Learning how to swing at fast tempos

[Lichtaffen]

In the past, the songs I've had to play with a swing feel have been medium tempo songs. Easy enough to play. My band has one blues song that's around 160 bpm that needs to swing. Basically, I've been practicing the parts on my own at a slower tempo with attention paid on the swing feel. It's working out fine, but I was wondering if there was any other technique anyone uses to improve this ability. Any help would be appreciated.

[King Of Suede]

Simple. Speed = repetition. Just play it slow, get comfy (play simple ideas!!), speed it up. Rise, Repeat.

Also, if walking, dont be afraid to double notes, you`re not gonna want to be flying all over the neck after the 15-20th chorus =P

[Pacman]

Remember that the swing feel is tempo dependent. The faster you go, the straighter its played.

[onlyclave]

Originally Posted by Pacman

Remember that the swing feel is tempo dependent. The faster you go, the straighter its played.

^^^^^^ This. Read it over and over again. ^^^^^^

[lunarpollen]

And remember that focussing on trying to make your bass part swing usually detracts from helping the band make the *song* swing.

[251]

Originally Posted by Lichtaffen

In the past, the songs I've had to play with a swing feel have been medium tempo songs. Easy enough to play. My band has one blues song that's around 160 bpm that needs to swing. Basically, I've been practicing the parts on my own at a slower tempo with attention paid on the swing feel. It's working out fine, but I was wondering if there was any other technique anyone uses to improve this ability. Any help would be appreciated.

I find it easy to cut the notes short when the tempo goes up. Find the length of a quarter note at tempo & give it full value. Consider running a Metronome exercise with the tune. I like Ed Friedland's exercise from 'The Working Bassist's Toolkit' or find Vic Wooten's video on the Korg site; http://www.korg.com/Artist.aspx?artist=647

If you plan to play the tune at 160, practice it faster, 180 or more. If you can swing at 240, 160 will be a piece of cake, right! Last but not least, if 160 feels fast to you, make a plan for what you will do if you get tired, get a cramp or your attention drifts. For me that means simplifying the lines I use, sometimes all the way down to I|I|V|V or a Root Pedal. 8-)

[Largedon]

Another trick I use is to set the metronome to click on 2 & 4. So if a tune is 160, set it at 80. Really helped me improve my swing.

[Beginner Bass]

I just feel the beats in triplets. Also, some metronomes have a "1-(la)-li" setting. That could be a good idea.

[HaVIC5]

Originally Posted by Beginner Bass

I just feel the beats in triplets. Also, some metronomes have a "1-(la)-li" setting. That could be a good idea.

This is a good idea for getting the hang of slower swing, but at faster tempos the triplet subdivision straightens out, like other people have mentioned. 160 is on the slower side in the greater scheme of things, though, so it might work to think in triplets.

[raymondl3]

Another thing that helped me was the ability to keep my left hand in one position and voice lead the notes (sometimes playing the 3rds and 5ths or the chord on beat one) to keep the flow. This approach helped me alot and you'll find you can "get away with it" more at fast tempos, plus there is way less "jumping around" the fretboard.

[Lichtaffen]

Originally Posted by raymondl3

Another thing that helped me was the ability to keep my left hand in one position and voice lead the notes (sometimes playing the 3rds and 5ths or the chord on beat one) to keep the flow. This approach helped me alot and you'll find you can "get away with it" more at fast tempos, plus there is way less "jumping around" the fretboard.

Yeah, I agree. I'm basically playing a blues progression for that song and I'm keeping it all in a four fret range. Less movement equals less time spent trying to "find" the next note. I was already doubling each note I was playing, but accenting the first of the two more. I do see what you all mean by the fact that the swing subdivision gets straightened out.

All great suggestions, by the way. I love tapping the collective mind of Talkbass.

[raymondl3]

I was never really sure if you were talking about walking basslines or playing eighth-note solos/lines.

[Lichtaffen]

My mistake. I meant walking lines. Sorry.

[raymondl3]

OK. I was also referring to walking lines when I made the comment.