2. Not learning the notes on the fingerboard I can't tell you amount of times I've stopped a student in the middle of playing and asked them what note they are on, only to be met with a blank expression. For me, fingerboard knowledge is the key to opening up creative possibilities and breaking free from the box, or pattern based playing we are all so used to. When I think of a chord or tonality and I look at the fretboard, it's like all the possibilities 'light up' leaving me

Everybody started out as a beginner, no exceptions. There was a point in every bass player's life when they struggled to hold down the E string on the first fret, or didn't know where to find a Bb on the D string...and that's ok, we've all been there. The main thing is what we do to overcome these issues. Being able to identify a problem, explain why it's a hindrance and then construct a practice element to fix it, is one reason having good teacher can really help fast track