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How do I get “it”?
- Thread starter squeally dan
- Start date
Ric5
Inactive
- Jan 29, 2008
- 29,772
- 30,452
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- I like 5, 8, 10, and 12 string basses
drumvsbass
Commercial User
- Aug 20, 2011
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- I work for Long and McQuade Musical Instruments Canada in Sales.
Let me play the devil's advocate here.
You've been playing for "over 20 years", both guitar and bass, and you're ONLY NOW deciding that you're "really loving it" (playing bass). Maybe you should consider the possibility that bass just isn't your instrument. I say that because, IMO, in order to really "get it" you have to first KNOW in your soul that you CAN get it, and I'm not convinced that you do.
Another way of putting it - if you have to ask how you "get it" then you probably never will "get it" - it's just not a question ever asked by anyone who has eventually gotten it. The first requisites for getting it are hunger and a belief, without question, that you CAN "get it".
You've been playing for "over 20 years", both guitar and bass, and you're ONLY NOW deciding that you're "really loving it" (playing bass). Maybe you should consider the possibility that bass just isn't your instrument. I say that because, IMO, in order to really "get it" you have to first KNOW in your soul that you CAN get it, and I'm not convinced that you do.
Another way of putting it - if you have to ask how you "get it" then you probably never will "get it" - it's just not a question ever asked by anyone who has eventually gotten it. The first requisites for getting it are hunger and a belief, without question, that you CAN "get it".
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Don't think about 'it'.
Know the music really, really well. Know the instrument really, really well and have played enough music and come up with enough bass lines that you find the 'essence' more easily - the 'right' notes.
For me when noticing 'it' in a player it has always boiled down to competence on their part.
NOT showmanship.
Don't over - think it.
My 2 whatever...
Hard to define in words. But I always take the approach that any instrument has music locked inside it that a skilled musician can release. You have to play as if you’re working to “let the music out”.
More directly, in my opinion a big element of feel is about being able to play your instrument very physically whilst still maintaining control of every aspect of every note, rather than sliding into just thrashing at it.
So, two separate concepts there, both fairly abstract, but hopefully they’ll give you some ideas to explore.
More directly, in my opinion a big element of feel is about being able to play your instrument very physically whilst still maintaining control of every aspect of every note, rather than sliding into just thrashing at it.
So, two separate concepts there, both fairly abstract, but hopefully they’ll give you some ideas to explore.
If you don’t know what “it” is and can only define it using the indefinite article “it,” why are you so sure you don’t already have it?
Maybe you have a low self image. Maybe you assumed it would be easier and the more you listen to other bass players you’re realizing it’s harder than it seemed.
However, they’re saying you’re tight and you don’t overplay, which are probably the two biggest hurdles for guitar players moving to bass, so don’t overthink “it.” Just practice the tunes, listen, and enjoy playing bass.
Maybe you have a low self image. Maybe you assumed it would be easier and the more you listen to other bass players you’re realizing it’s harder than it seemed.
However, they’re saying you’re tight and you don’t overplay, which are probably the two biggest hurdles for guitar players moving to bass, so don’t overthink “it.” Just practice the tunes, listen, and enjoy playing bass.
You're fine OP. It's cool to wonder if you have "it" and to keep aspiring to get "it"! It boils down to practicing and listening to the sounds that you're making. Mimicing the great players that you aspire to sound like is everything: their sound, tone, touch, timing, and overall pulse and feel. If you have decent ears to listen and decent skills to copy you can have what they have. The greatest popular musicians in history copied their musical idols and then applied their own style according to their personal inclinations. We're not talking about geniuses here like Charlie Parker, Jimi or Jaco who seemed to get their inspiration from beyond this world. "It" is a pedestrian pro quality that makes you a cat amongst your musical clique. If you think you don't have "it", then that means you already recognize "it" and are likely capabable of posessing "it" through lots of dedicated practice. All the technical stuff that others have mentioned above applies - note placement, duration, attack intensity, grooving with the drummer; but just listen to who you love and copy, copy, copy, practice, practice, practice. I know you said you've been playing twenty years already, but I'm going to guess you haven't been jamming to a metronome for twenty years! Spend 5 months jamming to a metronome daily, making it sound GOOD, and you will start to take possession of "it". Also, play/practice musical phrases not canned licks, your talented peers can tell the difference!
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"It" is timing and groove, the flow of the bass line.
It's not the notes, it's the way you're playing them.
If you're asking what "It" is you are heading in the right direction. Keep going.
It's not the notes, it's the way you're playing them.
If you're asking what "It" is you are heading in the right direction. Keep going.
This is an example from a 2014, soothing I’ve improved since then but similar lack of feel. Also wasn’t our best performance.
I imagine "it" can be hard to quantify. but...
..the fact that you're attentive to this shows you have it. It just migh not have bubbled up to the surface yet. The drummer is your dance partner and when they are telling you that they like your playing then it says a lot.
But like others have said,
timing and note length..
plucking hand is where it all starts..
practice, practice, practice..
knowing your place and role in the song or band..
It also helps to have "role models". Bassists that you want to emulate. It gives you a clear idea of where you want to be. Listen to them..discover their relationship with their band..and their their bass.
If you love what your doing then there is no doubt you'll find "it".
..the fact that you're attentive to this shows you have it. It just migh not have bubbled up to the surface yet. The drummer is your dance partner and when they are telling you that they like your playing then it says a lot.
But like others have said,
timing and note length..
plucking hand is where it all starts..
practice, practice, practice..
knowing your place and role in the song or band..
It also helps to have "role models". Bassists that you want to emulate. It gives you a clear idea of where you want to be. Listen to them..discover their relationship with their band..and their their bass.
If you love what your doing then there is no doubt you'll find "it".
youre certainly worth getting paid, let me say that up front.
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above ALL ... loose the keyboardist's glasses necklace whatever it's called...it creates the schoolmarm image and that is antithetical to anything you wish to project. I know he'll complain but it's essential. I liked his solo.
You played the most generic bass line possible and didn't project any of it, like you are practicing invisibility (which is fine, don't get me wrong) and you didn't seem to play with any of it, just for instance, in the beginning do you have to play every note of the keyboards hook an octave down...he's doing the job, why not take some low end space in the syncopation, then back to the basic part.
I would add effects to the horn players in the solos, bit crusher ringmod/envelope/delay and tell the alto (who I like) to calm down and be dramatic, he's a bit nervous (in the solos)... both horn players nail the parts though with suburb dynamics.
another thing that occurred to me, as vocalist your drummer has allot of responsibility in any song, which uses up "bandwidth" so that seems like that's a bit un-present as well, although it's really good for that guy's brain in the long term to do two things both pertty well! It's probably good you don't change up in that circumstance, (but I couldn't resist) keeping it appropriate of course
Oh I almost forgot- "It" is the Depth of the beat, and I learned this from one 20 minute jam with Leslie Langston in which she had "It" in buckets (in my home., we were both working for the same interior landscaping co. after her days touring the world) Also from certain New Orleans drummers.
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That isn't too bad. A little stiff with the whole rhythm section, to be honest.
With bass, the key to having that great feel is mostly in the right hand. It's accents, dead notes, and dynamics.
It's also note length, and muting. Also, knowing where in the beat you should be... ahead, on, or behind.
You should be able to play the bass parts alone, and have it feel good.
Just do a lot of listening to different genres with "bassist ears" on, and pay close attention to the bass and rhythm section.
With bass, the key to having that great feel is mostly in the right hand. It's accents, dead notes, and dynamics.
It's also note length, and muting. Also, knowing where in the beat you should be... ahead, on, or behind.
You should be able to play the bass parts alone, and have it feel good.
Just do a lot of listening to different genres with "bassist ears" on, and pay close attention to the bass and rhythm section.
The following has been stated above several times, but it does show how important note length etc can be (the video is meant for beginners. intermediates but demos what others say may be the issue):
Agreed...solid timing, note length, and articulation/note accent. The accent on a note will really make a beat pop.
Also, yes, play along to songs that have the "it" you're going for and listen carefully to things like note lengths and accents.
OP, Maybe some people just have "it", but most of us work at developing "it" over time. Don't get discouraged if you don't feel you have it. Let your desire to develop "it" inspire you to practice. And practice with a metronome.
