Rhythm Training

[phantompower]

Does anyone know of any good ways to train rhythm for example books or software.

I would probably have time to practise a little a day : was planning on about 20 minutes for rhythm,20 minutes for ear training and 20 minutes of theory (New Years Resolution to get back into it).

My basic rhythm is good - but when I get to phrases with lots of rests (especially small ones i.e a 16th), lots of dotted notes and syncopation I am currently struggling - I tried to read a phrase today with a metronome and couldn't - Very frustrating.

Thanks very much,
Phantompower

[GeoffT]

You don't need a book, just a pen and some paper. Start with 8th notes and write out a measure of all 8th notes and 1 rest, move that rest to each of the possible locations within that 1 measure. That should give you 8 combinations. Get those down. Then go to two 8th note rests per measure and work on every possible combination (there will be 28 combinations). Then keep adding another 8th note rest and figure out all the combinations until you get to where you are only playing one 8th note per measure.

Start slowly, with a metronome, try it with a click on all 4 beats, then cut it in half and practice it where it clicks on 1-3 and then also on 2-4, then cut in half again to where you only have 1 click per measure. Then for even more fun move that 1 click to different beats and off-beats within the measure. Then instead of rests, tie notes together. Then do similiar things for 8th note triplets and 16th notes.

There are counless possibilities with this so figure out which ones are the most difficult and focus your time on those. If you are spending 20 minutes, pick 4 and focus on those for the day. For added benefit and difficulty, play through chord tones or moving through chord progressions while using the given rhythms.

[GeoffT]

To add to the ideas above, working through the 8th note combinations where the metronome only clicks on beats 1&3 is essentially the exact same thing as working through the 16th note combos with the metronome set to click on each beat. I have found that for some reason working with the 8th notes tends to be easier, so if you have difficulty with a 16th note rhythm, one way to approach it would be to double the length of each note and rest (turn the 16ths into 8ths, etc. and a 1 measure phase becomes 2 measures) and practice the pattern as if they were 8th notes with the metronome only clicking on beats 1&3, when you really get how this feels, leave the metronome where it is and play the same rhythm but count it as the original 16th note rhythm.

[longfinger]

Here's a book.

Rhythmic Training by Robert Starer (Used, New, Out-of-Print) - Alibris

Starts from zero and goes to hero. ;-) Well you know.

[gmahoog]

The thing that's great about rhythm training is you can do it anywhere. You don't have to have your bass. You can sing it, you can tap it. Sometimes I'll use my thumb in a slap style. I've found that practicing rhythm to be one of the best things I've ever done for improving my playing. Nothing like being accurate.

[ziggwie]

I'll recommend books by Bruce Arnold.

http://www.muse-eek.com/books/books.html

Scroll down to "Books For Time Studies" section, and many other books for developing overall musicianship (especailly ear training books).

[MrLenny1]

Cliff Engel, International Institute of Bassists.com
He has a full rhythm study on 8th & 16ths.
Free download.

[mambo4]

I'd suggest getting string at 8th note syncopation/rests/dots before going on to 16th notes. and the best music to practice reading for that is Latin stuff (like The Latin Bass book by Oscar Stangoro.)

Other good sources for bass rhythms are Paul Westwood's Bass Bible and Jon Liebman's Bass Grooves: The Ultimate Collection. (I take Liebman's book to the gym and read it on the treadmill)

[dtiii]

Modern Reading Text in 4/4 - Louis Bellson

This is a great rhythm study book for about $10 new. It is a progressive study in syncopation. It also includes a comprehensive study in triplets from the half note triplet to the 32nd note triplet. Pitch is not indicated, therefore you can improvise pitch once you get comfortable with each rhythm.

[Roscoe East]

Just as transcribing melodies and chord changes -- one of the best ways to improve your melodic/harmonic ear training -- also tends to improve your melodic/harmonic sight-reading, transcribing rhythms is a great way to improve your rhythmic ear training, and hence also your rhythmic sight-reading abilities.

[phantompower]

Thanks for the comments guys - Ill try to look into it.

Anyone have free sites/resources for just music I can use to practise with?

[Stumbo]

Take a listen of: Free backing tracks

On youtube: SulliBackingTracks's Channel - YouTube

A couple more to check out:

~Newbie Rhythm
1 Learn rhythm
2

[Snarf]

Originally Posted by phantompower

Does anyone know of any good ways to train rhythm for example books or software.

I would probably have time to practise a little a day : was planning on about 20 minutes for rhythm,20 minutes for ear training and 20 minutes of theory (New Years Resolution to get back into it).

My basic rhythm is good - but when I get to phrases with lots of rests (especially small ones i.e a 16th), lots of dotted notes and syncopation I am currently struggling - I tried to read a phrase today with a metronome and couldn't - Very frustrating.

Thanks very much,
Phantompower

If what you're describing is a basic rhythmic deficiency, you need to play along to recordings and transcribe bass lines.

If it's just the sight reading aspect where complex rhythms trip you up, well . . . . read more. That's the only way to get better at it. You will start to recognize patterns and just play them naturally, much the same way we read english.