What do you think when you jam?

[funkygroover694]

Hey guys I've got a question for all of you. When you play bass do you what do you think? Do you say the names of the notes your playing in your head? Do you say the fret numbers? Do you count to the rythym? Is there one that you're supposed to do? I'm just curious about what other people do. I used to say fret numbers but now I'm trying to learn to say note names so that I can improve my fretboard knowledge and stuff, as well as be better at sight reading sheet music instead of tabs.

Rock on!

[StyleOverShow]

I listen to the rhythm created by the drums and the guitar/kb. Usually a song has an established feel, like Billie's Bounce or Green Day' Blvd of Broken Dreams, and try to pick a series of notes and rhythms that highlight or emphasize that groove.

When it comes to a band players solo, and this is where your jamming question may be most applicable, I try: to decrease the activity to start, that usually puts holes in the sound that the soloist can develop into a longer solo line; or alternatively, kick it up a notch and get busier pushing the rhythm by doubling up the strokes or using octaves, etc.

The one thing that I can say that I practice, as in an approach, is listening to the soloist and the band as a whole and try to pick out how the bass will help deepen the grove. I come from an R&B/Soul background so leaving holes is a good thing, often playing repetitive lines (sometimes complex) with embellishments at the turnarounds (4 and 8's).

I just re-read your OP and all this stuff isn't really applicable to your question.

No, I don't count in my head, or say fret numbers. I listen and respond.

-richard

[warnergt]

I don't claim to be an expert but I do like to jam. So take this for what
it's worth.

The first thing I do is know what the chord is.
Then, I look for the root or one of its octaves -- this is the only point I'm
really thinking about fret position. At this same instant, I'm taking into
consideration what kind of chord it is (major, minor, etc.) and also
thinking about what I can do with the chord notes (work up, work
down, work around). This helps me decide which finger to put on that root.

From there, I work the chord notes kind of as offsets from the root.
I'm not really thinking about what fret it is or what note it is.

I'm sure you will find various approaches to playing. This is just what I do.

[251]

I can barely speak 3 words while I play. Chewing gum can be a problem!

I absolutely do not 'think' when I jam. If the voice in my head is going, I am listening, not playing. I hear enough of his bs day in & day out. 8-)

Playing is meditative. I can put all the other stuff aside. It's one of the things I like best about jamming.

[rocknrollbandit]

I hear what I'm about to play in my head if that makes sense

[Rocky]

I'm usually thinking about some chicks ass!

[Deluge Of Sound]

I try to think as little as possible--pick up on the pulse of the song, play what needs to be played, and let my fingers do the thinking for me.

[Sonicfrog]

Peanut Butter.... Chips... A soda....

Oh, THAT kind of jam!!! Nevermind.

[funkygroover694]

Thanks for the feedback. I've just asked guitarist and bassist before and the counting rythym and fret numbers and all are just stuff I'd heard from those people I'd asked. You guys are much deeper thinkers!

[kayakbass]

Mostly I think about my financial situation....

[knumbskull]

i just try and focus on the kick and snare pattern, and build around that. if you can lock in so's you can almost predict what the kick drum will do, and play with that, it's great.

as far as counting beats or saying notes goes - err no, not me!

you can achieve a lot with a few notes when you jam...

[Jim Breece]

Sounds like you're kind of early on in jamming, yes? It's cool you didn't say you try to think of how to throw in all your best licks. If you're at a point where you need to think about where "A" or "F#" are on the fingerboard, saying note names may help you learn it faster. If I already know the song I probably think more about what the drummer is playing and how to lock in than anything else. When you start it's hard to really listen and interact with the other players, but the more comfortable you get knowing where to find the notes you want and how to work with drummers the more attention you can put on actually jamming rather than just hitting the right root note at the right time. Eventually you're not necessarily thinking consciously about note names or counting. It sounds like you're really trying to get better at it, so good luck. The more you do it the more fun it gets.

[puff father]

Originally Posted by Rocky

I'm usually thinking about some chicks ass!

Most of us can identify with that 24/7.

[G00D+~VIBES]

Ideally, if the groove allows for it, I like to start with big deep notes to get all of the heads and hips bouncing in unison. Then apply a lot of what Style had to say about repetitive licks and a little flavor on the 4/8's for the turn around. I also have a privilege of playing in a 3 piece (drums/bass/vox-acoustic guit) and we have a sax that plays w/ us from time to time so there is plenty of room for everyone to add to the groove. And, our vocalist has some serious chops so we get to go off on Erykah Badu-type groove tangents where the drummer and I just lay it down as heavy and deep as possible and let the other two shine.

[Phalex]

Originally Posted by 251

I can barely speak 3 words while I play. Chewing gum can be a problem!

I absolutely do not 'think' when I jam. If the voice in my head is going, I am listening, not playing. I hear enough of his bs day in & day out. 8-)

Playing is meditative. I can put all the other stuff aside. It's one of the things I like best about jamming.

^ Pretty much this! If it's an organized thing at a bar.

If I'm jamming in my buddies basement and his kid starts playing guitar, I'm thinking: "Doesn't this kid know any tunes?? "There's no structure at all rhythmically, or musically, is he really just grinding out random chords at random times??"

[pdubya]

dont think : FEEL!

www.myspace.com/dubthemagicdragon

[geeza]

Originally Posted by pdubya

dont think : FEEL!

www.myspace.com/dubthemagicdragon

^ Cool tunes!

[MarkTAW]

If I'm just learning the song I'm mostly thinking about what I can do to make the song more interesting to the listener, or how to simplify what I'm doing so that the song as a whole sounds more cohesive.

If I'm familiar with the song I don't think, and on the rare occasion when I do it's "is this the first or second chorus? do we go in to the verse or bridge after this?" (If I was thinking about what I was playing then I wouldn't have to wonder which chorus I was in.)

[J. Crawford]

Think and jam arent to things I think of in the same sentence.

[ray5903]

i think about what i'm gonna eat after i play.lol i just listen to the bass drum and try to get into the groove.i go into my own zone