How do I get “it”?

[squeally dan]

1) Practice as much as you can
2) Don't TRY to play with feel, just play how YOU feel the song
3) Listen to the whole band as if you're not in it, don't focus too much your own parts
4) Relax your body, especially your spine, move around, even if it's just nodding your head to the beat - if you're standing there stiff as a board, you're going to play stiffly

Notice #4 on a guitar gig a couple nights ago. Very true.

 

[Russell L]

Well, try this: take a bass line, preferably one with some subdivision in it, and simply play it over and over like a loop...til you drop. Sounds silly, but what will happen is that your hands and fingers, in fact even your arms, shoulders and whole body will loosen up and become immerserd into the "feel" of the line. Do it until you're plumb entranced. If you're successful you may find that you begin to articulate the notes in ways that produce the "it" factor you're seeking. Some notes may become accented, others unaccented, some cut short, some long, whatever. You may begin to naturally mute where needed with either hand or your fingers. You will "become" the living bass line. Kinda like a physical form of transcendental meditation.

To put it simply, articulation is everything!

 

[two fingers]

Played guitar in a wedding band for over 20 years and also in some original projects. Over the years I seem to end up on bass for more and more gigs. Either gigs that pay less and we don’t need guitar or the bass player can’t play. This has been going on for many years but over the past few months I’ve actually gotten more serious about bass and practicing it. I’m really loving it.

Our band leader who is also the drummer has told me he actually prefers me to the actual bassist because I’m tight and keep things simple. However, I hear other bassists who just seem to have “it”. The just make it feel really good and that’s what I’m striving for.

Once we played with a very awesome Prince tribute act (The Purple Experience”. We were in the middle of Fire by the Ohio Players and I noticed the bassist from the Prince band was watching. I quickly handed him my bass mid-song and he sounded so great. It wasn’t that he was playing something real technical but it grooved so hard.

So, what’s the best way to develop that? How do I get that feel? I can play on time but I want to get “it”.

It's more about feeling than thinking. Just lean into the music, the groove, and your drummer. Feel everything going in around you.


Think less. Feel more.

 

[vindibona1]

Think like a bass player.

Ok. I agree. Please elaborate.

 

[mambo4]

“It” has 10 parts

 

[Jogobass]

I've noticed that It happens when I find the right drummer. And when we kick of the groove and the guitar player looks around with a big smile on his face.

 

[squeally dan]

I've noticed that It happens when I find the right drummer. And when we kick of the groove and the guitar player looks around with a big smile on his face.

True about the right drummer?

 

[tvbop]

Ok this is gonna make me sound like pretentious douche but its worked for me for 40 plus yrs. Dont just hit every note the same and Im not talking about length or weight, yep its really hard to explain...best way I can is to say... On some notes kinda sit on them and pull the string...it'll give a very, very tight thwack to the note...Sounds real good at the end of a passage....a dead stop if you will but the note will bloom as it decays.

 

[chris_b]

. . . . Once we played with a very awesome Prince tribute act (The Purple Experience”. We were in the middle of Fire by the Ohio Players and I noticed the bassist from the Prince band was watching. I quickly handed him my bass mid-song and he sounded so great. It wasn’t that he was playing something real technical but it grooved so hard.

So, what’s the best way to develop that? How do I get that feel? I can play on time but I want to get “it”.

The more you play the better your "it" will become. Don't "Rock" but focus on making the notes flow smoothly. Learn the differences between leaning back and leaning forwards in the groove. Practise so you can play without thinking about the notes. Get the what right then you can focus on the how. Good timing is everything. Listen to guys like Freddie Washington, Nathan East and Reggie McBride. Playing with a great drummer helps.

 

[gtirard]

The more you play the better your "it" will become. Don't "Rock" but focus on making the notes flow smoothly. Learn the differences between leaning back and leaning forwards in the groove. Practise so you can play without thinking about the notes. Get the what right then you can focus on the how. Good timing is everything. Listen to guys like Freddie Washington, Nathan East and Reggie McBride. Playing with a great drummer helps.

I agree 100%, + 200% for the last sentence.
I've been playing rock for 30 years, and all my life I've played with hard hitting drummers I didn't really get along with. For only 10 years now, I started to play with my current drummer, who has a jazz background, great versatile technique but above all excellent musicality. It changed everything for me as a bassist. He never comments my playing, but the way he plays helps me focus on groove and the intention I put on each note…

 

[Deleted member 394181]

If you know, and like the songs enough to relax, it will happen.

 

[vindibona1]

Played guitar in a wedding band for over 20 years and also in some original projects. Over the years I seem to end up on bass for more and more gigs. Either gigs that pay less and we don’t need guitar or the bass player can’t play. This has been going on for many years but over the past few months I’ve actually gotten more serious about bass and practicing it. I’m really loving it.

Our band leader who is also the drummer has told me he actually prefers me to the actual bassist because I’m tight and keep things simple. However, I hear other bassists who just seem to have “it”. The just make it feel really good and that’s what I’m striving for.

So, what’s the best way to develop that? How do I get that feel? I can play on time but I want to get “it”.

It's been a while since I visited this "zombie thread", but feel ya. I think I am/was in a similar situation. I found myself playing bass more and more- until I was playing bass pretty much exclusively. I've grown to love playing bass and can't remember the last time I performed with guitar. In pondering the question further, the only answer I can come up with is- MUSICIANSHIP.

Of course technical ability is important, but IMO knowing HOW to play it is not as important as knowing WHAT to play. You're experienced, so I can only imagine the only thing that's needed is how your mental focus approaches the situation. A lot of folks think solely in terms of the instrument they're playing and that of the others playing around them but fail to understand that a group of people playing together is a single organism. As an experienced guitar player, all you need to do is take off your guitar hat and put your "musician" hat on and understand the role of the bass. With time and experience it should all take care of itself.