The better bass player

Less is more... except when you're talkin'g about beer. (right, FM??)

No, I hear ya, and love doing exactly what you're talking about. Paring it back, getting the bones, then slowly adding back what makes it beautiful, leaving out the stuff that is as useful as a spoiler on a Dodge.

Bloody well right!

As for me, I think I just got better at playing what I always wanted.  No big major changes.  I was never really a speed demon like some of the metal players of today.  Geddy Lee and Steve Harris was about as fast as I can do.

I do pay a lot more attention to timing and note choice.  Timing, timing, timing.  The details are just crucial.

I grow mostly around the belly.

Actually going to Vic Wooten's workshop help me a lot.

I started trying things I never had before.

Still simplicity is the best rule.

Follow the kick drum, stay in time, and enjoy what you're doing

As an old friend said to me: it's not how many notes you play, it's how you play the notes

and I'll add to that: know when a rest is more appropriate than a note.

... particularly when accompanied by a beer

I saw a single clip by Wooten, of which I got a single thing. I noticed when he was soloing he was using 9th notes (Of the scale, the 2nd note one octave higher). I decided to try that out and see how it sounded. I love it now. That is a great trick from a 15 second video.

Other than that, I'll tell you when I feel I've grown as a bass player

holy crap its Doc!

where you been man?

Have I grown as a bass player?  I really dont think so.  But im working on it. 

rock.

DDD

Wow, we haven't heard from you in ages!

What's up hombre?

Jeje... Hey there my brothers. Sorry, I dont really want to derail the thread, better take this to the junkyard. See you there

Great thread NWB... I've only been playing for about 6 or 7 years now and some of those more intensely than others. I pretty much only play covers, so I judge my growth as an ugly by how fast I can pick up a song, how accurately I can play it, and constantly working on playing easier. By easier, I mean that I tend to thump really hard on the right hand and mash the strings a lot on the left. I'm still learning how little pressure it takes to make a good sounding note. And all of that is just to say that I'd like to be more smooth and that's what I'm working on now. I still feel really clumsy at times and fairly smooth at others. And one of these days, I'll actually spend a little time on that theory thing.

Oh... and welcome back, Doc.

Trying to be less like Jaco, more like Alphonso Johnson

I'm just getting better and better at faking.... 

Let's see what my path has been.

I learned to play bass listening to Eddie Van Halen... George Lynch... etc.  (I know, not the typical choice, but I didn't know bass wasn't 'supposed' to do that.) Then I learned about Sheehan and was )(*^&^ because (as a teen) I was stupid enough to think what I was doing was unique.  (HA HA HA HA)  But I had developed creativity, and a lot of riffs.

Then I vaguely remember someone telling me at one point they thought I wasn't accurate.  I wasn't even sure what that meant at that time.  I partially figured it out in college playing with various jazz groups.  So I developed better left hand techniques, and learned some theory.

Next 'leap' came when I figured out the other portion playing with a progressive rock/metal band in the 90's.  We had the finger/pick arguement... and I was stubborn and pig headed enough to try and prove them wrong.  Thus started my 'tone quest', and a long process of developing, and modifying my right hand technique and mechanics.

I guess currently, I'd like my hands to have a better connection to my head.  I remember in college when all I did was play, my hands did amazing things... now I find tapes and wonder how I did it.

25+ years into it... and I still love stapping on a bass, cranking up the amp, and jumping around the room like a rockstar.   But I also like playing roulette with my drum machine.  Turn it on, randomly scroll, and start playing.

Music is great, there is always something else to try or explore.  I can see how having a hit song 20 years ago that you have to keep playing forever could get on your nerves.

boy howdy

story of my life

I guess that goes for everyone, one way or another. I heard about when a kendo (japanese stick fighting) master came to sweden to instruct the swedish kendo students. One morning he came into the dojo to practice for himself and there was one beginner there. so the master asked the beginner if he would like the two of them to practice together.

The student was in awe and though that he would be taught something really spectacular. It turned out the master kendoka wanted to practice the most basic move: one step forward and a downeard strike, he told the student I never really got that one...

Nice story there Melker.

Lately, I've been paying more attention to how I approach and play each note than just playing lots of notes. It's been quite a revelation to discover how many different ways you can play just one note.

lol... that reminds me of the one excercise every single jazz clinic I've ever been a part of seems to make you do, usually right of the bat.  Everyone plays a solo... but you can only play one note.

sounds like a good excercise to me.

eventually you'll come up with a bassline to rival john deacons in under pressure -simple, obvious and brilliant!