Great point. People laugh at country until they actually attempt to play it well. Simplicity and space are important things to place in every form of music you play.
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Does not being able to play jazz = being a poor bass player?
- Thread starter glocke1
- Start date
Great point. People laugh at country until they actually attempt to play it well. Simplicity and space are important things to place in every form of music you play.
Not being able to play jazz = Will always result in being a poor bass player of jazz. But should not stop you from being very competent in pop genres.
But seriously, music theory normally associated with jazz would cross over and help and inform you in other genres. (Be careful once experienced in jazz and exposed to jazz musicians, you may not wish to go back.)
But seriously, music theory normally associated with jazz would cross over and help and inform you in other genres. (Be careful once experienced in jazz and exposed to jazz musicians, you may not wish to go back.)
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No, it doesn't.
And frankly, I wish people would stop trying to/claiming to play jazz who don't actually like/listen to/hear jazz (mostly drummers, bassists, guitar players), because it's about making music and if it's not the music you love, it's not a good idea to try to prove you can do it.
There are some really good players of other genres who I admire and enjoy and aspire to learn from. Jazz is just jazz. It's for people who are called to it. It's not a point to be made.
And frankly, I wish people would stop trying to/claiming to play jazz who don't actually like/listen to/hear jazz (mostly drummers, bassists, guitar players), because it's about making music and if it's not the music you love, it's not a good idea to try to prove you can do it.
There are some really good players of other genres who I admire and enjoy and aspire to learn from. Jazz is just jazz. It's for people who are called to it. It's not a point to be made.
you may be assuming that the comments are coming from folks that dont play jazz...i wouldnt make that assumption
If that is the case then my 20 years of bass playing have been wasted. Nah but seriously I do enjoy listening to jazz and can also attempt to play it, but I never felt I am poor player because I can't play jazz that good. Actually I rather be good at playing various different styles than be "master" in one style.
Waaaaaaaaaaaaay back, tossing in a 7th could get you warmed up at the heretic stake...
Now we have chord structures/progressions and time signatures that would have triggered mass suicide back then...
Non-western music with tones less than a half step would put some folks into shock....
This made my brain hurt for a bit... Strange......but interestingly odd...
Now we have chord structures/progressions and time signatures that would have triggered mass suicide back then...
Non-western music with tones less than a half step would put some folks into shock....
This made my brain hurt for a bit... Strange......but interestingly odd...
If you serve the song, you're a good player. Period.
You don't have to play 100 notes each measure. You don't have to slap. You don't have to "play out" and toss around inversions.
Sometimes the best bass player is one who locks with the kick, stays in the pocket, and grooves. If that means pounding quarter notes, then that's good.
I think some bass players really wish they were guitar players. There are very few "showboat" bass players. We could probably count them on two hands. Flea, Les Claypool, Billy Sheehan, Victor Wooten, etc. Like Victor himself told me once, "Stop trying to play like me...there are only two bands in the world who need a player like me and I'm in both of them". He's spot on.
You don't have to play 100 notes each measure. You don't have to slap. You don't have to "play out" and toss around inversions.
Sometimes the best bass player is one who locks with the kick, stays in the pocket, and grooves. If that means pounding quarter notes, then that's good.
I think some bass players really wish they were guitar players. There are very few "showboat" bass players. We could probably count them on two hands. Flea, Les Claypool, Billy Sheehan, Victor Wooten, etc. Like Victor himself told me once, "Stop trying to play like me...there are only two bands in the world who need a player like me and I'm in both of them". He's spot on.
Having a limited vocabulary makes you a limited player. You simply have to ask yourself if that is you and if you want to fix it.
Doesnt meant you need to play jazz but understanding the fundamentals of it is a huge benefit to developing as a player.
Doesnt meant you need to play jazz but understanding the fundamentals of it is a huge benefit to developing as a player.
Just the opposite. Doing a lot of jazz gigs will ensure that you are poor 
Hehe, I mean, I'm like, %100 swimming in indie-rock monays.
Ive never had the passion to put the time and effort into jazz. You can put effort into whatever you are passionate about and if you practice hard enough you can become a good player within your chosen style.
So, not being able to play something that started some time in the very early 1900s and took off in the 1920s and was derived from Blues and Ragtime equals not being a good bass player? What about Classical bass players? Are they inferior if they don't? I don't see how this is even a marker for ability in the least. What if they can't stand jazz so never bothered to learn it? Worse, what if they hated it but could play it perfectly but with zero attachment to what they are playing? Is that equal to a better bass player?
I'm not buying it.
I'm not buying it.
Understanding and making use of the music theory behind jazz can make you a more interesting bass player and composer (if the latter also interests you) - Reharmonization, using chromatic passing/ transition notes, etc.
I've taken a handful of jazz oriented lessons, both on bass and guitar. In no way do I consider myself a jazz bassist. I do however believe I approach creating basslines and soloing a bit differently than many "rock-only" bass players. I also will from time to time play faux jazz out of the Real Books with more jazz-oriented musician friends. While I come off OK I know it's largely B.S what I'm playing.
I've taken a handful of jazz oriented lessons, both on bass and guitar. In no way do I consider myself a jazz bassist. I do however believe I approach creating basslines and soloing a bit differently than many "rock-only" bass players. I also will from time to time play faux jazz out of the Real Books with more jazz-oriented musician friends. While I come off OK I know it's largely B.S what I'm playing.
I don't think that not being able to play jazz makes one a bad player.
I do think that being able to play jazz makes one a much better player.
I do think that being able to play jazz makes one a much better player.
I officially challenge any board-certified Jazz-Cat to an 8th note root-five duel. Consider it like a staring contest, but less exciting.
