• 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.

Double Bass Hearing Basslines for Transcriptions

#22
I understand, alot of the old recordings have the horns/woodwinds blasting and esp. when there is a sax or trumpet solo, the bass pretty much dissapears. Just to listen it's frustrating, Im sure transcribing would be even more difficult
 
#23
I can see two points of view here - there is the argument about changing the way it sounds and then the point about changing the way you listen.

From my own point of view - I can remember many years ago when I played in pop/rock bands in the 80s - that I listened to some Jazz CDs and it just sounded like a dull thud and that the DB players were just playing random notes like going up and down a chromatic scale.

I have always listened to music on good CD players with big studio monitor-style speakers and feel that music deserves this. My music system hasn't really changed - although I have of course now got computers and can get music via that - but music on computer always lacks a lot of definition compared to my CD and big speaker set up.

However - although that can be an issue, I feel that since I started trying to play Jazz in the late 90s and started learning about the theory - I can actually hear bass lines quite clearly - especially on things by Coltrane - that type of vintage. But I know that it's my listening that has changed - not my system. Although I know that if I tried to hear basslines on my computer I would stand no chance - but sitting in front of my big speakers and CD player - the lines are very clear to me.
 
#24
Oh Bruce, I know exactly what you mean with the change in perception of jazz. It really did sound like a bunch of random notes at the beginning. My love of jazz and my acquisition of the vocab as a musician have been so tightly linked that I even have a hard time conceiving how laypeople enjoy, say, Coltrane, which they obviously do and appreciate on the truest level.

About the slowing down of material in order to transcribe: Doesn't seem like there's anything wrong with that, but there are plenty of things to transcribe that aren't fast and aren't hard to hear.
 
#25
Anonymatt said:
I even have a hard time conceiving how laypeople enjoy, say, Coltrane, which they obviously do and appreciate on the truest level.
Click to expand...

I think you can appreciate the groove and the confidence of great musicians, regardless of knowing anything about music.

Every time I put on the CD of Coltrane's Sound, hear the fantastic groove of the first track (Night has a Thousand Eyes) , then Coltrane comes in with such exuberance and confidence - that I think : "How can anybody fail to like this!!??" :p
 
#26
Bruce Lindfield said:
I think you can appreciate the groove and the confidence of great musicians, regardless of knowing anything about music.

Every time I put on the CD of Coltrane's Sound, hear the fantastic groove of the first track (Night has a Thousand Eyes) , then Coltrane comes in with such exuberance and confidence - that I think : "How can anybody fail to like this!!??" :p
Click to expand...

No doubt.

Like a lot of people, I tend to project my own weaknesses onto others.
 
#31
Moving on...

What specific recordings of bass players would people recommend?

Sam Jones with Cannonball's Quintet on Autumn Leaves comes to mind, great for a first transcription as the bass is crystal clear and so swinging!
 
#32

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back