A pretty amazing thing I'm noticing

[BassSaxMan]

Most beginners pay attention to how many notes and how fast.
Most Veterans pay attention to which notes, when to pluck them, how long to let em ring, and when not to play them, as well as the above.

If you're experimenting with less is more, don't underestimate the effect of the duration of your notes.
If the drummer is playing typical rock beats with the snare on 2 & 4
try stopping your notes at just the instant before those snare hits.
(A tip I gleaned here on TB) Instant tightness!

anecdote:
an audio engineer for the original Star Wars film was once asked how to make an explosion sound really huge , like the death star explosion.
He replied "make sure that right before the explosion, it's completely silent."


More and more I find myself silencing my bass preceding a big change.

That's kind of a funny story considering that what you hear before that moment is a series of repeated gigantic orchestra hits.

 

[Russell L]

Most beginners pay attention to how many notes and how fast.
Most Veterans pay attention to which notes, when to pluck them, how long to let em ring, and when not to play them, as well as the above.

If you're experimenting with less is more, don't underestimate the effect of the duration of your notes.
If the drummer is playing typical rock beats with the snare on 2 & 4
try stopping your notes at just the instant before those snare hits.
(A tip I gleaned here on TB) Instant tightness!

anecdote:
an audio engineer for the original Star Wars film was once asked how to make an explosion sound really huge , like the death star explosion.
He replied "make sure that right before the explosion, it's completely silent."


More and more I find myself silencing my bass preceding a big change.

Man, I am always agreeing with you on this forum. I suppose we think alike.

It is clear when reading orchestral music, especially classical, how important note duration is, and how very precisely a composer will write it out. In bands like we all play in, it is just as important to stop a note at the right time. It is part of the rhythm. In fact it is part of the groove itself. Stopping before the snare drum, as mambo points out, is a good example, and in fact it accents the snare's hit. "Cut-off" is also clearly demonstrated by any conductor when they hold up their hand and suddenly clench their fist (I know you've seen that, especially if you've ever sung in church choir). Other similar techniques are seen in written music to give a general feel, things like words written above or below a line--"staccato, legato, espressivo, marcato, etc." These things make it easier for the composer to write simple rhythms on the page without cluttering it up with rests or other markings, yet give the player direction for how to feel a part (as in "marcato," for instance,---feels like a march, or "staccato" means "short" or "abbreviated").

 

[tylerwylie]

As long as what you're playing is appropriate to the song you will find yourself improving and being more 'mindful' of your notes. Look at Roger Waters and John Myung for example.

 

[Slyonbass]

You got to know when to slap em,
Know when to tap em,
Know when to walk the bass,
and take a run.

LOL!! Yessir!

 

[Slyonbass]

Most beginners pay attention to how many notes and how fast.
Most Veterans pay attention to which notes, when to pluck them, how long to let em ring, and when not to play them, as well as the above.

If you're experimenting with less is more, don't underestimate the effect of the duration of your notes.
If the drummer is playing typical rock beats with the snare on 2 & 4
try stopping your notes at just the instant before those snare hits.
(A tip I gleaned here on TB) Instant tightness!

anecdote:
an audio engineer for the original Star Wars film was once asked how to make an explosion sound really huge , like the death star explosion.
He replied "make sure that right before the explosion, it's completely silent."


More and more I find myself silencing my bass preceding a big change.

For sure! Dropping out on the four makes the one a whole lot heaftier...