the question is I'm finding it hard to increase my tonal palette.

Here's some examples of my original stuff, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WiRQo...feature=search

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WiRQo...feature=search

Cheers Matt

[tangentmusic]

Dude, I like what I heard. You kinda have a Phil Lynott (Thin Lizzy) vocal style & musical groove on the one I listened to. Stop thinking too much about your playing and do what comes natural. Keep up the good work

[dead_presidents]

Must be an Irish thing haha

[tangentmusic]

So... You're Irish? It must be in the water over there then! (or the stout)

[JimmyM]

i'm liking what i hear, too. a lot. i'll always recommend learning how to read and learning more about chord theory and how to apply it, but i don't know if i'd screw too much with the basics of what you're doing. it seems to work well for you.