Lack of creativity when trying to start a groove..

[cire113]

It is hard to for me to start a basic groove to build off of... I feel like i have no creativity at all... It takes me forever to get going.. I usually have to start with a really simple groove then build off it......

its kinda frustrating

[DudeistMonk]

It is hard to for me to start a basic groove to build off of... I feel like i have no creativity at all... It takes me forever to get going.. I usually have to start with a really simple groove then build off it......

its kinda frustrating

Umm...you just fixed your own problem. Start simple.

I do know what you mean though...sometimes I've got music oozing out of me, just waiting to get played... sometimes it's forced, until I start feeling it....good days and bad.

One thing I find is that you have to relax if you want it to groove...and forgive the crude analogy but I think it works....It's like taking a leak at the doctors, you can't do it if your thinking about it and trying real hard, but if you relax and stop focusing so hard it'll come.

[cire113]

it seems that in the beginning when i start the only music that sounds good to me is in the pentatonics then i just improve around my root pentatonic notes and just do whatever i want

[Mr_Sore_Fingerz]

Most bass grooves aren't really that hard to play, its just about the rhythm and how smoothly it flows.

Sometimes its hard to initiate the feel of the song with a groove, I tend to go off of what the guitarists do and start my own little melody in the song...it usually ends up working out in the end.

[DudeistMonk]

it seems that in the beginning when i start the only music that sounds good to me is in the pentatonics then i just improve around my root pentatonic notes and just do whatever i want

I dunno that you are using the term "root" properly there...like the root note of a chord in a progression? Or do you mean just notes that you have deemed "safe?"

[cire113]

i mean like doing a Funky Jam in G... i guess i mean what key its in

[John Wentzien]

Listen to the Kick-Drum for clues of where to accent.

[DudeistMonk]

i mean like doing a Funky Jam in G... i guess i mean what key its in

Okay yeah, G is your root note the rest are scale tones/notes int the key of G.

Generally funk revolves around the pentatonic scale anyway, lots of 5th's and octaves ext. It's not really the notes that make funk its the groove and the complexity of the rhythm.

So I dunno what your problem is...sounds like you got a handle on things...If you want to use other scales/notes start playing with them and adjust your feel/tone until they sound right.

[Rando McNally]

Originally Posted by John Wentzien

Listen to the Kick-Drum for clues of where to accent.

You're doing the right thing. Play simple first. Stay with that root note, then move on. If you have a guitar player, they'll probably start doing a chord progression, so you can follow that and get some movement going.

BUT

Your drummer is your best friend. Really. Listen to him(or her) closely, and let that guide your playing.

Are you in a band? Your bandmates can help you. Get your drummer to start. Get the other instruments to play simple 2 and 3 chord progressions.

Finally, get together with a drummer for one-on-one practice. Nobody else around. If that's not gonna work, then at least use a drum machine, but a human is much better, because you can work on give-and-take.

Like anything though, practice practice practice.

[StyleOverShow]

You might want to grab some old 70's jams, like Ojays "Love Train", "Back Stabbers", or Isley Brothers "Whose That Lady", "I'm Doing Fine (without you)",or some Average White Band and listen to the simple but effective bass lines (admittedly some are more complicated).

Working up the groove is bringing the rhythmic center together and that almost always our primary responsibility. It also incorporates leading the listener's/audience's ears towards the pitch (root of the chord). So we work at the groove by accenting the (primary) beat (and the secondary back beat if there is one), by playing notes that make chordal sense.

Sounds like you are on the right track, just impatient. Peace my young bro'.

[cire113]

hey guys thanks for the advice... i have the rest of my life to play bass your right.....

I started learning theory all the modes and stuff but now i just play what sounds good..

I like having the freedom of playing anything...


theory just confuses the hell outta me i just use my ear

[Rando McNally]

Originally Posted by cire113

I started learning theory all the modes and stuff but now i just play what sounds good..

By the time you "learn" your theory you'll realize that your ear knew it all along.

[Remguy]

Play what you sing. It's the holy grail of bass playing. Learn all the bass parts you like and it'll expand your musical vocabulary. You can learn all the theory and stuff once you're already good.