Developing tight, consistent playing.

[Etc]

I've been playing for about 5 years now, and while I can play reasonably technical lines at higher tempos to some extent, I've realised my playing is very loose and lacks constancy when playing something simpler, like straight 16ths at 100bpm. I seem to have pretty poor control over consistent tone, dynamics, and to an extent timing when doing these sort of constant lines, this is even more evident when I try and record myself.

This is definitely to do with my right hand, although I don't think there's anything fundamentally wrong with my technique. I try and maintain the usual advised practices like avoiding bent wrists, a relaxed hand with at least a semi floating thumb, slightly bent fingers that strike through the string to land on the one behind it, a fairly light touch, etc etc.

So I'm guessing I just need to play much, much more with a metronome? What are some exercises you guys would recommend for improving plucking accuracy/consistency, and all round tight playing? Are there any books/resources you'd specifically recommend for addressing good right hand technique?

Thanks in advance!

[Cannabass]

honestly for me a huge part of progressing at bass playing is that moment where you realize you been doing something wrong, or you're totally missing some amount of technique...w/e.

like when i first started playing and i got my hand strength up enough to play, then i started trying to play more technical lines...but eventually i realized that the reason i sounded like **** compared to the recordings was because i didnt even know how to properly fret notes.

it made me realize like "damn i suck even harder than i thought"...and that might be slightly discouraging but practice is more productive when you know what you need to practice

sorry i'm rambling here but i guess what i'm trying to say is get back to the basics.

i would suggest trying to learn a lot of different Reggae basslines if you want to work on right-hand/note control

[Etc]

Originally Posted by Cannabass

honestly for me a huge part of progressing at bass playing is that moment where you realize you been doing something wrong, or you're totally missing some amount of technique...w/e.

like when i first started playing and i got my hand strength up enough to play, then i started trying to play more technical lines...but eventually i realized that the reason i sounded like **** compared to the recordings was because i didnt even know how to properly fret notes.

it made me realize like "damn i suck even harder than i thought"...and that might be slightly discouraging but practice is more productive when you know what you need to practice

sorry i'm rambling here but i guess what i'm trying to say is get back to the basics.

i would suggest trying to learn a lot of different Reggae basslines if you want to work on right-hand/note control

Hey thanks for that. If there's something fundamentally wrong with my technique I'd hope to have found it by now, but maybe I haven't...

Are there any articular Reggae bassists/lines or songs you'd recommend I have a look at?

[Joe Nerve]

Using a metronome as you mentioned is really useful, and any kind of beat box. As I was reading this I was jammin along with a casio keyboard I have. I like to come up with a groove or progression, jam on it, then switch the beat to whatever beat is next in line and make whatever I was doing work in that beat. I do it for fun, but it's definitely practice. You could do that with basslines you already know also, practice playing entire songs to completely different beats than what they were recorded with.

I think it's really important also to focus and feel as opposed to the actual beats or clicks. I try to really make each note feel it's way into and lock onto the groove (for lack of a better way to explain it). I listen closely to the beats, then listen closely to my notes and try to emphasise, articulate, and feel my way into what's happening to make it sound as absolutely musical as I can. Early on someone pounded into my head that it's never about playing notes, it's about creating music. Or better yet, making art.

[adube810]

one thing i found really helps to play much cleaner is to get used to controlling left hand mutes and also to try to play from the center of your hand with your left to have the ability to go up or down the fretboard with ease. doing this has made me favor my middle fingers rather than my index and pinky as "home base" leaving them available to little flavors of chord outlines to the notes being played to make them much more interesting

[Joe Nerve]

Originally Posted by Etc

Hey thanks for that. If there's something fundamentally wrong with my technique I'd hope to have found it by now, but maybe I haven't...

I'd suggest playing away at 16th notes real slowly w a metronome, for hours until you can make every note sound perfect - then upping the speed just a bit. Practicing slowly builds speed and accuracy. Practicing at fast speeds brings frustration.

[makkE]

I practice to a metronome in two ways.

First, with the click on quarter notes, I focus solely on consistency of attack, even tone and perfect timimg, like a robot, playing the rythm pyramid up and down.

Then I use the metronome like a snaredrum on 2 and 4, and focus on grooving to it as hard as I can.

I am trying to get to a point where I can both focus on the clean playing and the grove/musicality of it at the same time.

As for technique/clean playing alone, I play with headphones and crank the highs really up, so I can hear any unwanted noise. Then I try to eliminate that noise by playing the lines really slow to find out what causes the problem, and how to mute or adapt my technique. It's frustrating, because I never stop finding things that could be better

[BrandonBass]

Always listen and pay attention to your dynamics. Its not enough to be just in key and on time, its no use if you have no control over the attack.

I face a similar problem as you, my attack is not really consistent as well. After trying to play fast and technical, I compromised my dynamics and its really something I regret.... now im going back basics. Just doing 16th at 80bpm etc.

[Mayers]

what I did is ... play classical music. Like 6 suites by Bach for Cello. When you can play Piano, Mezzoforte and Forte on top of the notes you have to play. You mastered a big part of playing music.

[WannaJazz]

With this fingering sequence:

1234
2341
3412
4123
1432
2143
3214
4321
1423
2314
3241
4132

Play each sequence across the fretboard and back,(E string to G string, and back). Then move up one fret, and repeat, up to the twelfth fret. And then back down one fret at a time. Starting the metronome at 60 beats per minute, working up to 120 beats. Play any and every rhythm that comes to mind.
This exercise is from a book called Bass Fitness by Josquin Des Pres. I found this type of exercise to be very beneficial for my right hand.

[DanAleks]

Originally Posted by Joe Nerve

I'd suggest playing away at 16th notes real slowly w a metronome, for hours until you can make every note sound perfect - then upping the speed just a bit. Practicing slowly builds speed and accuracy. Practicing at fast speeds brings frustration.

YES!

I was always taught, if you want to play fast, take the time to play simple passages slowly. So slow you can go out and get a sandwich between notes.
This will make you accurate and confident. THIS will make you fast and clean.

[Spin Doctor]

Buy a digital recorder and record your band rehearsals, practice, noodling, everything, really. Actually knowing what you sound like objectively can help a lot in finding and fixing problems.

I do that and boy some of that stuff will make you cringe when at the time, I thought I was tearin' it up.

[StrangerDanger]

Originally Posted by Spin Doctor

Buy a digital recorder and record your band rehearsals, practice, noodling, everything, really. Actually knowing what you sound like objectively can help a lot in finding and fixing problems.

I do that and boy some of that stuff will make you cringe when at the time, I thought I was tearin' it up.

I know that feeling!

[CannyBusDriver]

i know what you mean about lack of consistent temp and crap, i deal with this problem a lot seeing as i just started practicing with a metronome on my 5th year as bass. (I also just learned scales within the past month too). I am going back to the fundamentals i should have learned 5 years ago, and its very discouraging, but at the same time its encouraging because i know its already imprved my jamming with people and stuff.

[BassChuck]

Originally Posted by Joe Nerve

I'd suggest playing away at 16th notes real slowly w a metronome, for hours until you can make every note sound perfect - then upping the speed just a bit. Practicing slowly builds speed and accuracy. Practicing at fast speeds brings frustration.

Originally Posted by makkE

I practice to a metronome in two ways.

First, with the click on quarter notes, I focus solely on consistency of attack, even tone and perfect timimg....

Then I use the metronome like a snaredrum on 2 and 4, and focus on grooving to it as hard as I can.

I am trying to get to a point where I can both focus on the clean playing and the grove/musicality of it at the same time.

As for technique/clean playing alone, I play with headphones and crank the highs really up, so I can hear any unwanted noise.

+1 on both of these. As far as the metronome goes... after you've gotten used to playing with the metronome on 2 and 4, switch it play on only beat 4. This way you'll be forced to hear youself and your timing through each measure. After that, go to just beat 4 on every other measure. This makes you listen to yourself not only for the beats, but for the phrase. Its tricky and metronomes don't go slower than 20 bpm, so drum machines, or free online metronomes, or sequencers are the answer to that.

Good luck. Once you have your time down good things happen.

[Etc]

Thanks for the responses guys, I'll work on what you suggested and see how I go.

[MrLenny1]

Try this: Metronome, cycle of fourths in quarter notes, eigth notes, triplets, sixteenths.
Start metronome at slow tempo(60-80) and build up to 120 or 140 or 160 in time.
I drastically picked up my 16's with this method.
Don't forget that this takes time and required effort.

[Etc]

Originally Posted by MrLenny1

Try this: Metronome, cycle of fourths in quarter notes, eigth notes, triplets, sixteenths.
Start metronome at slow tempo(60-80) and build up to 120 or 140 or 160 in time.
I drastically picked up my 16's with this method.
Don't forget that this takes time and required effort.

Should I do just one note for each note of the cycle of fourths? or should I, for example, play each note three times for triplets, four for sixteenths, etc?

[coolet5]

1. turn on a metronome with the BPM you want to practice at.

2. listen to it and concentrate on the spacing of the beats.

3. turn it off

4.turn on a recording device and press record button.

5. play bar or two of your bass line with the same BPM you just heard. make it swing and musical as possible remember a note can be short or long, hammer on,hammer off etc. all these options makes it sound good.

6. listen to it. if it makes your body move, your booty shakin and your foot tapping than you on the right track and you can move to the next bars along with the bars you just played.

7. remember technic is only there to serve the music. you do have to have it so you can express yourself better musically , but music comes first.

8. hope I made somewhat sense..

[MNAirHead]

From my teacher --- I take lessons from a well known professional (few times per year);

1-Lower your action... lighten your touch.
2-Practice with a metronome VERRRRRRRYYYY SLOOOOOOOOOW

Playing hole notes at 40 will do more for your "tightness" than playing 1600 rolling notes. It's going so fast you can't tell when you're off.

3-record yourself and analyze.