My improvisational skills are severely lacking. Any advice?

[studiorecluse]

I almost forgot another good exercise for connecting your brain to your instrument.  Think of some of the childhood tunes that you know, and I mean KNOW, like Mary Had a Little Lamb or Twinkle Twinkle.  Learn all the ones you can think of in every location in every key.  Over time, this will help to erase the barrier between you inner ear and your fingers.
Don't get me wrong; learning scales, and arpeggios, and modes etc is all really useful, but it is part of the journey towards musicianship, not the destination itself.  I doubt that (fill in name of favorite virtuoso) is actively thinking ok, here comes a modulation into minor so I'll play Dorian, he is just playing where he knows he wants to take it... or it wants to take him.  It should become second nature like scratching your elbow.  You don't think: left elbow, half way down, then look at it, move right hand, position finger, move finger to scratch, etc.  Rather, with your eyes closed, you move your hand and scratch you elbow.  Playing should be like that.

[hankster]

I agree with John - get a Real Book, and play all the heads.  Then transpose them.  Then, start mixing them up (it is astonishing how many places cry me a river or honeysuckle rose can fit - at least 4 different ways for every II - V change).  But most of all, get gigs with horn and keyboard players who are more experienced than you are.  The great advantage of being a bassist who can read is that for every 10 horn or keyboard players who can do the same, there is probably only one of you, so there are likely reading gigs to be had.  Take advantage of that, and get out there and take chances.  And listen, listen, listen.
 
Good luck, and have fun!
 
rick

[lbpesq]

Are bassists that can read really that rare?  Almost all the guitar players I've ever met could read.  Usually High Times, Playboy, Penthouse, and Marvel Comics.  LOL
 
Bill, tgo

[811952]

Bill,
 
You missed your true calling!  You could be starving your 455 off doing standup in Odessa, Texas!  
 
Yes, almost all guitar players IN CALIFORNIA can read.  Here in the midwest the percentage might be a bit lower, and most of them drool on the pages (even the ones that aren't in Congress).    
 
John

[olieoliver]

Careful Bill, you don't want to sound too pompous now do you.

[lbpesq]

There should always be a place for self-deprecating humor.
 
Hempy Hanukah!
 
Bill, tgo

[bob]

(I always thought it was Hanukkah, but what's a k or two among good hemps...)

[bob]

Now then, on this improvisational stuff, I read this book a while back that some of you might enjoy,  
Effortless Mastery... by Kenny Werner.
 
It's not so much about improvisation, as about freeing your mind to become a better musician - or practically anything else, for that matter. I once described it to a friend as sort of a Buddhist-light approach, which just happens to be written by a Christian; it's also a fairly short (largish print on small pages, even if there are almost 200), easy read, with a bunch of great personal anecdotes that any musician would enjoy.
 
Very down to earth, thoughtful without being overbearing, not too many big words or heavy concepts... and definitely worth a read.
 
(maybe even a second read, I need to get my copy back...)

[5stringho]

All excellent ideas about scales, modes, arpeggios, etc. and jazz. But if you want to have some improv fun in somewhat of a rock setting, listen to and play along with stuff from Gov't Mule, Widespread Panic, Moe., etc. Get your hands on some live stuff if you can. These guys carry the improv torch the Dead started. Dave Schools, the late Allen Woody, Andy Hess, Otiel Burbridge, these guys are all improvisational monsters!! They can give you a lot of ideas and inspiration. Have Fun!! Mike...

[davr35]

Chase small woodland creature out of the yard with your bass. It's bigger than a stick and with scare them more. Use flint and roundwound strings to start fires just be careful you don't set the bass on fire. In a pinch you can use a bass as a center pole for a tent. It is fun an easy to improvise if you just put your mind to it.

[paulman]

My best experience at improvising was when I went to an open stage (Mike, you know the one) and wrote my name on the list and what instrument I played.  
 
The guy walks up to the mike, looks down the list, picks a bass player, drummer, and two guitar players and says you're on.  I had never met any of these guys before (and a couple of them were in the same boat as I), and it forced me to play along to songs I had never tried to play before, or heard before in some cases.  I loved it!    
 
In my band I constantly ride the line.  Of course this is due to my long-term Grateful Dead influences.  
 
Many other people on this post said it best...if you're thinking about it you're not improvising.  Taking the mind and ego out of the equation (which I do, badly), and becoming a direct channel is the only way I can describe it.  
 
But if you can do that, all of a sudden you'll go Where have I been the last 20 minutes and What was I playing? and maybe a sudden body-chill rush while you're on stage.  I love those feelings after a jam!

[dadabass2001]

Rog,
Yeah, I remember (and miss) that jam session. I love both of those feelings: the on-stage zone where the result is greater than the sum of our parts; and listening afterwards to the tapes (demos, MDs, etc.) to discover the occassional jem. I wish they came easier and more often  
Strech your listening habits, your hands, and your mind.
Mike

[studiorecluse]

Bob,
On your recommendation I picked up Effortless Mastery...
WOW.  What a great book.  Thanks very very much.
This guy totally has my number.  My teacher of years ago always used to say Stop thinking about what to play, and just PLAY.  About sums it up.
Check it out.
Cary

[bob]

Glad you found it helpful. I'm still trying to recover my loaned copy, I think someone else liked it as well :-)