How to become a more seasoned bass player
By Jon Liebman
February 10, 2025
You’re learning bass.
You’ve been practicing.
You’ve got the notes down under your fingers.
You can play the song without making any mistakes.
Awesome!
The obvious question is… Now what?
How do you get to the point where you don’t sound like you’re reading notes or pushing buttons, but like you’re actually grooving, laying down a feel-good bass line?
What we’re talking about is seasoning, a gradual process that makes your bass playing sound more polished and professional.
In this week’s video, I offer up some tips and advice for sounding more like a seasoned bass player, along with examples I think you’ll find helpful.
As you watch it, think of how many things you can do to improve your playing and let me know your thoughts in the comments.
Remember, rather than going for perfection, it’s best to go for steady progress. Just keep at it, and you’ll be amazed at the results you get.
Good luck.
Let’s play bass!
Jon
Help me out, please. What was the first bass line on this video? Recognized it but couldn’t name the song and artist.
If you’re referring to the intro, it sounds like I took it from one my own courses. Honestly, I don’t remember which one! 🙂 If you’re referring to the line in the lesson itself, it’s just an improvised groove, something I made up on the spot. Thanks for asking!
You gotta make it “you”! My trap is that I have a tendency to play too many notes when I know that less is more
Understanding the problem is half the solution. Discipline is the answer. Force yourself to play one or two notes per bar. Only play more if the music really needs it. Record yourself and listen back. You’ll see right away how the music breathes when you play less! You’ve got this, Joe.