[quote name='Dad3353' timestamp='1475624443' post='3147528']
+1 for the above, put more succinctly than I would have done. The stuff about chord tones is the one, especially in the more 'jazz' styles. What to do..? Get some tracks that you like, in the style you're working on, and listen to them, then transcribe them. The way the bass is adding to the overall music should become evident, over time. Practise scales etc if you want, but I wouldn't advise trying to apply scales to music in such a mathematical way; that's not what it's about. Listening, feeling the root and the melody, helping it all along both rhythmically and harmonically... Leave shapes alone, too. Your ears, in time, will guide your fingers, not the shapes.
Just my tuppence-worth; hope it helps.
[/quote]
Excellent advice. Especially regarding shapes. I said on another thread the other day, I think it may have been asking about playing a 5 string bass. Anyway, too many players rely on shapes, play notes, not shapes.