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What one thing took your playing to the next level?

#61
Kmonk said:
Listening to various types of music, including some that I wouldn't normally listen to. Then, learning to play songs in those genres. I developed a better understanding of structure which helped me to become a better player.
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Learning early 90s hip hop bass lines helped me with playing simpler stuff since I used to overplay in my eyes, I got into to music through punk (trying to play like Matt Freeman led to wanting to be technical and fast), then got into reggae, then jam band stuff, while always appreciating classic rock (especially Floyd, Skynyrd), old fusion (Jaco stuff) and motown stuff. I wasn't satisfied playing "boring stuff" but reggae and stuff like Mobb Deep and Gang Starr, Dre's The Chronic helped me relax and find a slow groove, also I played with a pick for my first two years playing, then played the last 6 without, now Im slowly bringing the pick back into the mix occasionally and Im actually liking it, so different playing styles help too
 
#62
Two things that I felt improved my playing:-

Making both hands equal in dexterity power.......even though I fret with my left hand very well, it does not have the same responsive power as my right. For example:---if I tap out a fast drum rhythm with my palmed hand on the arm of a sofa , the right hand can do it with ease.......but the left hand does not have quite the fast responsive effect doing the same thing.
So I work on making both hands the same in this regard...........which , for me, helps.

Like you said, often you need to instinctively know where a note is on the neck, especially if you are improvising.

I will often play the melodic line of songs by themselves (no rhythm involved) to force me to search and remember note places on a neck.....I will also make up arbitrary bass lines in my head and then play them...so that what I'm thinking and what I'm playing happen simultaneously. I do a lot of that........basically forcing the brain to memorize note placement on the neck without having to stop and think about it.
 
#64
for me it was learning music theory. Not the complicated stuff that you learn in junior/senior year in college, but the basics... and learning (from being a percussionist first) to practice new things at a slow tempo, and then increase the speed as I go.

The music theory thing was by far the largest puzzle piece that was missing. Understanding different styles AND how they all influence each other was a big help as well. There is a commonality to all styles from a theoretic (both melodic and rhythmic) standpoint, and once I could see that, it helped a lot
 
#65
Neon Blues said:
Playing outside my comfort zone with fast bass lines and practising not looking at the fretboard.

I used to learn a lot of Iron Maiden songs and I feel that made my skills sky rocket.
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this was/is also VERY TRUE for me. If it wasn't for me trying to understand Maiden (and Rush) in my formative years, I would not have advanced as far as I did back then.
 
#67
The answer that is obvious: Not practice, but lessons. A good teacher is able to spot the weak parts of a mediocre bass player and make him progress a lot faster than he'd do on his own.

The answer that most people will like best: Good gear! When i upgraded the last time, i went from playing an old carlsbro combo that i bought from a school for €5 because it was broken (turned out the tolex in the vent came loose and made noise while playing - i cut it off and the amp was fine) plus a 15" cab that i dragged in from the trash (another band clearing their space), cheapest stack i ever had, to an aguilar stack with 4x12 and Tonehammer 500 top. This did something to me. The bass was standing out much clearer in the mix and my struggle to be heard ceased. I could play lower notes and they were still ringing true and clear. So over the weeks to follow, i took nearly all of my bassparts and rearranged them because of the new options my rig gave me.
 
#69
Taking some lessons from a pro again.

When I started playing, I had lessons for a couple years.. Stopped the lessons, kept on playing and after 10 years of gigging / playing, I found another teacher. Was great.

Thinking of doing this again :) It really helped out..

Regards
Mark
 
#70
I'm very average in terms of skills, but there's two things that really have had great impact on my playing:

1. Taking lessons. I took a few lessons many years back that really helped my technique forward, and I got a lot of new ideas to incorporate in my playing due to being forced to play some basslines note for note correctly, which I virtually never do otherwise. I would have continued with the lessons, but the teacher ran out of time and I never looked for a new one...

2. Listening to my own playing. Not everything you think sound great at a jam session sounds great when you listen to your playing afterwards. I often end up simplifying lines to be more supportive instead of playing something that seems to compete with the lead melody. Less is (almost always) more.
 
#71
I realised after many years what was missing from my playing was precision [ no pun intended!), I now play with a floating thumb and hit the strings carefully and lightly. Boy... have those two changes made my playing sound and feel so much better.

I now find myself playing ghost notes all over the place, flicks and muted notes just seem to make the lines sound so much slicker and smoother.
 
#72
I'm still pretty new to bass and music in general (2 or 3 years), but I figured out false harmonics about a month ago. It feels like a different instrument. one thing about it that I haven't seen others talk about is being able to play two notes on the same string at the same time. Being able to harmonize with myself anywhere on the fretboard has changed everything I thought I knew about bass guitar.
 
#73
MODES, and getting to "know" them in the biblical sense.

Learn the legally acceptable chord forms of the modes (I know, we don't play chords!) since they set up the form of the boxes that give one confidence in playing an upper neck note.

I also like how the bass increases confidence in the guitar and vice-versa. I have also imagine playing a kazoo would help too. Every instrument you add just opens more and more musical doors.

But truly, for me this is how it worked when I broke down and finally learned the MAJOR MODES, which then opened up the minor modes (i, ii, iii, iv, v, vi and vii). I was a decent street player, but when I finally "got" the MODES under my belt, the upper neck was no longer forbidden territory.

Work on the I, IV, and V modes first and not surprisingly the II, III, VI and the MYSTERIOUS and dreaded VII MODE will be your newest BFs. It ain't REALLY work if it makes you smile.... which you will.......smile, that is! ;)

The I, IV and V MODES will fit about 85% of CW, Rock, Blues and also give you tremendous insight into Classical and Jazz, not to forget any Strauss Waltzes you may want to play.

Not sure about Polka though. (jk ..... or maybe not!)
 

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