The Tall Building with a Weak Foundation

[FreaqyFrequency]

My name is Sean, I am 16, almost 17 years old and have been playing bass for 1 and 1/2 years.

There are many bass players today (myself included) who have started out roughly looking at the basics and shoving them aside for the "real bass playing", which, to them, is what I call "Slappy Tappy" [play on Laffy Taffy]. They put sticks at the bottom of their foundation and then they put concrete on the higher levels.

I got techniques like these down in a few months after I started playing, and everyone was like "WOW, 6 months dude!??? I haven't been able to do that in years of playing!"

As I would later find out, they are better off for it.

I started jamming with a guy who lives near me, a drummer to be precise. He, too, was seriously impressed with my "chops." A few jams later, he asked me to just lay down a simple groove.

He poked my foundation and it crumbled. I couldn't do it to save my life, and he was seriously disappointed. He couldn't stand jamming with me anymore because I was so damn flashy without any real substance to hold it up.

After a year of intensive work on keeping rhythm and improvising a nice, consistent groove, I am a markedly better player. I wouldn't have believed it when I started, but I finally figured out that I can't build level 10 without having thoroughly finished the ground floor. The building will collapse.

He and I got back together recently, and he said he really enjoyed the practice! I enjoyed it loads more, I at least know that much.

This is a plea to people who are learning: PLEASE, however boring it may be, take some time to learn how to construct a simple groove. It will be invaluable to you, while the same cannot be said for slapping, popping, or tapping.

Thank you very much for reading this down to the bottom. Remember, start from the bottom, FINISH the bottom, and slowly work your way up!

-Sean Mullin

[Jazzerbone]

Big ol' bump. Kudos!

[kesslari]

If you learned this at 16, you're miles ahead of most people.
It's true in pretty much everything that's worth learning.
Good going, great post.

[bassrique]

Brings to mind a vid I saw today:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TZ4FZ80Qdd8

[jtallent]

Bump for a great post!

A lot of people miss these points when starting out, and honestly I don't blame them. It's hard not to get caught up in striving for the flashy when you're listening to guys like Jaco, Wooten, Flea, blah blah blah ... but it's easy to forget that those VERY FEW players are an exception to the rule that the bass player has a very important job and that is to lay down a solid consistent groove (however if you really listen, these guys kno whow to lay it down as well). Congrats on figuring it out so soon and for being willing to pass on your experiences.

[Marcury]

Excellent post, if more people got that I think we' have a lot more interesting music.

[jsingles]

Originally Posted by bassrique

Brings to mind a vid I saw today:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TZ4FZ80Qdd8

thanks for the link, great vid

[Munjibunga]

Way to hum, man.

[Siegy]

I am a completely self-taught guitarist/bassist, and I've come to terms with the fact that I've skipped A LOT of things that most people would find important. I've also come to terms with the fact that I'm probably not going to try to learn those things any time soon either.

<bass blasphemy>
Honestly, I'm not looking to be in the traditional bass role. I don't want to "sit in and jam" or "lay down a groove". I play with a pick, and most of the notes I'm playing are root notes. I do know a few things, enough to spice up my part enough to fit my music, but if I start playing a walking bass line, I want my bandmates to shoot me.
</bass blasphemy>

Crap, where's my flame suit?!?!

[Marcury]

Originally Posted by Siegy

I am a completely self-taught guitarist/bassist, and I've come to terms with the fact that I've skipped A LOT of things that most people would find important. I've also come to terms with the fact that I'm probably not going to try to learn those things any time soon either.

<bass blasphemy>
Honestly, I'm not looking to be in the traditional bass role. I don't want to "sit in and jam" or "lay down a groove". I play with a pick, and most of the notes I'm playing are root notes. I do know a few things, enough to spice up my part enough to fit my music, but if I start playing a walking bass line, I want my bandmates to shoot me.
</bass blasphemy>

Crap, where's my flame suit?!?!

To each his own, but a firm foundation like the OP speaks about will only make your non-traditional role stronger and more musical. Innovation doesn't happen in a vacuum, and the best solo bass players I've heard can all hold down a wicked groove and walk a solid four.

[kesslari]

<bass blasphemy>
Honestly, I'm not looking to be in the traditional bass role. I don't want to "sit in and jam" or "lay down a groove". I play with a pick, and most of the notes I'm playing are root notes. I do know a few things, enough to spice up my part enough to fit my music, but if I start playing a walking bass line, I want my bandmates to shoot me.
</bass blasphemy>

Why flame you? If you have bandmates who like what you do, and people want to see you, great.
My experience tells me you will have a smaller selection of bandmates, though.

It's very similar in the martial arts.
A lot of people want to jump to flashy kicks and "advanced" techniques.
They invariably get thier arses kicked if they wind up in an altercation outside the gym.

Fundamentals win fights.

In music, fundamentals get gigs.

[RED5]

Originally Posted by FreaqyFrequency

My name is Sean, I am 16, almost 17 years old and have been playing bass for 1 and 1/2 years.

There are many bass players today (myself included) who have started out roughly looking at the basics and shoving them aside for the "real bass playing", which, to them, is what I call "Slappy Tappy" [play on Laffy Taffy]. They put sticks at the bottom of their foundation and then they put concrete on the higher levels.

I got techniques like these down in a few months after I started playing, and everyone was like "WOW, 6 months dude!??? I haven't been able to do that in years of playing!"

As I would later find out, they are better off for it.

I started jamming with a guy who lives near me, a drummer to be precise. He, too, was seriously impressed with my "chops." A few jams later, he asked me to just lay down a simple groove.

He poked my foundation and it crumbled. I couldn't do it to save my life, and he was seriously disappointed. He couldn't stand jamming with me anymore because I was so damn flashy without any real substance to hold it up.

After a year of intensive work on keeping rhythm and improvising a nice, consistent groove, I am a markedly better player. I wouldn't have believed it when I started, but I finally figured out that I can't build level 10 without having thoroughly finished the ground floor. The building will collapse.

He and I got back together recently, and he said he really enjoyed the practice! I enjoyed it loads more, I at least know that much.

This is a plea to people who are learning: PLEASE, however boring it may be, take some time to learn how to construct a simple groove. It will be invaluable to you, while the same cannot be said for slapping, popping, or tapping.

Thank you very much for reading this down to the bottom. Remember, start from the bottom, FINISH the bottom, and slowly work your way up!

-Sean Mullin

You're either the most enlightened 16 year old Zen bassplayer I've ever seen? or a 40 year veteran teacher passing as one. In either case? You're dead on!.

[MellowTone]

I wholeheatedly agree.

I'm 17, been playing maybe two years now, and I'm set on how important that part is. Sure, many love to crack out a flaming slap solo at every turn (cringe), but what's the point? To me, bass is all about holding down the fort, so to speak. A solid core.

Oh, and above all flashy playing: TIMING.

It kills me when I hear bass out of time, if the bass is off, what chance does the rest of the band have?

When you get a good jam going, it's a great feeling.

EDIT: That made more sense in my head.

[Fretless1!]

Originally Posted by kesslari

It's very similar in the martial arts.
A lot of people want to jump to flashy kicks and "advanced" techniques.
They invariably get thier arses kicked if they wind up in an altercation outside the gym.

Fundamentals win fights.

In music, fundamentals get gigs.

Absolutely perfect analogy! And, invariably, who kicks their arse? Some guy with some tried and true basics.

And to the OP: God Bless Your Bass Playin' Soul!

[Ammioz77]

Originally Posted by jtallent

Bump for a great post!

A lot of people miss these points when starting out, and honestly I don't blame them. It's hard not to get caught up in striving for the flashy when you're listening to guys like Jaco, Wooten, Flea, blah blah blah ... but it's easy to forget that those VERY FEW players are an exception to the rule that the bass player has a very important job and that is to lay down a solid consistent groove (however if you really listen, these guys kno whow to lay it down as well). Congrats on figuring it out so soon and for being willing to pass on your experiences.

The key to these guys though is that at their heart even with all the flash and killer technique, they can throw down a groove that would move the dead. Bread first, THEN the butter (or in my case soy margarine).

[Chasarms]

You are very enlightened teen.

I can't tell you how many young players are solely focused on what lines that they can play from a recording, or what seemingly difficult technique they can demonstrate.

"I just learned to play . . . " or "Can I get the tab to . . ."

They are more about riffs than actually making music. It has taken a few years for me, but once you start focusing on what to play (and what not to play) and why you are playing it rather than how to play it, a world of opportunity opens up for you.

[FreaqyFrequency]

Originally Posted by RED5

You're either the most enlightened 16 year old Zen bassplayer I've ever seen? or a 40 year veteran teacher passing as one. In either case? You're dead on!.

Oh, you're far too kind. It doesn't take a Zen to realize that if you don't finish your foundation, there is no building on earth that can stand there. Except maybe an ant farm.

And believe me when I say, I wouldn't pass for very long playing a 40 year-old veteran teacher. I would, however, pass with flying colors under the title, "average 17 year-old musician keeping his ear to the floor, trying to pick up and make the most of good information from wise people."

Thanks for all the positive feedback everyone, and I'm glad to see I have a partner in my canoe MellowTone.

-Sean

[FreaqyFrequency]

Originally Posted by Fretless1!

Absolutely perfect analogy! And, invariably, who kicks their arse? Some guy with some tried and true basics.

And to the OP: God Bless Your Bass Playin' Soul!

Fretless1!, I just realized that your first login to TB was the same day I picked up my first bass and began playing!

Too few days in a year.

[ryco]

It's all about balance! Go ahead and play the flash too - it has it's place. Just use your taste meter.

It's like cake: some like the frosting, but with out the cake underneath it's just fluffy sugar

[Pacman]

Great post. I expect you'll be doing awesome things one day.