Solo Timing/Rhythm

[GrindYourMind]

I've been writing some solo bass stuff for a while now (www.youtube.com/peanutbuddha shameless plug!) and my problem lies not with harmony, or writing melodies or even whacky techniques but with my timing. I feel like I am focusing so much on playing the write notes that I speed up and slow down in ways that aren't exactly...nice. Any pointers? (there are tempo changes that aren't condusive to metronomes in some of them)

[Steve Lawson]

here are a few ideas:

Try playing it without focusing on the notes - allow yourself to make fist-fulls of mistakes, but work on the timing/phrasing. See if it actually sounds better... or at least gives you some idea of what it is you're aiming for.

Try playing it VERY slow. Super super slow - look for places where you're over-complicating the execution (for example, I'm amazed at how many tapping parts I hear that are easier to play as normal chordal parts...)

repeat sections of it over and over again - instead of trying to play it all the way through every time, work on each bit separately, then reassemble it when they feel better.

good luck!

Steve

[Widener]

Originally Posted by GrindYourMind

I've been writing some solo bass stuff for a while now (www.youtube.com/peanutbuddha shameless plug!) and my problem lies not with harmony, or writing melodies or even whacky techniques but with my timing. I feel like I am focusing so much on playing the write notes that I speed up and slow down in ways that aren't exactly...nice. Any pointers? (there are tempo changes that aren't condusive to metronomes in some of them)

I dig the solo tunes on your youtube page. I think your timing sounds great. But I'd echo Steve's great advice...set up an opening tuning, something that will be kinder on your flubs, and don't overcomplicate things, focus on expression, stick to well-known patterns, things your fingers do automatically.

But you sound awesome, man. Anything you need to work on is very minor to my ears.

By the way, you play grind? Just your screen name and all...