learning to use the information

[Youngspanion]

I took lessons for about a year or so and I learned all about scales chords and appegios.

Now I need to learn how to play. I can learn covers and I can play blues but I don't seem to have any skills at jamming.

Last night a drummer friend came over and we jammed a little but he was getting board and I think It was my bass playing that was getting boring. What should I do now?

I don't know how to jam with others. I think it would be great to listen to a good bassist and drummer just jam but I feel like I don't know what to do unless its a I IV V progression and I stay within the parameters of that. I want to be the best bass player I can be but I think I need help getting there.

Any advise?

[christianharger]

Personally, I love playing with a drum machine and see it as being entirely beneficial. Chances are if you are just jamming with a drummer, he is going to care a lot more about the groove than the notes you are playing. I get together once in a while with a drummer who is a machine when it comes to grooves and beats and time signatures, and that is the kind of stuff we jam on and work on. Sometimes I just stick to one note and that is enough for a solid jam as long as the groove is there.

So if you are jamming with a drummer I would suggest to be more groove-minded. If you are jamming with an additional harmonic or melodic instrument however you will definitely need to put more emphasis on the notes.

As far as practicing goes, I would again suggest a drum machine for groove practice. Also, it's really nice to get with a guitarist or a pianist who knows chords and progressions that are not just a simple I IV V. This should help break you out of the simple progression complacency.

I hope this helped a little!

[MalcolmAmos]

I love to jamm to the videos and backing tracks that are on the Internet right now. The more we jamm the better we get at it. I especially like the ones that have the chords shown. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R4x0u...eature=related

christianharger said the groove is more important than the notes being played, I'm beginning to see that. My mind tells me to play R-3-5-3, however, the groove - if it is 8ths or 16ths tells me to go all roots. I understand there is a middle road there somewhere. Yes to following the groove.

Find some backing tracks or play-a-longs.

[mambo4]

Learn more songs- and analyze them.

The way you learn to apply you scales and arpeggios is to learn lines by the prominent players in a style you are interested in. More importantly, compare their note choices to the chords of the song..see how they outline the harmony.

Paul Westwood's Bass Bible has a great section on typical bass patterns in many styles and is a great resource.