Fast jazz licks (how do you do it???)

Rickenbrad · #1 08-21-2007, 03:10 PM

im a huge fan of jazz, but i cant seem to figure out how people like Jaco, Tony Grey, Hadrien Feraud, Skuli Sverrisson, Dominique Dipiazza, Matt Garrison, and Jimmy Haslip do those fast licks

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8au2qIcjJVw

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OL4GDaulw1Q
(2:19-2:31)

are they just using scales? and if so what kind of scales are they using? is it just pentatonics? i'm sorry if i seem stupid or ignorant but how do they do it?

**Mark Wilson** · #2 08-21-2007, 03:17 PM

I am assuming you don't know a lot about Jazz Theory.. I sound like an ass, but I don't mean to come off like one.

What you hear are parts of scales, or modes.
There are essentially modes of every scale.
The primary ones are Major, Harmonic Minor, and Melodic Minor.
There are pentatonic scales, Blues Scales, Whole Tone Scales, Bebop scales, tons and tons of scales.

So, for me to be able to tell you what exactly he's playing, would take a while to analyze. If we knew the chord changes, most of us could give you a pretty good guess

Hope it helps out a bit.

Oh, to your question, to get that speed? Practice scales and every exercise you can find.

**Mark Wilson** · #3 08-21-2007, 03:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rickenbrad

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OL4GDaulw1Q
(2:19-2:31)

Maybe Tony Grey will pop in and tell you how he does it.

Rickenbrad · #4 08-21-2007, 03:19 PM

haha, i dont know that much about jazz theory. i just started with it. and im only 13 and been playing for only 3 or 4 years
but thanks alot

Rickenbrad · #5 08-21-2007, 03:25 PM

again, i feel extremely stupid for asking the question, but i'm just trying to improve my playing

i guess ill just have to keep working on my theory

**Mark Wilson** · #6 08-21-2007, 03:27 PM

Ah okay! Don't feel stupid. Everyone starts somewhere.

Well, every bassist has a 'trick'. You've got a ton of time to practice.
Vic plays with his thumb, Tony Grey doesn't rest on the string below, Matt Garrison uses a 4-finger plucking style.

There are a few guys on these forums that would be glad to help you out.
Janek Gwisdala has his own thread, Mike Flynn has killer chops and uses the 4 finger pluck, Tony Grey himself is on here as well.

Rickenbrad · #7 08-21-2007, 03:32 PM

thanks man

yea, all those guys have tricks, i've actually working on Matt Garrison's 4 finger technique for the past couple of months, you can do some cool things with that

and hopefully, someone can drop by and give some advice

**Mark Wilson** · #8 08-21-2007, 03:37 PM

There are tons of threads on different techniques.
Check out the top of the thread. I think there's a "definitive guide to the Matt garrison technique" or something.

Rickenbrad · #9 08-21-2007, 04:04 PM

yea i already checked that out, but now, i just wanna be able to do those fast jazz licks

capnsandwich · #10 08-21-2007, 05:09 PM

Dude, the best advice anyone can tell you is ask questions, like you're doing, and practice, practice, practice! You're 13 and you have many, many years in front of you to learn different tricks and scales. Find a good teacher, someone who knows jazz, and get some info and lessons from him/her. The more you practice the easier it is to pick up on things. Learning and mastering one trick will open up 2 or 3 others that, before, seemed impossible, but now seems almost attainable. Be patient and don't give up just because you're not playing like Matt Garrison or Janek Gwizdala yet. In time!

Poop-Loops · #11 08-21-2007, 05:16 PM

I have a question for guys who can play that fast, too: how is your action set? On guitar I can see how someone can go a hundred miles an hour, but on bass it's considerably different.

I also notice how nobody ever has any dead notes. Is it because you have really high quality instruments? I just bought a $600 bass and even it has a few dead notes, although I think I just need to have it set up better.

DocBop · #12 08-21-2007, 05:25 PM

Stop worring about playing fast period. What good is playing fast if the notes you play suck or just sound like a fast scale. Work on playing good musical idea, taking a simple motif and develop it. So when you develop speed which will happen without even thinking about it, you will be playing something worth listening to.

I like Jaco and Garrison, but listen they aren't playing fast all the time. Listen and transcribe the parts that you can play and learn from those. More than likely they are the same types of lines only slower. Charle Parker was only of the greatest improvisors and also played lighting fast. But you get a transcription of a Charlie solo and they sound just as good played slower. Now that is a sign of great lines.

allexcosta · #13 08-21-2007, 05:31 PM

See this and drool:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7z3SVH2wLEs

cnltb · #14 08-21-2007, 05:40 PM

I'd say, practise melodies.
Practise them SLOWLY.
Keep on practising them and they'll become fast.
More importantly( well...to me anyways)-listen out for GOOD TONE and PHRASING.
Walk through the chords.
Play the chords as chords.
Study basic chord structures such as the blues , rhythm changes etc.
write your own melodies on given chord structures
Learn the modes, circle of 5ths...etc,etc,etc.
Transcribe music-not only the basslines and chords.

There's sooo much more you can do.
Asking about it is a good start!!

gottawalk · #15 08-21-2007, 05:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DocBop

Stop worring about playing fast period. What good is playing fast if the notes you play suck or just sound like a fast scale. Work on playing good musical idea, taking a simple motif and develop it. So when you develop speed which will happen without even thinking about it, you will be playing something worth listening to.

I like Jaco and Garrison, but listen they aren't playing fast all the time. Listen and transcribe the parts that you can play and learn from those. More than likely they are the same types of lines only slower. Charle Parker was only of the greatest improvisors and also played lighting fast. But you get a transcription of a Charlie solo and they sound just as good played slower. Now that is a sign of great lines.

+1 on all this. To me, (who can't play the really fast stuff, either), there's two types of players; the "technician" and the "musician". A "technician" can play every note on the instrument as fast and as loud and as long as he wants and wow the crowd. A "Musician" can play a single note, pause and move on and wow the same crowd with his feeling and passion. That's not to say that a "Musician" doesn't know how to play fast, too; he just chooses when and where, with taste and style.

Practice, practice, practice, and listen, listen, listen and learn. You'll do great! And keep asking questions! ...only way you find things out.

Oh; ....... fast??????
Check out this tune and listen to the solo by Tom Kennedy during the tune. Great stuff, too! www.youtube.com/watch?v=27798KKiaMs

steve66 · #16 08-21-2007, 05:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rickenbrad

yea i already checked that out, but now, i just wanna be able to do those fast jazz licks

I think its great that you would like to play the Jaco stuff. Jacos advice is to learn the chord changes and melodies of the songs.

If you want to impress your friends, then fast licks are cool. Speed will come to you through good technique and practice. Playing fast wont get you a gig unless you can back that up with some groove.

Learning music theory is so essential to becoming a well rounded musician. It makes it easier to figure things out. Reading music is also something that you should learn to do. You can learn alot from reading charts. Also spend time listening to songs and learning them by ear.

At 13 yrs old, you are at an age where if you take the necessary steps to become a well rounded musician, you will be amazing in a few years. If you can afford to take some bass lessons from a good teacher and you work hard at understanding practicing what is given to you, you will get better faster.

Rickenbrad · #17 08-21-2007, 05:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by allexcosta

See this and drool:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7z3SVH2wLEs

i'm a big fan of Nico, his stuff with Coryell is great

chicagodoubler · #18 08-21-2007, 06:17 PM

Are you listening to jazz? There are so many greats, and it takes years to study just the basics. Once you have spent thousands of hours listening to other cats and transcribing them, start developing your own musical identity. Sing a phrase, then try playing it. Start slow and be patient.

I asked Chick Corea a similar question and he gave me the same sort of answer.

If you really care about playing "fast," you should be studying with the best instructor in your area, and practicing as much as you humanly can.

As mentioned above, it's better to be melodic and musical than just plain fast. Unfortunately, both sides take alot of time!

allexcosta · #19 08-21-2007, 06:26 PM

More advice:

Get some "Play along" instructional books (Patittucci has them) and learn the solo from great players. You will soon start to understand how they think their phrasing. Also, see if you can learn solos from trumpet, sax and piano, some of the greatest soloists play these instruments. Good luck

Rickenbrad · #20 08-21-2007, 06:31 PM

i agree with what everyones saying, and when i said "i'm just trying to learn the fast jazz licks" i didnt mean that i just wanna go onstage with my bass and wank, i wanna keep the band together and when my solo comes, i want it to be colorful, tasty, and fast when it needs to be