Where to go next?

[SirFunk]

Hi everyone, I'm kind of having a bass block (kind of like writers block) I don't really know where to go next with bass. My goal is to be a solid, groovy bass player. Not much flash, maybe a little here and there but mainly solid, in the pocket groove. I can pick out and play most bass lines on recordings and whatnot. Any finger style bass lines (short of some Rocco stuff) as well as some thumb (if it's simple without a lot of dead notes).

Like i said, i have no problem playing along with recordings, making those bass lines 'mine' however, being able to come up with equally quality grooves on my own is more of a challenge.

So what I'm looking for here is suggestions of books, recordings, bassists, videos, etc. I'm not looking for Wooten's I'm looking for something reasonably attainable, yet challenging.

I know that finding a teacher would be best, but unfortunately, there are none in my area.

Thanks for any info,
Jeff

[BassChuck]

http://www.aebersold.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc

[ldiezman]

I say go back to the beginning. Start by playing Simple lines... one note even. I was playing all sorts of crazy wierd stuff and then one day I tried to play a "simple" tune b/c I got hired to play in a modern country band (which I still play for) and I listened to what I was playing... Notes were not being held evenly, i wasn't following simple single double kick patterns.. I was kind of embarrasing to be honest.

So I went back to the basics and spent tons of time on note length and spacing. Seems so easy... but for me it took some practice

[EliMarcusBass]

If you really want to broaden your horizons, pick up Mark Levine's book The Jazz Theory book. Even pocket bass players gotta know how to play the changes =)

As far as being a pocket bass player, I suggest buying a drum machine or buying drum machine software and playing grooves over different beats, really paying attention to detail with the high hat and bass drum.

I would go out and see bass players in my area play. I live in Los Angeles so I get to see great players all the time. Just the other night I saw Gary Novak, Robben Ford, Chris Chaney, and Mike Landau groove out at Safari Sam's on sunset. I had no idea Chris Chaney could bust out like that being that he's mostly known for his Jane's Addiction career.

I find that if you really listen to the style of music you want to play as, you will internalize it. I listened to Mike Landau for a long time and though hes a guitar player, I subconciously internalized a lot of his licks and just end up playing them on bass without thinking about it. It actually ended up sounding great.

If you wanna start with some great pocket players, you can call on Chris Kent and also Abe Laboriel Sr. If you have the CD No Subsitutions by Larry Carlton and Steve Lukather, you can hear some great pocket playing all over that cd, not too flashy but very groovy and it just makes u go DAMN that **** grooves hard.

My 2 cents =)