Beginner-ish bassist help?

Question

I've been playing bass for a little over a year now, but my skill level has pretty much stayed the same for the past few months. I'm not necessarily looking for a quick fix, but does anyone out there have a practice routine for improving or something like that? I'm pretty decent at figuring out basslines by ear, but as for technique, speed, and especially making my own basslines other than playing the root notes over and over... I feel like every time I pick up my bass to practice, I blank out and don't know what to play.

By the way, I don't take lessons,I just got my brother to teach me the basics in the beginning and learned through tabs and my school's jazz band. (So I can read sheet music. But I don't know if that's relevant to anything or not. P:)

Answer 1

I would try some funk. slappin' is a new thing. When I am trying to learn new things i go back to running my scales as a jumping off place. Plus all the great bass players I know did a lot of work in Gospel, like Kirk Franklin, Brooklyn Tab, anything with a wild gospel bass line

Answer 2

A great band to increase skill with would probably be Tool. A lot of their songs incorporate a lot of good things to practice. They also helped start to improvise because their songs show you how versatile the bass can be and some great sounds. They include some speed basslines, but most are very rhythmically challenging. I know from experience that all of their songs helped me with my timing tremendously.

Some songs that are great to learn:

Ænima - Some hammer-ons and pull-offs, a lot of speed

Forty Six & 2 - This song has some very challenging time and some hidden D's

Overall Tool challenges your skills and makes you become a tighter bass player.