Dude, Where's My Chops?

sleeplessknight · #1 10-14-2006, 08:45 PM

So, I've moved from Central MA to East Boston a couple months ago. Unfortunately, with all the confusion, stress, etc with the move, my practice schedule and playing regimen have gone right out the window. Fast-forward to today, I'm auditioning for this really, really cool fusion band whose original music I *totally* dig. Normally this wouldn't be a problem, however since I've picked up Ye Olde Basse only sporadically since early August, it's quite ugly. The three tunes that the bandleader selected to audition me on are each 95% easy-peasy stuff. Rhythmic funk and simple forms. However, *each tune* has a C section that is *all 16th notes* with very interesting (read: weird) note choices that arpeggiate all up and down the neck, among other things. Six months ago this stuff would give me a workout, but it would be doable. Now? I sound like a cheap, out-of-time Jaco wannabe! I've been working on these tunes for a solid week, especially those 16th-note phrases, in Transcribe (a neat program that'll loop and slow down sections of tunes), and I just can't play these phrases at a tempo above 70% of normal speed. It's wicked frustrating, and even moreso because I *really* want to nail this audition tomorrow night. Have any of y'all gone through a similar "hiatus" phase, then had to build your chops back up really quickly? It's so frustrating because at 70% normal speed, I can nail these damn tunes. If I bump it up to even so much as 75%, it all goes to hell. Help me, oh wise veterans of TB, you're my only hope!

--Lee

ldervish · #2 10-14-2006, 09:09 PM

Sometimes if I am having trouble, I try to play with my eyes closed, visualizing the fingering. It forces me to focus. Also, try to relax and lighten your touch to move faster. You've got it at 70, a couple more steps will get you home. Good luck, hope your hard work pays off for you.

avid · #3 10-14-2006, 09:11 PM

I think you are having a case of performance anxiety. It's a little late to see a doctor and try out a Beta-Blocker for temporary relief. Many classical musicians use Beta-Blockers for auditions. Here is an article about the subject. Even if you could get a prescription tomorrow it could be far more disastrous to try something like this live.

http://www.ethanwiner.com/BetaBlox.html

In the meantime, do you know any guided relaxation or the like you might use. The Blue Angels, U.S. Navy aerial flight team, use guided imagery to perform on the ground. Maybe you should envision yourself playing the way you know you are capable rather than focusing on your seeming inability.

The most important thing is to BREATHE.

AmazingGracePlayer · #4 10-14-2006, 09:15 PM

That happens to me too, but rarely. Before, I used to be able to do the Victor Wooten double thump and double pluck and play straight 16th and sometimes even 32 notes on a 100 beat/min tempo, but now, since I've been playing a lot of single thump and double "flam pluck" (plucking the strings twice, and the first one acts as a "flam" or a "grace note"). Then today i realized, I can't play my 16th or 32 notes evenly anymore! My first 2 thumps sound even, then the two plucks are just way to fast and way to short. That pisses me off more than me not being able to play something.

trasser · #5 10-15-2006, 10:06 AM

What are chops?

EDIT: sorry, made a search, got it now

Alec W. Conway · #6 10-15-2006, 10:18 AM

Pork chops. The guy's wondering where they are cause he has to eat some protein before his audition.

Michael Henson · #7 10-16-2006, 04:32 PM

How'd the audition?

Michael Henson · #8 10-16-2006, 04:36 PM

Alec W. Conway · #9 10-16-2006, 05:37 PM

We want news man! C'mon, how'd it go??

**bassybill** · #10 10-16-2006, 06:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Michael Henson

How'd the audition?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Michael Henson

Go?

I see a huge post count in your future...

Michael Henson · #11 10-16-2006, 06:14 PM

Funny, I just got a little ahead....

Michael Henson · #12 10-16-2006, 06:14 PM

...of myself...

markjazzbassist · #13 10-16-2006, 07:13 PM

how'd it go? i try and keep my practice schedule consistent. i usually take one day off a week, and that helps to keep me rested and not burnt out.

sleeplessknight · #14 10-16-2006, 08:26 PM

Oh, heh, sorry for not updating! Well, I definitely didn't "nail" the audition, but the band gave me a CD, said "hey, we know these are difficult licks, keep working at it and come back next week". That's a good sign, right? 8*) Anyway, I think another week running these licks and they should be significantly better, if not down. To my credit, even though the 16th-note licks were *awful* on two of the three songs (with the band saying a couple times "Hey, you go... practice this for a minute, we're gonna go enjoy some fresh air mixed with some fresh nicotine"), I definitely had the remaining sections of the tunes down cold. Also, the practice room was *freezing*, which didn't help my wrist agility any. However, watching the guitarist run the licks did give me some new ideas for more efficient fingering, so that's always a plus too. Thank you everybody, for all your kind words and advice! Keep 'em coming, I'm not out of the woods on this yet! 8*)

--Lee

avid · #15 10-16-2006, 08:34 PM

Congratulations guy, WTG! That should take some of the pressure off and allow you to play like you know you can! I think the difficult material is just a cagey way to audition new players. Keep working at it.

ldervish · #16 10-17-2006, 05:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by avid

Congratulations guy, WTG! That should take some of the pressure off and allow you to play like you know you can! I think the difficult material is just a cagey way to audition new players. Keep working at it.

+1, David

Sleepless, the hard part is over. You've met the band, played with them, and they obviously see your talent and want you to join them.

Rich600 · #17 10-17-2006, 06:39 AM

I hate to sound like a bass noob when asking this because I've been playing a good few years, but what are 16th/32 notes? Sorry to use this thread but he does talk about it.

And well done with the audition mate!

debozkurt · #18 10-17-2006, 10:06 AM

16th and 32nd notes are various subdivisions of the beat.

For example, if you are playing in 2/4, the quarter note is the beat, with two beats (two quarters) per measure. If you subdivide the beat, you are basically cutting it in half. Subdivide once, and you get two eight notes per quarter. If you subdivide those eigths again, you get 2 16th notes per each eighth, so you would wind up with 4 16th notes total in each quarter note beat.

32nds are just the next subdivision down, so each 16th note would be cut in half, giving you 8 notes per beat.

As you can imagine, these notes all fit INSIDE the one quarter note beat, so they gradually get faster. Depending on tempo, 32nd notes can be quite hard to hit at a constant rate...Just because of the sheer speed one must play them.

Hope this helps...Such things can be trickty to both explain and understand without actual music in front of you, so I suggst looking it up on some theory websites or Wikipedia.

sleeplessknight · #19 10-17-2006, 06:54 PM

Or alternatively, you could download "Squib Cakes" or "What Is Hip" by Tower Of Power. Them there's some mighty tasty 16th notes, played with panache! 8*)

Rich600 · #20 10-18-2006, 08:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by debozkurt

16th and 32nd notes are various subdivisions of the beat.

For example, if you are playing in 2/4, the quarter note is the beat, with two beats (two quarters) per measure. If you subdivide the beat, you are basically cutting it in half. Subdivide once, and you get two eight notes per quarter. If you subdivide those eigths again, you get 2 16th notes per each eighth, so you would wind up with 4 16th notes total in each quarter note beat.

32nds are just the next subdivision down, so each 16th note would be cut in half, giving you 8 notes per beat.

As you can imagine, these notes all fit INSIDE the one quarter note beat, so they gradually get faster. Depending on tempo, 32nd notes can be quite hard to hit at a constant rate...Just because of the sheer speed one must play them.

Hope this helps...Such things can be trickty to both explain and understand without actual music in front of you, so I suggst looking it up on some theory websites or Wikipedia.

Thanks a lot, thats awesome!

So basically, it's playing more notes in the relative time signature?