Rules for Improving at Bass

[BASSATTACK]

1) Stay off TB. It doesn't count as practicing.


Keep 'em going.

[Icculus]

I have to disagree with rule #1. I now find myself practicing while being on TB and learning so much great stuff.

I'm actually quite amazed that I spend more time in the General Instruction and Technique sections than I do in the Classifieds

[iridiumrocks]

Originally Posted by BASSATTACK

1) Stay off TB. It doesn't count as practicing.


Keep 'em going.

I have to admit the TB is a bit addicting, but it has a lot of great info too. I would say the 5 most important things are:


1. Keep an open mind
2. Keep an open ear and listen to other bassists and styles
3. Play what you enjoy
4. Practice
5. More practice

[dwm74]

Agree with all the above, especially #2...Keeping an open ear and listen to other bassists and styles.

As a guitarist I rarely would venture outside my two main influences, heavy rock and classical. Since taking up the bass, I find myself listening closely to the bassline in every song I hear, whether it's rock, jazz, blues, country, pop, or even a theme song to a TV show I might be watching. I may not want to play certain genres or styles in a band, but to noodle around and develop some chops in all genres is something I work on often.

Regarding TB...I may not have become a better player because of it, but I've become a much more informed player!

[Drifta]

Practice Practice Practice! When you're done, practice some more!

One thing that has really helped me is playing scales, but not just playing them... heres what I do

say practice the key of F, start at the lowest chord possible, so like C7... Do the arpeggio but sing each note so like sing aloud " C .. E .. G .. Bb C" Then do the whole mode in the C position singing each note... All the way through each key. I've been doing this for the past two weeks + playing 2-3 hours a day and weekly lessons... My playing has gotten exponentially better.

[ugly_bassplayer]

Transcribe as much as you can.

[Ric5]

play in a band with really good musicians and develop your ear.

[Yerf Dog]

Be the bass.

[john_martin_sai]

Find instructional videos on YouTube which correlate to your level and tastes. I wish I had this kind of resource when I began playing 30 years ago.

[learning_towalk]

listen to music outside of the genres that you normally play.

[Valerus]

Originally Posted by learning_towalk

listen to music outside of the genres that you normally play.

I was about to say this.

Learn to play songs that are outside of your normal listening range. Start dabbling on some funk stuff, melodic r&b etc.

[Intenzity]

I cannot take credit for any of these ideas, they are all truisms for improving on any instrument. We all may have heard them a hundred times, but the reason we have is because...they work.

1. Practice ever day. Consistency is more important than having a sporadic marathon session.
2. Record yourself and listen to it back.
3. Have a context for your practicing, a specific tune is always good so you are practicing music, not just some abstract idea. Theory makes a lot more sense when you have an actual song to apply it to.
4. To improve the quickest, practice playing along with jam tracks/abersold/band in a box. Cut right to practicing the performance as you will be doing it. Play along and record it. The tape (or hard disk) doesn't lie.
5. Learn melodies.
6. Get a keyboard and learn how to make basic chords.
7. Transcribe bass parts you like.

[tjh]

I find if I limit my visits to sites like this 'instructional sections' it helps me learn things I would not have thought to, or tried otherwise ... with that said, stay out of the bass of the day, gear gazing sections and the classifieds ... it can get expensive and takes time away from the important stuff ... JMHO

[Exploiter8]

Originally Posted by Ric5

play in a nband with really good musicians and develop your ear.

Yep!

[Akshat]

Ear training and listening.

[puddin tame]

the only rule for improving at bass is to play the bass