The Single Best Element To Improve Your Bass Playing

[tabufx50]

OK so I've been playing bass for over 20 years and at a recent gig I had where I was playing some crazy jazz fusion stuff in 7/8 time....after the gig this kid approached me and asked me about getting better as a bassist.

Well yeah...that is a huge topic and I really couldn't answer that other than saying..practice practice and practice some more.

But then I started to think about what really helped me in progressing fast and developing chops where I could tackle the Weather Report stuff and the odd signature stuff and playing notes that were clean on bass.

And that 1 element was to practice with either a metronome and or drum machine.

Yeah I know what you're thinking....yeah duh...everyone knows that ..Right? Well most of the time when I see rookie bass players practice with a metronome they're reading music or playing it all wrong..they just try to "think" their way thru the notes while trying to play in time.

The better way to approach this methodology..is to play scales and arpeggios and play them along with a drum machine and try and feel out each note and also record yourself and then play it back.

Because when you do record yourself and then play it back....something interesting happens....and that is..you listen to what you just played along with the time keeper...and you really make the mental adjustment to playing in time. You realize...while you're listening to yourself and the notes you played...that the notes aren't as in time and as clean as you thought they sounded while you played it live.

It's as if when you play it in real time....that your brain sort of glossed over the mistakes and you just don't hear it.

But when you record yourself and listen back....that is when you notice how and where you need to make improvements..In addition, your timing will get so much better as a result and the next time you're jamming with a drummer...you'll feel the groove like never before.

So get out there and play.

[skeptikal]

I started jamming with a drummer before I even knew all of the notes on a fretboard or they were not easily named. I developed a good solid time.

Now for the 2nd biggest element! just kidding...

My bass teacher is also an okay drummer. He says okay today we are going to play in the key of (insert key here) we go over the notes of the scale and then he plays a drum beat. While he's keeping a beat I try to improv/jam whatever in the key and making sure I stay in the key.

After about 10-20 minutes of just solid jamming, I began to understand the scales much better and their modes when I was able to apply it to a musical situtation (jamming with the drummer). You get a better grasp of how a key sounds as opposed to just knowing the notes in the key. It made me open up to a whole world of theory that makes it not boring to learn!

[DocBop]

Recording is the best tool for learning especially with a metronome to check your time. Record duets and find out how hard or easy it is to play with your first track is your time and tone consistent. Now you know what your bandmates are going thru.

Recording practice is a necessary tool and if you plan to be a studio player start recording with a DI and hear all the finger, string, instrument noise you get so you can work on cleaning up your instrument and playing. Getting known for having a great studio sound will get you lots of work for studio and touring.

[BassChuck]

Listen to as many different kinds of music as you possibly can. Anything that is even the least bit interesting to you play along with it... play it, or make up something that goes well with it. Let your ears be your guide. The more you know, the easier anything becomes.

[DudeistMonk]

I was clueless for a long time until I did all of the following at once...

• Jammed with a drummer regularly
• Started taking lessons (specifically learning arpeggios and how chord progressions work)
• Practiced a lot

Drummer jamming really sealed the deal but the other two are crucial for working with other melodics.

[edubb]

as a guy that is new to playing at 44 yrs old (and being lefty but learning to play righty to boot) I need all the help I can get. it is fustrating to progress so slowly thats why info like this is especially good. I have invested in good gear (Lakland DJ5, Markbass Jeff Berlin combo amp) for the long haul so the rest is up to me. it sucks being the weak link in the chain, lol. Someday my skills will be worthy of my gear. I hope.

[Slackerprince]

Originally Posted by edubb

as a guy that is new to playing at 44 yrs old (and being lefty but learning to play righty to boot) I need all the help I can get. it is fustrating to progress so slowly thats why info like this is especially good. I have invested in good gear (Lakland DJ5, Markbass Jeff Berlin combo amp) for the long haul so the rest is up to me. it sucks being the weak link in the chain, lol. Someday my skills will be worthy of my gear. I hope.

I'm in the exact same situation. Age/time playing.
I play to a lot of Jam CD's, etc., but with just me and the bass, I'm having a hard time making scale runs interesting and into cool basslines. I work on it everyday, and feel I have enough talent to play well eventually. It doesn't come easy though. I feel like theory is like math, with all it's variables and like the fretboard is geometry or something. I really try and make it fun, but I torment myself with where I'm at. I do play with others occassionally, and have sporadic lessons. I think I just need to get more consistent with my learning and practice and follow a program rather than being so random.
That's it, for now.

S.

[DudeistMonk]

I'm in the exact same situation. Age/time playing.
I play to a lot of Jam CD's, etc., but with just me and the bass, I'm having a hard time making scale runs interesting and into cool basslines. I work on it everyday, and feel I have enough talent to play well eventually. It doesn't come easy though. I feel like theory is like math, with all it's variables and like the fretboard is geometry or something. I really try and make it fun, but I torment myself with where I'm at. I do play with others occassionally, and have sporadic lessons. I think I just need to get more consistent with my learning and practice and follow a program rather than being so random.
That's it, for now.

S.

Try learning some funk/playing with funky drums it puts the lead to the bass naturally so that you don't A) sound like a guitarist while you jam and B)Doesn't sound boring when you solo jam...that was a big eye opener for me.

[Slackerprince]

Originally Posted by DudeistMonk

Try learning some funk/playing with funky drums it puts the lead to the bass naturally so that you don't A) sound like a guitarist while you jam and B)Doesn't sound boring when you solo jam...that was a big eye opener for me.

Actually, I have been playing some funk, and it's awesome. The basslines are pretty straightforward, pretty repetitive, which works timing, and very fun. It's hard to be in a bad mood when you're listening to/playing funk!!

S.

[Oric]

Metronome? Somebody call Jeff Berlin...

[EADG mx]

Metronomes are great and all, but I think a loop station with a built-in (or external) metronome/drum machine tops for a practice tool.

[skeptikal]

Originally Posted by Slackerprince

I'm in the exact same situation. Age/time playing.
I play to a lot of Jam CD's, etc., but with just me and the bass, I'm having a hard time making scale runs interesting and into cool basslines. I work on it everyday, and feel I have enough talent to play well eventually. It doesn't come easy though. I feel like theory is like math, with all it's variables and like the fretboard is geometry or something. I really try and make it fun, but I torment myself with where I'm at. I do play with others occassionally, and have sporadic lessons. I think I just need to get more consistent with my learning and practice and follow a program rather than being so random.
That's it, for now.

S.

That's how I thought. Try this, Learn the notes of a scale. Turn on the metronome or drum beat, and try to just make notes sound cool together only using those notes. No matter where you start them just use those notes.

Just pick a different scale each day, spend 10-20 minutes with a jam track or metronome and maybe just do a standard I IV V I progression in D Minor or something. Even starting with just root notes. I find it much easier to play when you use a simple beat just to get you going. I'm not the most creative person in th world but it helps you hear the scale in a musical situation. See what I'm saying? You can call it the "D Minor Song" or something lol.

[dave64o]

Originally Posted by edubb

as a guy that is new to playing at 44 yrs old (and being lefty but learning to play righty to boot) I need all the help I can get. it is fustrating to progress so slowly thats why info like this is especially good. I have invested in good gear (Lakland DJ5, Markbass Jeff Berlin combo amp) for the long haul so the rest is up to me. it sucks being the weak link in the chain, lol. Someday my skills will be worthy of my gear. I hope.

I'm 44 also and even though I first started playing bass about 7 years ago I have my first lesson tomorrow night. I've been putting that off for a long time but I finally decided I need to do it right, so even though I'm pretty nervous I'm really looking forward to it. I've experienced the same slow progress you've noticed, but I also realize that at my age "life" happens and family and my job sometimes take precedence. However, I also think I'll be approaching lessons differently than the "average" student who is 1/3 my age, so even though I have lots of disadvantages I also think I've got some advantages they might not have. I can't wait to see where I am this time next year.

By the way, regarding being worthy of your equipment, check out my tag line. I've been using that one for quite a while now.

[Methodis]

I have a metronome but really haven't even tried it out yet...kinda lost on exactly how to use it :O. Anyways, it seems to be heavely suggested on using it, so I guess I should learn how to :O