Songwriting. When you write a song you have to consider everything. Rhythm, Harmony, Structure, Phrasing, Theory, etc.

Dave

The source for me is the song itself. After I looked at that, it always became more than just the part I was playing. My part always springs from what the song calls for and the material the song provides for me.

I would have to say listening to music.

Listening to a very broad range of music even bass oriented or
regardless of bass and try to imitate what i heard and enjoyed :)

Writing and listening to the genres you enjoy most. Putting in the hard hours, and when the fingers bleed-practice.

Just basically fiddling around with the bass trying different things. Experimentation with different genres and Rhythms.

D Silbag!

the music itself.

Lyrics

robo :)

Songwriting and listening to music definitely help with getting ideas and training your ear.

I was told that learning intervals and bolstering your ear to hand-connection is key. Basically knowing how to get out what is in your head with your body.

I was given an extensive excercise regarding ear training last night. I was told to be aggressive with it as it will greatly improve my improv. I am going to post it for everyone at a later time.

Good luck!

When I first started playing I just did nothing but covers. Given that the bass is my first instrument I had no knowledge of music theory whatsoever.

A little later on I took the time to learn and then I stopped playing covers and played around with scales. It sounded good but it was too boring because I would just stay in one key and go through a couple of chords.

At the point I am now I find myself not thinking in terms of what scale I am in. When I dick around I kinda know what next interval would sound cool with what I just played and keep repeating that. I end up making a pretty cool riff but I have no idea what laws of music theory make it so.

It's a little harder when I am playing with people. I generally tend to stick to the chords and scales. But if I hear something in my head that would sound good with the music, is not in key, and I know how to make that sound given where I am on the fretboard, I go for it.

At this point I am working on knowing what intervals people are playing rather than what chords and scales they are playing. My instructor told me it is more important to train your ear so you know what other people are playing and what they are doing. This makes jamming a million times easier. So I basically took a break from learning about theories and alterations you can make with chords. I intend on drilling the intervals into my head and then play whatever comes to mind, THEN discover what I am doing music theory wise. I didn't completely give up on music theory, I just want to be more myself rather than mechanically playing a chord. I then want to discover what in music theory defines me. You know what I mean?

"I then want to discover what in music theory defines me."

I LIKE that!! Good distinction, using Theory as a tool for your own expression instead of using yourself as a tool to express Theory.

Exactly.

The fretboard is yours! Play around with it and learn new sounds. When you find something you like you will subconsciously add it to your repertoire (with some repetition of course) and will be able to bring it out when your expression calls for it! Just learn what the fretboard sounds like. Learn the different sounds. Don't allow music theory to limit you. But use music theory as an explanation of what you are doing.

At the risk of sidebarring the topic I hear "learn what the fretboard sounds like" as more a technique topic than a theory one; what a note sounds like is different to me than what note. Finger/thumb/pick, plucking position, which string all make different sounds that all have valid uses; depends on what the song wants.

Theory, or what Theory says is correct, can be a good starting point though. Go from there, & try some 'wrong' notes to see how they fit what you have to say.

Perhaps Theory describes the "usual", & some expressions want the "unusual"?