How I can play straight 8ths in a pop or rock song???

Music_for_life · #1 09-17-2010, 10:38 PM

I am more a Jazz-fusion bass player, now I am starting to play in a professional pop-rock band, where some of the songs require me to play straight 8ths over the chord tones.
I get more into the groove if I play those straight 8ths accenting different parts of the drum, for example the snare. I notice all the different dynamics that can vary the approach of the song and that it is not so easy to master.
I have some question about playing this type of bass lines
Do you think it is common to play the straight 8ths doing some accents to the drum back beat, or to the 1 of some measures?? I can do this or it is very strange for the style???????

do you think it is better to play the 8ts flat obiously variyng the dynamics from part to part or song to song???

How can I make that thing groovy???
Thanks

tjmdetroit · #2 09-18-2010, 12:25 AM

This might help. I've been working on paradiddles with my thumb (double thumb) forefinger and index finger. It's frustrating at first, but when you get the hang of it, its fun.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DkOYG...os=29l3k0rq054
Tim

MalcolmAmos · #3 09-18-2010, 07:02 AM

IMO -- That is a talent that you can always call upon, however, if you get fish eyes from the other guys, probably better to go back to root on the 1st beat.

Might try -- With 8's I do a lot of doubles -- R-R- and then fill the measure with whatever other double chord tones seem to fit.
R-3-5-6-8-7-6-5 is a basic riff I like.

Watch for the fish eyes.

JimmyM · #4 09-18-2010, 09:45 AM

it all depends on the song. generally i might give the 1 a little more accent, but i'll also accent the 2, 3 and 4 as needed. don't go too crazy accenting, though. it ain't funk.

and do yourself a favor and listen to some ac/dc. cliff is the king of making 8th notes sound great.

funkifiedsoul · #5 09-18-2010, 10:19 AM

here's an example of staight 8ths holding it together.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ispk9...eature=related

Deathblade Eric · #6 09-18-2010, 10:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JimmyM

it all depends on the song. generally i might give the 1 a little more accent, but i'll also accent the 2, 3 and 4 as needed. don't go too crazy accenting, though. it ain't funk.

and do yourself a favor and listen to some ac/dc. cliff is the king of making 8th notes sound great.

Plus lots. Cliff is probably the king of this, but Alan Lancaster of Status Quo should get an honourable mention too:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2kiYAIM4N_A

JimmyM · #7 09-18-2010, 12:13 PM

ya, the quo is a good rockin' boogie band who i think influenced ac/dc more than a little.

Music_for_life · #8 09-19-2010, 12:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by funkifiedsoul

here's an example of staight 8ths holding it together.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ispk9...eature=related

Those 8ths are play a little behind the beat, I am right?

Music_for_life · #9 09-19-2010, 12:51 PM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=clbG4r1di2U
here is a good example of how can 8ths vary during a song

Stick_Player · #10 09-19-2010, 12:59 PM

Ah Maná, carrying on the Police sound -- gotta luv 'em tho',

JimmyM · #11 09-19-2010, 02:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Music_for_life

Those 8ths are play a little behind the beat, I am right?

i think the whole feel of the song is a touch laid back, but i'd say the snare drum is a little more behind the beat than the bass.

engedi1 · #12 09-19-2010, 02:28 PM

Also, Michael Anthony of Halen has built a whole career off of playing 8ths. There are many great examples in the Van Halen discography.

ducknturtle · #13 09-19-2010, 03:02 PM

There is a real skill to this, and the discipline necessary to stick to those "eigths" is considerable.

Music_for_life · #14 09-20-2010, 11:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by engedi1

Also, Michael Anthony of Halen has built a whole career off of playing 8ths. There are many great examples in the Van Halen discography.

Can you give me some examples please???????

Music_for_life · #15 09-20-2010, 11:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JimmyM

it all depends on the song. generally i might give the 1 a little more accent, but i'll also accent the 2, 3 and 4 as needed. don't go too crazy accenting, though. it ain't funk.

and do yourself a favor and listen to some ac/dc. cliff is the king of making 8th notes sound great.

Jimmy, can you suggest some especific tunes of AC/DC?

engedi1 · #16 09-21-2010, 08:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Music_for_life

Jimmy, can you suggest some especific tunes of AC/DC?

Um, the entire catalog. Pick any song at random, and it will great driving eights as its foundation.

blakelock · #17 09-21-2010, 09:06 AM

i think throwing the accents around your straight 8th's is a great idea. you can throw some muted notes in too to give some rythm...i love those.

gmarcus · #18 09-21-2010, 09:18 AM

Think of the sound of a muscle car exhaust and you will be in the right ball park for Van Halen or AC/DC

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g0XLKcMoXRE

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9kD8sxIjVuc

JimmyM · #19 09-21-2010, 09:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Music_for_life

Jimmy, can you suggest some especific tunes of AC/DC?

anything from powerage on, which was cliff's first album with them. mark evans and george young played bass before that, and while george young was pretty good, he wasn't as good at it as cliff, and mark evans was pretty lame.

MNAirHead · #20 09-21-2010, 09:22 AM

I'm making a wild guess..

You may be trying to complicate things abit..

get metronome solid.. then focus on how you sing and stage presence..

The bass role in this type of stuff is not as difficult than what you're used to...

I struggled with this when I got my first road gig... tons of time learning stuff that's irrevant in commercial music.... years to learn it.. a talk with a boss to realize I was going all Jaco over a simple 3 chord tune.