Single most important thing you've been taught?

[theosd]

For me it was my uncle's advice that I should try and use my fretting hand's little finger as much as possible and practise extending it. Crucial!

[bubinga5]

when i was 10 my dad who is a classical pianist,and we used to listen to music, told me to..... listen.

Edited January 14, 2011 by bubinga5

[risingson]

When I was 15 or so, my teacher at the time asked me on my first lesson what I liked to play. So I played him some fast slap bass and all sorts of technical trickery that teenage players like to play. He then proceeded to open a Beatles chord book on 'I Feel Fine', and asked me if I could play a bit of what was going on. I went to pieces trying to follow it.

From then on I prioritised being a musician and getting my playing together in a musical and controlled way instead of focusing on my technique, and it made me a considerably better player.

[Spike Vincent]

If you make a mistake,play it twice.That way people wil think it's some complex jazz structure rather than you f*cked up.

[Fat Rich]

Never let a drummer arrange anything.

[HMX]

I've never had any bass lessons and none of my family are musicians and haven't give me advice.

But something that I've picked up through listening to songs and browsing the web; let the song breathe.

[Doctor J]

If you're surrounded by dudes talking about your technique after a gig rather than the ladies, you're doing something very, very wrong.

[lowdown]

When you do a show with lots of dancing girls - learn to hold your stomach in.




Garry

[paul_5]

Learn to say 'No' occasionally; don't get burnt our playing for every Tom, Dick and Harry that needs a bass player just so that you feel busy. Save some time to be with yourself and your family. Oh, and the first 5 frets pay the bills.

[theosd]

These are all good!

[Bassman Sam]

Do your research if you don't know the history of your bass before you advertise it as being all original if you bought it second hand. People will publicly judge you as a dick if you don't.

Edited January 14, 2011 by Bassman Sam

[KK Jale]

The first law of rock: never leave your wallet in the dressing room.

The second law: never eat anything bigger than your head.

[RussFM]

Karl Alverez - "Serve the song"

[xgsjx]

Don't try to plug a 1/4 jack into a 13 amp socket

[HMX]

[quote name='RussFM' post='1090038' date='Jan 15 2011, 12:15 AM']Karl Alverez - "Serve the song"[/quote]
Nice. Quality bass player too!

[Bassassin]

The schoolmate who showed me how to tune my first bass did me a big favour. I'd probably still be tuning it in fifths now, like I had been for a month before I was shown.

Jon.

[Bass_Guardian]

Look after your broom...

[BigAlonBass]

One of the many little pearls of wisdom my old Dad said to me "Always go for Bands that are better than [i]you[/i] think you are. You might get knocked back at first, but when you eventually get the Gigs, you'll get dragged up to their level."

He was right.

[icastle]

The higher the reputation the more you need to keep a sense of balance - it's a long way to fall otherwise.

[bassbloke]

Playing something very very slowly is often much harder than playing it fast.

[Pentode]

Check the standby switch on your valve amp [u]before[/u] hitting the first note in a set.

[Kiwi]

When the cottonbud meets resistance, stop pushing.

[spike]

Leave spaces

[Alien]

Listen to what's going on around you.

A

[xilddx]

During my lesson with Jakesbass. He said "you're singing what you're playing, not playing what you're singing".