Using rhythm books effectively?

[edgewise]

I bought a copy of "Modern Reading Text in 4/4" by Louis Bellson. It was recommended by a guy I know. I'm not entirely sure how to use it effectively.

The book is a rhythm book for drummers. It has a variety of "E" notes on the bass clef.

Is the best way to use this to simply pluck my E string and count along?

-EW

[DocBop]

First get your metronome that is a must.

Then clap the rhythms so you can nail all the attacks.

Now you can pick up your bass and play the rhythms. Use any note you like. Focus on playing notes for their full duration don't cheat them. Work at both a slow tempo and a fast one.

When you get comfortable change the metronome to click only on 2 and 4 and work on the rhythm. When you got that then start saying the beats 1,2,3,4 as you play. That can be tricky on syncopated stuff.

[edgewise]

Thanks DocBop! That really helps.

I knew there was more to it than just plunking away on my E string.

-EW

[ii7-V7]

Thats good advice.

You can also use the rhythms to play scales, arpeggios, etc. You don't have to play each beat as a unique note. You could double up certain notes.

If you are into thumping you can play different notes on different strings using different techniques. Perhaps you could thump all of the down beats and pop, slap, etc, the upbeats.

You have to get creative with this stuff. But I would recommend always trying to do something musical with it. I would try to find a way to make the rhythms into a pattern, motif, etc. Just clapping out the whole book would get old fast and I'm not sure you would get much out of that anyway.

[Factory Owner]

Hey edgewise! How's the rhythm book treating you? These are all great suggestions!

Here is an addition to the approaches already mentioned. The purpose of this addition is that it maintains a focus (the more focused the practice I feel it is easier to develop a stronger groove).

Take a simple grouping of notes. You mentioned that the book has a lot of E notes and various rhythms placed for the E notes.

1. Take an E major scale: E, F#, G#, A, B, C#, D#, E

2. Isolate to a small set of notes that sound melodic...like, E, F#, G#

3. Now play that set of notes over the rhythm exercises, maintaining the order of the notes at all times!

A cross-rhythmic effect will take place and can burn your brains!

Maybe that just complicated things or maybe not...I dunno...I think its fun!

[goolimari]

also, when playing, try accenting some notes in the rhythm..like all beat 1 notes, or beat 1 & 3, or beat 2 & 4 or beat 1, 2 & 4....you get the idea...

[fountain boy]

Learn paradiddles. Learning rhythmn from a book is taking the long way around. Even though they are geared towards slapping the bass, the rhythmn/groove, seems to be inherent in these patterns.

I have a Rick Latham drumming book myself, and while it's useful information, how do you apply it to playing the bass? I read that bass players should take a few lessons from a drummer but still, that's a lotta work.

I'm currently enrolled in Anthony Wellington's Slap Bass 2 course (at The Music Dojo) and has these lessons on paradidlles that are extrapulated from drumming rudiments that are whipping me into shape.

[cmmcm]

"Modern Reading Text in 4/4" is an excellent book! Bellson also wrote "Odd Time Reading Text" as well, when you are ready to move out of 4/4...

[PocketGroove82]

Ya know,
I was one of the people who recommended reading the snare drum books to work on your reading, but I never thought about trying many of the ideas in this thread!
Playing through a 3 note riff over the 16th note rhythms is cool, as is the whole scales approach. Anything to make it more musical is great.

Good tips guys, thanks.