Man I suck

[ExD]

I've been playing bass for like a year now but a few months ago, I took a long break because my bass was broke and I played guitar instead. Now that I have a new working bass, I tried to play some stuff and recorded myself and my playing is horrible! Even worse when I'm standing up. My main problems are my timing, and root notes. Like say for example I have to play something that goes:

[code]
|-----------------------|
|-----------------------|
|-----------------------|
|-3-3---3-3---3-3---3-3-|

I end up playing it like this:

|-----------------------|
|-----------------------|
|-----------------------|
|3333333333333333333333-|

It's a problem I have, I play more notes than necessary, when I'm playing it, I think it sounds good, but when I watch/listen to a recording, it sounds really crap.

Also my finger technique is bad, when standing up, I tend to use my index fingers for the complex parts of a bassline. I'm also having trouble with the hammer-on part in Californication, also by the RHCP.

I had none of these problems when I started, please help

EDIT: Oh and does anyone know how to prevent that annoying clicky sort of noise when you push down on a fret?

[Gintaras]

may I quote my teacher.. slow down until it is perfect and then speed it up. Also use a metronome!!! The metronome will immediately point out your timing flaws and force you to work on improving it. I also spend time every night with the drum machine on my Pandora PX3B. This always helps me with my timing.

The clicking sound is either the strings you are using or maybe you are hammering the strings. May I suggest trying a lighter touch and not raising your fingers above the strings too high.

Last suggestion and the most relevant!!! Find a great teacher

[Der Bluten Kat]

yea get a teacher... best thing that ever happened to my playing was someone to critique me on a weekly basis and show me the correct way

[DocBop]

You say you've been playing for a year and took long break, face it your starting over. Take it slow focus on playing thing right and not speed, speed develops on its own so do things right. Starting over you have some knowledge how to do start playing with proper technique and you will get further faster. To learn a lot of information fast, learn a little info slow.