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Basslines for Practice

Dr. Cheese

Dr. Cheese

Supporting Member
Mar 3, 2004
57,316
120,578
Metro St. Louis
#1
My teacher has told me to tighten up my sense of time. He says I am fine with others, but I drift when playing by myself. His assignment is to take five basslines I know and play them with a metronome in all twelve keys for the next two weeks to improve my time.

I want help choosing basslines because I tend to pick pretty tricky riffs when I think of stuff off the top of my head. Two riffs I came up with are "Got to be Real" by Cheryl Lynn, and "I Want Your Love," by Chic.

I want to stick to funk/R&B/Disco because of the use of repetitive riffs in that sort of music.
 
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#3
What about some reggae bass lines (most classic reggae bass lines are one or two bar loops)? For R&B/funk:

- "Inner City Blues"
- "Get Up I Feel Like Being A Sex Machine" (I find octave lines more likely to throw my timing off)
- "Heartbeat" (Taana Gardner)
- "Yes We Can Can" (Pointer Sisters)
- "Just A Touch Of Love"
- "Stratus" (good for endurance too)
- "Freddie's Dead"
- "Ascension" (Maxwell)
- "Travels" (Outside)
 
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#4
bass12 said:
What about some reggae bass lines (most classic reggae bass lines are one or two bar loops)? For R&B/funk:

- "Inner City Blues"
- "Get Up I Feel Like Being A Sex Machine" (I find octave lines more likely to throw my timing off)
- "Heartbeat" (Taana Gardner)
- "Yes We Can Can" (Pointer Sisters)
- "Just A Touch Of Love"
- "Stratus" (good for endurance too)
- "Freddie's Dead"
- "Ascension" (Maxwell)
- "Travels" (Outside)
Click to expand...


Thanks a bunch! I know all of those except "Travels." I agree that Stratus is great for endurance!
 
#5
Below are a few suggestions of some basic songs that would not be too cumbersome to transpose:

  • "Ain't No Stopping Us Now" - McFadden & Whitehead
  • "We Party Hearty" - L.T.D.
  • "Thighs High (Grip Your Hips & Move)" - Tom Browne
  • "Running Away" - Roy Ayers
  • "Shame" - Evelyn 'Champagne' King
  • "And The Beat Goes On" - Whispers
  • "Ring My Bell" - Anita Ward
  • "Outstanding" - The Gap Band
  • "Bustin Out" - Rick James
  • "I Just Want To Be" - Cameo
 
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#7
You already have a perfect sense of time. You ever bob your head to a song?

I agree with Jeff Berlin when he says you don't learn to keep good time by practicing with a metronome.

The issue is being relaxed and confident enough in your playing to let the pulse of the song flow naturally through your fingers (or pick, whatever you use) and play the notes at exactly the right moment.

Just keep practicing and the more confident you get with your skills, the better time you will keep.
 
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#9
Dr. Cheese said:


Here is a short clip of my practice routine.
Click to expand...

Ok it does sound good but not perfect.


IMHO it won't make any good to play different songs if you cannot do what I will explain here with that riff you play.
Here are some suggestions for you for the same bassline:

Use the metronome in a better way here is how:
1) Double the metronome speed so you would have 8th notes instead of just quater notes. This will tight up your groove and time.

2) Then put the metronome on upbeats instead of downbeats.

3) Cut the metronome in half and put it in on 2& 4 and make it groove by tapping your foot also on the 2 & 4.

These exercises should do it and then try other riffs from simple to complex.

Have fun
 
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#10
Groove Master said:
Ok it does sound good but not perfect.

Here are some suggestions for you for the same bassline:

Use the metronome in a better way here is how:
1) Double the metronome speed so you would have 8th notes instead of just quater notes. This will tight up your groove and time.

2) Then put the metronome on upbeats instead of downbeats.

3) Cut the metronome in half and put it in on 2& 4 and make it groove by tapping your foot also on the 2 & 4.

These exercises should do it and then try other riffs from simple to complex.

Have fun
Click to expand...

Thanks a lot and I will do it!
 
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#11
jallenbass said:
I took a lesson with Ed Friedland regarding this very subject and he had me verbalize a drumbeat as I played a line and at a very slow tempo. It was hard. It has definitely solidified my time as you really need to know where everything fits when going that slow. Then when you speed it up there are no mysteries.
Click to expand...

Slow tempos are difficult!
 
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#12
Jloch86 said:
You already have a perfect sense of time. You ever bob your head to a song?

I agree with Jeff Berlin when he says you don't learn to keep good time by practicing with a metronome.

The issue is being relaxed and confident enough in your playing to let the pulse of the song flow naturally through your fingers (or pick, whatever you use) and play the notes at exactly the right moment.

Just keep practicing and the more confident you get with your skills, the better time you will keep.
Click to expand...

I see your point, but I think I will stick to my teacher's approach.
 
#14
T-Funk said:
Below are a few suggestions of some basic songs that would not be too cumbersome to transpose:

  • "Ain't No Stopping Us Now" - McFadden & Whitehead
  • "We Party Hearty" - L.T.D.
  • "Thighs High (Grip Your Hips & Move)" - Tom Browne
  • "Running Away" - Roy Ayers
  • "Shame" - Evelyn 'Champagne' King
  • "And The Beat Goes On" - Whispers
  • "Ring My Bell" - Anita Ward
  • "Outstanding" - The Gap Band
  • "Bustin Out" - Rick James
  • "I Just Want To Be" - Cameo
Click to expand...

Great list. And the beat goes on is a good one as the timing is pretty tricky IMHO. Sir duke is another one I would suggest.
 
#15
having started on classical piano ... songs have various tempos ... so when i'm playing by myself , i'll wander where ever i please , thank you ... ! ha

i feel it's the drummers job to 'be the clock' ... i played keys/keyboard bass in a duo for a long time ,... i like to play around the beat ... ahead/behind ... made the drum machine feel a bit more live
 
#18
This is the perfect topic for me as well-- our band is going to be without a drummer for the foreseeable future, so now I've got to tighten up my timing. Having a drummer made me lazy I guess LOL! :D

Here is one of the videos I've saved that is helping to tighten things up-- hope it helps!

 
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#20
I have a Million of them as I'm a groove playa!!!

Let's Celebrate---Skyy
Let's Dance--Tom Browne
You are my Melody--Change
This is for the Best in You--Change
Sizzling Hot--Slave
Way Out--Steve Arrington
You Meet my Approval--Steve Arrington
Spinnin--Chucki Booker
Love Dancing--Rodney Franklin
Ain't we Funkin Now--Bros Johnson
Streetwave--Bros Jounson
Mr. Cool--Bros Johnson.
Strawberry Letter #23--Bros Johnson
Such a Feeling--Aurra
Are you Single--Aurra
Watching You--Slave (this is a hard song to nail down) it's harder to play than it sounds.
Party Lights---Slave ( a challenge if played properly)

Let me know if you want more.
 
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