HOLY CRAP JACO IS AN ASS, help with the chicken? I need to groove....

[KingCrimson]

Yah so i hate jaco, hes simply too ****ing good

But in all seriousness, this tune shows off so much of his playing, in fact out of the three pieces i have to do for my jury in college (donna lee, Bach prelude no1, and the chicken) i've having the most issues with this one.

Why? cause he grooves like NO ONE ELSE this is a HARD tune, everything i'm coming up with is crap.

Its not technique, its not theory (i'm using mixo and blues scale for this one), this has to come all from the gut and i'm having tons of trouble with that.

Any advice for playing this? we'll probably do about 4-8 choruses depending on how much time we have.

[4001]

Here comes the Jaco bashing in 5....4......3..........2...........

[dmusic148]

Originally Posted by KingCrimson

Any advice for playing this?

Play the bass part 'straight,' without embellishment, until you start feeling better about the tune(if ever).
While playing, pay close attention to note length/volume. Lay back. If you rush, even a note or two here and there, you will KILL the groove.

[coronado3]

rub your fingers on some greasy chicken bones....

[OneMan]

youtube ... you're sure to find something helpful and something you like too.

[dancing_chris]

i would transcribe some of jaco's lines and fills for inspiration... also what is often overlooked: a good technique is also needed in order to "express" good timing.. i have noticed this myself.. your timing might be good in your mind but your fingers arent working precise enough.. so yeah when making jaco's staccato lines groove, a proper technique is needed.

[KingCrimson]

Originally Posted by 4001

Here comes the Jaco bashing in 5....4......3..........2...........

you did not get my sarcasm, i'm a jazz guy Jaco is my #1 favorite

[dmusic148]

Originally Posted by KingCrimson

you did not get my sarcasm, i'm a jazz guy Jaco is my #1 favorite

Nah- he gets it. It's just that anytime Jaco is mentioned, eventually someone chimes in with some sort of negativity.

[Eublet]

Slow the tempo way down when you practice. For me that was critical in getting the muted and ghost notes to burp like Jaco did, and it helps you work on getting the feel down. If you go too slow though it seems to make it harder, at least for me. Still, this is one of those lifelong pursuits, and few people will every really nail Jaco's vibe, including professionals. He just had it.

[guroove]

Learn the original version (JBs) first. A lot of people think Jaco wrote this tune, but it was Pee Wee Ellis when he was playing with James Brown. I just had to tell this to my sax player last weekend. He thought it was a Jaco tune also. The Chicken is actually a really easy tune. Bb7 - Eb7 - D7 - G7 - C7.

[monroe55]

Originally Posted by 4001

Here comes the Jaco bashing in 5....4......3..........2...........

Jaco shmaco.

[Roy Vogt]

Try this-play a steady string of 16th notes a la Rocco Prestia on the Bb pedal. Then try relaxing your hand pressure to mute some of the notes ( a good rhythm to do this with is Bo Diddly or the 3:2 clave). Then try playing a Bb mixolydian scale (major w/b7) with 4 16th notes on each pitch at the Chicken tempo. Then, do that with Bb Major and Minor Pentatonic Scales. Then, try the bass line and you should have the lock on it.....

[Roy Vogt]

Originally Posted by dmusic148

Nah- he gets it. It's just that anytime Jaco is mentioned, eventually someone chimes in with some sort of negativity.

"Jaco wasn't so great" <eyes downcast, shuffling off to the side of the forum>
Was that was you meant?

[KingCrimson]

agh those ghost notes!!! does anybody have any especially good videos?

[Dr. Cheese]

Learn the basic tune and make it your own. IMO, learning a tune like that note, for note, kills the spirit of the tune.

[ugly_bassplayer]

Originally Posted by KingCrimson

agh those ghost notes!!! does anybody have any especially good videos?

Skip the videos, seriously.
Just listen to the records.

IMO

[beggar98]

When you get to this problem, the worst thing you can do is try and sound like Jaco. Learn the tune, get real comfortable with the changes, and then make it your own. Jaco sounds so good on this song because it was effortless- he just played what he felt. Until you're doing that, you'll struggle trying to be someone you're not. To help with this, I would suggest listening to as many people playing the song who aren't Jaco as you can- otherwise, when you hear the tune you'll only hear Jaco's take on it.

[ugly_bassplayer]

Originally Posted by Dr. Cheese

Learn the basic tune and make it your own. IMO, learning a tune like that note, for note, kills the spirit of the tune.

It's meant to be an formative exercise. Learning a tune note for note is part of the leaning process. First you emulate, then adapt it to your playing.

I agree that performing that one note for note live is not really a good idea IMO.

[KingCrimson]

Originally Posted by Dr. Cheese

Learn the basic tune and make it your own. IMO, learning a tune like that note, for note, kills the spirit of the tune.

Hahah hell no! I refuse to do that on stuff like this! My band is rehearsing war pigs by sabbath, and i said "oh man i'm gonna have to practise this more getting that feel is tough" then my guitarist said "oh just learn the whole thing" . ****ing hell i'm not learning the random jam lines that geezer butler did total then playing it every time, once i grow dependant on that i won't be learning much, so i just emulated some of his lines and incorporated in my own playing.

This is way different though the changes are not tough, i can be "right" and in key all i want, its sounding GOOD thats the issue. I find that i need to sound better doing this though and i'm having a tough time breaking out of the ungroovy box that i play in.


Would it help if i posted a video that you guys can bash?

[Elrend]

Originally Posted by KingCrimson

jazz, Jaco

Lol.