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Double Bass Goal Setting: Jam Night

S

SteveChatterton

Jun 29, 2010
16
0
Ontario
#1
Long-time lurker, first-time poster...

I've only been play jazz bass a couple of months now, and I still pretty much blow, so I thought I'd set myself the somewhat realistic goal od sitting in at a local jam night sometime in the next 12 months (when I'm a bit more prepared). But I have some questions that perhaps you guys can help with:

1) Where are the best local jazz jam nights in Toronto and/or the neighbouring Durham region? Something casual & supportive that still attracts decent players.

2) How good should a bass player be before asking to sit in?

3) If a bassist didn't have a proper upright yet but showed up with one of those funny looking acoustic fretless bass guitars, would there be an amp to plug into? Also, would he/she run the risk of being laughed out of the place? I've seen Steve Swallow play one of these before, with a pick even, so it's not entirely unheard of. It's just until I can justify the expense of acquiring a double bass to the wife & kids.

I haven't been playing long, and I'm still painfully slow, but in '94, before I neglected my chops & got distracted by job & family, I graduated with honours from the Mohawk College jazz program where I studied guitar with Lofsky, Schwager & Young (my favourite law firm), so I know the theory, etc. It's just a matter of time & effort to get the mind & fingers back in shape & my mind into bass mode. I thought an open jam might give me a realistic goal to shoot for in the not too distant future.

Any thoughts? Advise? Things I've neglected to consider?
 
#2
I'd recommend hitting up craigslist and see if anyone is looking for someone to play with. Jazz bassists are a rare commodity in most places and I'd be willing to bet if you made a post looking for people and explained where you're coming from with getting back into playing music you'd get a few responses. It would be a much less stressful proposition to jam with a few people at home than going out and jumping in with people who are already gigging.

It's impossible to say for sure whether there would be an amp there. More than likely there would be some kind of amp unless the place is really small.
 
#3
You make a good point, Jason. Perhaps something less formal and very low key would be best. But first I need to woodshed & relearn some some tunes (and then learn some new [to me, anyway] tunes).

This morning I walked rhythm changes at about 100 bpm not as solid as I would've liked, but maybe sometime this fall I'll be ready to place an ad.

Thanks for the advice. Feel free to enjoy some barbecue & bourbon on my behalf.
 
#4
If you want to goal set, focus on one or two tunes (preferably not bebop), know the melody, know the chords, be able to walk it and solo it. And this is all through memorization, not by using a chart.

For each tune you should be able to:
* Sing the Melody
* Play the melody (at least somewhat)
* Know the chords and all chord tones
* Walk the changes
* Solo
* Trade 4's

One practice tip is to play the tune in small increments. I like to start at about 90-100bpm, play melody, solo, walk, trade-4s at that speed. Once I feel ok with it, I bump up the metronome 5bpm and do it all over again. It's alot of work but it's got lots of benefits.

All The Things and There Is No Greater Love are good places to start. When you finally decide to do the jam, tell the jam organizer where you are in your playing and would like to play just the tunes you know. If the organizer is any good, they'll put you with a couple other guys who will make you sound good or try to carry you if you somehow fall apart.
 
#5
That is sort of the approach I'm taking, Huy. But thanks, good to know I'm sort of on the right track.

Those are good tunes to know. I'm also looking at Stella by Starlight, Softly as in a Morning Sunrise & But Not For Me.

I've been so busy thinking about walking I haven't even thought of soloing. Hmmm...
 
#6
also to learn,

12 bar major blues
12 bar minor blues
Rhythm changes

in the common keys first then continue from there.

Check out the jams first as an audience member only. Even write down the tunes being called out and go home to learn them. Later on in the month when you feel up to it, ask to get in on the playing.

Amps, and drum kit, keyboard, are usually supplied by the venue or the hosting band. Show up with the instrument you're comfortable playing. Start with the more beginner-friendly type jam places and go from there.
 
#7
It sounds to me like you're going in the right direction. I strongly suspect that I'm not going to tell you anything you don't already know; but, since most of us like to be reminded...

There really isn't any substitute for getting out there and playing, is there? The trick is to find the right people. I'm not familiar with Toronto per say; but, in a large city like that there are going to be a lot of jams of varying degrees of sophistication. Go check them out. Find the one (or ones) that you feel comfortable with and Bob's your uncle.

You'll probably find that the sessions that are worth going to have a consistent rhythm section as their core. That generally means there will be an amp. But, you'll find that out when you check out the jam before hand.

Most people prefer an upright (serious understatement!); but, electric basses are part of the tradition. Having a fret-less will help.

For what it's worth, you probably have friends or acquaintances who play; so, you could start your own session. You get people you're comfortable with. You don't have to travel; and, it often helps maintain marital bliss.

That switch from guitar to getting "my mind into bass mode" really is a bear isn't it?

See, pretty much what you knew already...

I hope you have fun with the endeavor!
 
#8
Most ppl steer clear of Stella. Miss Jones too. Lots of fear around those tunes I've noticed. I love them both.

If you do Softly, there's prolly a good chance you'll end up with a horn player who's ready to crank through that at 180bpm+. A blues would def be a good idea. All Blues def for a newbie bassist.

I wouldn't just sit on any tune unless you feel strong about being able to mangle your way through a tune without losing your place in the form with a chart in front of you - also at various tempos. It's ok if you get lost on guitar, but if you get lost on Bass there is nowhere to hide! It's fun trying to get through a tune "on sight" but better if you can find others to practice that sort of thing.

Oh yeah, you should work on your 2-feel. That's a biggie too.
 
#9
Lots of great advice here. I knew I had a bunch of work ahead of me. Now I have a little bit more.

Most common keys for a minor blues would be Cm & Fm, right? That's if memory serves. Mr. PC is the obvious Cm head. Any recommendations for Fm (or whatever the other most common key is)?

I'm learning melodies, and this time around I've got all this technology to help out. When I'm learning a tune I pop the changes into Band-in-a-Box, mute the bass, find a piano style that I can tolerate, export to Midi & the import it into Ableton Live rewired into Reason so I can have accompaniment with rock solid time (while the computer's behaving).

I'm not rushing the tempos (usually around 100 bpm) & focusing on time & intonation and resigning myself to the fact that my primitive lines will get slightly more sophisticated as time goes on & I get more experience under my belt.

Maybe I'll be ready to play with others in the new year & hopefully I'll be more solid by then. Most of my acquaintances who do play didn't take the break I did & have been playing professionally for years (the piano player form my 3rd year ensemble just played the North Sea Jazz Fest where he jammed with Marcus Miller) so I've got a ways to go before I consider calling anybody up to jam.
 
#12
I second the idea of looking for a low pressure jam at someone's house with players at your level or a little better. It is a great way to work things our in a 'safe' place and a great way to make connections as all those players are going to get better as well and start getting gigs. I still get calls from people I played with in this sort of setting years ago to play gigs and I firmly believe it was time well spent.
As a bassist, I would focus on time and tone. If you sound good and play in time... people will forgive a multitude of sins!

Cheers,
John
 
#13
SteveChatterton said:
Most common keys for a minor blues would be Cm & Fm, right? That's if memory serves. Mr. PC is the obvious Cm head. Any recommendations for Fm (or whatever the other most common key is)?
.
Click to expand...
Bb, F and C in that order IMO. Both major and minor.

IMO, just to get by on a jam, you should know heads for soloing and form purposes but it's my guess you won't be playing many melodies. Let the lead players deal with that and focus on walking and soloing.

EDIT: Also, I'm not trying insult anyone's intelligence here but something as simple as counting a tune off gets overlooked and mess with newbies. I've seen people fail cuz they don't count the tune off right more than once. It's kinda sad.
 
#14
Great thread Steve et al.

I'll be putting many of these ideas into practice, except for this one...

pygmygrizzly said:
I say: show up, leave the bass in the car, and play it by ear. if you see them playing tunes you think you can keep up with, ask if you can sit in, if they say yes... go back to the car and find your bass has been stolen.
Click to expand...
:bawl:

I like the idea of scoping out a new jam situation in advance, but I wouldn't want to risk theft from my car. Wait a tick, I don't have a car... :hmm:
 

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