Good Genre "Jump Off Point"

[Din Of Win]

Hey All,

I was discussing with a friend about which music genre would allow it's practitioner a good range of usefull skills. My friend and I were both classically trained in.. er... classical music (i switched from cello to bass). We both agreed that it gave us many useful skills, but made it very hard to "jam" with people without sheet music in front of us.

So, saying you could start at the first day you picked up a bass... what genre would you be playing? Jazz? Motown? Punk? Metal? Which genre leads itself to the most useful (and marketable) tools as a well rounded and proficient bassist?

I know this is extremely relative... just looking FYI.



Personally, i would have liked to do more Jammerson-esque motown, or gospel. I started with classical and then punk rock. While i gained a LOT of rad knowledge about live sittuations and the appreciation of cheap/reliable gear... technically i feel i was stunted.

So... the floor is open...

[CamiloDíaz]

I'd say motown helps a lot, but a good starter for me was metal, for one simple skill that helped every other ulterior development I had: rythm! In metal the pulse is sick, and you have to be stone solid on that skill to hold your own. Oh, that and some neck sores!!! hahahaha

[rakirksey]

I'd say jazz since it provides a good basis of melody, harmony, rhythm etc. Most of the Motown guys were jazzers first.

[standupright]

blues. jazz if you know your theory.

[elgecko]

I started bass in a jazz context and to this day, I honestly believe that a solid jazz background is the best foundation from which to venture into other styles. A jazz background will give you a solid grasp of chord/song structure, playing in multiple rhythmic styles, and perhaps most important, the function "on the fly". YMMV

EDIT: It may not be the easiest "jumping off" point but it is the best IMHO

[tomas_almeida]

Originally Posted by rakirksey

I'd say jazz since it provides a good basis of melody, harmony, rhythm etc. Most of the Motown guys were jazzers first.

This. Also can be technically challenging if you're willing to explore it a bit more, making up for otherwise "classically" technique.

Originally Posted by elgecko

I started bass in a jazz context and to this day, I honestly believe that a solid jazz background is the best foundation from which to venture into other styles. A jazz background will give you a solid grasp of chord/song structure, playing in multiple rhythmic styles, and perhaps most important, the function "on the fly". YMMV

EDIT: It may not be the easiest "jumping off" point but it is the best IMHO

Also this.

[Din Of Win]

Right on. That's what i thought (in regards to jazz). I know all of the best drummers i have ever played with are jazz trained... so i was thinking the same idea would translate to other instruments.

Haha, I've gotten into jazz MUCH more in the last year or so and it's upped my game significantly (along with motown and funk)... at 27 it's better late than never i suppose....

[MalcolmAmos]

For a bass the blues and the use of a 12 bar blues progression is predictable and because of that you can jam with it in only a few days. Here is an example of the 12 bar blues progression in case you need it.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bUK5p...eature=related
Try - root nothing changing with the chord changes and building a groove. Four beats to the bar. Then......
Root-5 changing with the chord changes is next. Root on 1 and 5 on 3.
Chord tones next, i.e. R-3-5-3 or R-3-5-b7 after R-5 is comfortable.

Here is an easy one, it too is in A, remember the progression is predictable.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cM2G1...eature=related

A "fancy" (or expanded) 12 bar blues progression moves quickly into jazz. The chord charts for jazz standards are easy to find. Since you are coming from sheet music move first into lead sheet or fake chord sheet music - I think that will ease the journey. What type of music beyond blues and jazz? Whatever you like. Pop music is basic three to four chords and hang on.

Here is a paper on the evolution of the 12 bar blues progression.
http://www.bobbrozman.com/tip_evol12bar.html

Fake chord and backing tracks on jazz standards
http://ralphpatt.com/Song.html
Notice the backing tracks button in the tool bar.

Once you have the chords for the song how much of the chord (root only or R-3-5-b7) you use in your bass line is pretty well left up to you. The beat or groove will govern how much is needed. Coming from by rote playing I think you will enjoy the freedom of composing your own bass lines.

This may help.
http://pagesperso-orange.fr/freebass...20Redding.htm#'' Pain In My Heart ''
Scroll the screen down - help yourself to some standard notation bass lines.

Jamming is great fun.

P.S. www.studybass.com is a site I think you will like.