If you could start all over again...

[Fred19137]

there are days that I din;t do crap and I look back pissed at myself. nut I am still doing em, If bass sticks then it sticks the rest is histroy. if u love it ull do it otherwise it was never ment to be.
that is why I have been playing bass for 4 years and people who have been playing for longer ask for tips. cuz maybe they really arenot into the bass but rather the image so it just doesnt stick for them,

 

[MindSpark]

I would have been more open to things, as far as music styles, the way that I feel I am now. When you are young, ya think ya know everything... and as you get older, you realize you didnt know very much at all

Very well said !

 

[RayO5421]

Very well said !

Indeed, I always find that I'm an arrogant person when I don't mean to, I guess I just have to accept the fact I don't know jack about bass! haha

As to being open to all styles of music, I think I'm interested in way too many. Everyday I'm writing different tunes and it sucks, I guess I just need to find myself and my goals for music and then I can actually stick to something.

 

[MonkeyBass]

I did the piano lessons and sang in jr hi and HS choirs, and all that. I stronly agree with those who suggested reading and theory, and I believe my training in that has HUGELY to do with my abilities to come up with a smart and functional bass line.

As far as playing bass, knowing what I know now, I would do the following starting out:

Pay more attention to the kick drum and concentrate more on locking with it.
Look for a heavier, less flashy, but more powerful groove.
Play with a darker tone (though that was limited by funds available).
Listen to the whole band and try to mix my sound to make a full "band" sound rather than just "hear myself".
Rush less. That is, learn to *relax* and just drive rather than be flashy.
Realize that it is possible to play on the beat, in front of the beat, and behind the beat; and find out when it is appropriate to do which.

All of the above would have matured me as a bassist much earlier, and would have gotten me into a path of bigger bands than I am in now.

+ a gazzilion
and I would have learned to relax my left hand from the beginning rather than having to change my technique once I got tendentious at the ripe old age of 25.

 

[ryco]

I would have:
kept playing double bass, which I dropped in jr high.
taken up my jazz instructors offer to have every other lesson learning guitar.
jumped on the chance to take popular piano lessons when ma bought a piano.
kept my high paying job and learned theory at a community college instead of dropping everything and going to a 4 year school.
have moved to LA after graduating high school.
promoted myself more and hung out more.

no regrets - no worries!