Repeated basslines

trust24 · #1 02-18-2009, 02:47 AM

I seem to have abit of a problem playing stuff over and over again. its fine if i play on my own but as soon as any music starts i just cant play it right. Is this normal and how do you get used to it

Number27 · #2 02-18-2009, 02:50 AM

probably because you're playing it out of time.. either too slow or too fast, if you find yourself trying to rush to catch up or if you get too far ahead and get lost, then this is the case

uglymutt · #3 02-18-2009, 03:05 AM

just keep practicing really, learn songs that have easy basslines first and try playing them along with music (in case you're trying to learn some crazy stuff straight off). eventually you should become used to it, if possible learn how to play in a band/jam situation with some friends (even if it's you and a mate on guitar) d and do some simple covers, this might help as it will be your own music/timing to follow not somebody else's.
Good luck and have fun

Jake of Bass · #4 02-18-2009, 03:16 AM

Practice.

trust24 · #5 02-18-2009, 03:16 AM

ok thanks, its not down to timing i think its just getting distracted when somthing else is in the back ground. I suppose its abit like when you first learn to drive and some people cant drive and have the radio on or talk to people else they get distracted

Steve · #6 02-18-2009, 08:31 AM

Are you saying you can play the line solo but get bunched up if you try to play along with a recording or can you play along with the recording and get bunched up if you play it in a live context?

If you can't play along with the recording, run it through some software and suck all the low end out so the existing bass line is gone and go at it. Kinda like bass kareoke.

If you're getting bunched up live...that can be a reflection of the people you're playing with. It can get...very difficult... to stay steady if the rest of the guys are all over the place.

It's probably just an amount of practice issue. It takes time to internalize it all to the point where you won't get thrown off the horse.

Keep at it. It'll happen.

trust24 · #7 02-18-2009, 10:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steve

Are you saying you can play the line solo but get bunched up if you try to play along with a recording or can you play along with the recording and get bunched up if you play it in a live context?

If you can't play along with the recording, run it through some software and suck all the low end out so the existing bass line is gone and go at it. Kinda like bass kareoke.

If you're getting bunched up live...that can be a reflection of the people you're playing with. It can get...very difficult... to stay steady if the rest of the guys are all over the place.

It's probably just an amount of practice issue. It takes time to internalize it all to the point where you won't get thrown off the horse.

Keep at it. It'll happen.

Just playing along to music at home, ive never played along with other people

Jake of Bass · #8 02-18-2009, 10:25 AM

Put the music on, tap your foot to the beat and keep doing that whilst playing.

If you lose the beat and find it hard to get back to it, try an easier, more familiar song.

Practicing with a metronome will help. Always remember to pay attention to the beat, and from there you can find the groove.

Jim Campbell · #9 02-18-2009, 10:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by trust24

I seem to have abit of a problem playing stuff over and over again. its fine if i play on my own but as soon as any music starts i just cant play it right. Is this normal and how do you get used to it

are you counting it out as you play

BananaKing · #10 02-18-2009, 10:49 AM

I think the main thing sounds like it is an issue with timing and keeping good groove.

If you have a metronome or a drum machine, I would suggest playing whatever you're trying to learn along with that until you don't even have to think about it anymore.

Arthur Strand · #11 02-18-2009, 10:52 AM

You ought to start with musical arrangements and the absolute basics. This does not mean reading basslines but following a chart of chords in measured bars. If you can cope without the other instruments, you could try working with the drum sounds from a cheap keyboard - I do frequently. Work slowly and steadily and don't be afraid to go over a piece time and time again. Then move on to practising with a drummer. Add a guitarist if he has the patience until you become confident.

Zombbg4 · #12 02-18-2009, 10:57 AM

Practice...with a metronome!!!

BassMaster4s · #13 02-18-2009, 11:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zombbg4

Practice...with a metronome!!!

+1

mailboxmoney · #14 02-18-2009, 11:02 AM

Make sure the track you're playing with is loud enough - you want to hear yourself in context with the track, not above it. As if you were playing with a band with a tight drummer right next to you. And if the track's too loud (and you're too quiet) you may play too hard and get yourself off the beat. Oh, and I think someone else said, practice! Good luck -

martyman5000 · #15 02-18-2009, 11:05 AM

Quote:

Practice...with a metronome!!!

or drum loops...

http://www.rinki.net/pekka/monkey/#

COOL AND DEADLY · #16 02-18-2009, 11:07 AM

play reggae basslines to a drum machine or metronome. "Sleng Ting", "Answer", "Full Up" are some good ones. "Far East" is good too.

Dertygen · #17 02-19-2009, 11:35 AM

He's trying to keep the beat with what's catchy in the song, ie. the drumming or the guitar, or singer, instead of the actual rhythm.

Lobster11 · #18 06-16-2009, 07:02 AM

This thread is four months old , so I hope that by now the OP has figured this out and moved on. But maybe this will still be helpful to him or someone else:

Playing along with recordings is much harder, in my experience, than playing with a live band. With a recording, the other instruments can seem like a "distraction" in the background, whereas a real drummer and other players in the room are clearly in the foreground. It's a lot easier to follow the drummer when he's right next to you and you can feel the kick drum in your chest.

The trick is to think of learning to play along with the track as a step-by-step learning progression. You shouldn't expect to be able to play the whole thing through the first time, even if you've practiced the line many times by yourself. The goal is eventually to be able to play the whole song beginning to end, but assume from the start that you'll need many passes through the song to get to that point. The first few times through the song, try playing only sparsely, just a note here and there, focusing on putting them in the right places. Make your first goal to simply play the first note of each measure -- just the root of the chord on the "one" -- and let the bassist on the recording play the rest. Once you can get through the song this way, following all of the changes using only the roots, start adding another note or two sometimes. Try playing the bass line, or a simplified version of it, for one measure, then drop out for the next measure and just listen, then play the next one, etc. Alternating back and forth between you and the recording is a great way to get and stay in the groove. Then continue building up your parts, a little at a time, until you have the whole thing.

The hardest part of this is in your head: You've got to convince yourself to think about this as a multi-step process, and have the patience to take baby steps. Gotta walk before you can run.

JTE · #19 06-16-2009, 07:52 AM

You get good at whatever you practice. If you practice screwing up the groove, then that's what you get good at. Get a 'nome. Set it to click on 2 and 4 only. Play the line. Play it over and over again. Do it long enough that you get out of the zone of thinking about it, and into the zone of it being almost a trance. I've played the line (not the solo) to "I'll Take You There" for 20+ minutes straight.

You gotta practice what you don't do well.

jte

Bruce Lindfield · #20 06-16-2009, 08:23 AM

It is very different playing along with recordings, where everything will carry on regardless - to a situation where the music depends on YOU!

It's a case of how you get to be self-reliant at the same time as listening to others - a skill that needs to be developed. Some people use drum machines and metronomes - but again, you mustn't get reliant on these as you won't have them when you are playing with others and you have to either lead or follow - so with machines you are always following.....

But the great buzz and power of bass playing is that you can lead and really lay down such a solid and powerful line that everybody follows you!