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Originally Posted by Rooney I've read articles where bass players talk about playing on top of the beat or pushing the beat around without actually speeding up the tempo of the song. What songs could I listen to that would give me an example of this and how exactly would you practice it. |
See my examples below. The only way I know of to prctice it is to play cover songs with same feel that they have in the recordings. If you can get the same feel, you're playing in the right spot.
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Originally Posted by Rooney Would the drummer not have to be on board as well? I mean, how do you avoid him taking that as a hint to speed up? |
Yes, he needs to be onboard. A good drummer should never speed up, unless that's the way the song is played. One thing to keep in mind is that a drummer can keep in time and still play ahead of or behind the beat too. For instance, the hi-hats can be on the beat, and the snare hits or kick can be behind the beat. This will give the drum beat a certain feel.
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Originally Posted by Rooney Im assuming that playing behind the beat is what causes songs to sound slow or dragging? |
Nope. That's where the funk is!
Your questions are great. This has come up before on TB and I'm sure a search would turn up quite a bit, but I'll comment anyway because I think this concept is key to playing with feel. Mastering it really makes you a great bass player.
In my current gig I have had to deal with playing on different parts of the beat for different tunes. I had been playing bass for more than 15 years before I really became aware of the who concept. Only now am I comfotable playing anywhere on the beat.
Where you play relative to the beat is what creates the "feel" on the tune or groove you're playing. The beat itself only occurs at one precise instant in time. Usually (but not always) the drummer is keeping this on the hi-hat. To play off the beat doesn't mean that you are a 1/16th or a 1/32nd behind the beat. The time difference between your note sounding and the actual beat (typically what the drummer is playing) is inaudible. You don't hear any gap between the two. You can really only feel it; usually in the hips. Playing in front of the beat will reall add a driving feeling to the groove. Playing on the beat makes the groove very solid. Playing behind the beat is where you get the funk.
I play in a band that does mostly disco and funk. Most of the disco tunes require me to play on or in front of the beat. Most funk tunes require me to play behind the beat. I naturally tend to play behind the beat, so the disco tunes took some practice to get the feel correct.
For example, we just added "Canned Heat" by Jamiroquai to our set. The bass line was recorded on a synth, but I play it on bass an octave up using an octave-down pedal and flanger to get a similar tone. That bass line is ahead of the beat. There are a few notes here and there that are behind the beat, but overall it is ahead of the beat. That's what gives that tune its disco/dance feel. Try to listen to that tune and not bob your head, tap your hands, or stomp your feet. You can't! The bass/drum groove just pushes you. It's all in the feel. Another example of a tune that is played ahead of the beat is "Shake your Groove Thing" by Peaches & Herb.
An example of a tune we play where the bass is behind the beat would be "Got To Give It Up" by Marvin Gaye or "Mary Jane" by Rick James. Those tune get that sticky funk feel because the bass line is behind the beat.
Good luck.
