Concepts for becoming a better bassist

These are not really lessons, just something to think about as you learn our beloved instrument.

• I think the most important thing I can teach a bass student is, "Fall in love with learning, because you will never master the instrument." Become proficient, surly. Become very good, possibly. Become the best in the world, perhaps. But even the very best in the world can still learn and improve.
• Practice is a labor of love. Practice is not a responsibility or duty. It's is about loving to play and wanting to improve. If you don't want to improve, don't practice. There are plenty of good bassists out there for the big jobs. It's ok to make music a hobby or a pastime. But if you LOVE it, play all the time.
• Learn to read music. I'll be honest, Brian Norwood the reader makes money, Brian Norwood the non-reader didn't. And there is nothing nearly so groovy as picking up a check for having the time of your life. It's also the best and easiest way to learn a tune.(if you can read, that is)
• Listen to music that is "not your style". In whatever type of music you play, the more techniques you have under your belt the better. And you never know when that reggae "Drop one" feel or that Cuban clave line will be just what your song needs.
• As much as it sucks, Less is often more. Most of us love to slap 16th notes and fill in all the holes, but if you want to be good, learn when to shut up.
• Drop back when the singer(s) come in. And when someone else is soloing. Everyone loves to work with a player that makes them look good, and few things are as satisfying as playing the head of a tune as rowdy as you can, then slipping into just the right grove for the vocals.
• Learn a ton of songs and song structures. Everytime I can hear where a tune is going, I am quietly thankful. And you KNOW the guitarist is gonna want to take a solo over a couple of bars of I, IV, V. (and probably in "E")
• Befriend your drummer. Buy him things, remember his birthday, and don't date his sister. If you and him get tight, you can quietly run the show. (push and pull tempos, change the groove, save the world)