If it’s just the next string down, I just play the next note a little further down the pad of my finger so that the tip is touching the one I want muted. If you’re crossing more than 1 string, I find fretting hand muting to be easier.
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Rick James - Super Freak
I have it 98% down (good enough for me anyway) but the transition out of the chorus is giving me trouble. It’s just three sparse, syncopated notes but the beat drops out so I can’t just “feel” it. And I’m having a hard time counting it out consistently too, even with a click.
On the other hand it’s really helping me polish my slides and hammer-ons, and practice octave runs a little bit too.
try to find ‘clues’ in the vocal or other sounds to help you nail those orphan notes, or, find your own way of counting it out (may not be by the beat, perhaps saying something or singing something in your head)
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Thats kinda genius tbh. Ive done songs with long pauses in the bass line, and trying to nail when I’m supposed to come back in has been a thing. Especially when theres no vocals and the guitar is just repeating.
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Unfortunately in this little section, everything drops out. And two of the three bass hits happen simultaneously with other instruments.
That’s pretty much what I’ve been stuck on, yup. On listening to it just now, I might be able to time the first one off the end of the “meeeeeee…” lyric and the rest off that, but that’s obviously only reliable in this particular recording. So not my favorite approach but it might get me through.
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Another option - When I am recording, I will watch the original bass track in my DAW to know where to come in for these longer pauses, so you could use some sort of visual cue, like that. Works since there is no band to look at to cue each other.
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I might take some of this approach, I was thinking of adding audio cues but visual could work too. I already tried putting a click through those sections and it helps a bit.
Thanks for the suggestions!
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my memory is not great especially short term,i try to follow then have t go back,help
I’ve been taking the course for about 2 weeks (and playing before the course since right after Thanksgiving) and I’m just about wrapped up with Module 4, was supposed to hit Billie Jean tonight but decided to back off a bit because my wrist has been bothering me some for the last couple of days. I’m bummed out about it because I was really curious to see how I do on the infamous song, but I figured better safe than sorry.
I’m trying to identify what the issue is. One problem seems to be when I have to use my pinky on the E string. The other seems to be that when something is pushing my skill level, I tend to tense up and go death grip. I was playing the two songs I know at full speed this past weekend so maybe that worsened it.
15 years of archaeology have made both my wrists a little dodgy (I’m an ambidextrous troweler), so I think I just need to be really cautious on form. And figure out how to fret with that pinky on the E without straining (otherwise my pinky is pretty strong).
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Hi @CT-9902
I have a damaged pinky from a bike crash that occasionally causes me discomfort.
So my strategy is to play the pinky but if it becomes tired then switch to the ring finger. There are no hard and fast rules re what fingers to use; only suggestions really.
I started on the Beginner to Badass course and it’s been 5 years. So the answer like most things in life is to just enjoy the process. Don’t worry about progress. Just pick up the bass and enjoy making noise. It’ll all improve, if you put in the time. 
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Yeah I think I may be trying too hard to do things “right” that I’m not relaxing my hand and doing what’s comfortable/natural
A useful thing to be aware of is how little pressure you need to apply to the string to get a clean sounding note.
Try to see how lightly you can press down. You’ll be surprised how little you need. Beginners tend to press down too hard.
i.e. not this hard!
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Nothing
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I suspect that’s entirely normal. I always find it takes me a good number of run-throughs to get riffs “under my fingers”, and whilst this is happening my grip on the neck always tends towards death-grip
Hopefully the death-grip will improve as you keep playing and improving 
Phil
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ADHD brain hiccups. My solution is to play brutally, faster and faster, still trying harder and harder, getting worse and worse until I break on through to the other side then slow it down and play it like It’s always been an easy one for me. Weird I know, but if it works…..
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Luckily I definitely am not fretting that hard! But my previous musical instrument experience was on double bass, so I do probably fret harder than I need to.
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Diatonic Chord Progressions!! I’ve taken the course twice. First time I didn’t get it at all, second time I understand a bass level of it - but don’t understand why it’s used. it’s supposed to be a short cut/fast way of doing things (right??) but it doesn’t seem like it to me. I hope on my third time around I’ll further deepend my understanding.
Back when I was newer to bass I documented my struggles with this here:
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That’s a helpful thread, thanks for sharing!
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Module 5 Lesson 3 - just couldn’t get the quick first fret of E string to third fret of D string thing to happen without my hand wanting to viciously, and painfully, attack the fretboard. Hand also couldn’t be convinced to figure out the “index finger on one string and pinky two strings away” thing. Tougher than Billie Jean! lol