dohhhhh6 Posted July 1, 2004 Share Posted July 1, 2004 Hey guys, I've realized that I'm not quite the grooviest bassist ever, so I think some practice time on this concept would be very, very... fruitful. So what are some good practice excersizes to help the groovability? Right now, I'm starting making beats on N-Track studio, and playing over those. One time, I've try to play in sync with the hi-hat, another the snare, etc. Metronome? Kinda sorta. Maybe 15 minutes every 4 days. Any other good tips for being a groove monster? Tappin' foot, etc? Thanks for the help guys! In Skynyrd We Trust Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scoot Posted July 1, 2004 Share Posted July 1, 2004 My tip: Play more than 15 minutes every four days. Results are guaranteed. There was a good article of Ed Friedland's in BP a few months ago w/ some simple exercises w/ a metronome designed for the groove-challenged. I think somebody posted them on here? I be damned. This search function really does work. Here is the thread, and here is Big Ed's article. Ah, nice marmot. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Fonz Posted July 1, 2004 Share Posted July 1, 2004 play along with albums and jam with real live people. i just dealt with a similar lull the same way (no offense to you mike lull owners out there. my other options were "funk" or "blue period" which would have contradictory). Eeeeeehhhhhhhhh. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jeremy c Posted July 1, 2004 Share Posted July 1, 2004 First of all, you need to play with your metronome on for hours at a time. Or should I say four hours at a time? Until you can't even hear the metronome anymore because you are so locked onto it. And then get out your James Brown singles collection (you do have a James Brown singles collection, don't you?) and play along. One chord, one repeating bassline. All day long. Try Lickin' Stick or Hot Pants. Free download of my cd!. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EddiePlaysBass Posted July 1, 2004 Share Posted July 1, 2004 Yo Lady In Da Pink Dress, Buy this book, it's called Grooves For Bass and has some really good exercises. Comes with a cd that has the songs once with bass line, and then once without, allowing you to play without having the "actual" bass line as a guide. "I'm a work in progress." Micky Barnes The Ross Brown Shirt World Tour Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scissor_man Posted July 1, 2004 Share Posted July 1, 2004 A thing that helped me out was getting a drum mahine and developing a groove from the pattern of the drum beat. petecombs Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Edendude Posted July 2, 2004 Share Posted July 2, 2004 Playing with a metronome will help you learn to keep time, which is essential to being a good in the pocket groove player, but for really learning how to 'groove'... Jam with a drummer, alone! Preferably a good drummer who can keep good time. And just a drummer and you, no other players. This will teach you to really feel the groove and work with the natural pushing and pulling dynamic that goes on when humans play together without a click track or metronome. My Last Band Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Afro_Man Posted July 2, 2004 Share Posted July 2, 2004 Definately play with a drummer, and if the drummer can piss all over the beat then thats even better, start of simple and slow and follow j to the c's advice to the letter because he knows everything about bass (and probably some other stuff too) Nic P.s. im going to get a metronome, any good ones that you reccomend? "i must've wrote 30 songs the first weekend i met my true love ... then she died and i got stuck with this b****" - Father of the Pride Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DaveAG Posted July 22, 2004 Share Posted July 22, 2004 yes,yes....drummers....one of my best friends is a drummer and it makes life pretty cool.. cheers! Have you hugged your bass today? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Whacked Posted July 22, 2004 Share Posted July 22, 2004 not everyone has a drummer in their pocket I just bought a drum machine. its pretty cool but unfortunatly, i'm having to much fun programming patterns in it instead of practicing my bass. But the good 'ol metronome is less distracting. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Quinn Posted July 22, 2004 Share Posted July 22, 2004 Good advice one and all. In our calling, there is no question more essential than this, IMHO. I used to take lessons with Glen Letsch for a while and in his conception, bass playing is made up of three elements: 1. Time 2. Groove 3. Space As has been suggested, working with a metronome or drum machine regularly will take care of #1. Playing along with CD's that feature smoking rhythm sections will help with #1 and #2. And playing regularly with a good drummer will help all three. Space sometimes gets overlooked, but the notes you DON'T play also help create a tightly locked groove. p.s. Hey Whacked, here's a shout out to Stockton - my old hometown! My bands: http://www.myspace.com/aimlowkidmusic http://www.myspace.com/bobfrankandjohnmurry Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EddiePlaysBass Posted July 22, 2004 Share Posted July 22, 2004 Originally posted by Quinn: Space sometimes gets overlooked, but the notes you DON'T play also help create a tightly locked groove.I'm a master when it comes to leaving out notes If a run is too hard to play, I simplify it and tell the rest that I wanna let the music breathe a bit "I'm a work in progress." Micky Barnes The Ross Brown Shirt World Tour Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fred TBP Posted July 22, 2004 Share Posted July 22, 2004 Before I gained too much weight and lost some self-esteem, I went out to clubs and danced. Seriously. Even just hanging out on the side with a good DJ running the mix can make you move and groove. And I don't mean classic rock, either, get moving to the new stuff. You shouldn't have to think about it, just trust your inner funk-genie to do it for you. You need to FEEL it first in order to get your mind to think that way, then you can get your hands to do what your mind wants them to do. Not all musicianship is an intellectual exercise, m'lady; sometimes it's about making the audience shake their booties or do the wild thang. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BenLoy Posted July 22, 2004 Share Posted July 22, 2004 Like Jeremy said... Buy a James Brown singles collection. Play along...preferably to "Doin it to Death" or "Talkin' Loud and Sayin' Nothin'". Nothing beats 10 minutes of the same chord over and over again. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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