Get back to my roots

[Ben Coffin]

Within the last month, I realized that I've fallen away from playing the conventional bass role. I'm so focused on my solo bass and "lead" bass playing, a la Victor Wooten or Jaco Pastorius, and not that there's anything wrong with that, but I feel like I'm not learning anything where I play my roots in rhythm. I used to play a lot of Dave Matthews, RHCP, Foo Fighters, and a couple other artists. My problem now is that I don't feel very challenged when learning a song where I play rhythm. I'm wondering where's a good place to start to get back into rhythm. I'm interested in some of the Kings of Leon sound, but I really like bands like Lettuce and Greyboy Allstars. Can anyone help me out?

[kesslari]

When you groove, groove hard.
I'm not familiar with Kings or Greyboy A's, but I know lettuce.
Listen and play with classic funk.
Tower of Power
P-funk and variants
Maceo Parker
Dr. John
Neville Brothers

For extra credit, groove with Dr. Jamerson.
Oh, and both Victor and Jaco can/could groove with the big dogs!

Go forth and get it on!

[John Wentzien]

Originally Posted by kesslari

When you groove, groove hard.
I'm not familiar with Kings or Greyboy A's, but I know lettuce.
Listen and play with classic funk.
Tower of Power
P-funk and variants
Maceo Parker
Dr. John
Neville Brothers

For extra credit, groove with Dr. Jamerson.

Go forth and get it on!

Good advice!
Groovin' on bass is the MOST important part.

[Ben Coffin]

Thanks man, that's great advice. I'm pretty good with groovin right now, but I'm definetly going to some serious funk. My real problem is I can't seem to figure anything out by ear, so I need tabs to get at least the general idea. But I will no doubt start hitting the Tower of Power and Maceo soon!

[Bassmickeyd]

You should realize that Jaco and Victor aren't about just soloing and lead bass lines. Both these players have there groove so tight they can do both, root groove and melody, at the same time without either faltering. Both these men don't stop doing one to do the other. I think you're at a players crossroads at which you have to find the way to stop thinking about, what you call, lead playing and roots rhythm being two different things. They're the same thing it's time to put the two together. ..... Good luck.

[Ben Coffin]

Well I understand that both players like Victor and Jaco arent about that. And I don't believe that lead and rhythm are different things, I meant more of playing less "Portrait of Tracy" and "The Vision" and playing things where I'm just rooting with the drummer, and playing things like "Come on, Come Over" or "Sex in a Pan". I'm just wondering where's the best place to get back to that idea, since I've been thinking too much riff orientated and less groove orientated.