Hitting that brick wall

[Winterglo]

To me it all starts to take shape when you start to play with a good drummer.

In bands, I won't go to practice if the drummer doesn't show up. Makes no sense to me.

 

[moody]

In bands, I won't go to practice if the drummer doesn't show up. Makes no sense to me.

I have been very sick for a rehearsal once, with a then very new drummer. When the drummer realised that I wasn't going to be there he started packing up.

I can understand the idea of this but I don't personally agree with it. I know in my band there is always stuff that the rest of us can work on if others don't turn up.

I agree with the post before this one though - things really really start working when you get a really good drummer. You don't realise what you were missing until you hear what a good drummer can bring to the dynamics of the band.

 

[Winterglo]

I have been very sick for a rehearsal once, with a then very new drummer. When the drummer realised that I wasn't going to be there he started packing up.

I can understand the idea of this but I don't personally agree with it. I know in my band there is always stuff that the rest of us can work on if others don't turn up.

I agree with the post before this one though - things really really start working when you get a really good drummer. You don't realise what you were missing until you hear what a good drummer can bring to the dynamics of the band.

We had our songs, so it was important that all of us showed. You can work on other things w/out a drummer, but working on anything show related or new was pointless w/out the drummer. If the drummer does not show, who will bear the brunt of all the idiot jokes?

 

[BassChuck]

To get back to the OP. When you hit that wall, do something different. If you know how to read music and can transpose the world is your oyster. Go to IMSLP/Petrucci Music Library: Free Public Domain Sheet Music and see thousands of pieces of music... free. Try playing a bassoon concerto, or transpose trumpet or oboe music for bass. There's a lifetime of music at that one site.

Or go to YouTube and try different music. Play along with a marching band or symphony orchestra, or dixieland band. See what you can do putting a bass line on ancient choral music (check out Palestrina, or Josquin d'Pre.... (yea there was a guy in the 1400's with that name too). Jam along to Gregorian Chant (if you like that, get Audacity and add a drum track to and your bass line) Check out tunes by George M. Cohan... interesting chord progressions there you won't find in R+B or metal.

Expand. Try. Fail. Enjoy.