New tools to develope groove and chops

[capnsandwich]

I've been using Peter Vogl's Let's Jam cd's to learn playing to different types of music, attempting to broaden my horizons. My problem lies with the level of playing on those cd's. They've really helped me to learn the basic grooves of differnet styles and genres of music but I find myself wanting to get better and learn more chops and trickier bass lines. At the level those cd's play at, I feel limited and grow tired of practicing basic rudaments. I was wondering if there's anything else out there like the Let's Jam cd's but at a higher level. I need something to challenge myself to get better at soloing and walking. Something jazz oriented or some rock fusion stuff. I don't like playing over other bass lines, which is why I like the Let's Jam stuff since they leave the bass lines up to you to write. I know there's got to be something else out there, but what?

[alfredpunkjazz]

Choose the best drummer you can afford, pay him, and start jamming with him. Write your own music. he he he he, really, it's something that really helps.

[luknfur]

Along that lines I read a thread that talked about what I recall called Jamstix, a free download of drum software that varies according to what you play.

Never checked it out but might be worth looking into. Only problem with something like that is you lead so you basically end up playing what you always play. Like you say, something with an open bassline but leading you tends to make you play differently than what you're accustom to.

[JimmyM]

Do they still make the Music Minus One series of albums?

[JimmyM]

Hey, they do!

http://www.musicminusone.com/MainPag...nt.asp?catID=4

Not always the greatest tunes on earth to play with, but they're in the styles of what you're looking for, and it's a whole band ensemble minus the bass parts or whatever instrument someone plays, so it's almost like jamming with a band. I used these when I was a kid and they're pretty fun.

[capnsandwich]

Originally Posted by JimmyM

Hey, they do!

http://www.musicminusone.com/MainPag...nt.asp?catID=4

Not always the greatest tunes on earth to play with, but they're in the styles of what you're looking for, and it's a whole band ensemble minus the bass parts or whatever instrument someone plays, so it's almost like jamming with a band. I used these when I was a kid and they're pretty fun.

Yeah these look kind of cool. Maybe I'll pick up one of these and see how it goes. They're a little more expensive than Peter Vogl's stuff but it's worth a shot. Thanks guys for your input.