Jamming to CD's

[bassinplace]

I've been playing for less than a year and when I jam with my CD's I usually listen to the music but not the bass and try to make my own lines. Sometimes I try to copy the recording but most of the time not. Or sometimes I'll copy a lick and then try to expand upon it on my own.

I was wondering what others out there are doing when they practice to recordings. Do you copy the bass part on the recording or do you make up your own lines?

Just curious. Thanks.

[waynobass]

It would be a good exercise to first make up your own lines, then learn the recorded lines, then compare and contrast.

[bgressman82]

i never learn a song note for note, i put my own spin on every song i learn.

[bassinplace]

Originally Posted by waynobass

It would be a good exercise to first make up your own lines, then learn the recorded lines, then compare and contrast.

Ah! Interesting approach. I find that what happens with me a lot is I won't be specifically listening to the bass part but I end up playing off of it as I feel it. May or may not be a good practice. Fun, though.

[ldervish]

Originally Posted by bassinplace

Fun, though.

That's the whole point isn't it? Why make it like work, unless of course it is your work....

I play almost exclusively to cd's and find I learn both ways - I pick up a lot about the fretboard and playing in key by playing what I feel, but then paying attention to the actual bass line teaches me new approaches in harmony, timing and phrasing. Some songs seem to lend themselves more to one method than the other, so I just go with however it moves me.

[Stumbo]

I learn the original bass line first and then go from there.

[MNAirHead]

Ditto to Stumbo..

When it comes to quality studio recordings, they commonly have tested several options.

The challenge many of us run into by not listening is over playing and crowding out the other elements.

[frankstallone]

One thing you might want to keep in mind is to play it without the cd every now & then just to see if you're playing cleanly. Sometimes I think I sound really good with the cd and then when I just play myself it sounds pretty lame.

[Deacon_Blues]

It depends on the song. If the song has a very characteristic bassline that is important for the song, I copy it. If I can make up my own and make it work, I often do that.

However, there's times I feel that I really want to learn the original for some reason. It's often very rewarding to learn other people's basslines, because if you only invent your own lines all the time, you easily get stuck in your comfort zone playing only familiar patterns which will not expand your playing too much. On the other hand, making up your own lines is a great way to build up a good ear and understanding of harmony and theory. So there should be a balance between copying (absorbing influences) and making up your own lines.

[MEKer]

Deacon Blues said: It's often very rewarding to learn other people's basslines, because if you only invent your own lines all the time, you easily get stuck in your comfort zone playing only familiar patterns which will not expand your playing too much. On the other hand, making up your own lines is a great way to build up a good ear and understanding of harmony and theory.

That is as correct a statement as can be said about this.

[RexNFX79]

Originally Posted by MEKer

Deacon Blues said: It's often very rewarding to learn other people's basslines, because if you only invent your own lines all the time, you easily get stuck in your comfort zone playing only familiar patterns which will not expand your playing too much. On the other hand, making up your own lines is a great way to build up a good ear and understanding of harmony and theory.

That is as correct a statement as can be said about this.

+1

[Froaderick]

One thing I did often is get the chord chart for the song and follow that as well. It gave me a good starting point to not only follow the song but made it easier to understand what the original bassist is doing in the song. It also helped me get into the habit of knowing what notes can be played... dunno if that made sense, i didnt have breakfast yet....

[jcullen24]

I have a TASCAM BASS Trainer, http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00..._ya_oh_product and I play my CDs on my XBOX through my TV.


I like the TASCAM, It's great for playing along with a CD, It's got a metronome, I can just plug in my bass, and use it as a portable Amp(With Head phones) And it has a tuner.

[edit]

Reread the question. along with the gadget aids, I like to have the TAB to the songs I want to practice. I put in the CD, and follow along with the TAB.

[Bluesbreaker5]

Deacon Blues makes perfect sense. I was very happy playing my bassline to "Ain't Too Proud To Beg" until I really listened to the actual bassline. It had a better groove and that's what I use now.

On the other hand, our cover of "Gimme One Reason" just kinda laid there, so I funked up the bassline to make it more of a dancing tune.

[Stumbo]

Originally Posted by Bluesbreaker5

....I was very happy playing my bassline to "Ain't Too Proud To Beg" until I really listened to the actual bassline. It had a better groove and that's what I use now.

On the other hand, our cover of "Gimme One Reason" just kinda laid there, so I funked up the bassline to make it more of a dancing tune.

+100

A great attitude is what playing bass is all about.

There's no downside to gaining more knowledge, experimenting with new techniques, changing up your methods, revisiting stuff you've learned before and on top of all that, adding some creativeness to what ever you do.

Even if things don't work out or need to changed later, going through the process is really no different than any other process that writers, artists and other creatives use to move their art forward. It's all good.

[Rudreax]

I usually try to either learn the bassline or get it ingrained in my head after listening to it for days on end. Then I'll just try to copy the feel the bassline is giving off and make my own.

[edgewise]

I typically do the following:

1. Get an MP3 of the song
2. Start Transcribe! software
3. Open MP3
4. Adjust speed to 70%
5. Adjust EQ to "Bass Select"
6. Get a pencil and some paper

The rest is pure work.