use the tips of your fingers, not the center of your fingerprint. obtain lotion for the callous that will try to pull the tips of your fingers from the rest of it. get a metronome or an app that serves the same purpose. love yorself for picking an instrument that is easy to learn, but difficult to master. try to use an amp that lets you feel the thunder instead of just the notes. listen with your chest not just your ears.

Hmm. Thanks for the very..interesting advice. I've been using the center of my fingerprint, I'll have to try the tips.

Listen to other bass players as much as you can. Watch them, if you can. Hum the bass lines to ever song you hear.

But whatever you, for the love of everything sacred, don't EVER listen to this guy:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tygz5q9G2no

playing bass proficiently in front of big speakers is like nothing else on earth. you might want earplugs though. same for concerts.

do what bootsy collins does. or les claypool

and as a bass player please send your positive thoughts/warm wishes/prayers to chi cheng and his fam. may he wake soon:)

i'll quit posting here unless you ask for more tips.