6 Common Mistakes Made by Bass Players and How to Avoid Them /// Scott's Bass Lessons

If you been following my bass lessons for a while you’ll be well aware that I try and tell you exactly what to do to take your bass playing to the next level - and beyond.

I’ve shown you licks, vocabulary exercises, technique workouts…

I’ve talked about grooves, soloing, and even how to get great gigs!

But, up until now I’ve never created a lesson that focuses on what NOT to do — so thought it was about time.

In this lesson I’m going to highlight 6 super common mistakes I see bass players making all the time.

Don’t be fooled, these mistakes aren’t just made by beginners - many of them are also made by bassists that have been playing for years. In fact, in my experience many bad habits are more engrained within a player that’s been playing for years vs someone who’s only been playing for a matter of months.

As with all bad habits, they are fixable. In some cases it’s more of an awareness issue, and simply knowing that you should be mindful of something is enough. In other cases that are more technique based, it can be trickier as you need to reprogram the old movements you’ve been making until you engrain the new ones. In that case, just start slow and be patient - it can be done, you’ll just need to dig in a little ;)

As always, see you in the shed…

Scott :)

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[MichaelStoneham]

This is a great tutorial on how to avoid some common mistakes bass players can make.
1. Don't Cut Your Notes Short: Don't leave daylight in between tour notes. (0.40)
2. Note Length: Be aware of your note lengths. (3.36)
3. Muting: don't let other strings ring out. (6.50)
4. Lifting up other fingers: keep your other fingers behind down (8.18)
5. Flying Fingers: Not letting the fretting fingers stick out (10.18)
6. Lack Of Dynamics: how much weight you put on each note (12.55)
Extra:
Slow Things Down: To help you learn new techniques better gives brain better chance to learn things. (11.26)

[knedy]

I don't consider myself a technical bass player, but I picked up the bass after watching this and I had none of them mistakes WOO! I still kinda suck, but I suck in a correct way. :)

[d-rob]

'Hey guys it's Scott from Scott's Bass Lessons from Scottsdale in Scotland."

[firemedic]

That chirping noise every couple minutes is your smoke detector telling you that you have a low battery and it needs to be changed. I'm just a firefighter who wants to learn how to play the bass 🙂

[guitarist]

The first problem can just be fixed by playing at night time ;)

[littlejohn]

I play bass only occasionally but found this very useful, well presented and unnpretentious.

[tonton_]

Such a great teacher! Even when talking about mistakes, you're still in the positive affirmation. Instead of focusing on what NOT to do, we get to see how to correct our habits. Thank you so much!

[Scottie_S]

From one Scott to another, I started learning piano when I was 6 and when I was 13, I started playing bass. In 1972, I started playing bass in bands at the age of 14. I've been learning ever since. My style was both finger and pick and it has always been pretty fast and loose. I just came across your channel a couple of weeks ago and I love everything you do. They say you can't teach an old dog new tricks, but I love what you bring to the instrument and I've gone back over your vids and even though I'm bloody old, I've found that I can improve my technique. Consider yourself subbed.

[graceybfrg]

It's Runaway not run for cover :)
Man cool that you know Paul!

[chrismurphy]

The best way not to make mistakes on bass is not to play bass. Its 100% guaranteed. The same concept can be applied to anything.

[thomasdrake]

Jamiroquai, favourite band ever. Great to see you playing there stuff. I wish I had enough time to practice all your lessons, I do enjoy watching them though. Great stuff

[pauliejay]

I have been playing bass since 1987, and this is by far the best instructional video I have ever seen. Consider yourself subscribed!

[TophMaGoats]

I don’t remember this personality in Split.

[anbercrombie]

1 common mistake made by owners of smoke detectors

[brenttauromusic]

I love your videos. I'm not a bass player. Couldn't play a quarter of the stuff that 90% of your subscribers. But I love your content just because it's such good quality, high value content that is just honest-to-God and brilliantly executed. Cheers, mate. (Also, I met you through Warren Huart's channel.) :)

[veltonmeade]

Great videos Scott. Been playing bass since 1977 and you are spot on with everything you've said. My original bass teacher taught me scales and told me that I must learn those before anything else. I have seen so many bass guitarists that do not know their scales. Scales are the most important function of a bass guitar and I am glad that I listened to him.

[nelly]

Great list - just started playing so I'm watching it to avoid making bad habits. Fortunately I've come from cello, so am in the habit of keeping fingers down and having the right length notes - it's helped me so far

[anthonyscott]

This lesson was super helpful for a beginner like me. Thank you Scott.

[andylovesburritos]

I've been playing bass for over 15 years and this is all valid content. this is really great information that typically isnt taught or explained well enough in class or private lessons. well done

[cymess]

My GF is sleepin, im watchin you without sound but with subtitles. When im reading I can still hear ur voice in my head.