What Should I Do?

[OutontheTiles]

Hey guys,
Well after reading and posting in the where music will take me thread or w/e its called i really was displeased by my abilities with playing bass, and guitar for that matter. I said i wanted to get into a band in college so this summer i want to get good at bass so im recognised as a good bassist and get into a band which we play good music, where everyone knows what they're doing.
Yet, i have "plateau" on my learning lately. I started playing maybe a month ago and i really am not learning anything new and im not satisfied. So basically im looking for ideas or styles or just something to give me the drive to just get me learning and accelerating everyday. I was watching victor wooten's lessons on youtube and i like that but i dont want to become the next jaco or wooten, i just want to be a good bassist who can jam.
To sum up exactly what i want to do is, become the next Rob Derhak from moe. Just some who chills out in the back doing his part, do some jamming here and there, and being almost the creative force of the band.
Yup, so could you guys give me something that i can work on that would help me or push me, into becomeing a better bassist and something that i could use to create my own music. Oh and sorry for being so long winded or w/e lol.
Thanks

[cmogawa]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nCoHgfCVbYE&mode=related&search=

idk i learned some cool little tricks off this lesson
tho it may only take u like a little while to learn it
but its something new ( hopefully)
lol

[cmogawa]

o0o frick i didn't even read ur post at all
lol
dang ok sorry i dont think that vid is for u lol

idk man

i guess listen to as much as u can and start getting ur own sound

[o b s]

Just play with other musicians as much as you can and in your private study time work specifically on the weakest aspects of your playing. Also absorb all the music knowledge (literal and theoretical) you can and learn to apply it to your playing. Don't forget to practice your scales and arpeggios too.

[OutontheTiles]

All i do is play scales and make up riffs from them. I think im going to just dwell on jam band bassists and see what they like to do and starting doing that cuz i love the sound of a good jam lol. As for playing with other people, i do that all i can but most of the people around here, you say play an e7 and they look at u blankly.

[JuggerKnoT]

learn alot of weezer and metallica

[OutontheTiles]

Are you serious?

[BassVirtuoso]

learn alot of weezer and metallica

Are you serious?

[OutontheTiles]

im glad im not the only one who thought that

[Left Shoe]

http://www.nihon-zen.ch/clipart/seppuku_2.jpg

[AlmightyPancake]

About being the next Jaco or Wooten:

There is no reason not to learn from those lessons and develop those skills, musically and technically. You say you don't want to be the next Jaco or Wooten--this is fine. To be honest, you likely don't have the dedication it would take to get to that level. Not neccessarily that technical level--many people have that ability--but that musical level, their manner of interacting with other musicians.

However, you need to realize that what they are teaching is merely the foundation of musicianship. The lessons are valuable--they are not teaching you how to become them, merely how to utilize tools valuable to musicians, bassists and otherwise. The reason you're hitting a plateau is because you're not pushing yourself, simply. Think of it this way:

Say you're learning to juggle. When you idol juggles 3 tennis balls, he does it with ease, and throws in many impressive tricks. You're capable of juggling 3 balls, but are not a professional by any means. The best juggler around works with 7 or 8 flaming explosive nuclear chainsaws at a time. He offers lessons to people, teaching them the intricacies of juggling--not how to juggle them chainsaws, but rather how to get some wrist movement and arm strength built up. Are you better off continually practicing with those three tennis balls and trying to emulate your idol, or learning the intricacies of juggling and managing to reach or surpass your idol while retaining a very individual creative ideal?

You're much better off learning about the tools available to you than simply honing all of your focus on one form of playing--especially if you're just starting out. I reccomend learning and practicing as much as possible.

[o b s]

All i do is play scales and make up riffs from them. I think im going to just dwell on jam band bassists and see what they like to do and starting doing that cuz i love the sound of a good jam lol. As for playing with other people, i do that all i can but most of the people around here, you say play an e7 and they look at u blankly.

Then help them learn, best way to reinforce and structure knowledge in your own mind is to teach it to others, and then you get better musicians to play with too. Thats the great thing about playing with other people; you can learn from them and they can learn from you.

[OutontheTiles]

Almighty,
I did learn alot from the victor wooten lessons, i never said i didnt take nething from the lessons. I was only getting at narrowing down on what i wanted to focus at. Which was, i dont want to be a "lead bassist" because in the bands ive been with one, i was like wow! ok now can you play the song?

[Soulfly666]

I don't know how good you are, but you should try learning Tower of Power's What is Hip? It'll help you improve on 4 vital things you should have down cold as a bassist: Note consistency, stamina, string skipping, and how to Funk/Groove!

[Akira]

Neither Victor or Jaco are "lead bassists." They both have experienced the vast majority of their success as solid band players, and both can play in the pocket very well. They just happen to also have solo albums, which came later.

[OutontheTiles]

Akira, Well then your right. I just wanted to say that im not interested into the route of the solo bassist or whatever. but thanks for all who has helped my thus far. I found this pretty cool website, activebass.com with tons of little riffs that i can incorporate into my own playing. Im still just messing around on that.

[Akira]

My best advice would be to get a grasp of theory under your belt, and then just figure out your favorite basslines by ear. That will help you figure out how the style you like is made.