Wipe the Slate Clean

[ThumpPlunkJunk]

Has anybody made up a really catchy riff or tune they've mastered?

I've sort of this problem, y'see.

I've made up a fantastic little ditty that employs a ton of left-hand slapping. I love playing it, it's so percussive and so stark.

The only thing is, I can't stop left-hand slapping now.

I keep putting this into anything I try to make. It's most likely me playing different notes to the same rhythm that's the case--in which case; how does one wipe the slate clean?

How can I erase that same left-hand-slap pattern that keeps coming up over and over again whenever I try to play something?

It's slowly down my playing--to slap in between pops with my left hand makes everything take about a quarter more time than it usually does. How do I get out of this rut?

[onlyclave]

Stop slapping.

[JimmyM]

yes, i would be tempted to try just not slapping.

[bassistkll]

The fewer notes you play the more money you make per note.

Kidding aside, play what you like to play. There are some things that are so physically and sonically fun to play on the bass that few players ever get to use in a gigging situation. If you can use these techniques to make music that pleases you and works for the music you want to put out there for people to hear and enjoy keep it in there. If not, don't. Do what works for the music's sake.

Wish you well.
KLL

[puddin tame]

If I catch myself doing something too much, like using one technique or one phrase or pattern I just make a mental rule that i'm not allowed to do it. As simply as that.

Like there was a while when I kept slapping out the same progressions, so I just said ok i'm not allowed to do that anymore, I have to find another way to fill in the music. Starting phrases on the 3rd too much? Stop using the 3rd. It forces you to get creative

[ThumpPlunkJunk]

Originally Posted by bassistkll

The fewer notes you play the more money you make per note.

Kidding aside, play what you like to play. There are some things that are so physically and sonically fun to play on the bass that few players ever get to use in a gigging situation. If you can use these techniques to make music that pleases you and works for the music you want to put out there for people to hear and enjoy keep it in there. If not, don't. Do what works for the music's sake.

Wish you well.
KLL

I've narrowed it down to this: The left-hand slap sounds good, firstly.

Secondly, my left hand is bored! My mind works rhythmically--if there's no notes somewhere and I want to keep the rhythm somehow, my hands immediately say to me "Put something in there", and the left hand slap is that little filler.

My right hand is crazy as far as slapping and plucking goes--I'm tempted to think I can't go much faster sometimes (even though I usually say I can anyway and go for getting even faster), whereas my left hand is the couch potato of my hands.

I need to redistribute the workload, if that makes any sense. Or make up some more riffs with left-hand-intensive lines.

[J-B'ass]

The best way to break out of a bad habit is with conscious, deliberate attention. If you catch yourself in the act, cease and find a different way to phrase a particular idea.

Originally Posted by ThumbPlunkJunk

if there's no notes somewhere and I want to keep the rhythm somehow

This is definitely a bad habit you want to break. Try and get used to feeling the groove inside you without having to play every subdivision on your instrument. If you can't use silence in your grooves, then the noisy bits won't sounds as good.