• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

Bass Playing Plateau

J

jblmusic1994

Guest
May 15, 2013
249
4
Jackson, Ohio
#1
I've reached a terrible plateau in my playing and writing and overall progression.. What should I be working on? I really want to get better at soloing in jazz and I want to get better at writing kind of fusion-esque material. I'm hoping somebody help direct me towards the right direction as far "what to practice"..

I have been playing serious bass for about 2 years now, but guitar for probably the last 10 years, so I don't need any help when it comes to theory. I've studied diatonic modes, melodic minor modes, chords and their inversions and voicings, voice-leading, basically anything you could think of.

I am just having trouble sounding how I want when it comes to jazz or fusion. The essence of jazz music can't be achieved by simply saying "play this scale over this chord", etc..

So, anyone feel free to answer. I will have an open mind.
 
#2
You need to listen to more music and stop trying to play and just play.

You're thinking about it too much and being technically correct that's why you're plateauing.

Another thing you can do is start learning a different instrument, that will really help reset your brain and stimulate your creativity. Also what I've found that really helps is playing new genres of music and jamming with people who play music I don't usually like or listen to. That helps your improvosation skills
 
#9
Clef_de_fa said:
if you want to solo your groove won't bring you far and this is why too many bass player make very boring solo, they are stuck in the groove and don't understand the rest of the things in music.
Click to expand...

If you play the most beautiful line in the world but it ain't groovin' then the line is not that beautiful ;)

Groovin' is a large concept and in Jazz-Fusion it still means to play in the pocket while enhancing it with good rhythms and phrasing and a great sense of time !
 
#11
Groove Master said:
If you play the most beautiful line in the world but it ain't groovin' then the line is not that beautiful ;)

Groovin' is a large concept and in Jazz-Fusion it still means to play in the pocket while enhancing it with good rhythms and phrasing and a great sense of time !
Click to expand...

But the OP want to be better at soloing, groove and pocket isn't what you're looking for in this scenario.
 
#14
-play the theme of a tune from start to finish. Make it sound like the tune.
-You might want to try in addition the traditional way to learn jazz: 1) sing a solo or part (no instrument in hand) and get the phrasing exactly right 2) memorize 3) learn to play the solo or part from the top of your head (while hearing the solo or part in your head)
-besides scales, you might want to focus on: arpeggios; intervals; tone quality (for example play he same note all over the neck very slowly. know where to find each instance all over the neck without looking)

hope this helps. good luck,
 
#16
theretheyare said:
-play the theme of a tune from start to finish. Make it sound like the tune.
-You might want to try in addition the traditional way to learn jazz: 1) sing a solo or part (no instrument in hand) and get the phrasing exactly right 2) memorize 3) learn to play the solo or part from the top of your head (while hearing the solo or part in your head)
-besides scales, you might want to focus on: arpeggios; intervals; tone quality (for example play he same note all over the neck very slowly. know where to find each instance all over the neck without looking)

hope this helps. good luck,
Click to expand...

Sounds like a good approach. When I said scales, I actually meant all things harmonic. Scales, arpeggios, etc.
 
#17
I am stuck too. I play by ear, had a little theory in school and understand the fundamentals. I get incredibly bored covering tunes these days, not that I'm all that great just that it seems less challenging to copy. So I usually end up just jamming grooves that are semi unique and sound good but the guys I play with get frustrated with freestyle jamming and following the lead so to speak. We don't play out, if we did perhaps covers would be more interesting. Ideas on how I should adjust?
 
#18
sgiacomo said:
I am stuck too. I play by ear, had a little theory in school and understand the fundamentals. I get incredibly bored covering tunes these days, not that I'm all that great just that it seems less challenging to copy. So I usually end up just jamming grooves that are semi unique and sound good but the guys I play with get frustrated with freestyle jamming and following the lead so to speak. We don't play out, if we did perhaps covers would be more interesting. Ideas on how I should adjust?
Click to expand...

I see this as a disipline issue based in concentration. Why do you jam out?........You fall back into what you know, rather than continue with what is required, learning the song and performing it as written.

Bored is not a valid answer in music as i see it.
Everything has a reason to be where it is or played how it is written, that is what layered music is about, that is what arrangement is all about.
When you can learn to play what is required then you will understand more about why you can jam and play out with the confines with a disiplne of authority, because those behind you will play the same way each time to allow you to do so.
This means you will need to come up with new ideas and push your playing to the limits of what you are playing over.

But this takes patience and hard work, and that for many is boring, so its back to square one for them, where as those that get past it will find more complicted and better ideas to explore.......my rule of thumb is ' if a player cannot do the simple act of support and play what is in front of them, then how can they ever play what is not?

But to the OP, its more listening for you, but phrasing, listen to how notes and runs are phrased. A script is the same words for all actors, but some of the greats can bring out what is written by their delivery.....phrasing can mean everthing, phrasing.....can mean.....EV..ER...RY.....THING.:)
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back