Stuck in a rhythm rut

[Timbo]

So yeah, the title basically says it. When creating basslines I always end up retreating into a similar kind of rhythm and thus makes them sound similar. It's really quite frusterating. Do you guys know of any exercises, or anything really that could help me become more open to all kinds of rhythmic changes and stuff I could use to help my basslines become more diverse? Any help would be greatly appreciated as I feel this is my greatest weakness.

[Blunt]

get a drum book, something like the old Louis Bellson books which have thousand of variations on 8th, 16th note rhythms.

A simple exercise I saw in a Jeff Berlin article was write out a bar of sixteenth notes or a few bars for that matter and erase some notes from each bar at random.

Instant funk variations. Than assign different notes to the rhythm. Instant bass line. It works.

[pklima]

Drum exercises are a good idea. They'll make you comfortable with all sorts of syncopations. Also learn some basic rhythms in various styles... Latin, tango, reggae etc. Though if you play polka or pop-punk rhythmic variaton may not be what's best for the music...

[BassChuck]

Originally Posted by pklima

Drum exercises are a good idea. They'll make you comfortable with all sorts of syncopations. Also learn some basic rhythms in various styles... Latin, tango, reggae etc. Though if you play polka or pop-punk rhythmic variaton may not be what's best for the music...

pklima has nailed it. If you play the same style (and only that style) you'll keep coming up with the same bass lines and rhthm. Try learning different styles, even if you don't care for them, and even if you're sure you'll never play in that kind of band.

In addition, try some different kinds of 'creativity games' like trying to do the opposite of whatever it is you are doing.... whatever the opposite means to you. And... what would Ray Brown do if he was in a heavy metal band? What would Flea do if he was playing in a Dizzy Gillespie tribute band? Trying to combine different styles will always give you something new... and some of it might be usable.

good luck.