I need to learn how to play blues within a week.

[FingerDub]

I have no formal training but I do have fast fingers and good technique and can learn most songs by ear. I have good timing.

I have an opportunity to slide right into the bass player spot in an established, money making, gigging power blues band. They play stuff like this.





I know a few blues scales and that's it. I can focus on learning the songs no problem, but is there anything I can learn in a week that can help me fit in to anything?

 

[Mushroo]

Lesson #1 is learn the 12-bar blues progression in all 12 keys. Jamming along with famous songs by the masters, and backing tracks on youtube, will help you get the right feel.

For example, this should keep you busy for a while:

Slow 12 Bar Blues Backing Tracks - All 12 Keys - YouTube
Medium Tempo 12 Bar Blues Backing Tracks - All 12 Keys - YouTube
Fast 12 Bar Blues Backing Tracks - All 12 Keys - YouTube

 

[FingerDub]

Lesson #1 is learn the 12-bar blues progression in all 12 keys. Jamming along with famous songs by the masters, and backing tracks on youtube, will help you get the right feel.

For example, this should keep you busy for a while:

Slow 12 Bar Blues Backing Tracks - All 12 Keys - YouTube
Medium Tempo 12 Bar Blues Backing Tracks - All 12 Keys - YouTube
Fast 12 Bar Blues Backing Tracks - All 12 Keys - YouTube

Thanks bro, just what I was looking for. now to book up....

 

[Mushroo]

Other song variations on the 12-bar blues form to watch out for: Intros. Outros. Breaks. Bridges. Going to the IV chord on bar 2 ("quick four") then back to I chord on bar 3. Various chord substitutions on the "turnaround" (final four bars). Non-12-bar forms like 8-bar, 16-bar, or some other weird number. Songs that just riff over and over on one or two chords. Rock, soul, country, R&B, and jazz standards that don't follow the blues form, but can be performed "in a blues style."

Good luck on the audition!

 

[MrLenny1]

Just walk to 1, 4, 5 changes.
1 4 5 is you're friend. lol
Good Luck.

 

[JGbassman]

Lesson #1 is learn the 12-bar blues progression in all 12 keys. Jamming along with famous songs by the masters, and backing tracks on youtube, will help you get the right feel.

For example, this should keep you busy for a while:

Slow 12 Bar Blues Backing Tracks - All 12 Keys - YouTube
Medium Tempo 12 Bar Blues Backing Tracks - All 12 Keys - YouTube
Fast 12 Bar Blues Backing Tracks - All 12 Keys - YouTube

This. And then get away from talk bass and get some actual practice in.

Blues is easy to play, but hard to cop the groove. Get the mechanics down and then just start listening to as many recordings as you can. Tommy Shannon has a way of stepping out at just the right times, and fills perfectly as SRV was cooking. He is worth a listen too.

 

[MalcolmAmos]

Get their song selection list. If they want you they will give it to you. Practice what THEY play. There is going to be 50 +/- songs that they play over and over, concentrate on those.

 

[sleeplessknight]

Ed Friedland has some great literature on learning the blues for bass. I suggest checking that out as well. Good luck!

Edit: be able to identify by ear when it's appropriate to play the following rhythms, too:
Shuffle
Boogie-woogie
Rhumba
Basic walk

 

[Jeff Bonny]

With just a week I wouldn't obsess over any theoretical mechanics. Listen obsessively to the band's song list and get the sound of what you need to do as firmly pounded into your head as you can. What it's all called will come as you evolve.

 

[FirewalZ]

Build a Spotify list of their tunes and blues classics in the same genre...an listen over and over...internalize the different feels, turn arounds,etc. IMO best you can do in a week

 

[JMacBass65]

No, yer screwed, forget about it.

PM me the BL phone number and I'll cover the gig for you.

No need to thank me, you don't need that kind of pressure in your life.

 

[FingerDub]

My connection told me I should be able to jam on whatever they play.

 

[JMacBass65]

My connection told me I should be able to jam on whatever they play.

I wouldn't risk it.

 

[two fingers]

With just a week I wouldn't obsess over any theoretical mechanics. Listen obsessively to the band's song list and get the sound of what you need to do as firmly pounded into your head as you can. What it's all called will come as you evolve.

Build a Spotify list of their tunes and blues classics in the same genre...an listen over and over...internalize the different feels, turn arounds,etc. IMO best you can do in a week

This.

If they won't give you a set list walk away.

 

[FingerDub]

This.

If they won't give you a set list walk away.

the 2 songs I posted are on the list

 

[HotelX]

Did they give you a list? If not that is odd.

If you want to play blues than start listening to it as often as possible. There are bass lines that are common to many songs, make sure you learn them.

How long until the first gig?

 

[jjmuckluckjr]

I gotta admire your ambition FingerDub. No offense, but I have to say it's a little presumptuous to think that you can learn an entire genre of music in one week. Especially if you're trying to get into an established touring band. Blues are deceptively simple. Deceptive being the operative word. Fast fingers and technique are fine, but the blues is more about timing and feel. It's way better to under play and stay with the drummer than go off half-Jaco. Realistically, you're not going to learn a whole set list in a week. Ask them to pick 10-12 songs and get them down as best you can. Good luck and let us know how it works out.

 

[okcrum]

Here are some of the basic blues grooves and patterns for bass - there are examples around the net, and plenty of DVD collections. It's useful to know these when a tune gets called "Flat tire in D, in on the five" and counted off.

6-9 Groove
Little Walter shuffle
Rumba
Swing
Bo Diddley
Cajun Rumba
Straight Eight
Jump Swing
Second Line
Eight Bar Blues
Swing Shuffle
Tramp Groove
Box Pattern
John Lee Hooker
Flat Tire shuffle
Jimmy Reed shuffle

EDIT: another hint is: get with the guitar player on how you play thirds; or just stay away from them to play it safe. A heck of a lot of blues is half time 1-5...

 

[Gianni "Orlandez" Orlati]

Blues is not something you learn .. it's something you primarily feel ... if your main drive is to make money then good luck bro!
Anyway you can have a look at the recent videos from John Patitucci playing a Yamaha BB

 

[Oddly]

Best of luck, @FingerDub !
The best advice is getting a playlist together on Spotify, google play or whatever suits you and listen every chance you get.
It's all about the feel.