best advice you ever got from an experienced player...

[40Hz]

One of my bass instructors who said:

1. Learn to read music, learn your theory, practice your butt off, get yourself a professional instrument and a really good amp, work with as many good musicians as you possibly can - and then forget about all of that! Instead, get in the habit of really listening to what it is you're playing. If it sounds good and works within the context, then that's all that matters. If it doesn't - and you aren't aware of it because you can't hear it - then you'll never be any good no matter how much or who you know.

2. Your reputation as a bassist is going to be set by the most careless way you allow yourself to play. So play every note like it's going to be your very last.

3. Tired is stupid. Know when to push harder, and when to put it down for awhile and regroup.

 

[57pbass]

"Learn the scales"... Gordon Edwards

 

[pudgychef]

Don't waste your time obsessing over equipment. Practice and play what you've got.

This extended to bass selection..when you first start gigging a lot, find a bass that works in that band and stick to it until you can make it work on any stage, in any room, on any provided set up (various amls, PA only, side fills, etc). Then you will know what you are chasing, what you already like etc when you do go looking..
.

 

[gbrooding]

Bobby Vega told me to loosen up and have fun at a gig we were both playing.

 

[JGbassman]

My earliest nugget of wisdom took form in the shape of an older and very patient drummer. He taught me to listen to and lock with the drums. We started with rudiments, and worked into songs. He said, "anyone can play notes, but reall bass players play with feel to the groove."

My second foundational block came from a weathered band leader in my first road band. He taught me to listen to all of the music happening on stage at the same time, and to play off the cuff on songs I've never heard or played. He also taught me how to play with feel and subtle nuances by playing old blues standards in different ways almost every time. "Think on your feet, anticipate changes, but don't forget to be flexible through the song."

Those two players built my foundation as a player. Lock, play with feel to the groove and listen to everything in a real time fashion. It's the best tool I will ever have in my kit.

 

[FingerDub]

Best advice I ever got. ONLY run a rift/solo/noodle when the singer is NOT singing.

 

[BigEarl]

Bass is not played with your fingers, bass is played with your butt. If it moves you, it'll move them.

 

[BassFishingInAmerica]

Never slap at Guitar Center.

 

[dmac1961]

Play each gig knowing there is at least one person in attendance, that you will never have the opportunity to make an impression on again.

 

[Ekulati]

Now boys, no matter what happens, just keep smiling." - Chuck Berry to us, just before the curtain went up in Utica. Union call, no rehearsal.

Exactly. Local pickup player, 5 min before curtain: "Mr. Berry, what songs are we playing?" CB: "Chuck Berry songs!"

 

[gidbass]

honestly...nothing. They have always been cool dudes who just offered support in the form of "you sounded great" or "you nailed it".

for the record, I am not what I would consider "good"

Good Luck!

 

[Bryan R. Tyler]

This is a quote from billoetjen 7-11-2010 in thread "La Bella Deep Talkin': Best. Strings. Ever." I liked it so much I copied and pasted it to my hard drive. Quote:

"Funny, but my mentor on bass gave me just a few rules within which to work:
Never play a solo, play as few notes as you can to support the song, avoid effects, and stick to four strings - just make sure they're La Bella Deep Talking Bass.
Every day that I pick up my axe, I realize exactly how right he was."

Well, I do play with effects, but I try to use them as tastefully as possible, within the context of the song.

Geez, he was given a whole lotta terrible advice- he's basically saying don't be like Anthony Jackson, one of the most recorded, most respected, and most skilled bassists of all time

I'd give the opposite advice. For every "rule" that you hear about playing bass, there's a ton of people breaking it and making great music in the process. There's a lot more knowledge to be gained and creativity to be expressed if you stop looking at your bass as a role and yourself as a "bassist" and start thinking of yourself as a musician and your instrument a tool of expression.

 

[M0ses]

The best musical advice I've ever heard came from an athlete. Aaron Rodgers, to be precise.

R-E-L-A-X

 

[Matthew Fisher]

If you fart in an enclosed space, blame it on the drummer.

 

[Pdaddy1978]

I was meeting a promoter at a local dive bar and he pointed at an old guy sitting at the bar and asked me if I'd like to meet Fred Mattox. I said, hell yeah!
Fred had been the bass player for the Mattox brothers and Rose, a legendary and influential country swing band in the 40s and 50s and had pioneerd the "rockabilly" style of stand up bass.
I was introduced and told him I was a bass player and could I ask him some questions, and he said " sure!, sit down and buy me a scotch!.....So I did.
I said " what advise would you give a young bass player", and he said....

"Keep em comin! "

 

[Ninevolt]

"Music is a collaboration, not a competition."

 

[bherman]

This is a bit long but it resulted in some really good advice. Hopefully others will benefit from it. When I first started playing, I got an offer to play with a local country band. They gigged every weekend. I didn't really like country music at that time but I wanted to work so I took the gig. The band had a revolving cast of musicians except the band leader and myself. The guy who played drums was about my age and was a real knucklehead, (lots of fills, lots of drums and poor time). I didn't complain and the band leader didn't seem to mind. One day when I got to the gig there was another drummer there. He was much older and all he had drum wise was a bass drum, a snare and a ride cymbal. His drums were really old. My first thought was "this is going to be interesting". I went over an said hi and he said hi back but that was all. When we started playing he was really simple and solid. It was a completely different band with him playing drums. It was my first experience of really locking in with a drummer. When we took a break he disappeared. I asked the band leader where he was but he told me the drummer didn't really hang with the guys. At the end of the night I felt really different about the music. It was like we played as a unit instead of four separate people. I went over and said I enjoyed playing with him and he said thanks but that was all. What he taught me I can't really put into words but I bet that some of you know what I mean. The best way I can put it is keep it simple and respect the song. This drummer never said this to me but he let his playing do the talking.

This one hits home - in a band now with a drummer who has too many drums, too many cymbals, sticks that are too thick, and slows down and/or speeds up. Drives me nuts.

 

[Pietzsa]

1. Learn how and why chords are made up the way they are
2. It always sounds like the other cat has something you don't-Willie Weeks to Tommy Shannon in an old Bass Player interview.
3. When I'm playing jazz or a solo it's all about the sound coming off my hands but if I'm backing a band or singer I just focus on making a big ol note that those speakers will grab and make people dance.- Marcus Miller

 

[Ironbar]

"You cant woodshed forever." That is, you gotta play in with other people in front of other people.

I beg to differ. I've never played in a band, and at this point I'm too afraid to go about finding out how!

 

[LowActionHero]

This is a bit long but it resulted in some really good advice. Hopefully others will benefit from it. When I first started playing, I got an offer to play with a local country band. They gigged every weekend. I didn't really like country music at that time but I wanted to work so I took the gig. The band had a revolving cast of musicians except the band leader and myself. The guy who played drums was about my age and was a real knucklehead, (lots of fills, lots of drums and poor time). I didn't complain and the band leader didn't seem to mind. One day when I got to the gig there was another drummer there. He was much older and all he had drum wise was a bass drum, a snare and a ride cymbal. His drums were really old. My first thought was "this is going to be interesting". I went over an said hi and he said hi back but that was all. When we started playing he was really simple and solid. It was a completely different band with him playing drums. It was my first experience of really locking in with a drummer. When we took a break he disappeared. I asked the band leader where he was but he told me the drummer didn't really hang with the guys. At the end of the night I felt really different about the music. It was like we played as a unit instead of four separate people. I went over and said I enjoyed playing with him and he said thanks but that was all. What he taught me I can't really put into words but I bet that some of you know what I mean. The best way I can put it is keep it simple and respect the song. This drummer never said this to me but he let his playing do the talking.

HIRE the drummer.!!