How to play melodicaly and rhytmicaly at the same time?

[jenich CZ]

I spent a lot of time and practising on developing a way to get a sharper tone, that can be used on playing rhytms, but solid enough to be used in melodies too.

I found that banjo picking is the best way for me...I play P, I, M almost all the time and if i want to add some percussions i use doublethump on a A or G string... Thats also an interesting thing: I found that a player has to "tidy up" his playing...like percussives dont sound good everywhere, if youre doublethumping dead strings then A and G is the best choice because you can simultaneously play bass background on E or anything...

Why not play melodies with doublethump? I dont know...If you play doublethump there is always the first heavy note: like DOWN, up, index, middle. Also the tone is too sharp to make a solid melody.

Here is the video of the things that i tried to explain, but my written english is really poor

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NvyS0veXuTU

[OliverH]

Not my favourite style, but I enjoyed your video!

What does it sound like on an electric as opposed to an acoustic? Due to the pickups in my acoustic I find you lose a lot of definition because it picks up any thumps on the body even on strings you aren't playing at the time.

I'd say most of your tidying could be helped just by playing on something other than an acoustic, but that's just my opinion.

[rythmicillusion]

Your written English articulately conveyed much of your dilemma.

The way I think about it, a "melody" is music played one note at a time. "rhythm" might be defined as the temporal placement of music.

You might be thinking in terms that are too broad for what you're trying to accomplish. Or rather, since I've never heard your playing I can't see exactly what you're going for.

Listen to a James Jamerson (example, Maryin Gaye's "What's Going On") or Anthony Jackson (example, Chaka Chan's "What Cha' Gonna Do For Me") bassline. They are pinning down some epicly deep grooves, and simultaneously creating these well informed melodies.

I hope this helps.

[jenich CZ]

Originally Posted by OliverH

Not my favourite style, but I enjoyed your video!

What does it sound like on an electric as opposed to an acoustic? Due to the pickups in my acoustic I find you lose a lot of definition because it picks up any thumps on the body even on strings you aren't playing at the time.

I'd say most of your tidying could be helped just by playing on something other than an acoustic, but that's just my opinion.

well...it sounds like this http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NBCk4...eature=related there are some part played with this technique.

I play electric bass as well, but I actually like that feel, that every slide on flatwounds could be heard. Ive been thinking about adding a single soundhole pickup, but I want to keep that raw sound.....i guess...

[jenich CZ]

Originally Posted by rythmicillusion

Your written English articulately conveyed much of your dilemma.

The way I think about it, a "melody" is music played one note at a time. "rhythm" might be defined as the temporal placement of music.

You might be thinking in terms that are too broad for what you're trying to accomplish. Or rather, since I've never heard your playing I can't see exactly what you're going for.

Listen to a James Jamerson (example, Maryin Gaye's "What's Going On") or Anthony Jackson (example, Chaka Chan's "What Cha' Gonna Do For Me") bassline. They are pinning down some epicly deep grooves, and simultaneously creating these well informed melodies.

I hope this helps.

I sure did listen to Jamerson and Jackson is my favourite bass player...But I was thinking something more like solo blues guitar player style...Like solo bass, but not in Victor Wooten way...

[rythmicillusion]

I sure did listen to Jamerson and Jackson is my favourite bass player...But I was thinking something more like solo blues guitar player style...Like solo bass, but not in Victor Wooten way...

Anthony is truly an artist when it comes to interpreting. Not a bad favorite bass player to have, that's for sure. A while back, I transcribed the bass line for Steely Dan's "Glamor Profession", then played it note for note for a school performance test. Bit of a workout at first, but it certainly helped my groove skills and especially my finger tone/dynamics. That got me some legitimate praise from a Grammy winning bassist! "These amps here usually sound bad, but you made it sound real good!". Maybe I should have sent some flowers Mr. Jackson's way for that one!

If you are trying to get a more "solo blues guitar" vibe happening out of your bass...why not learn some Robert Johnson, B.B King, etc? In terms of bass players, I think Will Lee and Chuck Rainey ocassionaly do some of that sort of stuff to good effect.

Using double stops in the higher register (especially 3rds and 6ths) with a little chromaticism might give you a good starting point. Or learning a blues vocal riff and applying it to the bass...that could get you into the territory as well.

[jenich CZ]

Already done that )

But i stuck on Bireli Lagrene, Paco De Lucia...there really is something to learn

[mutedeity]

This is one of those things where we need to go back and understand the meaning of the terms "melody" and "rhythm".

A melody is the succession of notes. A rhythm is the displacement of notes over time. Therefore all melodies are rhythmic and all rhythms are melodic.

So to answer your question, the way to play rhythmically and melodically at the same time is simply to play.

[fretlessman71]

I use my thumb as a pick a lot; I grow the nail out a bit and shape it so the left corner stays long, and go both directions on the string. It took a lot of work to get the up stroke to sound as strong as the down stroke, but I got it after several months.

I love your playing, OP! If Michael Hedges played bass he might sound a lot like that.