Quit starting lines with the same finger. learn your fretboard exercises.

[Schlyder]

Running into dead ends on yourfingrtboard?? Maybe this will help.

I haven't seen too much mentioned about this simple effective way in learning your fingerboard....

Using some of these exercises to help develop different left hand fingers for starting lines and phrases.
...so that you aren't starting lines and phrases with the same finger all the time.
This is just one octave in the C Major scale. Take this system and do it in all 12 keys... make it 2 octaves, or full range of your bass... change it to the modes, or the melodic, and harmonic minor scales, and their modes, or whatever else you can think of.
Do them in intervals of thirds, fourths, fifths, sixths, sevenths, octaves.... break up the rythymns... add stressed beats... do the arpeggios as well with these finger starts.

I hope this helps those that find themselves starting lines with the same finger all the time.

1-index
2-middle
3-ring
4-pinky

1st finger start

G---------B--C-----------
----------1--2-----------
D------ F----G----A------
--------1----2----4-----
A ------C----D----E------
--------1----2----4-----
E------------------------


2nd finger start

G-------A---B-C-------
--------1----3-4
D-------E-F---G
--------1-2----4
A---------C---D
----------2----4


4th finger start

G-----B-C--------
------1--2-------
D-------G--A-----
--------2---3(4)--
A-------D--E-F----
--------1--3-4----
E------------ C-----
--------------4-----

[bassbrad]

This is a great way to expand your thinking on the fingerboard. I usually try to find several ways to finger a passage or melody to find the best tone, flow or phrasing.